The 1792 half disme is an American silver coin with a face value of five cents which was minted in 1792. In our article, we conclude that while the great preponderance of the evidence points toward Washington as the silver provider, the pieces of evidence that could prove he was-- Washington's diary for 1792 and Acting Chief Coiner Henry Voigt's July 1792 account book--are unavailable. $1.99 shipping. Large size format, 142 pages, with color illustrations. Buy on Amazon in paperback or for Kindle. Both statements could be true. PCGS is not responsible for the accuracy or authenticity of Ebay listings. LOT 1001 1792 Half Disme. Washington was a long-time diarist, but the press of his presidential duties prevented him from keeping a diary in 1792. Buy on Amazon in paperback or for Kindle! $800.00. The 1792 dime patterns, then each referred to as a “disme,” … 1792 Half Disme Judd-7 Pollock-7 R.4 Patterns Details NGC XF40. The final sentence of Washington's address seems to clearly indicate that the half dismes were intended for circulation. The 1792 Half Disme’s mythical status is now based on solid numismatic research. This rare, silver 1792 Half Disme pattern is one of the first pieces struck by the authority of the United States government. However, its status as such is disputed, with the Mint recognizing the 1793 Chain centas such. Birch is also remembered for his experimental Birch Cent, a coin perhaps better identified with Birch because it bears his name. That unfortunately has not been the case with the story of the half disme over the past 150 years. Some numismatists consider the 1792 Half Disme the first coin minted by the United States, but others claim the coin was only a pattern issue or proposed coinage. In favor of regular issue status is the fact that so many were made (1500+) and virtually all were placed into circulation. These tiny silver coins bore the image of Liberty on one side and a flying eagle on the other. However, as it was not continued in production at the Federal mint, we have added it to the colonial series as the last of the pre-federal issues. Mr. E. thinks that Gen. W. distributed them as presents. The composition of the disme was set at 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper. We have primary sources that seem to contradict each other regarding this. This is that coin. 1 Around the margin: UNI. See a picture and learn the value of this rare American coin, from a time when United States was just building their minting facility at Phialdelphia. One of the most discussed pieces in the entire United States series, the 1792 half disme is a perennial collector favorite. Most circulated widely and exhibit heavy wear. The popular Red Book treats it as a pattern, but clearly the estimated mintage of 1500 pieces points toward a hesitant start at circulating coinage. Name Email Required. Repaired--NCS. The present example is an exception because it has strong details on the tail feathers and the left wing, which show only light circulation. In 1792, a limited number of dismes were minted but never circulated. Each half dime weighs half as much as a dime of a corresponding issue weighs or would weigh if it existed. In his national address from 1792, Washington states: "There has been a small beginning in the coinage of half dimes, the want of small coins in circulation calling the first attention to them." The copper dismes are known with both a plain edge and a reeded edge, but the order that the pieces were coined is unknown. The half disme(pronounced "deem") was one of the first coins to be produced by the newly created US Mint. In a Coin World article on June 13, 2005, Eric von Klinger wrote a review of Orosz and Herkowitz's article, titled "Document Details Half Disme: Confirms that G. Washington was Source of Silver," and first sentence that reads: "General Washington did indeed deposit silver for the 1792 half dismes." 9, 1844) at the Mint, he informed me that the Half Dismes ... were struck, expressly for Gen. Washington, to the extent of One Hundred Dollars, which sum he deposited in Bullion or Coin, for the purpose. There has been a small beginning in the coinage of half dimes, the want of small coins in circulation calling the first attention to them.". The reverse shows an eagle in flight, the denomination HALF DISME below. After the wide dissemination of their printed works, these myths became fact to succeeding generations of numismatists. The story begins with George Washington. Only in the last few years have we begun to take a hard look at what has previously been assumed to be factual. Perhaps some of the fiction will decrease in the future, but the lore of this issue will undoubtedly continue as long as there are collectors of U.S. coinage. An examination of the obverse designs of the Birch cent and half disme shows the similarities in iconography, although the personification of Liberty faces left on the half disme and right on the cent. As the prototype five-cent piece, the half disme was replaced in 1794 by the first regular issue half … The copper U.S. half cent was authorized for production on April 2, 1792. Struck in silver with a diagonally reeded edge. His involvement with these coins was twofold. Perhaps the most famous of all patterns is the ‘Silver Center Copper Cent’ of 1792. A few examples of the 1792 Half Disme are known in amazing Gem condition. Provisions have been made for the requisite buildings, and these are now putting into proper condition for the purposes of the establishment. Read more. At least 1,500 half dismes struck in 1792, which would technically make them the first business strike coin to be minted by the Mint. However, it took nearly a century for evidence to surface that substantiated his contribution. Was it