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- Complete Guide to Collecting U.S. Half Dollars
By GovMint :
The U.S. Half Dollar is one of the most iconic coins in circulation within the United States. Through time, the U.S. Mint has struck many different versions of the Half Dollar – from the Silver Walking Liberties, which carried America through the roaring 20s, all the way through the end of World War II to the honoring of President John F. Kennedy in the “Kennedy Silver Proof Half Dollars.” The Mint also continues to strike a variety of commemorative releases to this day.
Being a coin with such a rich history, this guide will help to ensure that you know everything you need to effectively continue – or even begin – your collection of U.S. Half Dollar coins.
Table of Contents
Why Collect U.S. Half Dollars?
Is It Worth Collecting Half Dollars?
How to Start Collecting U.S. Half Dollars
What Should I Look for When Collecting Half Dollars?
3 Ways to Collect Half Dollars
Where to Buy U.S. Half Dollars
The History of U.S. Half Dollars & Their Face Value
The first U.S. Half Dollar, or 50-Cent Piece, was minted in 1794. For more than 150 years, the obverse of the iconic silver coin depicted a woman representing Lady Liberty in various poses throughout the versions of the coin. This changed in 1948, however, when an image of one of the great founders, Benjamin Franklin, replaced the figure of Lady Liberty. In 1964, the Mint switched the half dollar design yet again – this time, to honor President John F. Kennedy who was assassinated the year prior. He has been on the obverse side of the U.S. Half Dollar ever since.
Although the coin was largely circulating, the U.S. Mint eliminated silver from the composition of the half dollars by 1971. By then, the coin was already on its way out of circulation. Cash-register drawers stopped making slots for them, vending machines no longer accepted them, and banks had to request them from the Federal Reserve for any customer who wanted them. These changes led younger Americans to be largely completely unaware of the coin’s existence, and by 2002, the Mint stopped putting half dollars into circulation altogether.
The U.S. Half Dollars are still considered legal tender, and the Mint still manufactures commemorative and special-edition 50-cent pieces for collectors, but due to the lack of overall circulation, this alone is making these coins more intriguing rarer by the year.
To get a sense of why some U.S. Half Dollar coins have been highly sought after among collectors, the following chart showcases a few historical sales of popular Silver Half Dollars. While these are not necessarily the highest sale amounts for their respective coins, they are fairly eye-opening nonetheless:
Embed this graphic on your website:
<a href="https://www.govmint.com/coin-authority/post/complete-guide-collecting-us-half-dollars"><img src="https://www.govmint.com/v~4b.51/media/wysiwyg/Timeline_of_U.S._Half_Dollars.jpg" alt="Timeline of U.S Half Dollars 1794-Present" width="500" border="0"></a><br>Source: <a href="https://www.govmint.com/coin-authority/post/complete-guide-collecting-us-half-dollars">Complete Guide to Collecting U.S. Half Dollars</a><br>
| Silver Half Dollar | Sale Amount | Date Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Flowing Hair Half Dollar | $705,000 | 2015 |
| Draped Bust Half Dollar | $1,380,000 | 2008 |
| Capped Bust Half Dollar | $18,212,595 | 2012 |
| Seated Liberty Half Dollar | $276,000 | 2018 |
| Barber Half Dollar | $108,687.50 | 2013 |
| Walking Liberty Half Dollar | $270,250 | 2004 |
| Franklin Half Dollar | $63,250 | 2006 |
| Kennedy Silver Dollar | $22,325 | 2016 |
:
Why Collect U.S. Half Dollars?
Out of all the U.S. coins that have circulated throughout American history, the 50-cent piece is quickly growing in popularity and for three main reasons:
- Various Designs - When it comes to collecting U.S. Half Dollars, sixteen different designs or variations are available, compared to their silver-dollar counterpart.
- They can be affordable - If you’re running on a tight budget with your silver collection, silver half dollars can be extremely affordable –sometimes more so than the Morgan Silver Dollar. Half Dollars are available at a variety of price points.
- They can be Easier to ’re Easier to Find - Although they’re not actively being put into circulation, some are still easy to find at your local bank.
Is It Worth Collecting Half Dollars?
How to Start Collecting U.S. Half Dollars
Of all the U.S. Half Dollars, the Kennedy Silver Half Dollar is by far the most recognizable to the modern eye, making other versions like the Walking Liberty or Benjamin Franklin Half Dollar silver coins that much more appealing to collectors who prefer classics.
If you’re asking yourself how to collect U.S. Half Dollars, especially if you’re just starting, it’s recommended that you begin with the Kennedy Half Dollar simply because they are easily available at most banks. From there, you can begin to vary your collection.
What Should I Look for When Collecting Half Dollars?
When looking at half-dollar coins, here are the core assessments you should make:
- The coin’s anatomy (design, edge, rim, date, etc.)
- The coin’s finish (uncirculated, proof, reverse proof)
- The coin’s mintmark
For more information on what to look for when collecting any coin, visit The Ultimate Coin Collector’s Resource.
3 Ways to Collect Half Dollars
Once you’ve decided that you want to collect U.S. Half Dollars, there are three main ways to go about collecting these historical coins.
#1. By Year
Since the U.S. Half Dollar coins have been around since 1794, a Year Set Collection would mean collecting a coin from each year. This could be a daunting endeavor, especially for the new collector. If starting a Year Set Collection, it’s recommended that you begin with what is called the “short date” set and select a date range to start with (i.e., 1948 - 1963).
#2. By Design
The U.S. Half Dollar has four key designs: Flowing Hair Liberty, the Walking Liberty, the Benjamin Franklin, and the Kennedy Half Dollar. Collecting by design can be a fun and interesting process, as with each design, you’ll find several versions, silver content, and variations.
#3. By Mint
Each U.S. coin contains a “mintmark,” which is a mark that designates the location the coin was produced. You can either try collecting coins from a specific mint or even collect a coin from each mint that struck a U.S. Half Dollar.
Where to Buy U.S. Half Dollars
As an authorized dealer for coins that are authenticated, certified, and graded by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), GovMint.com also has a licensed product partnership with the Smithsonian. Here, a portion of the sales proceeds of such officially licensed products will go toward chartered educational purposes of the National Numismatic Collection housed in Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
With an A+ rating that we’ve been proud to earn from the Better Business Bureau, GovMint.com has become one of the largest collectible coin marketers in the United States. We have a wide selection of hard-to-find coins from both the United States and around the world. Through our various endeavors, we have been able to provide collectors like you with many leading-edge product introductions and innovations in the collecting field.
If you are interested in starting your collection of U.S. Half-Dollar coins, we are more than confident that you will find the service and care you need at GovMint.com.
To keep learning more, check out our other comprehensive coin guides down below!
Guide To Collecting Wheat Pennies
Guide To Collecting Steel Pennies
Guide To Collecting Silver Dollars
References:
- https://www.usmint.gov/learn/kids/about-the-mint/half-dollar
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-half-dollars-accidental-demise-1456695824
- https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/silver_half_dollars/
- https://www.greysheet.com/news/story/quick-start-walking-liberty-half-dollars
- https://www.govmint.com/about-us
- https://www.govmint.com/us-coins/other-us-coins/half-dollar
- https://www.usacoinbook.com/encyclopedia/most-valuable-coins/half-dollars/
- https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/kennedy-half-dollar-value/
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