Design a new half dollar

WAYNEAS

I was just looking at PCGS's Facebook page and they showed the Liberty Walking halves with the mint mark location changes from obverse to the reverse of the coin. This made me think about "designing" a new half dollar. The Kennedy half is about 4 years away from celebrating its 60th anniversary. As much as I love my Kennedy sets, time for a new half.
I like so much the eagle on the Walkers that I would incorporate this on my design. I would add the obverse of the peace dollar for my new release in 2025. What would your design be?

BryceM

Something new! We are well overdue.

Except for the dollar, the half dollar is the newest basic coin design we have. They should all be redone.

It shouldn’t be a politician. If it has to be, Regan gets my vote. I’d rather see a new Native American motif or something else uniquely American.

WAYNEAS

@BryceM said:
Something new! We are well overdue.

Except for the dollar, the half dollar is the newest basic coin design we have. They should all be redone.

It shouldn’t be a politician. If it has to be, Regan gets my vote. I’d rather see a new Native American motif or something else uniquely American.

I too would pick Reagan if Presidents need only apply.

thefinn

Why? It doesn't circulate any more. Use one at a store. Anyone under 40 asks if it's a new dollar coin.

CoinJunkie

@thefinn said:
Why? It doesn't circulate any more. Use one at a store. Anyone under 40 asks if it's a new dollar coin.

Exactly. Everyone is always advocating for getting rid of the cent (and nickel), but I can't remember the last time I got a half dollar in change. Total waste of money on the government's part.

WAYNEAS

@CoinJunkie said:

@thefinn said:
Why? It doesn't circulate any more. Use one at a store. Anyone under 40 asks if it's a new dollar coin.

Exactly. Everyone is always advocating for getting rid of the cent (and nickel), but I can't remember the last time I got a half dollar in change. Total waste of money on the government's part.

and dollars do not circulate either ( ask Susan Anthony and with everyone using plastic, soon there will be no coins to be had except those in our collections
still many people do collect them so have fun and design one

topstuf

LIBERTY on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse !!!!!!!
No politicians or PC symbolic crap!

291fifth

The best new design for the half dollar would be none. The coin has not circulated since the early 1970's and should be discontinued.

bearcave

@topstuf said:
LIBERTY on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse !!!!!!!
No politicians or PC symbolic crap!

Agree, no politicians!

WAYNEAS

@Attumra said:
I hope they don't change the Kennedy's or at least just do a modern take. He represents SO much to many Real Americans.

so if the coin Gods decree that there shall be a new half dollar design, what would your design be?

ctf_error_coins

That's a big piece of real estate.

It would have nice if they had done the National Parks series on the half instead of the quarter.

Perhaps a "Wildlife of North America" series.

WAYNEAS

@ErrorsOnCoins said:
That's a big piece of real estate.

It would have nice if they had done the National Parks series on the half instead of the quarter.

Perhaps a "Wildlife of North America" series.

I so do like the wildlife idea. lots of images can be had. a hummingbird is a must and some waterfowl. the 4 legged animals are endless, what would you put on the obverse?

ctf_error_coins

@WAYNEAS said:

@ErrorsOnCoins said:
That's a big piece of real estate.

It would have nice if they had done the National Parks series on the half instead of the quarter.

Perhaps a "Wildlife of North America" series.

I so do like the wildlife idea. lots of images can be had. a hummingbird is a must and some waterfowl. the 4 legged animals are endless, what would you put on the obverse?

Wildlife on the obverse and a new designed Bald Eagle on the reverse or a Wild Turkey

WAYNEAS

@Attumra said:
Statue liberty in some form Torch shining brightly obverse with date mint mark, designer sig. Reverse Kennedy family or little John at the funeral hand on casket. Reverse with maybe a navy seal symbol {do your history}.That would be my wish , I am new to this and that's my two cents lol.

your design and thoughts are well thought out. the Navy seal is an excellent choice ( me 1970-1976 USN)> @ErrorsOnCoins said:

@WAYNEAS said:

@ErrorsOnCoins said:
That's a big piece of real estate.

It would have nice if they had done the National Parks series on the half instead of the quarter.

Perhaps a "Wildlife of North America" series.

I so do like the wildlife idea. lots of images can be had. a hummingbird is a must and some waterfowl. the 4 legged animals are endless, what would you put on the obverse?

