Why DONT Kennedy Half Dollars circulate more?

lsica

Someone asked this in another thread

Halfs USED to ciculate. Look at all the well-worn pieces around in previous series.

Here's what I suspect

Kennedy's were put away initially as a memento of the assasinated President, then for the next few years since it was the only coin that had silver in it (yes, maybe only 40%, but to someone just looking at coin edges for a lack of a copper color, there really wasnt a way to tell). Of course all pre-Kennedy issues dropped out of circulation because of their silver content. And since that went on for 6 years, eventually people got used to not seeing them. Vending machines were made that accepted the quarter as the de-facto "high value" coin in change. Those things all combined to eliiminate the half dollar as a circulating coin.

ABC123

I suspect you are Correct !

JRocco

It is probably a good thing. These coins look beautiful in high grade MS and proof pieces, but they are brutal in circulated condition. Just like Ike's, this is a series that does not age well and I, for one, am glad I don't have to see these very often in my pocket change. I would be forced to hand it back to the cashier and ask for a couple quarters instead..

Barry

Make the coin less "collectible" and it will circulate again.

For example, put Jimmy Carter on it and make the motto "when I left the Presidency this was worth a dime."

rec78

Why should they? There is no incentive to have a circulating half dollar. Banks dont order them unless asked to, most vending machines dont take them, people dont want to carry them in their pockets. Even the casinos are going coinless and dont use them anymore.

crito

You can't even get buy new rolls of Kennedy's from most banks because the bags go straight to the casinos. Uncle Sam has essentially been subsidizing the gambling industry with them and that's the only reason they're still produced. They have no function in day-to-day commerce otherwise.

Caricon

I live in Ohio, so I'm not sure how things are going on Vegas anymore, but for the past few years around here there is no
more coins in casinos. They have all gone over to little paper tickets. No more coins at all. Was wondering if the same thing
is going on in Vegas which was a hugh place for coins.

FoundingFather

It became too collectible.

Petarded

I want to know why the mint is STILL selling 2001 Kennedy's in bag and roll options??????

Coinosaurus

There are plenty of 50 pence coins which circulate in the UK. Admittedly worth more than 50 cents, but the same idea.

robertpr

Vending machines don't take them and that's the main reason. The vending industry is a primary recirculation venue for change, and if people don't put them in vending machines they don't get back to the banks, don't recirculate, blah blah blah. It becomes a vicious circle, and I think you have the right idea about why they initially disappeared.

JJM

I get em now and again in the register

cladking

There probably isn't a single answer but the half dollar was already slowing down
in its circulation even before the Kennedy was issued. It never really circulated as
fast as the quarter (at least in the 20th century). In 1964 it had significant buying
power and was the largest coin with widespread circulation. This buying power was
similar to what it had in 1900. You could buy a meal at a decent restaurant and get
a few cents in change. People wanted usable coins like this so they didn't have to
pull out their wallets everytime they made a small purchase. A gallon of milk and a
newspaper on the way home could be bought with a couple of halfs. They weren't
usable in machines but this was of little consequence since few things of so much val-
ue were purchased from machines. A coke was a dime and a candy bar was a nickel.
A pack of smokes was a quarter (or less). After 1964 the Kennedy was introduced and
silver was flowing out of circulation. This meant that halfs were largely unavailable
from about late 1963 until the 40% issues were back in mid-'66. Perhaps people just
got out of the habit of using them or perhaps it's because the banks didn't pass them
out as readily as before. Prices had started increasing in '61 and the half had lost some
of its buying power by '66. People hated the 40% clad perhaps even more than the cu/ ni
clad. The public virtually ignored the changes to the dime and quarter but it wasn't unus-
ual to hear grumbling about the debased half dollar. It wasn't long before the fate of the
coin was sealed because it had lost so much buying power that the lack of usage in mach-
ines was too much. Why carry any halfs when you needed real money for vending ma-
chines and this meant quarters.

So what killed it? Inflation, inertia (in changing machines), and quite possibly the FED sim-
ply didn't want this coin circulating (or for another reason) the banks didn't want them
circulating. But their brief unavailabilty may well have played a significant role.

cladking

It should be noted that the circulation of half dollars died in a whimper
rather than a bang. They did circulate widely albeit very slowly until the
late 1970's. You usually see all these pre 1980 halfs with light normal
wear today. The later halfs did not circulate to any real degree. These
were mostly used in casinos and appear more beat up than worn.

kiyote

Until 7-11 and fast-food cashiers stop wrinkling their noses at the coins, they'll never be accepted.

19Lyds

They are too big and bulky. If the Sac size were used for a half and the half size used for a dollar............................Oh never mind!