1859

The 1859 half dime is the last year of the Stars Obverse With Drapery subtype that had been in use since 1840. Beginning in 1860, the Mint would move UNITED STATES OF AMERICA from the reverse to the obverse, replacing the thirteen stars with the inscription. The 1859 is therefore a terminal year, marking the end of the obverse star tradition that had been continuous on American silver coinage since 1794. Philadelphia produced 340,000 half dimes for the year.

The relatively modest mintage reflects the early stages of a broader design transition. The Mint was preparing for the Legend Obverse change, and regular production was scaled back as die preparation for the new design proceeded. The 1859 is more available than the 1846 key date but less common than the high-production dates of the 1850s, giving it a modest premium without reaching semi-key status.

For a collector who wants a single representative of the Stars Obverse With Drapery subtype at its terminal year, the 1859 provides both availability and the historical weight of a design boundary. After 1859, no American silver coin would carry the traditional obverse stars for circulating currency until decades later.