Halves are actually half-dollars which are also known as fifty-cent pieces. They may not be popular today, and in fact, little information about them exists and collectors rarely get excited over them. However, halves are actually more functional than decorative.
They have actually been in circulation since 1794 when the US Mint started. However, they have been not so popular since their silver content was changed to copper and nickel. The United States was forced to change the metal content because of the rising value of silver in the 1960s.
The most famous profile to grace the head of the half-dollar was President John F. Kennedy which was first minted in 1964. It contained 90% silver so it was considered very valuable. It lost its appeal when President Kennedy was assassinated but a lot of coin collectors gathered them knowing their value might increase. Despite the lack of silver, the US Mint still produced Kennedys with 40% silver in them until 1970.
The halves we now know today still features President Kennedy and the Presidential Seal on the reverse, however, they are now made purely of copper and nickel. They may not be very well-liked with the public but coin collectors love them.
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Auctions in eBay
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| 1972 D Kennedy Half w Sicks Select Beer Logo Unique | |
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$2.25 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 31m |
| 1948 PCGS MS64 FBL Franklin Half Dollar | |
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$60.00 Time Remaining: 26d 17h 22m Buy It Now for only: $60.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1990 S PCGS PR69DCAM KENNEDY 50C | |
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$15.99 Time Remaining: 32m |
| 1965 Special Mint Set Silver Kennedy Beautiful Coin | |
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$11.99 Time Remaining: 25d 16h 55m Buy It Now for only: $11.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1961 PROOF FRANKLIN SILVER HALF DOLLAR ALMOST PERFECT CAMEO US COIN BLAST WH648 | |
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$27.03 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 38m |
| 2005 S PCGS PR69DCAM KENNEDY 50C | |
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$14.99 Time Remaining: 39m |
| 1968 D Choice BU Silver Kennedy Half Dollar US Coin 10285433 21 | |
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$10.39 Time Remaining: 29d 19h 24m Buy It Now for only: $10.39 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 2 Franklin half dollar 1957 1963 one kennedy 1968 LOT OF 3 | |
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$29.21 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 39m |
| 1960 P FRANKLIN HALF DOLLAR GRADED BY PCI AS FULL BELL LINE MS 64 VERY NICE COIN | |
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$40.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 43m |
| UNSEARCHED Half dollar bank roll POSSIBLE JUNK SILVER Kennedy halves W BONUS | |
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$14.99 Time Remaining: 5d 11h 53m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1955P FRANKLIN HALF DOLLAR GRADED BY PCGS AS FULL BELL LINE MS 64 VERY NICE COIN | |
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$40.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 43m |
| 1957 D FRANKLIN SILVER HALF DOLLAR INV 643 REAL GEM PROOF LIKE COIN | |
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$16.00 Time Remaining: 29d 14h 24m Buy It Now for only: $16.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| KENNEDY SILVER PROOF HALVES SET 5 coins total | |
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$68.00 Time Remaining: 45m |
| 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar | |
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$13.15 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 50m |
| 1968 D BU Silver Kennedy Half Dollar US Coin 10184485 70 | |
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$9.20 Time Remaining: 29d 21h 19m Buy It Now for only: $9.20 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1983 S PCGS PR69DCAM KENNEDY 50C | |
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$14.99 Time Remaining: 52m |
| XX Rare 3 Coin Lot 2 10s One F Mint 1941 1943 2 from Berlin German Nazi Swastika | |
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$2.83 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 54m |
| 1990 P+D Kennedy Half Dollars 2 Coin Set Mint CelloBU | |
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$5.50 Time Remaining: 26d 2h 17m Buy It Now for only: $5.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 20 COIN ROLL OF 90 SILVER FRANKLIN PROOF HALF DOLLARS | |
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$349.95 Time Remaining: 1h 2m |
| 1995 S PCGS PR69DCAM Kennedy half dollar deep cameo | |
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$14.95 Time Remaining: 24d 3h 30m Buy It Now for only: $14.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |