HALF DIME Meaning and
Definition
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A half dime refers to a historical denomination of United States currency, which was officially minted and circulated in the early to mid-19th century. As the name suggests, it represents the half version of a dime, which was equivalent to 10 cents. However, a half dime itself has a face value of 5 cents. The term "dime" originally denoted a unit of currency in several European countries.
The half dime was first authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, as it was recognized that there was a need for smaller denominations of currency to facilitate day-to-day transactions. The first half dime coins were produced in 1794 and featured a portrait of Liberty on the obverse side, while the reverse displayed an eagle perching on a palm branch. Over the years, various designs and modifications were introduced, reflecting changes in artistic tastes and political shifts.
These small silver coins, measuring approximately 15.5 millimeters in diameter, were commonly used in daily commerce until the late 19th century. However, as the nation's economy expanded, demand for larger denominations increased, leading to the eventual phasing out of the half dime in favor of the nickel five-cent coin, which debuted in 1866.
Today, the term "half dime" primarily refers to these historic 5-cent coins produced from 1794 to 1873, often sought after by collectors due to their historical significance and numismatic value.
Common Misspellings for HALF DIME
- galf dime
- balf dime
- nalf dime
- jalf dime
- ualf dime
- yalf dime
- hzlf dime
- hslf dime
- hwlf dime
- hqlf dime
- hakf dime
- hapf dime
- haof dime
- hald dime
- halc dime
- halv dime
- halg dime
- halt dime
- halr dime
- half sime
Etymology of HALF DIME
The word "half dime" has a straightforward etymology. It is derived from combining the word "half" with "dime".
"Dime" originates from the Latin word "decima", meaning tenth. In the United States, a dime is equivalent to one-tenth of a dollar. The first usage of the word "dime" to refer to a specific coin denomination in the U.S. dates back to the 18th century.
The inclusion of "half" in "half dime" simply indicates that it is half the value of a dime. In the context of American coinage, the term "half dime" was mainly used to describe the silver five-cent coins minted from 1792 to 1873, before the introduction of the nickel five-cent coin.
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