1840 Half Dime Value Guide for Collectors

The 1840 half dime is a rare and valuable coin, especially for collectors. It's estimated that only 1,000 to 2,000 were minted.

The coin's rarity is due in part to its short production run and the fact that many were melted down for their metal content. This makes the 1840 half dime highly sought after by collectors.

To determine the value of your 1840 half dime, you'll need to examine its condition and look for any distinguishing features, such as a high grade or unique mint mark.

The 1840 half dime is a relatively small coin, weighing in at 1.34 grams.

The composition of the coin is 90% silver and 10% copper.

The face value of the 1840 half dime is $0.05.

The current silver bullion value of the coin is $1.27.

The 1840 half dime is made of 0.0388 oz. of silver.

The value of a 1840 half dime can vary greatly depending on its condition and mint mark.

In circulated condition, the coin is worth more than its weight in silver, with a melt value of $1.27 based on the current silver spot price of $32.79 per ounce.

For the 1840 half dime with no mint mark and no drapery, the value is around $35 in good condition, increasing to $325 for uncirculated coins with an MS 60 grade.

In very fine condition, this coin can sell for around $55, while extremely fine condition can fetch up to $105.

Uncirculated coins with a grade of MS 63 can sell for around $550.

The presence of drapery on the coin can significantly impact its value, with the 1840 half dime with drapery selling for around $55 in good condition, compared to $35 for the no drapery version.

In uncirculated condition, the 1840 half dime with drapery can sell for around $500 for coins with an MS 60 grade, while the no drapery version can sell for around $325.

A mint mark of O can also increase the coin's value, with the 1840 O half dime selling for around $115 in good condition.

In extremely fine condition, the 1840 O half dime with no drapery can sell for up to $600, while the drapery version can sell for up to $850.

Uncirculated coins with a grade of MS 63 can sell for around $5,500 for the no drapery version and up to $22,000 for the drapery version.

The Seated Liberty Half Dime was produced from 1837 to 1873. This coin has numerous variations as there were many modifications to the design over its course of production.

The design of the Seated Liberty Half Dime was Christian Gobrecht's most famous, modeled after England's Britannia. The first coin in the Seated Liberty series was the Gobrecht Silver Dollar in 1836, and the silver half dime followed in 1837.

The No Stars Type 1 was produced from 1837-1838, with 1,405,000 coins minted in Philadelphia in 1837. New Orleans produced about 70,000 Type 1 Liberty Seated Half dimes in 1838.

In 1838, 13 stars were added to the obverse of the half dime, a change that would remain until 1860. Each star was hand punched into a Type 1 minted coin.

Type 3 of the Seated Liberty Half Dime, produced from 1840-1859, featured extra drapery beneath Liberty's left arm. This design modification was made to enhance the coin's appearance.

The Type 4 modifications, created in 1853 to combat mass hoarding of silver, featured arrows on either side of the date, reducing the weight of each coin from 20.625 gains to 19.200 gains.