Pot of Gold U.S. Coin Guide
Half Dollars

Half dollar coins have been produced nearly every year since the inception of the United States Mint in 1794. Sometimes referred to as the fifty-cent piece, the only U.S. coin that has been minted more consistently is the cent.

Variations of the U.S. Half Dollars

  • U.S. Coinage Flowing Hair Half Dollar

    Flowing Hair Half Dollar (1794-1795)

    The half dollar was one of the first three denominations to be issued in that metal, along with the silver dollar and half dime. The Mint began producing half dollars, delivering the first shipment of approximately 5,300 pieces on December 1, 1794.

    Congress had specified that the silver coins should carry a design “emblematic of Liberty,” and Chief Engraver Robert Scot had implemented this mandate with a right-facing portrait of a youthful female figure whose hair flowed freely behind her—hence the descriptive term “Flowing Hair.” It’s said the flowing hair was meant to signify freedom. LIBERTY appears above the portrait, with the date below and 15 stars along the sides, denoting the number of states in the Union at that time. The coin’s reverse depicts a small, spread-winged eagle perched upon a rock and surrounded by laurel branches. Along the border is the motto UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The half dollar’s edge bears the inscription FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR, with decorations between the words.

    The Mint produced 23,464 half dollars dated 1794 and 299,680 dated 1795. It replaced the obverse in 1796 with the Draped Bust portrait of Liberty, making the Flowing Hair version a two-year type coin. Some 1795 half dollars have a recut date, but these are not unduly elusive. Some 1795 pieces have three leaves under each of the eagle’s wings, instead of the normal two, and these are scarce. No proofs are known for this series, which is widely collected by type.

  • U.S. Coinage Draped Bust Half Dollar Small Eagle

    Draped Bust Half Dollar Small Eagle (1796-1797)

    "Draped Bust" was the name given to a design of United States coins. It appeared on much of the regular-issue copper and silver United States coinage, 1795–1808. It was designed by engraver Robert Scot. Following the Flowing Hair half dollar, the history of half dollars continued with the Draped Bust coinage of 1796-1807. This design bears a new rendition of Liberty, with her loose hair tied in a ribbon. The series' original reverse, from 1796-1797, bore a smaller eagle within a wreath.

  • U.S. Coinage Capped Bust Half Dollar

    Capped Bust Half Dollar (1807-1839)

    Partway through 1807, the Draped Bust series was replaced by U.S. Mint Engraver John Reich's Capped Bust design. This series shows Liberty donning a cloth cap on her head. The reverse once again displays a smaller eagle, with a shield. Until 1836, the edge featured the denomination, once again inscribed as FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR. Partway through 1836, the coin's edge was changed to a simpler reeded style. This style remained until the end of the Capped Bust series in 1839.

  • U.S. Coinage Seated Half Dollar

    Seated Half Dollar (1839-1891)

    The Liberty Seated Half Dollars were issued from 1839-1886 The front of these coins (also called the Obverse) has the Goddess or Lady Liberty seated. She holds what looks like a small flag in her left hand. This is actually a liberty pole. Her right hand is holding the top left corner of a shield containing the word Liberty.

  • U.S. Coinage Barber Half Dollar

    Barber Half Dollar (1892-1915)

    The Barber coinage consisted of a dime, quarter, and half dollar designed by United States Bureau of the Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. They were minted between 1892 and 1916, though no half dollars were struck in the final year of the series.

    By the late 1880s, there were increasing calls for the replacement of the Seated Liberty design, used since the 1830s on most denominations of silver coins. In 1891, Mint Director Edward O. Leech, having been authorized by Congress to approve coin redesigns, ordered a competition, seeking a new look for the silver coins. As only the winner would receive a cash prize, invited artists refused to participate and no entry from the general public proved suitable. Leech instructed Barber to prepare new designs for the dime, quarter, and half dollar, and after the chief engraver made changes to secure Leech's endorsement, they were approved by President Benjamin Harrison in November 1891. Striking of the new coins began the following January.

    Public and artistic opinion of the new pieces was, and remains, mixed. In 1915, Mint officials began plans to replace them, after the design's minimum term expired in 1916. The Mint issued Barber dimes and quarters in 1916 to meet commercial demand, but before the end of the year, the Mercury dime, Standing Liberty quarter, and Walking Liberty half dollar had begun production. Most dates in the Barber coin series are not difficult to obtain, but the 1894 dime struck at the San Francisco Mint (1894-S), with a mintage of 24, is a great rarity.

