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The Mint never stopped making 50¢ coins. They simply cut back production for a number of reasons.
The history of the coin's decline in use is a story of government bungling and human sentiment. Half-dollars circulated regularly until 1964; it was quite common to receive a half and a quarter if you were due 75 cents in change. When JFK was assassinated, Congress rushed to honor him with a coin. The quarter was first proposed for revision but it was felt that it wouldn't be fair to remove the image of Washington. At that time the half was the only coin that didn't have a president's image, so legislation was rushed through to replace Ben Franklin with JFK.
However the new halves disappeared almost as soon as they appeared because they were hoarded as keepsakes. Bags were even shipped overseas for people who wanted souvenirs. Later that year the price of silver was deregulated and increased to the point where all silver coins from the dime up were worth more than face value. That forced the Mint to come up with the copper-nickel "sandwich" coins that we now use.
The problem was that someone, somewhere, somehow had the not-too-bright idea of continuing to use silver in half-dollars, albeit at a reduced level (40% instead of 90%). That idea failed when price of silver continued to rise to the point where even the 40% coins were worth more than face value. As a result the denomination disappeared at an even faster pace.
By 1969 almost no half dollars were left in circulation. It took another 2 years for the geniuses at the Mint to figure out what had happened and convert the half to "sandwich" metal but by that time the damage was done. The Mint tried flooding banks with halves but a lot of vending machines and cash registers had been converted to take only dimes and quarters, so the coin had no place to go. It's since become a chicken-and-egg situation where consumers don't spend halves because they aren't used in retail commerce, and they're not used in commerce because people don't spend them. In addition, there are urban legends that the coins are somehow rare and/or still contain silver so even the few that do end up in change drawers are quickly snapped up and not re-spent.
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When did us stop making silver half-dollar?
The last 90% silver half dollars were minted in 1964, but they continued to be minted in 40% silver until 1970.
What year did the US stop making silver half dollars?
The last 90% silver half's made for general circulation were in 1964. 40% silver coins were issued until 1970.
When did they stop making all silver half dollars?
Half dollars have never been made out of pure silver but all half dollars minted before 1965 are 90% silver, halves dated 1965-1970 are 40% silver. Circulation issue halves dated 1971 and later are copper nickel and thus worth 50 cents. The US still makes commemorative half dollars such as the 90% silver proof half dollars made from 1992-present.
When did US stop using silver in their coins?
The last year for 90% silver dimes, quarters, and, half dollars was 1964. Half dollars were then made with 40% silver until 1970.
When did the us mint stop producing Silver half dollars?
1964 all us coins stopped being produced with silver.
When did us stop making silver half-dollar?
The last 90% silver half dollars were minted in 1964, but they continued to be minted in 40% silver until 1970.
What year did the US stop making silver half dollars?
The last 90% silver half's made for general circulation were in 1964. 40% silver coins were issued until 1970.
When did the us stop making half silver dimes?
1,200,444,444,444,444,444,555,666,555. years ago
When did they stop making all silver half dollars?
Half dollars have never been made out of pure silver but all half dollars minted before 1965 are 90% silver, halves dated 1965-1970 are 40% silver. Circulation issue halves dated 1971 and later are copper nickel and thus worth 50 cents. The US still makes commemorative half dollars such as the 90% silver proof half dollars made from 1992-present.
When did US stop using silver in their coins?
The last year for 90% silver dimes, quarters, and, half dollars was 1964. Half dollars were then made with 40% silver until 1970.
When did the us mint stop producing Silver half dollars?
1964 all us coins stopped being produced with silver.
What year do they start making liberty half dollar?
No US coin is known as just a "LIBERTY" coin and ALL US half dollars have the word liberty on them. The first US half dollar was made in 1794.
When did the US stop minting half dollars in silver?
1964 was the last year the mint minted Half Dollars in 90% silver. Then from 1965 to 1970 they were struck in 40% silver. Currently Half dollars contain no silver. They are made of a copper-nickel clad composition. Starting in 1992 the mint started making 90% silver proofs. In 1964 dimes, quarters and dollars were also stopped being made in 90% silver.
What year did the us stop making the Franklin half dollar?
The last year for Franklin halves was 1963.
When is production of the Kennedy half due to end?
The US Mint has no plans to discontinue making half dollars. In any case Congressional approval would be required.
When did the US quit making silver half dollars?
1964 was the last year for circulating 90% silver half dollars, from 1965 to 1969 the coins were struck in 40% silver and again in 1970 but that year was not released for circulation
When were US half dollars made of silver?
All US half dollars dated 1964 and prior are 90% silver (worth about $11 in scrap silver) All US half dollars dated 1965-1970 are 40% silver (worth about $5 in scrap silver) All US half dollars dated 1971-present that are circulating contain no silver and are only worth 50 cents. (The US does strike commemorative half dollars and proof silver half dollars for collectors but these are almost always found in mint packaging, not as a loose half dollar).
