1838 Small Stars

The 1838 Small Stars half dime uses smaller star punches on the obverse than the Large Stars version. The difference is visible on well-preserved coins but subtle enough that attribution typically requires reference comparison or certified examples. Both star-size varieties were produced during the first year of the Stars Obverse subtype, reflecting the Mint's experimentation with the new design before settling on standard star sizes for subsequent years.

The Small Stars variety is less common than the Large Stars and carries a modest premium. A complete 1838 half dime variety set includes both the Large Stars and Small Stars versions, along with the separate 1838-O branch mint issue. For a collector focused on the Stars Obverse subtype, the 1838 offers two Philadelphia star-variety options alongside the first New Orleans issue.

The early Seated Liberty half dimes of 1838-1840 represent the first generation of the design before the drapery modification was added in 1840. Collecting them as a subgroup means pursuing coins that show Liberty in her most classical, unadorned form, before the design was refined in subsequent years.