Government at Its Finest

[blueberra]

I just finished this week's half dollar box which consisted of 1,000 uncirculated 2023D coins.

After doing a little digging, I discovered that the mint resumed producing half dollars for circulation in 2021 (after a 20 year hiatus) to the tune of about 10 million coins (total mintage was 15 million, but 5 million was for mint sets and other collector items).

2022 produced about 10 million halves, but I could not find the 'for circulation' figures.

2023 was a significant uptick : 58 million halves.

2024 to date : 13 million.

So that's 85 million +/- 'business strikes' over the past 4 years.

A quick look at mint production figures of clad (1971 and later) half dollars is over 2 BILLION coins that do not circulate. They are collecting dust in bags at the Fed, in boxes at the Brinks / Loomis / Garda warehouses, or in forgotten jars throughout the country.

On what planet is there a need for more half dollars? Why waste the taxpayers' money on this boondoggle?

CRHers in the Metrowest region of Massachusetts will soon be seeing these beauties in their own Loomis boxes.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

The mint prints a lot of things not really intended for circulation.

 

[galenrog]

I’ve been getting boxes of 2024 since March. Almost every other box is solid single date from 2021-2024. None have been String wrappers. Most Brinks, some Loomis, a few Garda.

Last week, the CU had 48 rolls of halves. All but one coin were 2021-2024. The holdout was a 1963 D that my LCS guessed about MS-63 with FBL. This week, one Loomis box. 13 40%. 11 Proofs, 13 NIFC, 12 1996 P and 1998 P with the obverse die crack (point of neck to rim) from 4 dies (1 1996 and 3 1998). Previous 3 weeks were all single year with no keepers.

As far as you just finding out that halves were produced for general circulation again starting 2021, I chalk that up to you having many other priorities far ahead of coins. Were I being cynical today, I would say that you just weren’t paying attention.

Time for more coffee.

 

[CJ9]

I just finished this week's half dollar box which consisted of 1,000 uncirculated 2023D coins.

After doing a little digging, I discovered that the mint resumed producing half dollars for circulation in 2021 (after a 20 year hiatus) to the tune of about 10 million coins (total mintage was 15 million, but 5 million was for mint sets and other collector items).

2022 produced about 10 million halves, but I could not find the 'for circulation' figures.

2023 was a significant uptick : 58 million halves.

2024 to date : 13 million.

So that's 85 million +/- 'business strikes' over the past 4 years.

A quick look at mint production figures of clad (1971 and later) half dollars is over 2 BILLION coins that do not circulate. They are collecting dust in bags at the Fed, in boxes at the Brinks / Loomis / Garda warehouses, or in forgotten jars throughout the country.

On what planet is there a need for more half dollars? Why waste the taxpayers' money on this boondoggle?

CRHers in the Metrowest region of Massachusetts will soon be seeing these beauties in their own Loomis boxes.

There have been many coinage boondoggles over the years (the first 2 have worked to all our advantage) - these are some I can think of off the top of my head:

1. Continuing to mint silver coins in 1965 while simultaneously minting clad coins
2. The 40% silver half when other coins were cupro-nickel clad
3. The Eisenhower dollar
4. The SBA dollar that looked like a quarter
5. Beginning in 2000, the "golden dollar" without removing the paper $1 from circulation (like nearly every other nation in the world did)
6. Still making the penny
7. A boondoggle avoided: the 45 million Peace silver dollars that the mint was going to produce in 1964 (unfortunately for all of us)

The government actually turns a "profit" on these new halves because of seigniorage (which is the difference between the production cost and the face value of the coins)

 

[blueberra]

There have been many coinage boondoggles over the years (the first 2 have worked to all our advantage) - these are some I can think of off the top of my head:

1. Continuing to mint silver coins in 1965 while simultaneously minting clad coins
2. The 40% silver half when other coins were cupro-nickel clad
3. The Eisenhower dollar
4. The SBA dollar that looked like a quarter
5. Beginning in 2000, the "golden dollar" without removing the paper $1 from circulation (like nearly every other nation in the world did)
6. Still making the penny
7. A boondoggle avoided: the 45 million Peace silver dollars that the mint was going to produce in 1964 (unfortunately for all of us)

The government actually turns a "profit" on these new halves because of seigniorage (which is the difference between the production cost and the face value of the coins)

My point is why bother with the halves? Just mint $43 million more quarters or other coins that at least circulate.

