Options
Did half cents continue to circulate after production ended? If so, for how long?
commoncents05
Posts: 10,102 ✭✭✭
Did half cents continue to circulate after production ended? If so, for how long?
-Paul
-Paul
Many Quality coins for sale at http://www.CommonCentsRareCoins.com
0
Comments
Even being the case, I don't think people saw them very frequently anyway, at least in the 1850's I doubt they were commonly given as change.
HOWEVER, I have never heard ANY anecdotal reference to this happening. Seems like something that would have been mentioned in some numismatic book by now had it been commonplace.
Some of them are very well worn.
Even while they were being made in the 1850's they were hardly ever used in circulation.
The half cents were mostly melted as part of the recall of 1857, when they were exchanged for Flying Eagle cents. By 1861 it would have been pretty bizarre to see someone spend a half cent for face value.
<< <i>The half cent was never legal tender during its life. A merchant could legally refuse to take them, although I don't know if this ever happened.
Even while they were being made in the 1850's they were hardly ever used in circulation.
The half cents were mostly melted as part of the recall of 1857, when they were exchanged for Flying Eagle cents. By 1861 it would have been pretty bizarre to see someone spend a half cent for face value. >>
Even today a merchant can refuse to take any type of coin in the form of payment.
<< <i>Considering the small change shortage during the Civil War, I wouldn't be surprised if people spent two of them together as a cent throughout the war. HOWEVER, I have never heard ANY anecdotal reference to this happening. Seems like something that would have been mentioned in some numismatic book by now had it been commonplace. >>
That wouldn't surprise me at all, either.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
Unless a debt is involved. A restaurant bill is the only case that comes to mind at the moment.
Maybe RYK would know
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Collectors do run into lower grade examples of half cents from the 1820s and ‘30s although many of them are often not seen below Choice VF. All of this tells me that half cents did not see much circulation even before the series ended and virtually no use after production was suspended.
They were granted legal tender status in the Coinage Act of 1965.
<< <i>Even today a merchant can refuse to take any type of coin in the form of payment.
They were granted legal tender status in the Coinage Act of 1965. >>
Legal tender means that if you use it to repay a debt, it has to be accepted. Merchants can refuse anything they wish. For example, I've seen many merchants refuse to accept $50 and $100 bills due to concerns with getting stuck with a counterfeit.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>
<< <i>Even today a merchant can refuse to take any type of coin in the form of payment.
They were granted legal tender status in the Coinage Act of 1965. >>
Legal tender means that if you use it to repay a debt, it has to be accepted. Merchants can refuse anything they wish. For example, I've seen many merchants refuse to accept $50 and $100 bills due to concerns with getting stuck with a counterfeit. >>
exactly
restaurants included.
they can't refuse all money, but they can be specific.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Even today a merchant can refuse to take any type of coin in the form of payment.
They were granted legal tender status in the Coinage Act of 1965. >>
Legal tender means that if you use it to repay a debt, it has to be accepted. Merchants can refuse anything they wish. For example, I've seen many merchants refuse to accept $50 and $100 bills due to concerns with getting stuck with a counterfeit. >>
exactly
restaurants included.
they can't refuse all money, but they can be specific. >>
They can refuse all money unless it's for a debt.
Legal tender is only "legal tender" for payment of debts and taxes.
If you want to start another thread and talk about Legal Tender status, you should do so. Don't hi-jack this one.
Which was unchanged from the acts of 1933.
<< <i>Legal tender means that if you use it to repay a debt, it has to be accepted. Merchants can refuse anything they wish. For example, I've seen many merchants refuse to accept $50 and $100 bills due to concerns with getting stuck with a counterfeit.
If you want to start another thread and talk about Legal Tender status, you should do so. Don't hi-jack this one. >>
oK, that would be interesting. i thougt a cent was only legal tender up to 10 cents, but had noone to ask. ?
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Even today a merchant can refuse to take any type of coin in the form of payment.
They were granted legal tender status in the Coinage Act of 1965. >>
Legal tender means that if you use it to repay a debt, it has to be accepted. Merchants can refuse anything they wish. For example, I've seen many merchants refuse to accept $50 and $100 bills due to concerns with getting stuck with a counterfeit. >>
exactly
restaurants included.
they can't refuse all money, but they can be specific. >>
They can refuse all money unless it's for a debt.
Legal tender is only "legal tender" for payment of debts and taxes. >>
When he said "they can't refuse all money" I took it to mean that a store or a restaurant would soon go out of business with such a policy.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>I have understood that half cents really didn't see much circulation even when they were being minted. The mintage numbers were usually well under what they were for cents, and when they did circulate it was usually only in New England and the NE of the country. >>
By the looks of the survivors, I'd say that they got a fair amount of circulation until 1811. When they made their comeback in 1825, I think that number of pieces that saw hard use fell way off. I have never seen a lot of heavily worn pieces dated 1825 and later. I've seen some, but not a lot. As for the Braided Hair type, made for circulation from 1849 to 1857, I've seen virtually none.