Is It Time To Change The Half Dollar Design?

Part of the reason we still have these coins, is because government is till "Of The People" ....sometimes. And, people still want hem, regardless of facts.
I would miss the cent, and Honest Abe, same with the half.
One thing that would result, is that prices would slowly go up, because "they aren't making anymore of them"
Also, eventually coins will be de-contented, made smaller and of baser metals, and eventually disappear completely.
Whenever I see an old half cent , large cent, even common coins like Buffalo Nickels and Mercury dimes, even damaged and worn, are worth well over their face value, I realize that common coins today will have a premium in the future. After all, that is why we are having this conversation. The cent and nickle cost more than face, and coins in general have lost value to the point they are nearly useless for commerce.
Yeah, the dollar coins are ugly and unpopular, but so were the Ike dollars, and they go for a premium nowadays.
One day, your grandkids will be buying those "worthless" cupro nickel and copper washed coins, and say, "Oh! Look what some jerk did to this historic coin!"

 

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I used to work for a large govt agency, and every year, around the holidays, a significantly higher percentage of checks and mail would get lost, misdelivered, etc.
The problem was that the USPS hires temporary employees to handle the huge increase during the holidays. Most just don't care, as they know they are gone after the rush.
I think the USPS does a tremendous job, considering they are severely restricted by scads of laws.
There have been examples of private entities exceeding the Post Office, but they were only in high population places in a small area, with excellent access and infrastructure. In other words, ideal, best-case scenarios. USPS makes a profit in those areas too. But, they also will deliver the same letter to Aunt Gertude in Popsicle Northern Alaska for the same price.
I have also spent significant time overseas, and you would be shocked how poor the mail is.

 

Google the nothern most U.S. post office in the States,then read how the mail needs to travel to arrive at said post office. Which BTW is the only game in town as UPS,Fedex don't deliver there.....as the mail actually leaves the lower 48 states into Canada travels some 120 km i. Canada, before it hits the towns mail boxes.

 

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I think i love you too???? Do you really know this. Please tell me you have an i phone watch because we need your brain 25/7. Knowledge is a gift. Its like you

 

We will NEVER see a circulating coin design go back to what it once was. We need to get over that idea.

 

never say never

 

we need Half Cents, 2 and 3 cent/nickels, Half Dimes and twenty cent coins !!

 

Coins/ bills that need to be eliminated:
cent, nickel, half dollar, dollar bill, 2 dollar bill.
We got along fine after getting rid of the half cent, 2 and 3 cent and 20 cent coins.
While I don't believe we need the nickel, the fact that it costs (8 cents?) to produce a nickel isn't the reason to do away with it. That same nickel will be used thousands of times in transactions over it's lifetime. The 8 cent cost is an illusion.
Does it matter if it cost 4 cents or 8 cents to use the same nickel many thousands of times? The nickel is unnecessary, it's not the cost that is the reason for it's ultimate demise.

 

Actually, having heard U.S. Mint officials AND federal politicians on the subject, there is absolutely ZERO interest on the part of either one to go retro.

 

The change in change we should be seeking is to eliminate the cent and nickel, and the $1 and $2 note. And institute a circulating half dollar, dollar, $2, and maybe even $5 coin. That way, the cash drawer starts at dimes and goes up to $5 and $2 coins in the leftmost slot. That would make the $5 denomination the either/or one. The $2 would be bimetallic and the $5 should contain SOME silver, but not a whole lot.

Basically the de facto Swiss system with minor changes.

 

That’s one thing I think they’re absolutely right about and conepletely agree with them on. Changes should be something new not a return to the past. It would be pretty embarrassing to say sorry we don’t have anyone who can design anymore so we’re bringing these back

 

This whole retro romance is ENTIRELY the fever dream of coin collectors. Virtually no one else agrees.

 

Even from collectors I don’t get it. It’ll just cheapen the ones and really won’t be anything new

 

Just as the quarter statehood/parks series got many non-collectors involved, how about a Famous American coin series on clad halves issuing 4-6 yearly with the reverse giving a concise bio-the commemorative stamps currently being issued give zero info about the honoree on the stamp itself-both front/back nor on the accompanying selvidge of the mini-sheets. When I taught if a student earned enough points I often gave out a JFK half-this could be an inexpensive learning tool if the mint just issues them for general circulation-

 

I hadn't considered collecting JFK halves, but if they do away with it I'll have to start. I have only those in the mint and silver sets for 1975 & 76 at this time.

Not one of my favorite coins to look at and personally prefer the Walking Liberties.

 

Nice! But demand has to precede new supply. They are NOT going to issue new halves for the banking system until and unless there becomes enough demand to make the current supply insufficient.

 

Ever notice how no one ever suggests going back to the Franklin half? It's almost like it never existed. Is it just Rick Tomaska? Has he sucked all the enthusiasm out of the series?

 

Best comment in the thread, IMHO.