A rare
1792
half-dime sold at the Central States Numismatic Society convention last Thursday night to a private
collector
for $1.33 million. The coin is
believed to be one of the first minted by the United States. The half-dime, or "disme," as it was originally
spelled, was in excellent condition and believed to be one of the best examples of the few hundred that remain around
today. It depicts the figure of Liberty, a woman with flowing hair, on one side, and an eagle on the reverse. The
cataloger for the Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas, which was selling the coin, said that the coin might have been
pressed twice at the time of minting because it's details are so clear.