Wildlife on the obverse and a new designed Bald Eagle on the reverse or a Wild Turkey

My original eagle thoughts were to have 2 eagles side by side with one holding olive branches and the other, holding the quill of arrows

JBK

The JFK half - and the Roosevelt dime, for that matter - were quite political in their inception. I am not necessarily saying that they are not good candidates for being honored on a coin, but in both cases it came less than a year after their passing when emotionalism and romanticism were running high. Neither president was even close to universally celebrated in their lifetimes.

I don't want to go further down that road for fear of scuttling this thread, but suffice it to say a Reagan coin as suggested above, for example, is as justified as the current occupant. if that is too controversial to consider, then perhaps no modern politician or figure should be on the coin (or any coin).

3stars

Time to kill the half. No one uses it in commerce.

kiyote

@topstuf said:
LIBERTY on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse !!!!!!!
No politicians or PC symbolic crap!

They did that on all the new platinum coins and people were tepid towards them.

TurtleCat

If the vending machine industry would accept half dollars their fortunes would be different. Although not everyone young is ignorant. I spent about $10 worth of halves in the last week or so at common places and no one batted an eye or said anything other than “that’s cool.”

Yes, long overdue on a redesign. No more dead presidents! I say resurrect the Frank Gasparro rejected design for the 1979 dollar coin and enlarge it to half dollar size.

See link for examples: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/art-of-frank-gasparro-10th-united-states-mint-chief-engraver

291fifth

@kiyote said:

@topstuf said:
LIBERTY on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse !!!!!!!
No politicians or PC symbolic crap!

They did that on all the new platinum coins and people were tepid towards them.

The platinum coins are important for only a very small segment of the coin market. The general public does not even know that they exist and most coin collectors don't care that they do.

WAYNEAS

@TurtleCat said:
If the vending machine industry would accept half dollars their fortunes would be different. Although not everyone young is ignorant. I spent about $10 worth of halves in the last week or so at common places and no one batted an eye or said anything other than “that’s cool.”

Yes, long overdue on a redesign. No more dead presidents! I say resurrect the Frank Gasparro rejected design for the 1979 dollar coin and enlarge it to half dollar size.

See link for examples: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/art-of-frank-gasparro-10th-united-states-mint-chief-engraver

excellent choice

joeykoins

Yeah, I guess it is time? Your right, time to redesign. How 'bout who no one mentioned? Old Ben! Yes, bringing back Franklin would spark the public. At least us collector's, no? Imagine, If poor John have never been shot, we can still have the Franklin, maybe? Also, for us cherry picker's. Imagine if they did start minting old Ben again. Maybe, they'll mistakenly (yeah, right) come out with another, "Bugs Bunny"? Just a thought. Good thread.-joey

JBK

My local supermarket takes half dollars in the self-checkout (I think Walmart does, too). They also take $2 bills.

WAYNEAS

@JBK said:
My local supermarket takes half dollars in the self-checkout (I think Walmart does, too). They also take $2 bills.

yes this is true but they prefer PLASTIC over cash as it is easier for them to count

ricko

I can support a redesign...and also want no more politicians on coins.... I would love to see real art...NOT design by committee.... Do it like Teddy Roosevelt did with St. Gaudens.... select an artist, and the President approves the design.... keep all the PC rubbish and politics out of it...and, since it is not a major circulation coin... make it in silver, and it can also be made in clad for annual sets... Cheers, RickO

JBK

@WAYNEAS said:

@JBK said:
My local supermarket takes half dollars in the self-checkout (I think Walmart does, too). They also take $2 bills.

yes this is true but they prefer PLASTIC over cash as it is easier for them to count

Easier for them? I never considered that.

It ls all about what is easiest for me. I need somewhere to dump my dreck halfs and $2 bills that aren't good enough to leave for tips.

WAYNEAS

@JBK said:

@WAYNEAS said:

@JBK said:
My local supermarket takes half dollars in the self-checkout (I think Walmart does, too). They also take $2 bills.

yes this is true but they prefer PLASTIC over cash as it is easier for them to count

Easier for them? I never considered that.

It ls all about what is easiest for me. I need somewhere to dump my dreck halfs and $2 bills that aren't good enough to leave for tips.

How about a time capsule that can be unearthed in 100 years, lol

WAYNEAS

@ricko said:
I can support a redesign...and also want no more politicians on coins.... I would love to see real art...NOT design by committee.... Do it like Teddy Roosevelt did with St. Gaudens.... select an artist, and the President approves the design.... keep all the PC rubbish and politics out of it...and, since it is not a major circulation coin... make it in silver, and it can also be made in clad for annual sets... Cheers, RickO

Never gave a thought to the coin composition. Maybe we could have the mint do a "Gold anniversary" coin every 5-10 years.

privatecoin

@3stars said:
Time to kill the half. No one uses it in commerce.

