Numismatic News- Whether or not the half dollar is abolished in the near future, it is fair to ask if there is any economic benefit to having the coin.
Since the early 2000s, the half dollar has been struck by the Mint for direct sale to collectors in bags and rolls.
Collectors still have an emotional attachment to the denomination.
I recall standing it line at a bank to obtain the first of the 1964 Kennedy half dollars in March of that first year of issue. I hadn't even made it to the age of 9, yet I participated in this national event without the assist of any adults.
I walked to the bank by myself. I stood in the long line by myself. I felt the sense of triumph when I was given the maximum of two coins.
Quote: Whether this is enough to lead to its abolition is probably not the issue. As long as collectors stay emotionally attached to the coin, it will continue to come off the presses.
After all, if collectors didn't buy them, mintages would tumble even from current low levels and the coin would essentially abolish itself.
Exactly.
I would probably miss the half dollar if it went away completely, but I would eventually get over it. I still think a re-imagined half dollar would be a viable option for circulation.
I think it would be cool if they put a living president on there. Perhaps they can put President Obama on there. If not, I will have to settle for getting the Obama Chia Pet.
I would very much miss the JFK half as I like having a larger silver proof issue coin, aside from the ASE, to collect. Although halves are currently NIFC, they used to be made as an actual medium for commerce. So even though I like ASE's, for some reason since the ASE's never were made for circulation, the halves seem more like a "coin" to me.
@joeysanders Thankfully they cannot put a living president on a coin as it could be seen as too much of a political statement. The law tends to keep politics out of coinage.
Also remember the memory of JFK is treasured by people who are old enough to remember the assassination. So if there is a presidential replacement, in order not to make a lot of Americans very, very upset, it would be a good move to replace JFK's effigy with someone so opposite in political ideals.
Like you Earle....I would miss my annual proof / silver proof Kennedy every year. I wouldn't miss the P & D as I only get those to keep my albums up but especially the silver proof. I look forward to that coin the most of each year.
I would still love it (even better) if it was changed to a Liberty design!
Quote: Make the Half dollar the first coin to go back to the Liberty design.
I agree, but the problem with putting actual people on the coins to begin with is that people view removing them as a gesture that the person is no longer important to us.
Quote: I think it would be cool if they put a living president on there. Perhaps they can put President Obama on there.
We're now well on the way to being a 3rd world kleptocracy, so I wouldn't be surprised if someone proposes in the near future that images of living people be allowed on coins.
Quote: ...the problem with putting actual people on the coins to begin with is that people view removing them as a gesture that the person is no longer important to us.
All the more reason to redesign the entire line at the same time. Save the real people for commemoratives.
Semi-related aside: A few years ago (2010-ish?) the home page of the US Mint's website had images of all of the modern coins, except that the dime and half dollar showed only the reverse. I have a feeling someone had an anti-Democrat bias.
Quote: Also remember the memory of JFK is treasured by people who are old enough to remember the assassination. So if there is a presidential replacement, in order not to make a lot of Americans very, very upset, it would be a good move to replace JFK's effigy with someone so opposite in political ideals.
I think a return to Liberty is the only sensible solution for replacing any president on any coin (or note for that matter). Sure, there will be those who are offended at losing a beloved effigy, but their numbers would be a mere fraction of those who would complain at replacing Political Figure A with Political Figure B. Liberty is non-partisan.
I remember being called in from recess early that November day in elementary school, waiting in line to return to class and having the principal come out, obviously shaken, and telling us to go home and be with our families. Even as much as I also look forward each year to the Kennedy half dollars (and am still kicking myself for not buying the 3/4 oz gold version), I would not object to his image being replaced with a design symbolic of an American ideal like Liberty or Freedom. I do think that for the 50C piece to return to circulation that it would have to get smaller, bigger than the golden dollar, just big enough to easily distinguish it from the quarter, and maybe thinner as well to keep costs down. I really don't see a need to eliminate the Kennedy design though, since it is a numismatic only coin now, and the numismatic coin program is wildly profitable for the mint, bringing in many times as much profit as the bullion program does. A different design on a re-imagined circulation coin could coexist with a traditional numismatic coin.
Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited. Contact Us | Advertise Here | Privacy Policy / Terms of Use
Posted 10/12/2016 12:56 pm
and definitely more sense than keeping the $1 note!
