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Half Dollars

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First Page  Showing last 15 replies.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1037 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  3:39 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add welder to your friends list
It's the sign of the times. Most people do not carry cash like they used to, with the advent of debt & credit cards. There is also discussion whether or not to keep the penny.

I think it comes down to the weight issue, plus inflation. Growing up things were a lot cheaper. You could get a coke and candy bar for under a quarter. And you could buy something for a penny too. Today, the price of a coke and candy bar is $2-3. Who wants to carry that much change around?

Another thing to think about are $5, $10, and $20 coins. Would you give up your paper currency for these?

Pillar of the Community
United States
2077 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  7:43 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add OldSkoolMadSkilz to your friends list
Actually, I read a story on this the other day. When the Kennedy half came out, people hoarded them like crazy. By the time they changed the half to copper nickel, supplies were so depleted that people just got used to not using them.
Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  7:54 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add basebal21 to your friends list

Quote:
Another thing to think about are $5, $10, and $20 coins. Would you give up your paper currency for these?


I wouldnt actually. Wallets arent good for coins and if all we had was coins youd have a wallet with just IDs and credit cards in it. Being a male bills are just more convenient for every day use.
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  7:57 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list
Bit hard for me to understand.

Australia has cupronickel half dollar coins in common circulation, and they are happily accepted and used by the whole population.
Same with yellow coloured dollar coins.
Both of these denominations see heavy circulation.

The smallest denomination note is 5 Dollars.

I have visited the 'States, and I find one cent coins and one dollar notes a bit unnecessary.
There has to be a better way, but enough said by me.
Lots of other comments have been made on other threads.
Pillar of the Community
United States
807 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  9:17 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add publius to your friends list
To say that they don't circulate because nobody uses them is a perfect tautology.
It's also not true. I use them!

When I was in Australia, I was fascinated by the wide circulation of the fifty-cent piece, which is enormous compared to any US clad coin other than the Eisenhower.
Edited by publius
07/21/2013 9:18 pm
Valued Member
United States
253 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  9:32 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add paparet to your friends list
I think one of the main reasons they halves do not circulate is that there are almost no vending machines that will accept them. I think a lot of people like the convenience of vending machines but get discourage when the machine will not accept a half dollar. Additionally, having more than one or two in one's pocket can get a bit bulky. Just my point of view. By-the-way, I try to use them any chance I get. It usually gets a comment from the cashier about how they have not seen them in a long time. Some younger cashiers have never seen one and I sometimes have to explain to them that it is real money and it is OK to accept them.
Valued Member
United States
359 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  9:47 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add cheezyfryes to your friends list
I was at a men's retreat this weekend (in Iowa, ironically enough as this original post started out) at the University of Northern Iowa. It was held in one of their sports arenas, and the vending sold everything rounded to the nearest 50 cents. They used Half Dollars for change! Anyone else know of places (other than your LCS) that still make common practice of using these in transactions?
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  10:43 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list
I have NEVER used a fifty cent piece in a vending machine, despite their common and widespread circulation.
Pillar of the Community
United States
927 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  11:16 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add perfessor to your friends list
I was surprised recently to actually find a machine that would accept half dollars. These are rare. But I still spend them whenever I get the chance. I like them in my pockets. Because they are the largest coins, they are easy to sort out.
Valued Member
United States
446 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  11:18 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add DCM Coins to your friends list
The last machines I saw that accepted halves were slot machines in downtown Vegas some years ago. I did not see them when I was there earlier this year.
Valued Member
United States
253 Posts
 Posted 07/22/2013  11:30 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add paparet to your friends list
I would really like to get halves in change from a vending machine. That would be quite a novelty. Most vending machines I have seen do not indicate whether they will accept halves or not, so I'm reluctant to try them for fear they will eat my coin and not give it back.
Valued Member
United States
317 Posts
 Posted 07/22/2013  12:29 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add PennyPiggy to your friends list
I just don't want to have wear cargo pants/shorts to carry a few Kennedys around.
Pillar of the Community
United States
807 Posts
 Posted 07/22/2013  4:55 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add publius to your friends list
Somebody must be circulating them, because I keep getting worn recent dates from the bank.
I have a 1997 here which looks as though it had been in circulation for 116 years!
Pillar of the Community
United States
1339 Posts
 Posted 07/22/2013  6:46 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add babysitr to your friends list
Some casino's use them on a daily basis on table games.....most of them are worn out..........
Pillar of the Community
United States
1007 Posts
 Posted 07/22/2013  10:40 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add matchbox to your friends list
The only time I've received half dollars in change was buying something at a couple of coin shops. I've never spent them, just dropped into my spare half dollar box.

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