Auction Action
June 15, 2026
The 1802 Draped Bust Half Dime has a miniscule mintage of 3,060 pieces, and it’s estimated that no more than 35 examples exist! This coin seldom emerges at auction, with block appearances perhaps only once every few years. The 1802 Half Dime is so scarce, that even some major historical collections from the past were missing this coin, and it’s absent from many major collections today. All examples of this issue are known in circulated condition, with no specimens known in Mint State condition. Most examples are in the lower circulated grades at XF or lower, while the highest-graded examples are in AU grades. This is the type of coin that collectors cannot be choosy about, as owning this coin in any grade is a huge accomplishment.
On August 26, 2025, Heritage Auctions offered an example graded PCGS VG10. This particular specimen exhibits excellent overall detail. The obverse shows Liberty’s face and hair along with the legends, stars, and date in good overall detail. On the reverse, most of the design can still be seen with the legends almost complete and fully in place, with some significant weakness on the eagles wings and feathers. Overall, this is a very nice coin showing great detail given its VG10 grade. This specimen was sold by Heritage Auctions August 26, 2025, for $102,000.
From PCGS