  • U.S. Coinage Walking Liberty Half Dollar

    Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947)

    The Franklin half dollar is a coin that was struck by the United States Mint ("Mint") from 1948 to 1963. The fifty-cent piece pictures Founding Father Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse. A small eagle was placed to the right of the bell to fulfill the legal requirement that half dollars depict the figure of an eagle. Produced in 90 percent silver with a reeded edge, the coin was struck at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints.

    Mint director Nellie Tayloe Ross had long admired Franklin, and wanted him to be depicted on a coin. In 1947, she instructed the Mint's chief engraver, John R. Sinnock, to prepare designs for a Franklin half dollar. Sinnock's designs were based on his earlier work, but he died before their completion. The designs were completed by Sinnock's successor, Gilroy Roberts. The Mint submitted the new designs to the Commission of Fine Arts ("Commission") for its advisory opinion. The Commission disliked the small eagle and felt that depicting the crack in the Liberty Bell would expose the coinage to jokes and ridicule. Despite the Commission's disapproval, the Mint proceeded with Sinnock's designs.

    After the coins were released in April 1948, the Mint received accusations that Sinnock's initials "JRS" on the cutoff at Franklin's shoulder were a tribute to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. No change was made, with the Mint responding that the letters were simply the artist's initials. The coin was struck regularly until 1963; beginning in 1964 it was replaced by the Kennedy half dollar, issued in honor of the assassinated President, John F. Kennedy. Though the coin is still legal tender, its face value is greatly exceeded by its value to collectors or as silver.

  • U.S. Coinage Franklin Half Dollar

    Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963)

    The half dollar was one of the first three denominations to be issued in that metal, along with the silver dollar and half dime. The Mint began producing half dollars, delivering the first shipment of approximately 5,300 pieces on December 1, 1794.

    Congress had specified that the silver coins should carry a design “emblematic of Liberty,” and Chief Engraver Robert Scot had implemented this mandate with a right-facing portrait of a youthful female figure whose hair flowed freely behind her—hence the descriptive term “Flowing Hair.” It’s said the flowing hair was meant to signify freedom. LIBERTY appears above the portrait, with the date below and 15 stars along the sides, denoting the number of states in the Union at that time. The coin’s reverse depicts a small, spread-winged eagle perched upon a rock and surrounded by laurel branches. Along the border is the motto UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The half dollar’s edge bears the inscription FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR, with decorations between the words.

    The Mint produced 23,464 half dollars dated 1794 and 299,680 dated 1795. It replaced the obverse in 1796 with the Draped Bust portrait of Liberty, making the Flowing Hair version a two-year type coin. Some 1795 half dollars have a recut date, but these are not unduly elusive. Some 1795 pieces have three leaves under each of the eagle’s wings, instead of the normal two, and these are scarce. No proofs are known for this series, which is widely collected by type.

  • U.S. Coinage Kennedy Half Dollar

    Kennedy Half Dollar (1964-Date)

    The Kennedy half dollar, first minted in 1964, is a fifty cent coin currently issued by the United States Mint. Intended as a memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy, it was authorized by Congress just over a month after his death. Use of existing works by Mint sculptors Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro allowed dies to be prepared quickly, and striking of the new coins began in January 1964.

    The coins vanished from circulation upon their release in March 1964 due to collectors, hoarders, and those interested in a memento of the late president. Although the Mint greatly increased production, the denomination still failed to circulate. Continued rises in the price of silver increased the hoarding—many early Kennedy half dollars have been melted for their silver. Starting with 1965-dated pieces, the percentage of fine silver was reduced from 90% to 40% (silver clad), but even this change failed to restore the coin to circulation.

    In 1971, silver was eliminated entirely from the coins. A special design for the reverse of the half dollar was issued for the United States Bicentennial and was struck in 1975 and 1976. In addition to business strikes, special collector coins were struck for the Bicentennial in silver clad; silver proof sets in which the dime, quarter and half dollar were struck in 90% silver were first minted in 1992. Even though ample supplies of half dollars are now available, their circulation is extremely limited. Since 2002, Kennedy half dollars have only been struck to satisfy the demand from collectors, and are available at a premium through the Mint.

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