It is not made for circulation anymore anyway. Not since 2001. All production is strictly for collector demand. I will say Kennedy halves are one of my fastest moving items that i sell being a small fish. Demand in the market seems high so I say they would probably not stop making it anytime soon.

WAYNEAS

@privatecoin said:

It is not made for circulation anymore anyway. Not since 2001. All production is strictly for collector demand. I will say Kennedy halves are one of my fastest moving items that i sell being a small fish. Demand in the market seems high so I say they would probably not stop making it anytime soon.

I do love my Kennedy registry sets, 16 different so far but I do know that they are in demand especially after an article comes out about a certain dated one. Ex. PCGS Facebook listing on a 1970-D. Ebay had a burst of listings for them especially in a MS64 or higher grade.

But just for fun, if you were to create a new half, how would it look?

topstuf

@kiyote said:

@topstuf said:
LIBERTY on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse !!!!!!!
No politicians or PC symbolic crap!

They did that on all the new platinum coins and people were tepid towards them.

Then go retro.

WAYNEAS

@topstuf said:

Then go retro.

A very nice choice.
If only the mint would. To me, the older coin designs are the best and should be bought back to life into our current coins. Who would not buy this coin dated 2025,2026, 2027 etc. It is gorgeous.

privatecoin

@WAYNEAS said:

@privatecoin said:

It is not made for circulation anymore anyway. Not since 2001. All production is strictly for collector demand. I will say Kennedy halves are one of my fastest moving items that i sell being a small fish. Demand in the market seems high so I say they would probably not stop making it anytime soon.

I do love my Kennedy registry sets, 16 different so far but I do know that they are in demand especially after an article comes out about a certain dated one. Ex. PCGS Facebook listing on a 1970-D. Ebay had a burst of listings for them especially in a MS64 or higher grade.

But just for fun, if you were to create a new half, how would it look?

I myself certainly would prefer a return to liberty design of some sort. I also think it's time to change the dime too.

TurtleCat

@privatecoin said:

@WAYNEAS said:

@privatecoin said:

It is not made for circulation anymore anyway. Not since 2001. All production is strictly for collector demand. I will say Kennedy halves are one of my fastest moving items that i sell being a small fish. Demand in the market seems high so I say they would probably not stop making it anytime soon.

I do love my Kennedy registry sets, 16 different so far but I do know that they are in demand especially after an article comes out about a certain dated one. Ex. PCGS Facebook listing on a 1970-D. Ebay had a burst of listings for them especially in a MS64 or higher grade.

But just for fun, if you were to create a new half, how would it look?

I myself certainly would prefer a return to liberty design of some sort. I also think it's time to change the dime too.

All of them should be changed. Although some are locked up in protectionist legislation like the cent and nickel.

koynekwest

@topstuf said:
LIBERTY on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse !!!!!!!
No politicians or PC symbolic crap!

Yes, absolutely.

WAYNEAS

this post has enlightened me
there are many great responses with some outstanding designs
glad I started this thread
would you agree? like? or waste of time

JBN

I share your taste as far as the WLH reverse is concerned. Nicest eagle on regular issue silver coinage IMHO.
Liberty in some form on the obverse. Perhaps Liberty surfing the internet.

crazyhounddog

Personally I’d love to see a Indian in a full headdress like the half and quarter eagles. I think one of the most beautiful coins ever minted. It’d be cool to see a larger version.

privatecoin

@crazyhounddog said:
Personally I’d love to see a Indian in a full headdress like the half and quarter eagles. I think one of the most beautiful coins ever minted. It’d be cool to see a larger version.

I love the incuse design of these also.

koynekwest

That's an excellent idea, Joe! The reverse ain't bad, either.

Cazkaboom

Here's a design I made in 2012 for another site (scribbled out). For the obverse I took the Nouveau style from Alphone Mucha's Documents Décoratifs and edited it to make it family friendly. I can't remember where I got the eagle from. Did it all on MS Paint too! Looking at it today, I would have changed the branches holding to an olive branch, and given her a sword too.

WAYNEAS

@Cazkaboom said:
Here's a design I made in 2012 for another site (scribbled out). For the obverse I took the Nouveau style from Alphone Mucha's Documents Décoratifs and edited it to make it family friendly. I can't remember where I got the eagle from. Did it all on MS Paint too! Looking at it today, I would have changed the branches holding to an olive branch, and given her a sword too.

Great job.
I wish that I could use some type of editor to create pictures especially being able to write words in the circular style