Bill Jones' Early Half Dimes
1805

Owner Comments:

Old time collectors labeled the 1805 half dime as "overrated." Perhaps the reason for this is that some old time coin dealers tried to compare the rarity of this coin with the 1802 half dime.



Today, times have changed in my opinion. The current total estimated population for this date is 125 pieces, which makes it a solid R-4 in the rarity rating scale. The 1802 half dime is almost three times as scarce with around 45 examples known. While the 1805 does not compare with the 1802 from the aspect of rarity, 125 examples is still a very low number. And since there was only one die pair used to strike the 1805 half dimes, that rarity applies to the date, not just the variety. The coin is much scarcer than many highly touted rarities like the 1895 Morgan Dollar and most any “rare” modern coin that one could name. Still there are very few of us who collect these early half dimes by date, the prices, despite the rarity have remained modest.



This coin is currently in an “old, green label” PCGS holder. Several collectors and dealers who have seen this piece now believe that it would qualify as an EF-40 by today’s grading standards.