1845 United States 1/2 cent Value

In the current market, a 1845 United States 1/2 cent changes hands for roughly its melt value at the low end and well into four figures at the top. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.

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

1845 United States 1/2 cent value by grade

1845 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.

Today's value of the 1845 United States 1/2 cent

Pricing for the 1845 United States 1/2 cent depends on grade and current collector demand.

1845 United States 1/2 cent specifications

Series
United States Coinage
Year
1845
Mint mark
None (Philadelphia)
Mintage
Not recorded
Composition
Copper
Weight
6.59 g

Why there is no letter on this coin

The 1845 United States 1/2 cent comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1845, that is exactly as it should be.

Why the 1845 United States 1/2 cent is worth money

Context adds the final layer to the 1845 United States 1/2 cent. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.

For the 1845 United States 1/2 cent, surviving examples tell the story that mint records do not. Museum-documented specimens define the issue for collectors.

1845 United States 1/2 cent inscriptions & design

Obverse

LIBERTY [on coronet] / (date)

Liberty bust left, surrounded by 13 stars

Reverse

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / HALF / CENT

Value in wreath

Measured 1845 United States 1/2 cent specimens

2 physically measured 1845 United States 1/2 cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 6.59 g, mm minting standard.

Measured 1845 United States 1/2 cent specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1845 United States 1/2 cent #1---Gilbert.1845.o, Breen.1599
1845 United States 1/2 cent #26.59 g--Gilbert.1845 (fake), Breen.1599electrotype

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