Here is an interesting find in my latest half dollar roll search. This is a 2005 D Kennedy Half dollar that made its way to a slot machine and has suffered greatly. It is always interesting to think how a coin not released for circulation made its way to circulation, as this one did.
Indeed, my thoughts exactly. I was going to submit it to one of my two favorite grading companies, but alas, they only grade thier own coins. Shucks!
Casinos have been going coin and tokenless for several years now, so these coins will be a thing of the past now. They even simulate the clinking sound when you make a win. The lousy thing about these coinless machines is I used to check especially nickels, because sometimes people would spend their lucky Buffalo nickel and I would be the lucky one.
I know. I went to Las Vegas last Oct on business (i had not been to Las Vegas in 10 years) and thought I would be able to do a little searching. I took tons of extra cash for the sole purpose of getting coins to pass the time between meetings. No luck. You get paper coupons out of the slot machines, and yet, they make noise. Half the fun was collecting the coins.
Yeah, all the fun is gone now in the casinos. I used to like when I was an ankle biter in the 1970's going to CC and seeing the silver dollar slot machines, yes they paid silver cartwheels. I remember begging my mother to put my dollar in to see if I could win some, and she yelled no, you will just lose it. A minute later some old 200+lb woman sauntered over to the machine and plopped her Ike in and won a 100 Morgans and Peace I screamed.
About half the machines still give out quarters, but it's been at least twenty years or more since I saw a machine that accepted half dollars, so I doubt that half has ever seen a slot machine. If you visit downtown Vegas, there are even still a few places that pay out in nickels. Might be worth checking. Guy~
I found the coin in Colorado. We have a few gambling communities in the mountains so I assume it came from there, but I have not been up there myself, so I do not know if they did at one time take half dollars. I have seen many nickels like this half dollar so I assume that is how they got this way. If not, any other guesses?
It's a good guess. It is kind of starnge how it could have gotten so beat up for a relatively new coin. I never thought about smaller casinos, so thats a possibility. Guy~
Give it 100 years. They will all take away the coins, then bring them back for the old time vingate feel of galmbling and having the money in your hand.
I live close to Charlestown WV and they have done away with coin-op machines. My wife and I in the past go there for races and slots..my wife would play the slots..I would just look for coins sometimes hit for a bit..found some silver--some keys..just quarters and nickels. I bought my own coin-op 25c machine just so I can hear my checked quarters make that clinking sound. Those were the days...
The demise of the half dollar began in earnest in 1964. It likely began sooner but in 1964, everybody wanted to get the new Kennedy half. The Kennedy half was hoarded like no other coin. When the silver content changed for 1965, it was likely hoarded even more. The sentiment for Kennedy was overwhelming so these were hoarded. Even though production totaled over 400 million in 1964, people could not get enough of them. To put than into perspective, the highest total ever for a Franklin half was over 92 million in 1963 (both P and D) and the second highest was around 50 million. Even when the composition changed to clad in 1971, people still hoarded them. I remember my grandmother keeping every ½ dollar she got. By now, people had become accustomed to using quarters and not seeing half dollars in circulation. I am 45. In the 70’s I do not recall any vending machines taking them. Pop from a pop machine cost a quarter so I never grew up using them. Anybody older recall vending machines accepting half dollars? Anyway, production totals for each year through 1976 typically ran 100-200 million, with the expectation of a few years. The Bicentennial coin again created demand/hoarding (yes my grandmother kept every one of those also). Total production for the 1976 version totaled over 500 million. From there production totals dropped dramatically, never again going over 100 million. In the 90’s, production totals were typically from 30 to 50 million. Finally, in 2002, production fell to a scant 5.6 million and these coins were only available for sale through the mint. This has been the case ever since. Anybody here old enough to remember the 40’s and 50’s? Did retail use half dollars during this period?
Look at a Barber or Walker halve, those coins circulated a LOT... However, even before the Kennedy the half dollar had been in decline, with people preferring $1 Silver Certs. The switch to Kennedy just accelerated the process. Then late 70s Inflation killed any real meaningful use outside of casinos. It takes a lot of the heavy coins buy most anything now... and now even the Casinos do not use them. This is why in 2001/2002 they quit minting them for circulation. However, as long as collectors get them from the mint, they will still be around in some form. Or at least while a certain senator from Mass remains in office. That said, I still get them from the bank and spend them..... mostly for novelty. I did once find a Kennedy half with hard honest circulation wear... NOT slot machine damage, but real wear. Some coin collector bought it from me as a curiosity. We could not figure out why a Kennedy could get that much honest rub wear. Pocket peace perhaps......
At least as recently as 2000, 50 cent slot machines, using half dollars, still existed in the casinos in Biloxi, MS. So some are still out there, though they seem to be less and less common. I actually found two circulated proofs from these machnies.
I started collecting coins as a kid in 1964. My grandfather was a barber and on occasion he would let me go through his change at the end of the day. (I had to pay for whatever I took out, mind you.) I pulled several Walkers and Franklins from his bank bag. I didn't see many Kenedys because they were hoarded (and they were "new" so I wasn't that interested in them at the time). So, yes, half dollars did circulate in the '60s. At the moment I can't recall vending machines that accepted half dollars. I know pay phones (anybody else remember them?) only accepted nickels, dimes and quarters. I never smoked so I cannot say whether cigarette machines (there's another relic of times past) accepted halves but I don't think they did. Can't say I remember ever seeing a Coke machine that accepted half dollars or a cracker or candy machine either. Car washes only accepted quarters. Same with condom machines in bathrooms (stack 3 or 4 quarters together - For Her Pleasure). I am pretty sure stamp machines in Post Offices accept halves but the stamp machines are being phased out.
Hi to all, I began collecting in 1957, and the local general store used halves regularly. My grandfather would always have a couple of walkers or franklins in his pocket. I wanted each I saw, but unfortunately, the purchasing power of a half dollar in those days was so great that you just did not casually save one for a coin collection. I remember my "greatest" find was a 1919 Liberty walker. I was on cloud nine! At the time, regularly found buffaloes, mercuries, and yes Standing Liberty quarters in circulation. Also the occasional barber and even an occasional Indian Head cent. Those were the days.
