U.S. Half Dollar Coins
The half dollar coin is the largest-size coin currently struck for circulation by the U.S. Mint, with clad Kennedy half dollars weighing 11.34 grams and measuring 30.61 mm in diameter. The half dollar is also called a 50-cent piece, and in an old rhyming cheer, it has been referred to as "four bits." U.S. Half Dollar coins are highly collectible, as their large size perfectly showcases each coin's design.
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Authorized by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792
Authorized by Congress in 1792, the half dollar coin is among the oldest U.S. denominations. The first 50-cent coins were struck in December 1794, the same year the first U.S. Mint was built in Philadelphia.
U.S. Half Dollar Designs
Since 1794, the half dollar has seen two distinct periods of design. The first is the early classics, which includes the Flowing Hair, Draped Bust, Capped Bust, Liberty Seated and Barber (named for its designer, Charles E. Barber) series. The second period features modern designs and includes Liberty Walking, Franklin and Kennedy half dollars.
Issuing Mints
The Philadelphia Mint has struck U.S. half dollar coins since 1794. In 1838, New Orleans became the first branch mint to issue U.S. half dollars. It was followed by the San Francisco Mint in 1855, the Carson City Mint in 1870 and the Denver Mint in 1906. The New Orleans Mint closed in 1909, and the Carson City Mint closed in 1893.
Since 2002, circulation-quality Kennedy half dollars have been struck primarily in limited quantities for collectors by Philadelphia and Denver, and made available only in mint sets, rolls and bags. Proof issues continue to be minted in San Francisco.
Special Issues
The Franklin half dollar was the first circulating US coin to depict an actual person (rather than an allegorical representation of Liberty) who was not a U.S. president. Franklin halves were replaced by Kennedy half dollars in 1964 to honor our revered fallen president.
The bicentennial half dollar, dual-dated 1776-1976, featured President Kennedy on the obverse and Independence Hall in Philadelphia on the reverse. This special half dollar was issued in 1975 and 1976, for circulation as well as Proof coins and in Uncirculated Mint Sets.
In 2014, the West Point Mint issued a one-year-only 50th anniversary Kennedy half dollar struck in 99.99% gold – the first gold half dollar issued by the U.S. Mint.
In 2016, the West Point Mint struck a one-year-only gold 100th anniversary Liberty Walking half dollar to honor the beloved coin motif by designer A.A. Weinman, which was issued 1916-1947.
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