Should Halves Be Reduced In Size Like Dollar Coins were?

What about all the arcade machines and vending machines that would need to be refitted? People who spent time perfecting bouncing a quarter into a glass would have to relearn their skill ;] I don't know that this would fly, but maybe a 75 cent piece would do better than a half as well since you could combine them to make multiples of 25 like quarters on a larger scale.

 

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Yep... and here it is:

 

Really? How big was their half before? And how big is it now? I always thought Candian halves were the same size as U.S. halves, just as all other Canadian coins seem to be "clones" of U.S. coins.

 

Argentina used dodecagons and octagons with tremendous success.

During the last time that I visited Argentina, there were still some people with a change holder. However, the use of the holder has been disappearing.

 

You can look this stuff up, don't 'ya know.

In 1968, the coin shrunk from 29.72mm and 11.66 grams to 27.13mm and 8.1 grams. In 2000 the weight was reduced to 6.9 grams. Each change was also accompanied by a change in composition.

A current U.S. Half dollar is 30.61mm and 11.35 grams in copper-nickel and 12.5 grams in 90% silver form.

 

Why would it need to be changed? People don't use them and they will never use them.

 

It could have been interesting if in 79 they reduced the half to the SBA size, and the dollar to the half size.

It's too late now.
Our inflated FIAT money makes tinkering with coinage a mute point.

 

I was goig to answer your comment on Canadian coins versus US ones by saying Canadian coins were slightly less than their US counterparts.
However, I learned something by looking up the specs.
Surprise! the Canadian dime 's diameter is 18.03 mm versus the US 17.9 mm. However, the Canadian dimes are lighter.
Quarters are 24.3 mm US versus Canada 23.62
Halves are 30.6 mm US versus Canada 29.72 silver versus 27.13 nickel.
Old dollars are 38.1 mm US versus Canada 36.00 mm silver versus Canada 32.13 nickel 1st reduction.
Present dollars are both 26.5 mm although Canadian ones are 7.0 grams versus US 8.1 grams. The size was deliberately made the same so Canada could use some US equipment developed for the SBA's. Certainly, initially, the roll wrappers were identical.

 

Yup. I was told that, all vending machines that take Canadian $1 and even their $2 coins are made to accept U.S. small dollars and CAN be made to take a U.S. $2 coin, just as they can take Canadian $2 coins now. But the costs of adding a $2 coin tube and all of that stuff would likely cost millions, and the Canadian $2 coin is about the same size as the U.S. half if I remember correctly even though they are not the same weight, so, if the vending and self checkout companies did upgrade for U.S. $2 coins, they SHOULD also do the same for halves while they are at it. But that will only likely happen if the U.S. $2 coins became popular enough. But if the U.S. does issue a $2 coin and these industries plan to upgrade for the $2 coin, I plan on writing them both, telling them "Upgrade for halves as well" as NAMA did say that, if the $1 and $2 bills did go, and people started liking using change more, then a sucessful half and $2 coin may become a reality.

 

I'm sure you meant "moot" point!

 

Halves should be discontinued being issued as a circulating coin. It doesn't.
Use the size/denomination for commemorative pieces. More "space" on it than on quarters, ergo "potentially" better designs.

 

Why should they be discontinued just because they rarely circulate? I would hate that, since I like to spend them a lot. I really think the government should just push to get them circulating better. Small dollars (and big dollars, actually) don't circulate either. Should we discontinue those for circulation as well?

Again, why should halves not be issued for circulation, yet still be issued for commemorative reasons? They are already basically doing that now, but I think they should leave it the way it is, where you can get Mint sewn bags of circulation quality halves at a premium if you want to.

 

No. Not IMO.

I do not really believe that "bulk" has anything to do with current coin circulations as much as I believe that retail outlets have a specific method for dispensing change which THEY are unwilling to change.

In the old days, change was counted "back" to the customer. I was taught to count the change from the purchase price upto the amount of money tendered:

For a $2.23 purchase it would be: $2.24, $2.25, $2.50, ($2.75, $3.00 or $3.00), $4.00, $5.00 where the change was comprised of two cents, three quarters or a single quarter and a single half dollar) two one dollar bills.

Today, cashiers rely upon the "computer" to count "out" the change for the customer then merely hand them the total. Usually bills first then change (which kinda irks me since its easier for change to slide off of the bills onto the floor than it is for the change to slide out of your hand onto the floor. Drive Up windorws are the worst!)

Giving cashiers an "option" fof either two quarters or a half dollar seems to add to "cashier confusion". Take away the computer and most cashiers would be totally lost.

I'm of the opinion that folks do not really care WHAT kind of change they are given as long as its:

1. Not Ridiculous (47 individual cents or perhaps 12 quarters)
2. Spendable
3. The Correct Amount

I'm also of the opinion that coin circulation is ONLY and DIRECTLY related to what retail merchants dispense and has absolutel NOTHING to do with what's currently available. Their jobs are to simply make change available in the easiest manner possible. Having two options for one value is just silly which is WHY merchants do not ORDER One Dollar Coin rolls or Half Dollar coin rolls to dispense. It confuses the cashiers and confuses the customers since one of the two has to have the ability to make quick addition and subtraction calculations in their heads without relying upon some stupid computer.

 

I collect money, the medium of exchange. If a coin is available only at a premium, I am not interested. Halves, both Canadian and US, have ceased to exist as a current denomination in my mind.

But, oh, how I love Barbers, Walking Liberties and varieties in Franklins.

 

I think the diameter should be reduced to zero.

SBA's weren't designed to either look or feel anything but round, which they were. There is an eleven sided hendecagon on the inside of the rim on the obverse and reverse which made the coin appear "sided."

 

Well, that is your opinion, and I'll respect it, if you respect mine. You may not have a use for halves. I do. And I'm sure if vendors and self checkouts dispensed them, people would accept them, even if they were the size of a manhole cover. Just as they would accept Eisenhower big dollars if self checkouts spat them out at you. Or, would you just leave them behind in the change return dish?

Did I ever SAY "SBAs were designed to look or feel polygon-like"? I just meant that SOME people actually DID "think" SBAs were "sided" coins, which "I" knew they were NOT.

 

You get the smaller half.