What's gonna happen to the Kennedys ?

Kejun99

An article in the Sept 30 issue of CoinWorld says there are 4 years of accumulated Kennedy mintages still stocked at the mint.. since 1998 ! How can they possibly circulate if they bottle them up at the Mint ? It's one reason we haven't seen many of the 2001 halves. Any ideas? Ken

bohica268

Link to CoinWorld Article

I think the half-dollar should be discontinued or become a Proof / mint set only coin.

IrishMike

they are bottled up at the mint becuase the banks won't order, because their customers won't take them as change.

izzy452

The banks could send them to Russ.

Walt

morganbarber

They HAVE to discontinue busines strikes soon. No one wants them as change. They, like the Ike dollar are an anachronism. A large coin which had to be large to contain enough silver to have it's face value; now, in clad, they are just cumbersome.

DHeath

I would like to see the coin discontinued. The Kennedy is one of my favorite coins, but I don't much care for the 1991 redesign of the coin (large shield, low strike pressure, ugly hair), and believe they have reached the end of the run. I love the series 1964-1976, but care very little about any but the silver strikes since. Unfortunately, the same folks got hold of GW's hair on the quarter, and it looks like someone drug a sand rake through his hair. I liked the sculpted hair coins much better.

RJB

From what I understand, over the last 10 years or so the only facilities that used the half dollar on a regular basis were the casinos. Lately the casinos have been making their own tokens and have been using less and less of the halves. The coins are not sitting at the Mint, they are sitting at the Federal Reserve banks awaiting orders from local banks that will probably never come. Seems like that even the tellers at the banks, who handle money all day, are not familiar with the coin or consider the Kennedy a pain in the rear. So far this year none have been produced, but remember that over the last couple of years the Mint has not made any until the last 3 months of the year and then crank out 20 million or so. If they don't make any by the end of November you may want to go out and buy a few mint sets. If I am not mistaken there are whispers of re-doing the half within the next couple of years, but I don't think they will discontinue the denomination all together. BOB

Rampage

<< <i>Unfortunately, the same folks got hold of GW's hair on the quarter, and it looks like someone drug a sand rake through his hair. >>



Thanks for the laugh Don. I needed that! Richard.

ursabear

The collector side of me really likes the Kennedy half. I hope I can continue to see them and collect them for a long time. As a business strike, the primary use is in Las Vegas, and the occasional cash transaction. I don't know enough about the Federal Reserve stocking and policy system to make the call about practicality of the half (in general, not specifically the Kennedy).

I hope they keep them in the mint and proof sets, at least.

FC57Coins

I guess one question that I have is this: If they have so many halves stockpiled, why on earth do they keep making them? Why not take a hyatus until they get used up? It just seems odd to me.

Frank

crito

makes me want to stockpile slabbed 2002P&D's, but I'll just sit on my mint sets for now . 800,000 of both is key date territory and doesn't sound like they have any reason to produce more. keeping my fingers crossed

Kejun99

Like Ursa says, it'd be nice if they continue them for the sets but what on earth are they gonna do with all those accumulated! Will they too go the way of SBA ?

Don says, ".. but I don't much care for the 1991 redesign of the coin (large shield, low strike pressure, ugly hair).."

I'm with you on that one ; more sand trap rake...! And the face is not the same as the real "Jack" ! Something was redrafted in the expression or shapes in the facial features..

Crito, if they mint the 2003 for collectors, that'll be a lower number yet , wouldn't ya say ?
Ken

LanLord

This is very interesting, I really like Kennedy half dollars, both circ strikes and Proof. I would have to question the statements about stop minting for production but continue in mint and Proof sets. Isn't the idea of mint sets to provide (us collectors) with the opportunity to purchase original mint strikes of circulating coinage? If they stop minting for circulation they should be removed from mint sets. Proofs are a different animal all together, but I couldn't see them continuing if the circ pieces are stopped.

Perhaps it is time to end the Kennedy half dollar era. In the early 1990s the strike was altered so that JFKs head is concave to the point that it doesn't even resemble the coin as it appeared in the 60s and 70s. Maybe it's time to end this series.

Another question that comes to mind: The Kennedy half is pretty much responible for the general public no longer using half dollars, up until 1964, the half was a work horse. If we place a new design into circulation is there any chance to get into regular use, or is it to go the way of the dollar coin?

Russ

I'd have to agree that it's time to end the series. As it stands, the proof set fits just right in two Eagle certified albums. If they stop now, I don't have to buy another album.

Russ, NCNE

TWQG

Another example of our government wasting their ill gotten gains is the minting of useless coins.