How to Find a 1792 Half Disme

The 1792 half disme (pronounced “half dime”) holds a claim no other American coin can: it was very likely the first coin struck under the authority of the newly created United States Mint. Survivors are scarce and historically significant, and the finest known example has sold for nearly $2 million.

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What makes the 1792 half disme important to collectors?

Documented Fact ^[1] On July 9, 1792, President George Washington authorized Mint Director David Rittenhouse to begin striking dismes, half dismes, and cents under the newly passed Mint Act — a sequence of events documented in the U.S. Mint’s own history of its founding and repeated in PCGS CoinFacts’s treatment of the issue. Washington, who lived only a few blocks from the striking location on Philadelphia’s High Street, is believed to have attended the first coining himself, which took place on July 9 or 10, 1792. On July 13, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson recorded receiving the first 1,500 half dismes—very possibly the entire mintage, though some researchers believe an additional 500 to 1,000 pieces may have been struck afterward.

Numismatic Tradition The coin has long carried a romantic origin story: that the Liberty portrait on the obverse was modeled on Martha Washington, and that George Washington personally donated his own household silverware to help strike the coins. Both claims are popular numismatic lore rather than established fact, and numismatic researchers have specifically pushed back on the silverware story as undocumented. What is well documented is the coin’s direct connection to the nation’s founding moment—struck under Washington’s own authorization, in the Mint’s first year of operation, before the Mint even had a permanent building of its own.

Census Estimate ^[2] Survivor estimates vary depending on the source and standard used, ranging from as few as 100 or so problem-free examples to several hundred when all grades and conditions are counted—but by any measure, the 1792 half disme is scarce and highly sought after as the first coin of the U.S. Mint. The finest known example, personally owned by Mint Director David Rittenhouse and passed down through his descendants from 1792 until 1919 before moving through several later prominent collections, sold for a record $1,985,000 in a 2018 Stack’s Bowers auction, as reported by CoinWeek and PCGS—graded PCGS MS68, the highest price ever paid for any half dime-denomination U.S. coin.

How to identify a 1792 half disme

Genuine examples are individually significant even in circulated grades, so careful attention to date, design, and condition matters at every level.

Confirm the date and design

The date “1792” appears on the reverse below a small eagle in flight. The obverse shows a bust of Liberty with flowing hair, surrounded by the legend “LIB. PAR. OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY”—an abbreviation of “Liberty, Parent of Science and Industry.” The design and legend are distinctive enough that a genuine 1792 half disme is not easily confused with any later U.S. coin.

Understand condition varies enormously among survivors

Because these were circulating coins struck under fairly rudimentary conditions in the Mint’s first year, most surviving examples show meaningful wear, and quality of strike varies. High-grade, problem-free examples—like the Rittenhouse specimen—are exceptionally scarce and carry an enormous premium over more typical circulated pieces.

Treat rarity claims and pedigree stories with care

Given the coin’s fame and the romantic legends attached to it, be skeptical of unsupported claims about a specific coin’s history (such as a direct connection to Washington’s silverware) unless backed by documented provenance. The coin’s genuine historical significance doesn’t require embellishment to be remarkable.

Buying considerations

Certification is essential

Given the coin’s age, value, and historical importance, only consider a PCGS- or NGC-certified example. Verify the certification number through the grading service’s website and compare available photographs to the coin being offered.

Understand grading in this series

Most surviving 1792 half dismes show real circulation wear; even modestly worn, problem-free examples are significant and valuable. Strike quality can vary meaningfully as well, given the era’s coining technology, and should be weighed alongside numerical grade.

Problem coins

Given their age, some surviving examples show cleaning, corrosion, environmental damage, or other issues common to 18th-century silver. A details-graded example can be a more affordable way to own the date, but understand the specific problem and price accordingly.

Authentication and seller information

Review the complete listing, confirm both sides are clearly photographed, verify any certification number independently, and understand the seller’s return policy before purchasing a coin of this significance and value.

Suggested search terms and filters

Begin with a broad search: “1792 half disme” or “1792 half dime.”

Then narrow by:

By grade: VG, F, VF, XF, AU, MS
By certification: PCGS, NGC, or “certified 1792 half disme”
By pedigree: named collections can carry significant premiums

Availability and pricing notes

Genuine 1792 half dismes, even in modest circulated grades, are five- and six-figure coins given their historical significance as the first U.S. Mint coinage. The finest known example sold for $1,985,000 in 2018. Availability at any given time is limited, and listings can appear and disappear quickly given the small surviving population.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

Search for the coin. Enter “1792 Half Disme” to search participating dealer inventory.
Review the available matches. Compare listings by grade, certification, pedigree, and asking price.
Add the search to your wishlist. If the right example is not available, save it as a wishlist item.
Get notified about new matches. When new dealer inventory matches your wishlist, GetCoinHunt sends an alert so you can review the listing before it disappears.
Verify before buying. Confirm certification, review provenance where claimed, and check the seller’s return policy.

Frequently asked questions

Was the 1792 half disme really the first U.S. Mint coin?

It’s widely regarded as such—President Washington authorized its striking in July 1792, and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson recorded receiving the first delivery of 1,500 pieces that same month, before the Mint had even completed its first permanent building.

Did George Washington donate his silverware to strike these coins?

That’s a popular legend, but it has been debunked by more recent numismatic research and shouldn’t be treated as established fact.

Is the portrait on the coin really Martha Washington?

That’s also a long-standing but unconfirmed tradition rather than a documented fact.

How many 1792 half dismes survive today?

Estimates vary by source, but figures commonly range from around 100 problem-free examples to several hundred when all grades and conditions are included.

What has the finest known example sold for?

$1,985,000 in a 2018 Stack’s Bowers auction, for a PCGS MS68 example with direct provenance to Mint Director David Rittenhouse—the highest price ever paid for a U.S. half dime-denomination coin, per PCGS and CoinWeek reporting on the sale.

Is a circulated 1792 half disme still valuable?

Yes. Even well-worn, problem-free examples are significant and valuable given the coin’s historical importance, typically trading in the five- to low-six-figure range depending on condition.

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