Yes, a fifty-cent coin exists in the United States and other countries. It is most commonly known as a half dollar in the United States.
- Current Design: The US half dollar features President John F. Kennedy on the obverse (heads) and the Presidential Seal on the reverse (tails). The Presidential Seal depicts an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, surrounded by 50 stars representing the states. The olive branch symbolizes peace and the arrows symbolize war.
- Composition: Current circulating half dollars are made of a copper-nickel clad composition.
- Circulation: While half dollars are legal tender, they are not commonly seen in everyday circulation. Production for general circulation was reduced in 2002 due to decreasing usage, with coins primarily minted for collectors from 2001 to 2020. However, the U.S. Mint resumed production for general circulation in 2021. You can still acquire half dollars from most banks or directly from the U.S. Mint in rolls, bags, or coin sets.
The half dollar has a rich history, with different designs featuring allegorical representations of Liberty and various prominent Americans before settling on the current Kennedy design in 1964. Early half dollars were made of silver, a composition which was reduced and eventually eliminated.
Several other countries and currency systems also have a fifty-cent coin or its equivalent. These include:
- Australia
- Canada (though not in wide circulation)
- Eurozone countries (50 euro cent coin)
- Hong Kong
- Portugal
- San Marino
Is there a 50-cent coin in US currency?
Background. The “Kennedy” theme is the current design of the U.S. 50-cent coin. The U.S. Mint first issued this design in 1964, a year after the assassination of President John F.
Does a 50c coin exist?
The half dollar is the United States’ 50-cent coin. The person on the obverse (heads) of the half dollar is John F. Kennedy, our 35th president. He’s been on the half dollar since 1964.