At 50 Years --- Discontinue The Kennedy Half ?

I voted for eaglefoot's idea but have changed my mind after reading through the posts.

Back on page one, hugemistake said:




I think this is a great idea, similar to the idea of stopping the printing of dollar bills and forcing the dollar coins on the masses. A circulating 50cent piece would be very convenient in daily transactions if/when the masses can grow accustomed to them. By restricting the the supply of new quarters, the 50cent piece would become neccessary. After a year or two of encountering the 50cent piece daily, it would again become "accepted" by the masses. From the gunmint's point of view, the part about seignorage makes sense too; though I couldn't care less about the crooks profit margin...

If that idea doesn't happen, I go with "Get rid of it all together!" JFK is my favorite 20th century president, the only one of the century, in fact, who I do not absolutely despise with all my heart and soul (just to fan the flames a bit ). But I agree with the many others that no man, living or dead, should be placed on a coin. I believe George Washington himself once stated as much (fact check?).

Probably so. But just to clarify, my comment was contemplating eliminating them entirely since this thread was discussing completely eliminating the (already NIFC) half dollar.

I would not be surprised at all.

That is correct. There HAVE been business strike versions struck every year, including and since 2001 P. It's just that the NIFC "status", technically, keeps them from being minted for "circulation", and so that is what was "meant" by the statement of no biz. strikes since 2001 D, I believe. The bags and rolls have definately been available for collectors this whole time and they are indeed biz. strikes.......and they even show up in my roll hunting ! ....

That's a nice point to bring up for everyone to be aware of and to have clarified though !! ......GOOD CATCH hugemistake2003 !!

I visited the 'States recently and noted the scarcity of half dollars in circulation. I must admit that the size of the half gives it a medallic quality, and would a designer more scope for his design. Walkers are a case in point, which to not a few people's eyes, are the most attractive of coin designs. That alone should be enough to justify at least a few halves to circulate.

What I did find perplexing was the number of pennies that were just hoarded after being involved in just one cash transaction, obviously due to state taxes added onto the price of a purchase, giving an odd final purchase price.

As an outsider, it is far from me to suggest changes to the 'American way', but to me, I would find it easier to understand the final price, if the state tax was already included in the final purchase price, rounded up or down to the nearest 10 cents.

I must admit, I like Eaglefoots' quip! " Benjamin Franklin was never a President'!

I see the reasoning behind ending the Kennedy series, but a 50 year death anniversary "commemorative" half in 2013 is in questionable taste, as the assassination would still be a vivid memory for many Americans. It would be way too soon for such an item, a more fitting tribute would be Centenary birth coins, which sounds like a 3-coin commemorative set in 2017.