Grading U.S. 50 Cent Coins
Of the fifty cent coins minted in the United States, we are buying the following:
In addition, we buy common pre-1965 U.S. half-dollars if they are in large quantity. Call us toll-free at 877-770-7040 if you have questions.
Below you will find information about various details of grading U.S. 50 cent coins 
which may be helpful to you in determining the value of your silver pieces. These descriptions of grades use official American Numismatic Association (ANA) terminology, both in general descriptions of grades throughout this website, as well as coin-specific grading terminology on these coin grading pages.*
Examples of coins in various grading conditions are shown, graded by various professional grading services companies, as indicated by their abbreviations. If you wish to get a fast, fair and free appraisal from a professional coin dealer, go here for more information about how to send in your coins.
HALVES, 1 2 3
P:poor F:fair AG:about good G:good VG:very good F:fine VF:very fine EF:extra fine AU:about uncirculated MS:mint state (Uncirc.) PR:proof |
| |
1794 Flowing Hair
F (NCS)
|
1797 Draped bust,
small eagle VF-25 (PCGS)
|
1805 Draped bust,
heraldic eagle EF-40 (NGC)
|
|
|
AG-3, Outlined design. Parts of date and legend are worn smooth. Obverse: Date is readable but very weak. Head is outlined with nearly all details worn away. Stars merge into rim. Reverse: Lettering is very weak but readable. Entire design is partially worn away. |
AG-3, Parts of date and legend are worn smooth. Outlined design. Obverse: Head is outlined with nearly all details worn away. Stars merge into rim. Date is readable but very weak. Reverse: Legend merges with rim. Entire design is partially worn away. |
AG-3, Outlined design. Parts of legend and date worn smooth. Obverse: Head is outlined; nearly all details worn away. Date is very weak but readable. Stars merging into rim. Reverse: Entire design is partially worn away. Legend merging into rim. |
|
|
G-4, Design and legend are visible, but faint in spots. Heavily worn flowing hair half dollar. OBV: Legend, stars, and date are well worn but all visible. Entire design is worn smooth with very little detail remaining. REV: Rim may be partially missing. Eagle is worn flat and not completely outlined. Tops of some letters are worn nearly smooth. |
G-4 draped bust half dollar: Heavily worn. Legend and design are visible, but faint in spots. OBV: Entire design is worn smooth, with very little detail remaining. Date, legend, stars are well worn. REV: Eagle is only outlined and worn flat. Tops of some letters are worn nearly smooth; rim weak in spots. |
G-4, Heavily worn heraldic draped bust half dollar. Design and legend are faint in spots, but visible. OBV: Worn smooth with very little detail remaining. Stars, legend, and date are well worn. REV: Eagle is worn flat; only outlined. Some letter tops are worn nearly smooth. Only ½ of stars are completely outlined. weak rim in spots. |
|
|
VG-8, Well worn. Design is flat but clear, lacking details. OBV: Entire head is weak; most hair details worn smooth. Date and LIBERTY are weak but visible. Parts of the eyebrow and eye are visible. Stars are outlined. REV: Some letters are very weak. Eagle is boldly outlined with only a few details showing in wings and tail. Breast is smooth. |
VG-8, Design is clear but flat and lacking details; well-worn. OBV: Entire head is weak, most of hair details and drapery are worn smooth. Date and LIBERTY are weak but visible. Stars are outlined. Parts of the eye and eyebrow are visible. REV: Some letters are very weak. Eagle is boldly outlined with only a few details showing in wings. Breast and left leg are smooth. |
VG-8, Well worn; design is clear but flat, lacking details. OBV: Date and LIBERTY are weak but visible. Entire head is weak, and most hair details and drapery are worn smooth. Parts of the eye and eyebrow are visible. Stars are outlined, with some tips worn flat. REV: Some letters in legend are very weak; parts of motto are missing. Eagle is boldly outlined with only a few details showing in wings. Clouds, head, and top of shield are smooth. |
|
|
GRADING U.S. 50-CENT COINS |
|
FLOWING HAIR |
DRAPED BUST, SMALL |
DRAPED BUST, HERALDIC |
|
|
Flowing Hair half dollar F-12, Moderate to heavy even wear. Entire design is clear and bold. OBV: shown. Date, all letters, and stars are weak. Some details show in hair ends and below ear. The eye and eyebrow are clear. REV: Some feathers are visible in body, wings, and tail. Eye is visible. Breast and head are smooth. Letters in legend are worn but clear. |
F-12, Moderate to heavy even wear. Entire design is bold and clear. OBV: Some details in hair ends, curls, and at left of ear. Date, all letters, and stars are weak. Bust is worn with few drapery lines remaining. The eye and eyebrow are clear. REV: Letters in legend are worn but clear. Half the feathers are visible in wings. Breast and left leg are smooth. |
