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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,619 |
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Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
When I was growing up in Iowa in the 1960s, we used half dollars all the time. There were still a lot of those beautiful Walking Liberty halves in circulation. Now you seldom see halves. Why? (Is it because the Kennedy halves are so ugly?)
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Because no one uses them. Theyre used so little that they havent even been made for circulation for several years and likely never will be again.
Theres a ton of reasons why but they all lead back to no one using them. The kennedys being the last silver coin didnt help matters much with people snagging them and thinking of them as a commemorative or something special instead of everyday money.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1436 Posts |
You also don't see Ike dollars either. It think it more has to do w/ the size & weight of them... too bulky for a lot of people to want to carry around in their pocket |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1037 Posts |
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?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2077 Posts |
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. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
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. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
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.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
807 Posts |
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
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Valued Member
United States
253 Posts |
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.
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Valued Member
United States
359 Posts |
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?
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have NEVER used a fifty cent piece in a vending machine, despite their common and widespread circulation.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
927 Posts |
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.
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Valued Member
United States
446 Posts |
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.
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Valued Member
United States
253 Posts |
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.
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Valued Member
United States
317 Posts |
I just don't want to have wear cargo pants/shorts to carry a few Kennedys around.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
807 Posts |
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!
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,619 |
Posted 07/21/2013 1:07 pm
