Half dollar
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The term "half dollar" refers to a half-unit of several currencies that are named "dollar". One dollar ($1) is normally divided into subsidiary currency of 100 cents, so a half dollar is equal to 50 cents. These half dollars (aka 50 cent pieces) are denominated as either Coins or as banknotes. Although more than a dozen countries have their own unique dollar currency, not all of them use a 50 cent piece or half dollar. This article only includes half dollars and 50 cent pieces that were intended for circulation, those that add up to units of dollars, and those in the form of a coin.
- Note: The blue linked years included in the tables link to articles about the coins.
Currently minted
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/US_Half_Dollar_Obverse_2015.png/180px-US_Half_Dollar_Obverse_2015.png)
Circulating half dollars by country | |||||||||
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Country(s) / City | Unit of currency |
Technical parameters | Description | Date of first minting[a] | |||||
Diameter | Thickness | Weight | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | |||
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AUD | 31.65 mm | 2.5 mm | 15.55 g | Cupronickel: 75% copper 25% nickel | Plain | Queen Elizabeth II | Coat of Arms | 1985 |
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BSD | 29 mm | N/A | 10.51 g | Cupronickel: 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Coat of Arms | A Marlin leaping out of water. | 1974 |
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BZD | N/A | N/A | N/A | Cupronickel: 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Queen Elizabeth II | Ornamental - Country/Value/Date | 1974 |
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BND | 27.70 mm | N/A | 7.29 g | Cupronickel: 75% copper 25% nickel | Reeded | Hassanal Bolkiah | Coat of Arms | 1993 |
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CAD | 27.13 mm | 1.95 mm | 6.9 g | 93.15% steel, 4.75% copper, 2.1% nickel plating | Milled | Queen Elizabeth II | Coat of Arms | 2000 |
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FJD | N/A | N/A | N/A | Cupronickel: 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | A Humphead wrasse | A takia | 2012[1] |
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HKD | 22.5 mm | 1.72 mm | 4.92 g | Brass-plated steel | Milled | Bauhinia | Value | 1993 |
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LRD | N/A | N/A | 9.0 g | Nickel Clad Steel | N/A | William R. Tolbert Jr. | Coat of Arms & Motto | 2000 |
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NZD | 24.75 mm | 1.70 mm | 5.0g | Nickel-plated steel | Plain | Queen Elizabeth II | HMS Endeavour | 1999 |
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SGD | 23 mm | 2.45 mm | 6.56 g | Nickel-plated steel | Scalloped | Coat of Arms | Port of Singapore | 2013 |
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SBD | N/A | N/A | N/A | Cupronickel: 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Queen Elizabeth II | Coat of Arms | 2012[2] |
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TTD | N/A | N/A | N/A | Cupronickel: 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Coat of Arms | Value | 1976 |
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USD | 30.61 mm | 2.15 mm | 11.34 g | Cupronickel: 75% copper 25% nickel | Reeded | John F. Kennedy | USA Presidential Seal | 1971[3] |
Formerly minted
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Canada_Newfoundland_Edward_VII_50_Cents_1908.jpg/220px-Canada_Newfoundland_Edward_VII_50_Cents_1908.jpg)
Former half dollars by country | ||||||||||
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Country(s) / City | Unit of currency |
Technical parameters | Description | Introduced | Withdrawn | |||||
Diameter | Thickness | Weight | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | ||||
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BMD | 30.5 mm | N/A | 12.60 g | 75% copper 25% nickel | Milled | Queen Elizabeth II | Coat of arms | 1970 | 1990[4] |
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CSD | 30.6 mm | N/A | 12.44 g | 90% silver 10% copper | Reeded | Seated Liberty | Peterson CSA seal | 1861 | 1865 |
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CID | 32 mm | N/A | N/A | 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Queen Elizabeth II | Value | 1972 | 2016[5] |
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MBBD | N/A | N/A | N/A | 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Queen Elizabeth II | Value | 1953 | 1969 |
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MBBD | N/A | N/A | N/A | 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Queen Elizabeth II | Value | 1953 | 1967 |
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NFD | 29.85 mm | N/A | 11.78 g | 92.5% silver 7.5% copper | Reeded | Reigning British Monarch | Value | 1870 | 1949 |
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MBBD | N/A | N/A | N/A | 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Queen Elizabeth II | Value | 1953 | 1969 |
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HD | N/A | N/A | N/A | 90% silver 10% copper | N/A | King Kalākaua | Value | 1883 | 1900[d] |
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JMD | 31.37 mm | N/A | 12.43 g | 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Coat of arms | Marcus Garvey | 1976 | 1990 |
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KID | 31.65 mm | N/A | N/A | 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Coat of arms | Pandanus tree | 1979 | In circulation |
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SD | N/A | N/A | N/A | 80% silver 20% copper (1858-1919) 40% silver 60% copper (1920-1953) |
N/A | White Rajahs | N/A | 1858 | 1953 |
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TWD | 18 mm | N/A | 3.0 g | 97% copper 2.5% zinc 0.5% tin | N/A | Mei Blossom | Value | 1981[6] | Unknown |
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TVD | 32 mm | N/A | N/A | 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Queen Elizabeth II | Octopus | 1976 | In circulation |
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BWI | N/A | N/A | N/A | 75% copper 25% nickel | N/A | Queen Elizabeth II | N/A | 1955 | 1981 |
Notes
- ^ Some countries have had many varieties and forms of half dollars/50 cent pieces. The dates used in this table reflect when the current form (design/metal base) was first issued.
- ^ Half dollars from this country no longer circulate as they are minted in small amounts for collectors who purchase them at a premium
- ^ These half dollars were also accepted as legal tender by the successive Provisional Government of Hawaii, and Republic of Hawaii governments.
- ^ These coins were used until Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1900
- ^ While 50-cent pieces have been discontinued in Taiwan, they are still legal tender.
References
- ^ "New Currency Designs". Fiji Times. 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
- ^ "New coins of the Solomon Islands". mas.gov.sg. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^ "Kennedy Half Dollar". www.virmu.com. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^ "Calling in of the One Dollar Note and the Fifty Cent Circulation Coin" (PDF). Laws of Bermuda. Government of Bermuda. 30 March 1990. GN 200/1990. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "Public Notice: Old Cook Islands Coins No Longer Legal Tender as of 1 May 2016 - Cook Islands - Ministry of Finance and Economic Management". cookislands.gov.ck.
- ^ "中央銀行發行之貨幣及偵偽鈔辨識".