Pronunciation: [hˈɑːf sˈɛnt] (IPA) 
The spelling of "half cent" can be confusing due to the silent "l" in "half." The correct pronunciation is "hæf sent," with the "a" pronounced as the "a" in "cat" and the "e" as the "e" in "bed." The "f" is voiced, but the "l" is silent, so it is not pronounced as "half" but rather "haf." The "cent" part is pronounced as expected, with the "c" as the "s" sound and the "e" as the "eh" sound in "bed."
A half cent, often abbreviated as "½¢," is a unit of currency equal to one-half of a cent or one two-hundredth of a dollar. It is the smallest denomination of currency in the United States, previously minted and circulated between 1793 and 1857. The term "cent" refers to the basic unit of currency in the United States, while "half" denotes the fractional division of that unit.
Historically, the half cent served as a means of facilitating transactions involving very small amounts of money. Its production and circulation were primarily motivated by the need to provide a flexible method of payment for goods and services of low value. The diameter of the half cent was around 23.5 millimeters, and the coins typically displayed the profile of Lady Liberty on the obverse side and an emblem representing a wreath on the reverse side.
Over time, due to inflation and changing economic dynamics, the purchasing power of the half cent diminished significantly. This, coupled with the rising cost of production and limited demand for such low-value currency, led to the discontinuation of the coin in 1857. Today, the half cent is primarily of numismatic interest, sought after by coin collectors for its historical significance and rarity.
The word "half cent" originates from the combination of two components: "half" and "cent".
The term "half" comes from the Old English word "healf", which means "half" or "one of two equal parts". It has Germanic roots, related to the German word "halb" and Dutch word "half".
The word "cent" is derived from the Latin word "centum", meaning "one hundred". In modern usage, "cent" typically refers to a monetary unit equal to 1/100th of the primary unit, such as the U.S. cent or euro cent.
Therefore, when combined, "half" and "cent" result in the concept of a value equivalent to half of a cent or 1/200th of a dollar. Historically, "half cent" referred to a coin in the United States currency system that had a value of half a cent.
