Half Dollars The U.S. Congress authorized the Half Dollar in 1792 as one of America’s original coins. The size and silver weight of the coin was based on the Spanish 4 Reales coin, which was valued at one-half of the 8 Reales Silver Dollar (also known as a “piece of eight”). The Half Dollar was struck in .8924 silver until 1836 when the composition changed slightly to .900 silver. The .900 silver Half Dollar continued to be struck until 1964; the level of silver changed to .400 in 1965, and all Half Dollars minted for circulation since 1971 have been struck in copper-nickel. The .400 silver Half Dollars were the only U.S. coins ever made for circulation using this silver composition. The first Half Dollar struck by the U.S. Mint was the Flowing Hair coin 1794 and 1795. The Draped Bust design was introduced in 1796 with the Small Eagle reverse, but this coin was made only in 1796 and 1797. The next Half Dollar was the Draped Bust with Heraldic Eagle reverse design between 1801 and 1807, followed by the Capped Bust design from 1807 to 1839. The first Half Dollar with a reeded edge was the 1836 coin. The Liberty Seated Half Dollar was issued from 1839 to 1891, and the Barber Half Dollar was struck from 1892 to 1915. In 1916, the U.S. Mint first struck one of the most famous and beautiful of all U.S. coins – the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. Designed by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman, the obverse shows Liberty in a flowing gown while the reverse depicts a stunning eagle. The Franklin Half Dollar in 1948 was the first circulating U.S. coin to feature a real person other than a former President. It honors Benjamin Franklin. The Franklin Half Dollar was a short-lived that was issued only from 1948 to 1963. It was unexpectedly replaced with the Kennedy Half Dollar in 1964 as a tribute to President John F. Kennedy who was assassinated in November 1963. With the exception of 1976 when a special one-time-only reverse design was used to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Kennedy Half Dollar has been issued continuously since 1964. Due to a lack of usage in circulation, however, this coin was made only for collectors in very limited editions since 2002. The 2001 coin was the last to be released into circulation.
The U.S. Congress authorized the Half Dollar in 1792 as one of America’s original coins. The size and silver weight of the coin was based on the Spanish 4 Reales coin, which was valued at one-half of the 8 Reales Silver Dollar (also known as a “piece of eight”). The Half Dollar was struck in .8924 silver until 1836 when the composition changed slightly to .900 silver. The .900 silver Half Dollar continued to be struck until 1964; the level of silver changed to .400 in 1965, and all Half Dollars minted for circulation since 1971 have been struck in copper-nickel. The .400 silver Half Dollars were the only U.S. coins ever made for circulation using this silver composition. The first Half Dollar struck by the U.S. Mint was the Flowing Hair coin 1794 and 1795. The Draped Bust design was introduced in 1796 with the Small Eagle reverse, but this coin was made only in 1796 and 1797. The next Half Dollar was the Draped Bust with Heraldic Eagle reverse design between 1801 and 1807, followed by the Capped Bust design from 1807 to 1839. The first Half Dollar with a reeded edge was the 1836 coin. The Liberty Seated Half Dollar was issued from 1839 to 1891, and the Barber Half Dollar was struck from 1892 to 1915. In 1916, the U.S. Mint first struck one of the most famous and beautiful of all U.S. coins – the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. Designed by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman, the obverse shows Liberty in a flowing gown while the reverse depicts a stunning eagle. The Franklin Half Dollar in 1948 was the first circulating U.S. coin to feature a real person other than a former President. It honors Benjamin Franklin. The Franklin Half Dollar was a short-lived that was issued only from 1948 to 1963. It was unexpectedly replaced with the Kennedy Half Dollar in 1964 as a tribute to President John F. Kennedy who was assassinated in November 1963. With the exception of 1976 when a special one-time-only reverse design was used to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Kennedy Half Dollar has been issued continuously since 1964. Due to a lack of usage in circulation, however, this coin was made only for collectors in very limited editions since 2002. The 2001 coin was the last to be released into circulation.