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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| C USA 1950 Franklin Half MS FBL | |
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$46.00 Time Remaining: 9d 14h 46m Buy It Now for only: $46.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1942 S WALKING LIBERTY 90 SILVER HALF DOLLAR BETTER GRADE GREAT ESTATE COIN | |
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$15.83 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 33m |
| ROLL 1940 41 SILVER WALKING LIBERTY HALFS AU BU | |
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$270.61 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 37m |
| C USA 1830 Capped Bust Half AU | |
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$260.00 Time Remaining: 9d 14h 31m Buy It Now for only: $260.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1875 CC PCGS Genuine Seated Liberty Half Dollar AU UNC details Surfaces tooled | |
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$416.00 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 39m |
| 1940 S LIBERTY WALKING HALF DOLLAR | |
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$10.00 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 55m |
| 1957 Franklin Silver Half Proof Roll 20 Coin LOT | |
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$369.00 Time Remaining: 29d 17h Buy It Now for only: $369.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1946 S Walking Liberty Silver Half Dollar Uncirculated Rare Date MS US Mint Coin | |
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$49.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 53m |
| ROLL 193738 39 41 SILVER WALKING LIBERTY HALFS AU BU | |
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$330.03 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 31m |
| C USA 1949 S Franklin Half MS | |
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$107.00 Time Remaining: 9d 14h 46m Buy It Now for only: $107.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Roll of 20 Half Dollars Walking Halves Franklin and Roosevelt | |
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$201.88 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 43m |
| 1795 Flowing Hair half dollar PCGS VF20 | |
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$3,850.00 Time Remaining: 29d 17h 21m Buy It Now for only: $3,850.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1945 WALKING LIBERTY HALF DOLLAR A U NEON TONED | |
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$29.88 (16 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 10m |
| 1897 O BARBER HALF DOLLAR GREAT KEY DATE COIN 12 | |
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$54.00 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 38m |
| 1963 D FRANKLIN HALF DOLLAR 90 SILVER BU CONDITION | |
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$11.25 Time Remaining: 2d 18h 24m Buy It Now for only: $11.25 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| 1960 Franklin Half Dollar | |
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$11.01 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 39m |
| Walking Liberty Silver Half Dollar and others Lot of 4 coins | |
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$22.59 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 27m |
| 1834 NGC F15 Bust Half Dollar k251 | |
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$95.00 Time Remaining: 29d 19h 49m Buy It Now for only: $95.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
| Walking liberty lot of 20 coins | |
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$221.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 23m |
| Lot of 6 Gem Proof Kennedy Half Dollars 1973 1979 | |
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$19.95 Time Remaining: 13d 21h 25m Buy It Now for only: $19.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |