Half Disme – 1792

One of the Nation’s First Minted Coins

In 1792, the nation was in dire need of coinage of its own. President Washington was well aware of that fact. He continually shunned all prospective coinage that depicted him or mentioned him by name. But we needed a coinage and fast.

In July, Washington requested some silver coins to be struck. Legend has it that the silver for these coins came from his wife’s candlesticks and excess silverware. The first silver coins that were struck were 1,500 half dismes (pronounced “deems”).

William Russell Birch was one of the US Mint’s original employees in 1792 and it fell upon his shoulders to design a coin that Washington would approve and would represent the fledgling nation well. It is believed that Benjamin Franklin suggested much of the final design, which liberty, knowledge with hard work.

The obverse has an allegorical representation of Miss Liberty, facing left. In legend, some people believe that Martha Washington was the model for Miss Liberty, but that seems unlikely. Around the portrait at the periphery of the coin is inscribed the legend “LIB (erty). PAR(ent). OF. SCIENCE. & INDUSTRY” and under the bust of Miss Liberty is the date “1792”.

The reverse has a small (scrawny) eagle in flight with wings outstretched, flying to the left. Below the eagle are the words “HALF DISME” on two lines. The legend around the periphery of the reverse is “UNI(ted). STATES OF AMERICA” and a five-pointed star.  

The 1,500 coins were distributed to US government officials and foreign dignitaries. Washington wanted them well distributed so that other nations would see that the United States could create its own coinage in relatively short order and didn’t have to rely on Great Britain or any other nation to produce coins for the United States. Even though the Half Disme was technically a pattern coin, many of the 1,500 coins struck circulated, especially in Philadelphia where they were struck.

Although there are many well-circulated specimens, a GOOD condition specimen generally brings in the $25,000 range, due to the coin’s historical significance and the desire to own a true piece of American history.

There is one known Specimen Striking, graded SP-67, that when last auctioned in 2013, brought $1.4 million in a public auction. A Half Disme in any condition is the highlight of any colonial coin collection.

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