F-12, Moderate-heavy, even wear. Entire design is clear, bold. OBV: Some details show in hair ends and curls, and at left of ear. Date, all letters, and stars are weak. Bust is worn with few drapery lines remaining. The eye and eyebrow are clear. REV: Clouds and top of shield show considerable wear. Half the feathers are visible in wings. Breast and head are smooth. Letters in legend are worn but clear. |
|
|
Flowing Hair VF-20 half dollar, All major features sharp. Light to moderate even wear. OBV: Every letter and star is plainly visible. Some star centers are nearly flat. Half of the details still show in hair. Forehead and bust are worn but show some details. Parts of shoulder are smooth. REV: shown. Head and breast are worn, but some feathers are visible. Nearly half of details in wings are clear. |
Draped bust half dollar VF-20: Light to moderate even wear. All major features sharp. OBV: More than half of details still show in hair. Forehead and bust are worn but bold. Parts of drapery are smooth. Every letter and star is plainly visible. REV: Legs and breast are worn, but some feathers are visible. About three-quarters of details on wings are clear. |
VF-20 heraldic draped bust half dollar: Light-moderate even wear; major features sharp. OBV: More than ½ of hair details show. Forehead and bust are worn but bold. Parts of drapery are smooth. Every letter and star is plainly visible. REV: Head, breast are worn, but some feathers are visible. Some lines in shield are merged. About three-quarters of wing details are clear. |
|
|
VF-30, Even wear light to moderate. Major features sharp. OBV: Parts of star centers are very weak. Three-quarters of flowing-hair details show. Hair above forehead worn but has some bold features. REV: Feathers worn; most details are visible. Some of the details in breast and head are clear. |
Draped bust VF-30, Light-moderate, even wear. All major features are sharp. OBV: 3/4 of hair details show. Hair above forehead has some bold features but is worn. Parts of drapery worn smooth. REV: Wing edges are worn but most central details are visible. Some of the details in left leg and breast are clear. |
VF-30, Moderate to light even wear. Major features sharp. OBV: Three-quarters of hair details visible. Hair at back of head is worn but with some bold features. Parts of draperies are worn smooth. REV: Wing edges are worn; three-fourths of central details are visible. Clouds, head, and motto show wear. Horizontal shield lines are worn but separated. |
|
|
To sell your old U.S. half dollars ...
Call 877-770-7040 |
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
MONDAY - FRIDAY
US Central Time
GMT -6 |
... please call for free appraisal! |
|
EF-40, Very light wear on only the highest points. OBV: Stars fully detailed. Wear shows on hair from forehead to neck, and lightly on the cheek and bust. Lightly worn at neckline in spots. REV: Head and breast are lightly worn. High points of eagle are worn, but each detail is clearly defined. |
EF-40, Very light wear on the highest points only. OBV: Drapery is lightly worn at neckline in spots. Wear shows on hair from forehead to ear, and lightly on cheek and bust. REV: Left leg and breast are slightly worn. High points of wings are worn, but each detail is clearly defined. |
Draped bust half dollar EF-40, Only the highest points show very light wear. OBV: shown. Wear shows on hair from forehead to ear, and lightly on cheek and bust. Drapery is lightly worn at neckline in spots. REV: Lines in shield are separated. High points of clouds and wings are worn, but each detail is clearly defined. Head and breast are slightly worn. |
|
|
EF-45 flowing hair half dollar: Very light wear only on high points. Trace of mint luster may still be present. OBV: Slight wear shows on high points of hair from forehead to neck. Stars fully detailed. Very light wear at shoulder and bust line. REV: High points of breast, wings, and head are lightly worn. Lines in feathers are clearly defined. |
EF-45, Very light wear only on high points of draped bust half dollar. Mint luster traces may still be present. OBV: Slight wear shows on high points of hair from forehead to ear. Drapery is worn at shoulder and bust line. REV: High points of wings tips, left leg, breast are lightly worn. Feather lines are clearly defined. |
EF-45 heraldic draped bust half dollar: Very light wear only on high points. Traces of mint luster may be present. OBV: Slight wear shows on high points of hair from ear to forehead. Drapery is worn at bust line and shoulder. REV: High points of wing edges, breast feathers, clouds lightly worn. Lines in shield clearly defined. |
|
|
AU-50, Small traces of wear on highest points are visible. Part of luster still present. OBV: Traces of wear show on hair above and beside forehead. REV: Traces of wear show on breast, head. |
AU-50, Part of mint luster is still present. Small traces of wear are visible on highest points. OBV: Traces of wear show on hair above forehead. Drapery has trace of wear above bust line and at shoulder. REV: A trace of wear shows on breast. |
