News From The US Mint On The 2014 Kennedy Half Redesign

basebal21,

I know that if they were just coming out with sets, they'll be expensive, but as someone else posted, I don't think yhey are talking about a redesign anyway, just maybe a set with all of the miny marks, but it would have been nice if they would, with all other coins except the half and the dime having no recent redesigns.

basebal21,

A change in 2015 would be okay with me, but I'd still prefer a program for at least four different curculating designs in 2014 with the front untouched, but four Kennedy themes on the reverse, before a farewell to the Kennedy design. Then maybe something new.

Like I said, as long as the current supply of Kennedy halves are just sitting there, in vaults, keeping the floors from floating away, why not melt a good portion of those halves down, and make the new designs out of the salvaged metals? Sure, it WILL "cost" money, but it would also possibly get more people into hoarding, collecting and maybe even spending of halves, and that will make the government money, in the long run.

Sorry to go off topic a little bit, but I wonder if the upcoming redesign of the $2 bill will increase its circulation. Speaking of which, I don't understand why I'm reading that $2 bills are getting more and more usage, as I've never gotten one in change that I can remember, except maybe the few times I seen them in a cash reguster and bought them off of the cashier, to circulate more, if the cashier would tell me that "Those $2 bills, halves and dollar coins just go back to the bank" but I always ask them, if they are not going to buy them off the store to try to hand them out to people, byr not many people want to take the chance of someone being rude saying "I don't want this funny money!"

Oops! Forgot to mention, my 7 Eleven buddy tries to give out my $2 bills and halves if I spend a few there, but as I've said, and I will just echo it: Most people just do not want dollar coins with the $1 bill around.

basebal21,

You misunderstood. I meant, if they were to keep the same Kennedt obverse after 2014, I would like to see a series in 2014 of at least four different reverses, then, for 2015 and beyond, make a permanent design, or at least, until the 100th anniversary of the Kennedy half, IF it remains the "Kennedy" half. Like with the Lincoln Cent, how they did a four-design 2009 series, then went to a permanent design for 2010 and beyond, and kelrt Lincoln on the cent. Sorry if I confused you.

And yes, I agree with you that they are wasting their time minting dollar coins as long as the dollar bill is around. Ever notice how most cashiers actually prefer halves and $2 bills over dollar coins? That is how it is around here anyway. As an old, now deceased friend of mine once said, "No cashier is going to want to stock their cash drawer with TWO forms of the same denomination" And I think he hit the nail on the head, when he said there is no point to it. But at least $2 bills and halves are two different denominations, without a corresponding bill (half) or coin ($2 bill).

This giy who lurks on Wheres George? and other coin and currency boards, always babbles about a "time" he "predicts" that the government will end the $1bill, and he has said that, "There has been nothing public, but legislation is already in place, starting in 2010, expect to see the $1 bill production ending" and this is what ge was saying back in 2008. He "claimed" that some bank teller had been at some meeting where usually, the higher up bank people go had a meeting about the demise of both, the $1 bill, and the penny, and this "higher up guy" was just filling in for a basic bank teller that was out that day, who has told this guy this supposed "information". Oh, and this higher up guy sypposedly said "No plans to push $2 bills into circulation, but if the demand is there, they will produce more $2s"

Fox I knew what you meant but the US Government never does anything quickly. Without time to do the set next year the following year would be the only option. The fact they didnt even ask about that in the survey though would suggest they have no interest in it. I would have loved to see a set like that but if they do the silver reverse proofs Ill be happy.

The register makes sense, I have a friend that works at Starbucks and he hates the Presidential dollars for that very reason. People dont like money that does the same thing as something we already have.

There always seem to be people claiming to have inside knowledge of things. Likely that persons just figuring that the bill will end soon and wants to be able to say I told yous o if it ever does.

Why a few years? If you can't kill the cent in 2015 along with the half, kill it in 2016. It should have been killed over 10 years ago when the cost to manufacture it (not including the material cost) exceeded the face value of the coin.

Ugh! Why do so many of you want to see the 50 cent denomination eliminated from circulation? If the Mint is still making money off producing halves, and they are still selling, even if at a premium, then, what are those halves hurting? If people want it so badly, then fine: End the Kennedy half in 2014, and do a Reagan half for 2015 and beyond, but do not terminate the denomination for those who still like to spend them as pocket change. Same with the $2 bill. Keep it around, but if you want it, maybe they could do something different with that as well, like maybe a Theodore Roosevelt $2 bill, or something of the like.

Fox - the Kennedy half is a collector only half. I agree with the others kill it off... most Kennedy collectors would be happy as heck at this point! I am not in favor of resurrecting any more presidents on coins. I think they have proven that once they are on a coin they never die off - it will actually take an act of Congress - and we've seen how well that works!