If seigniorage is such a "profitable" strategy, then mint 100 million or 200 million halves (or more) like some of the earlier clad years. The mint produced over 11 billion coins for circulation in 2023.

One might think that the 'profit' on a Native American dollar coin would be greater than a half dollar, but only a little over 2 million of them were minted for circulation -- and they don't circulate either.

2023 Circulating Coins Coin Production​

	Cent	5 Cent	10 Cent	25 Cent	50 Cent	N.A. $1	Pres. $1	Total:
Denver	2260.8 M	734.8 M	1295.0 M	1330.4 M	27.8 M	1.12 M	0.0 M	5650.0 M
Philadelphia	2262.0 M	692.6 M	1410.5 M	1335.2 M	30.2 M	1.12 M	0.0 M	5731.7 M
Total:	4522.8 M	1427.5 M	2705.5 M	2665.6 M	58.0 M	2.24 M	0.0 M	11381.7 M

All of these dusty halves take up space and cost non-zero amounts to store.

The NIFC half strategy worked for 20 years -- why discontinue it?

When the government switched to 'Zincoln' cents in 1982, the price of copper had risen to more than one cent / coin. Same story for nickels. Those 95% copper cents have a melt value today of 3 cents (Zincolns' melt value is 0.8 cents). Nickels today have a melt value of 6 cents.

But, unlike silver coins, it is illegal to melt cents and nickels.

 

[CJ9]

My point is why bother with the halves? Just mint $43 million more quarters or other coins that at least circulate.

If seigniorage is such a "profitable" strategy, then mint 100 million or 200 million halves (or more) like some of the earlier clad years. The mint produced over 11 billion coins for circulation in 2023.

One might think that the 'profit' on a Native American dollar coin would be greater than a half dollar, but only a little over 2 million of them were minted for circulation -- and they don't circulate either.

2023 Circulating Coins Coin Production​

	Cent	5 Cent	10 Cent	25 Cent	50 Cent	N.A. $1	Pres. $1	Total:
Denver	2260.8 M	734.8 M	1295.0 M	1330.4 M	27.8 M	1.12 M	0.0 M	5650.0 M
Philadelphia	2262.0 M	692.6 M	1410.5 M	1335.2 M	30.2 M	1.12 M	0.0 M	5731.7 M
Total:	4522.8 M	1427.5 M	2705.5 M	2665.6 M	58.0 M	2.24 M	0.0 M	11381.7 M

All of these dusty halves take up space and cost non-zero amounts to store.

The NIFC half strategy worked for 20 years -- why discontinue it?

When the government switched to 'Zincoln' cents in 1982, the price of copper had risen to more than one cent / coin. Same story for nickels. Those 95% copper cents have a melt value today of 3 cents (Zincolns' melt value is 0.8 cents). Nickels today have a melt value of 6 cents.

But, unlike silver coins, it is illegal to melt cents and nickels.

Yeah you bring up a good point (and I never really addressed it in my prior response) - why all the halves. And yeah you are right if it was just for seigniorage why not make gold dollars.
And I have no clue as to why all the halves, but I am not happy about it as it just means more skunks for us to search through

 

[blueberra]

I just finished this week's half dollar box which consisted of 1,000 uncirculated 2023D coins.

After doing a little digging, I discovered that the mint resumed producing half dollars for circulation in 2021 (after a 20 year hiatus) to the tune of about 10 million coins (total mintage was 15 million, but 5 million was for mint sets and other collector items).

2022 produced about 10 million halves, but I could not find the 'for circulation' figures.

2023 was a significant uptick : 58 million halves.

2024 to date : 13 million.

So that's 85 million +/- 'business strikes' over the past 4 years.

A quick look at mint production figures of clad (1971 and later) half dollars is over 2 BILLION coins that do not circulate. They are collecting dust in bags at the Fed, in boxes at the Brinks / Loomis / Garda warehouses, or in forgotten jars throughout the country.

On what planet is there a need for more half dollars? Why waste the taxpayers' money on this boondoggle?

CRHers in the Metrowest region of Massachusetts will soon be seeing these beauties in their own Loomis boxes.

Update : this week's box was ALSO entirely 2023D. Two data points or a trend?

 

[releventchair]

Update : this week's box was ALSO entirely 2023D. Two data points or a trend?