AU-50, Traces of wear show on highest points. Mint luster partly present. OBV: Traces of wear show on hair above forehead. Drapery has trace of wear at shoulder and bust line. REV: Traces of wear show on breast feathers and clouds. |
|
|
GRADING U.S. FIFTY-CENT PIECES |
|
FLOWING HAIR |
DRAPED BUST, SMALL |
DRAPED BUST, HERALDIC |
|
|
AU-55, Slight traces of wear visible on high points. Some mint luster still present. OBV: Only a trace of wear shows above forehead on highest points of hair. REV: Trace of wear on breast. |
AU-55, Slight traces of wear visible on high points. Some of the mint luster is still present. OBV: Trace of wear only on highest points of hair above forehead. REV: Trace of wear on breast. |
AU-55, Some of mint luster is still present. Small traces of wear visible on high points. OBV: Only a trace of wear shows on highest points of hair above forehead. REV: A trace of wear shows on clouds. |
|
|
AU-58 flowing hair half dollar: Shallow or weak spots in the relief are usually caused by improper striking, and not wear Small wear traces on only the highest points. Has some signs of abrasion: high points of Liberty's bust, shoulder, and hair above forehead; eagle's breast, head, and top edges of wings.. |
AU-58 draped bust half dollar: Has some signs of abrasion: high points of Liberty's bust, shoulder, and hair above forehead; eagle's breast, head, and top edges of wings. Small traces of wear visible on only the highest points. Shallow or weak spots in the relief are usually caused by improper striking, not wear. |
AU-58, Small traces of wear visible on only the highest points of the heraldic draped bust half dollar. Shallow or weak spots in the motto are usually caused by improper striking, and not wear. Has some signs of abrasion: high points of Liberty's bust, shoulder, and hair above forehead; eagle's head, breast, edges of wings, and clouds. |
|
|
MS-60, Absolutely no wear. A strictly Uncirculated coin with no trace of wear, but with blemishes more obvious than for MS-63. May lack full mint luster, and surface may be dull, spotted, or heavily toned. |
MS-60, A strictly uncirculated coin with no trace of wear, but with blemishes more obvious than for MS-63. Absolutely no wear. May lack full mint luster, and surface may be dull, spotted, or heavily toned. |
MS-60, May lack full mint luster, and surface may be dull, spotted, or heavily toned. Absolutely no wear. A strictly Uncirculated coin with no trace of wear, but with blemishes more obvious than for MS-63. |
|
|
1795 Flowing hair,
reverse VF-20 (PCI)
|
1795 Draped bust, rev.
small eagle VF-35 (ANACS)
|
1806 Draped bust, rev.
heraldic eagle, EF-40 (PCI)
|
|
|
MS-63, Absolutely no trace of wear. A Mint State coin with attractive mint luster, but noticeable detracting contact marks or minor blemishes. |
MS63, Mint state silver piece with attractive mint luster, but noticeable detracting contact marks or minor blemishes. Absolutely no trace of wear. |
MS 63, Absolutely no wear. Mint state coin with attractive mint luster, but noticeable minor blemishes or contact marks. |
|
|
MS-65, Absolutely no wear detectable. No trace of wear; nearly as perfect as an MS-67 flowing hair half dollar, except for some small blemishes. Has nearly full mint luster but may be unevenly toned or lightly fingermarked. A few barely noticeable nicks or marks may be present. |
MS65 draped bust half dollar: Has nearly full mint luster but may be lightly fingermarked or unevenly toned. Absolutely no wear detectable. No trace of wear; nearly as good as MS-67, except for some small blemishes. A few barely noticeable nicks or marks may be present. |
MS 65, A few barely noticeable nicks or marks may be present on the heraldic draped bust half dollar. Absolutely no wear detectable; nearly as good grade as MS-67. Nearly full mint luster but may be toned unevenly or lightly finger-marked. |
|
|
MS-67, No trace of wear. Virtually flawless, but with very minor imperfections. |
MS67, Virtually flawless, but with very minor imperfections. No trace of wear. |
MS 67, No wear traces. Virtually flawless, with very minor imperfections. |
|
|
GRADING U.S. HALF-DOLLARS |
|
FLOWING HAIR |
DRAPED BUST, SMALL |
DRAPED BUST, HERALDIC |
|
|
MS-70, Absolutely no trace of wear. A flawless coin exactly as it was minted, with no trace of wear or injury. Must have full mint luster and brilliance or light toning. |
MS70, Must have full mint luster and brilliance. Absolutely no trace of wear. A flawless piece exactly as minted, light toning or with no trace of wear or damage. |
MS 70, A flawless coin exactly as it was minted, with no trace of wear or injury. Absolutely no trace of wear. Must have full mint luster and brilliance or light toning. |
|
|
... please call us toll-free at:
Call 877-770-7040 |
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
MONDAY - FRIDAY
US Central Time
GMT -6 |
|
|
Get a free coin appraisal and grading from Midwest Mint. As experienced coin dealers, we can offer you top prices. Call 877-770-7040 for more information. |
