1836 United States 1/2 cent Value

A 1836 United States 1/2 cent is worth roughly its melt value to well into four figures depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.

Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.

1836 United States 1/2 cent value by grade

1836 United States 1/2 cent value by grade
GradeEstimated value

Estimated retail range. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.

How much is a 1836 United States 1/2 cent worth today?

Pricing for the 1836 United States 1/2 cent depends on grade and current collector demand.

1836 United States 1/2 cent specifications

Series
United States Coinage
Year
1836
Mint mark
None (Philadelphia)
Mintage
Not recorded
Composition
Copper
Weight
6.472 g
Diameter
24 mm

No mint mark? Here is why

The 1836 United States 1/2 cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (check the usual position for this series), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.

Where this coin's value comes from

Documented examples of the 1836 United States 1/2 cent in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.

Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. For the 1836 United States 1/2 cent, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.

1836 United States 1/2 cent inscriptions & design

Obverse

LIBERTY [on head band] / (date)

Liberty bust left, surrounded by 13 stars

Reverse

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / HALF / CENT

Value in wreath

Measured 1836 United States 1/2 cent specimens

3 physically measured 1836 United States 1/2 cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 6.472 g, 24 mm minting standard.

Measured 1836 United States 1/2 cent specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1836 United States 1/2 cent #1---Gilbert.1836.1, Breen.1577
1836 United States 1/2 cent #27.31 g--Gilbert.1836 (fake), Breen.1576electrotype
1836 United States 1/2 cent #36.472 g24 mm-Gilbert.1836.1f, BreenHC.1836.1f, Breen.1576electrotype

Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.