meant to be a pattern or a regular issue? Therefore, while the authors believe that all of the available evidence points to Washington, we cannot prove he was the donor beyond the shadow of a doubt.". The story of the 1792 half dismes is one of the best-known and often-repeated tales in U.S. numismatics. United States 1792 pattern Coinage Print of United States 1792 Pattern Coinage Birch Cent Half Disme Silver Center Cent Disme Type Document. Certified as a proof, primarily based on strike and surface quality. This coin doesn’t have a mint mark and was minted in Philadelphia, as most early US Coins were. Image Reverse side: United States 1792 Pattern … John Harper's Basement was the first place where official U.S. Coinage was struck. As with many aspects of the 1792 patterns coinage, all one can do is speculate. After all, neither it nor the other denominations produced in that year were ever adopted. All other 1792 coins are true patterns, struck in extremely limited quantities. The 1792 half disme is generally collected as a pattern and is classified as Judd-7. The half disme of 1792 was a pattern designed by Thomas Birch. Based on the findings above, these coins once passed though the hands of Thomas Jefferson. But John McAllister seems to contradict this with his statement from 1844: "Mr. E. thinks that Gen. W. distributed them as presents. On July 9, 1792, Rittenhouse requested permission from George Washington to coin half cents, cents, half … Get the full book exploring the most valuable and well-known key date coins issued by the United States Mint. Wire/Check. Unlike the 1792 Half Disme, which was struck in silver in large numbers, the 1792 Disme appears most frequently in copper (approximately twenty known) with only the aforementioned four specimens known in Silver. Ha… 1792 Half Disme Pattern The smallest silver denomination authorized under the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792 was the half dime, or half disme. 1792 Disme copper pattern The Coinage Act of 1792, passed on April 2, 1792, authorized the mintage of a "disme", one-tenth the silver weight and value of a dollar. It is certainly the most famous non-gold pattern. None of the 1792 Dismes were ever issued for circulation. Detailed information about the coin 5 Cents "1792 Half Disme" (Pattern; copper), United States, with pictures and collection and swap management : mintage, descriptions, metal, weight, size, value and other numismatic data Review Subject Required. The 1792 Half Disme (Buy on eBay) (pronounced deem, which later evolved into the modern pronunciation of dime as we know it) has the honor of being the very first coin officially struck by the United States government. 18.2 grains. ... Birthday Gift 1792 Half Disme 3/31/2015 — Unusual presentation letter tells a wonderful story. At Heritage’s 2017 FUN auctions an MS-66 1792 half disme pattern sold for $493,500. Comments Required. 1792 Half Disme G4 Grade. Since Washington apparently deposited bullion or coin for this issue, the story was embellished that he contributed the family silverware. We certainly know now that Martha Washington was not the model for the depiction of Liberty. STATES OF AMERICA. For Sale: Silver Bullion (Many Holiday Themed) And 90% More Or Less At Spot For Sale: Silver Bullion - Various Coin & Medal Lots For Sale: Canadian Silver 80% + Add On French 90% Assorted Numismatic Books For Sale For Sale: 1998 Havana Puzzle Silver Proof Set With Box Grapecollects' Coin Mini Mart (Us, Silver, And Some World, Die Varieties) For Sale: Mid Grade Type … Whereas the other 1792 coins were clearly patterns, the half disme may be viewed as the first U.S. regular issue coin. Rating Required. Now we are almost certain that Washington was the source of the silver for the half dismes, but we will probably never know if his silverware was melted to provide the necessary bullion. 1795 Flowing Hair Silver Half Dime - Damage. Research conducted by Joel Orosz and Carl Herkowitz, titled "George Washington and America's 'Small Beginning' in Coinage: the Fabled 1792 Half Dismes" and published in the 2003 American Journal of Numismatics, cited a memorandum by John A. McAllister, Jr., who related his interview with Chief Coiner Adam Eckfeldt: "In conversation with Mr. Adam Eckfeldt (Apr. Three Cent Nickels predate five cent nickels, as these were first minted in 1865. Five cent nickels are 25% nickel in composition and were not formally issued until 1866. The story of the 1792 half dismes is one of the best-known and often-repeated tales in U.S. numismatics. Orosz responded in a July 4, 2005 letter to the editor that: "We never claim in our article that we have proved that President Washington provided the silver used to strike the half dismes, as both the headline and the first sentence of von Klinger's article flatly state. Although it is subject to debate as to whether this was intended to be circulating coinage or instead an experimental issue, President George Washington referred to it as "a small beginning" and many of the coins eventually were released into circulation. In 1792, the French term “disme” was employed on patterns of half dimes and dimes. They were valued at … Rather, the engraver, whom we now believe was William Russell Birch, simply used a mirror image of the design on the Birch cent and applied it to this coin. These stories did not originate with Dr. Montroville Dickeson and Mint Director James Ross Snowden in their books on American coinage published in the late 1850s, but both considerably enlarged the myths that had been put in print only a few years previously. This historical connection is sure to make these coins even more desirable well into the future. Orosz and Herkowitz are to be commended for thoroughness in their research as well as their reluctance to draw a conclusion without proof from a primary source. The first examples of the denomination were struck in 1792 from silver that is said to have been deposited by George Washington. One aspect of the half disme that is left unresolved is its status. AU Details $41,687.50 (Jan 6, 2009 HA.com). In 1792, as part of an attempt to develop a national coinage, US Mint employees struck 1,500 silver Half Dismes in the cellar of Philadelphia saw-maker John Harper’s factory. 