How and why did the half dollar piece become so unpopular with the public?

What was it that contributed to the demise, or rather, the fall from grace of the half dollar coin with the American public? When I was a young lad back in the sixties, half dollar pieces were always in circulation and people used them with great frequency. It seems to me that they only began to disappear from circulation after the issuance of the Kennedy half dollar coin. Folks hoarded these coins (Kennedy's) in great numbers and at the time it was rare to see a '64 in circulation. This, coupled with the fact, that silver was removed from US coinage in '65 (40 % silver composition half's would continue till 1970) seemed to contribute more and more to the scarcity of these coins in circulation. I guess from that point on, folks just got out of the habit of using the half dollar coin.

What are your thoughts?

 

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I would like t talk about quarters

 

Because using two quarters was just more convient.

But my guess if because since we already had dimes, quarters, nickles, that the general american public didnt like the half dollar because for example its a odd denomination, and you would half to create a extra slot in the cash register, just minor complaints like that.

 

You miss my point young man. Half dollar coins were used all the time when I was a kid. They were as plentiful as nickels, dimes and quarters are today

 

I remember being a kid (early '60's) here in Canada and getting fifty cent pieces fairly often. I still get the odd one in the till at work but maybe 2 a year. I don't have a answer as to why they're no longer used as commonly as the other denominations. It can't be the size because we have the $1 an $2 coins which are about the same size.

I think the last time I could buy a roll at the back was in the late '70's.

The mintages began to drop under a million in the '80's. However, the mintage for 2002 is 14,440,000. Even so, I haven't seen one.

 

Those "things" that you mention Chris, didn't happen till the '70's/80's. Half dollars started to disappear long before the advent of the items you mention.....

 

While I was never a young lad in the sixties i think it is an interesting topic so i'll throw my $.02 in on this. Other then the silver content dropping my guess would be inflation and the fact that back in the sixties and prior a half dollar could actually buy you somthing substantial.

I just did a quick google search on for reference and food prices are a good comparison but a few quick things that cost $.49 back in the 60's... 3 pounds of apples, a pound of beef chuck roast, 5 pounds of flour, a dozen eggs, a pound of hickory smoked ham, the list goes on...

Anyway my point is that back in the sixties you could send a kid to the store with a fifty cent piece and get something for your money, nowadays you need a $5 bill and probably wouldn't even get $.50 change back!

 

But don't forget, half dollars have been around longer than quarters, plus I'd think one coin is easier to use than 2.

 

Ken, I used to get halves in change in the late 70s. I particularly remember using/receiving them in grocery shops and drug stores. I don't recall if those automatic change dispensers that would shoot out your coin change had a column for halves though... I also used to get halves at the teller window of most any bank I approached without them having to make a trip to the vault or order them, and they were rolled, this was up into the early 90s. Throughout the 80s I also recall spying them in cashiers drawers in retail shops hanging out not doing too much. I'd usually ask for them whenever I spotted them, but started to give up once they appeared to be only 80s and even 90s dates that were being passed around in business transactions.

I guess my point was about eras of change, modernization and streamlining of systems.

Don't get me wrong, I love larger coins and especially halves. I am a very happy camper that the Mint sells rolls of halves as I buy those despite the hefty premium. I do wish the Mint sold the silver halves in rolls but that's a dream and wishful thinking.

 

Indeed they have. There was a time in this nations history that it was "king", as dollar coins did not exist.

 

you could get a meal 50-40 yrs ago with a half dollar. now it cant even get you a soda. it is the clunkiest coin still in production.

 

JJ, excellent point. If you had a fifty cent piece back in those times you had some serious money......:smile

 

Seems the banks have also contributed to the lesser availability of them. I asked for 100$ in half dollars at my bank last year and they looked at my like I was asking for cocaine. I had to fill out a form and they told me theyd call me in a week when they came in. They never called.

 

Our local coin dealer gives some change in halves. I went through the local Jack in the Box to get a cool drink and spent the half there and the look on the young cashiers face was pricless.

 

There's been talk about Canada putting out a $5 coin and eliminating the $5 bill and also getting rid of the penny. I think it would be beneficial to have the half back in circulation. The size of the coin is comparable to the $1 and $2 coins:

 

What was it that contributed to the demise, or rather, the fall from grace of the half dollar coin with the American public?

Its these dang kids with their pants hanging down. A couple halves in the pocket and their pants will fall off. Thats bad for everyone.

 

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My guess is that once the composition changed to base metal the public started thinking differently about what was in their pocket. A fist full of change became two parts, the new base coin and the 40% real money. People realized that whatever silver content was left would be gone soon and therefore started pocketing halves. Once out of circulation the mint didn't want to replace them when the new coins were so much cheaper to make. I bet if they had changed the half to base metal with all the rest of the coins they would still be used today.

 

I'm not totally sure what happened back in the 70's as I was pretty young. Today I think most of the reason they are not used is the retailers, and their choices. The cash registers of today still have 5 trays in the coin tray, but most use the 5th tray for spare rolls, paper clips, rubber bands and the like. I believe that is also the reason most of the current issue $1 coins are not used on a retail level in a bigger way. They are somewhat inconvenient, and not necessary in day to day business.

I really enjoyed the comment about spending the halves at a fast food restaraunt. Just wondering if the kids jaw dropped far enough for you to see the tongue stud?