Half Dollar (United States)
Value:	0.5 U.S. Dollars
Mass:	11.340 g
Diameter:	30.61 mm
Thickness:	2.15 mm
Edge:	150 reeds
Composition:	91.66% Cu 8.33% Ni
Years of Minting:	1971–1974; 1977–present
Catalog Number:	-
Obverse
Design:	John F. Kennedy
Designer:	Gilroy Roberts
Design Date:	1964
Reverse
Design:	Presidential Seal
Designer:	Frank Gasparro
Design Date:	1964

The Half Dollar of the United States has been produced nearly every year since the inception of the United States Mint in 1794. No other US coin has enjoyed as consistent a mintage over the entire period. Currently, however, they appear to have little circulation aside from some use in casinos. This article is about general United States currency. ... The gram or gramme, symbol g, is a unit of mass. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ... General Name, Symbol, Number nickel, Ni, 28 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 4, d Appearance lustrous, metallic Atomic mass 58. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1210x1217, 270 KB) Summary Obtained from the U.S. Mint website, specifically [1]. I converted it to jpg. ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK, or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ... Gilroy Roberts designed the obverse of the US half dollar coin (Kennedy), which was first issued in 1964. ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1210x1226, 268 KB) Summary Obtained from the U.S. Mint website, specifically [1]. I converted it to jpg. ... The Seal of the President of the United States is based on the Great Seal of the United States. ... Frank Gasparro (August 26, 1909 – September 29, 2001) was the 10th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint and held this position from February 23, 1965 to January 16, 1981. ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... Mrs. ... 1794 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Top row: Sacagawea Dollar, Lincoln Cent, and Roosevelt Dime. ... Casino (disambiguation). ...

This is primarily due to an unfortunate confluence of two events, the silver crisis of 1963, and the assassination of US president John F. Kennedy. The value of silver had risen by 1962-3 to the point that it became worthwhile to melt down US coins for their bullion value. Silver coins (those of ten cent value and above) began to disappear from circulation, leading the United States to change to a layered composition coin made of a copper core laminated between two cupro-nickel faces for the 1964 coinage year. The Kennedy half-dollar design, however was minted in coin silver in 1964 and in a silver-clad composition in 1965–1970. For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK, or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ... Cupronickel is an alloy of copper, nickel and stengthening impurities, such as iron and manganese. ...

Initially the Kennedy halves were hoarded for sentimental reasons and because they were recognized as the only precious metal US coin remaining in circulation. By the time mintage figures could match normal demand and the coin's composition was changed to match the rest of the coinage, both businesses and the public had adapted to a world in which the half dollar did not circulate. Other uses had been found for the half-dollar section of the cash drawer. People had gotten used to depending on quarters as the major component of change. The quarter is 1/4th of a United States dollar or 25 cents. ...

Most coins enter circulation through the change drawers of businesses. Hardly any businesses stock their change drawers with half dollars or dollar coins, so the coins do not circulate. Dollar coins have been minted in the United States in both gold and silver versions. ...

List of designs

• Silver half dollars
  • Flowing Hair 1794–1795
  • Draped Bust 1796–1807
  • Capped Bust 1807–1839
  • Seated Liberty 1839–1891
  • Barber 1892–1915
  • Walking Liberty 1916–1947
  • Franklin 1948–1963
  • Kennedy 1964

• 40% silver half dollars
  • Kennedy 1965–1970

• Copper-nickel half dollars
  • Kennedy 1971–1974, 1977–present
  • Kennedy Bicentennial 1975–1976 (all were dated 1776-1976)

In addition to these regular issue coins, Half Dollars are the most common denomination used for United States Commemorative Coins. The Seated Liberty designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage during the mid- and late-nineteenth century, from 1836 through 1891. ... Walking Liberty Half Dollar A silver half dollar coin issued by the United States government, equal to 50 cents. ... The Franklin half dollar is a coin of the United States, minted from 1948 to 1963. ... Kennedy Half Dollar Obverse (Left) and Reverse (Right) Evolving from the Franklin half dollar, the Kennedy half dollar is a coin of the United States first minted in 1964. ... Media:Example. ... A term that distinguishes coins created for commerce from commemorative coins. ... Commemorative coinage of the United States consists of coins that have been minted to commemorate a particular event, person or organization. ...

External link

• http://www.acoin.com/regular50c.htm