1792 Half Disme - 1792 H10C Half Disme, PCGS VF25, Pollock-7, R4, Judd-7. The other involvement of Washington, that of his contributing the silver necessary to strike the pieces, is also generally accepted as factual today. or Best Offer. The 1792 Disme In contrast to the 1792 half disme, there is little in the historical record that directly addresses the disme of the same year. Both Dickeson and Snowden undoubtedly meant well in promoting numismatics in the mid-19th century but their writings are certainly suspect from the point of view of modern historical scholarship. However, there's written history that the coin was intended to be US Coinage, and some specimens show circulation from being spent. A half dime is not a nickel. The story begins with George Washington. $31,900.00. View full article > Some were sent to Europe, but the greater number, he believes, were given to friends of Gen. W. in Virginia. It is widely considered the first United States coinage struck under authority of the Coinage Act of 1792. 1792 Half Disme, Judd-8, AU55 Unique Copper Example 1792 DTH10C Half Disme, Judd-8, Pollock-8 AU55 NGC. President Washington could have distributed them to friends and foreign dignitaries, but the "want of small coins in circulation" could also have compelled many recipients to use these pieces in the channels of commerce. No more of them were ever coined.". It then meant ‘tenth’ and, more importantly, “disme” constituted a general reference to the decimal system. In fact, the 1792 Half Disme was a legal issue, authorized by the Mint Act of April 2, 1792, struck by government officials using machinery purchased specifically for the new Mint, they were struck in a quantity wholly inappropriate for a Pattern, and they were intended for circulation, not as a test for an intended coinage. PCGS considers them regular issue coins. Contact Us. Half Dimes – 1792 Half Disme Throughout the broad range of U.S. coinage from 1792 to the present day, this issue is arguably the most significant of … His involvement with these coins was twofold. Others have been employed at home. While discovery of this document would seem to indicate that all half dismes were struck from silver "deposited in Bullion or Coin" by President Washington, the authors would not state conclusively that this was the case. While coins had been struck on American soil since the mid 17th century, and continued to be struck after the British colonies declared independence in 1776, no coins had been officially been struck and released by the newly founded country. Get the best deals on Flowing Hair Half Dimes (1792-1795) when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Free shipping. The mirror image of the Birch cent with Liberty facing left, the date immediately below the bust. Some experts consider the 1792 half disme to be a pattern issue; others believe it to be a regular issue. In both cases, the reverse features a bird of some sort with its wings outstretched. He allegedly contributed the silver to the Mint to strike the half dismes, and he also mentioned the coins in his national address of November 6, 1792: Around the obverse periphery: LIB. Some were sent to Europe, but the greater number, he believes, were given to friends of Gen. W. in Virginia." There are approximately 250 extant silver half dismes, but only one in copper. In addition, the reverse of the half disme and the disme are remarkably akin in style. Fact, fiction, and myth have surrounded the 1792 half dismes almost since they were struck 217 years ago. At the 2014 FUN show, the same coin, offered in an older label PCGS MS-65 holder (left) sold for a bit more. Voigt did keep an account book, but it was lost about a century ago, and no one knows where it is, or if it even still exists. OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY. 1792 Half Disme is considered the first official coinage of America, but is considered a circulating pattern coin. Half dimes predate dimes, which were not struck until 1796.A half dime is made primarily of silver and does not contain any nickel. Free shipping on many items ... 1792 Half Disme H 10C AG Details . 1792 Disme Pattern Issue-Half (Deem) Pictures, facts, values for US Pattern collectors. Design: The 1792 has INDUSTRY – LIB – PAR – OF – SCIENCE around the inside rim, and is translated as “Industry and liberty on par with science”. CAC. He allegedly contributed the silver to the Mint to strike the half dismes, and he also mentioned the coins in his national address of November 6, 1792: "In execution of authority given by the legislature, measures have been taken for engaging some artists from abroad to aid in the establishment of our Mint. The half disme of 1792, the first official coinage issue struck after the passage of the Mint Act of 1792, was long thought to be a pattern rather than a circulating medium of exchange. Another favorite story about the half disme is since Washington had some involvement in this project and since there is a female figure of Liberty on the obverse, then the female figure must be Martha Washington. $59,400.00 AVAILABILITY: OUT OF STOCK SKU: 907470010. PAR. Format, 142 pages, with color illustrations Heritage ’ s 2017 auctions... 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