half dime

American  

noun

1. a silver coin of the U.S., equal to five cents, issued 1794–1805 and 1829–73.

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Etymology

Origin of half dime

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95

Example Sentences

He has now an old silver half dime that he found in an abandoned stage station on the Oregon trail, when on a buffalo hunt.

From Collection of Nebraska Pioneer Reminiscences by Daughters of the American Revolution. Nebraska

Every half dime he could lay hold of, by hook or by brook—and I fear it was sometimes by both—was spent in the old way.

From The Gerrard Street Mystery and Other Weird Tales by Dent, John Charles

The silver coins were to be the dollar, half and quarter dollar, dime and half dime; the gold were to be the eagle, half eagle, and quarter eagle.

From A School History of the United States by McMaster, John Bach