What I would most like to see is the return (from the US Mint) of

What I get a kick out of those NCLT coins sold in bags is that there are collectors that buy them, keep a couple and dump the rest into circulation. So then I get the coins for 50 cents, being the snarky and cheapskate Scot.

 

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That's not the point. They raised the premium substantially a few years ago. For those of us who have been buying rolls for years, it really was a shock to the system. I realize they are in business to make money, just like any company. But, they obviously know something I do not.

 

The "government" did not "decide" to pull it out of circulation friend.

The Federal Reserve Banks and member banks, stopped ordering them in 2001.

The US Mint ONLY mints up coins to order from the Federal Reserve Bank which is, technically, their only customer. The US Mint still produces these coins for collectors as allowed by Law.

If you live near a gambling facility that has card tables, a lot of them still use the Half Dollars to pay those blackjacks! Some use tokens but most use halfs.

 

No, I'm saying collectors should pay for mint product collectable coins, but not at profit levels that run the entire mint. The public should pay for the minting of coins used in commerce, as was once done. As of now, no taxes are used to run the mint.

 

The half-dollar was first minted in 1794 and the only other coin that enjoys a more consistent minting history is the cent.

 

I spent 2000 half dollars last year - it was a fun challenge!

 

I do see your point, and do agree with it to an extent. I think if they would have raised it a moderate amount two years ago (a decade after they no longer made them for circulation), they would sell considerably more and make more profits by volume. Of course, that would also mean a higher mintage, and less chance of that particular year/ mint mark appreciating substantially.

 

if we shouldnt have a quarter and a half in circulation at the same time, why do we have a dime and a nickel? why do we have a ten dollar bill and a twenty? or a fifty and a 100? or other denominations that are exactly twice of another??

i would like to see the half dollar return, because 50 cents is a usefull denomination, just like 10 cents and 20 dollars. think of all the times people get 50c or more in change when purchasing something.
i also think that the half dollar would still circulate if they didnt put kennedy on it immediately after his death, and if its silver content would have been completely removed along with the quarter's and dime's

 

Well jlogan, i think the treasury and/or mint will put any denomination in circulation if it makes economic sense and people use them. Golden dollars, two dollar bills, and fifty cent pieces obviously do not fit that criteria.

 

actually, the circulation rate of two dollar bills has been rising steadily since 2006, and i know of several places that give twos and dollar coins in change

 

I wish there were a few more around here. I'm a sucker for odd denominations!

 

Interesting thought. Does anyone know why they did not remove the Kennedy silver content in the same manner as the quarter and dime in 1964? Why bother with 40%?

 

We'll just call them 'welfare coins'...........

 

We just had a thread about this..........I'll try and dig it up.

Ah, here we go...........http://www.cointalk.com/t229056/

 

Beats me. Also beats the manufacturers of self-checkout kiosks at the stores around here, which accept any denomination (including, in some cases, $100s), but dispense only $1, $5 and $20 bills. Beats even harder the manufacturers of our ATMs, which dispense only $20s, period.

Maybe my perception is colored by these machines, but it seems to me that the $10 is circulating less and less, and anything larger than a $20 is harder to pass (some machines won't accept them, and some stores won't, especially during off hours). So, the $5 and the $20 become the workhorses, with $1s basically serving as "loose change".

Today, the eagle units (quarter-eagle, half-eagle, eagle, double eagle) are more relevant than the dollar units. Eventually, it'll be the half-union and union ($50 and $100). We've already reached the point where a family dinner is more closely covered by a $50 bill than by a $20.

 

And that's at McDonalds...........

 

Yes, I understand this, yet it appears the mint is making too much off of collectors. They actually brag in their annual report about the millions made from collectables and returned to the Treasury above the cost of running the mint.

 

Maybe there should be a congressional investigation on how the mint is forcing collectors to part with their money?