According to Coin World, the Federal Reserve has been ordering Kennedy halves from the mint recently, coins intended for circulation. The first since 2002 according to the article. I suspect it can only mean one thing. The discontinuance of the cent, and likely the nickel as well, with the other remaining denominations being redesigned to cost less. And yes, there will be circulating 50c coins when all the changes have been made, likely MUCH smaller and lighter than the current design.
More than likely, these will end up clogging the Federal Reserve’s vaults for the time being like the various $1 coin programs barring any significant overhaul of the nation’s coinage.
It seems to me that @furryfrog02 recently posted that he got a solid box of NIFC Kennedy's from his bank. I don't remember what year they were 2018 Maybe? EDIT: found it in the roll searchers thread, He got 2 boxes of 2021 P Kennedy Halfs
I believe he’s serious. For example, the Eurozone and countries such as Australia and Canada produce $1 and $2 coins that have completely replaced low-denomination banknotes in circulation.
2 solid boxes of 2021P half dollars. If you check the mint's website, you can see that they have really ramped up the production of the half dollars beyond what was normal for the NIFC years.
What do you suppose it costs to mint a Kennedy half? I'm guessing it costs considerably more than a Cheerios dollar.
From a practical perspective, the last I recall cash drawers did not leave a space for odd denominations. As a result, they would get pulled from the drawer, carried home and put in a jar effectively being removed from circulation…… @green18 has it right. Only way these will see any real circulation is if we put the kabash to small denomination paper.
Monkey see, monkey do, now I want to go see what kind of half rolls I can get at my bank. Maybe I'll see if they have any Tuskegees too. Thanks Beardigger & Furryfrog02!!!
Serious. The EU's paper currency starts at 5 euro. 1 and 2 euro are coins only. I've traveled in several EU countries and their currency system seems to work just fine.
Most people will squawk at the prospect of loosing the paper dollar, but they'll settle down after awhile.........paper lobby is strong..........pork.
I do not like carrying change in my pocket! I couldn't imagine carrying $5 in IKES or Kennedy's around in my pocket. Any change I get now, does not stay in the pocket long. If they try hard, I bet they could come up with a $1 and $2 coin that could be successful......as long as it is TOTALLY different then anything currently in use, so it's not confused With a quarter. But alas.....I fear they will screw it up again!
I've experienced precisely zero inconvenience toting 1 and 2 euro coins around Germany, Austria, Italy, et al. It's beyond stupid to have billions in U.S. dollar coins sitting unused in bank vaults.
Don't be surprised if they are never released into circulation, instead overstruck into a higher denomination with new dollar coins about the size of a dime becoming current.
I just started a thread to see what ideas are out there for designing a new $1 and $2 coin. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/design-a-new-1-and-2-coin.383431/