Could be a make work program for both the mint , and C.R.H.'s

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Could be a make work program for both the mint , and C.R.H.'s

LOL. 'work'

 

[blauer]

... Beginning in 2000, the "golden dollar" without removing the paper $1 from circulation ...

That's because the dollar coin falls out of my stripper girlfriends g-string.

 

[REDFERN02]

I just finished this week's half dollar box which consisted of 1,000 uncirculated 2023D coins.

After doing a little digging, I discovered that the mint resumed producing half dollars for circulation in 2021 (after a 20 year hiatus) to the tune of about 10 million coins (total mintage was 15 million, but 5 million was for mint sets and other collector items).

2022 produced about 10 million halves, but I could not find the 'for circulation' figures.

2023 was a significant uptick : 58 million halves.

2024 to date : 13 million.

So that's 85 million +/- 'business strikes' over the past 4 years.

A quick look at mint production figures of clad (1971 and later) half dollars is over 2 BILLION coins that do not circulate. They are collecting dust in bags at the Fed, in boxes at the Brinks / Loomis / Garda warehouses, or in forgotten jars throughout the country.

On what planet is there a need for more half dollars? Why waste the taxpayers' money on this boondoggle?

CRHers in the Metrowest region of Massachusetts will soon be seeing these beauties in their own Loomis boxes.

That sounds about right. none of my banks in NE FL have or can order halfs.

 

[blueberra]

I just finished this week's half dollar box which consisted of 1,000 uncirculated 2023D coins.

After doing a little digging, I discovered that the mint resumed producing half dollars for circulation in 2021 (after a 20 year hiatus) to the tune of about 10 million coins (total mintage was 15 million, but 5 million was for mint sets and other collector items).

2022 produced about 10 million halves, but I could not find the 'for circulation' figures.

2023 was a significant uptick : 58 million halves.

2024 to date : 13 million.

So that's 85 million +/- 'business strikes' over the past 4 years.

A quick look at mint production figures of clad (1971 and later) half dollars is over 2 BILLION coins that do not circulate. They are collecting dust in bags at the Fed, in boxes at the Brinks / Loomis / Garda warehouses, or in forgotten jars throughout the country.

On what planet is there a need for more half dollars? Why waste the taxpayers' money on this boondoggle?

CRHers in the Metrowest region of Massachusetts will soon be seeing these beauties in their own Loomis boxes.

"Goldfinger" by Ian Fleming contains this line : "Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action."

This week's half dollar box was, yet again, all 2023D uncirculated coins. Enemy action, indeed.

 

[MIhunter]

My theory of recent increase in half dollar mintage: Even coins that don't circulate much, still wear out over time!

Since 1971 (including 2025 numbers) the Mint has produced about 3 billion (Philly and Denver) Cupronickel half dollars. The majority of them (1.7 billion) were minted between 1971-76. These coins are 50ish years old and although they haven't circulated like quarters or dimes they have circulated. Every time a CRHer goes to a bank, picks up a box of halves, searches them and then dumps them in a coin counter, that is wear and tear. A well circulated coin like a quarter has a half life of 20 years, it stands to reason that many 1970s halves are reaching the end of their service lives. As long as banks order half dollars (for whatever reasons) the Mint and Fed are going to provided them.
Therefore the Mint won't be able to return low production runs of 3-5 million a year as long as there is continued, but small, demand for half dollars. Even if that demand is 99% CRHers and other types of collectors.

 

[blueberra]

My theory of recent increase in half dollar mintage: Even coins that don't circulate much, still wear out over time!

Since 1971 (including 2025 numbers) the Mint has produced about 3 billion (Philly and Denver) Cupronickel half dollars. The majority of them (1.7 billion) were minted between 1971-76. These coins are 50ish years old and although they haven't circulated like quarters or dimes they have circulated. Every time a CRHer goes to a bank, picks up a box of halves, searches them and then dumps them in a coin counter, that is wear and tear. A well circulated coin like a quarter has a half life of 20 years, it stands to reason that many 1970s halves are reaching the end of their service lives. As long as banks order half dollars (for whatever reasons) the Mint and Fed are going to provided them.
Therefore the Mint won't be able to return low production runs of 3-5 million a year as long as there is continued, but small, demand for half dollars. Even if that demand is 99% CRHers and other types of collectors.

I challenge your claim that those halves just 'wore out'.

There aren't enough CRHers to make any kind of a dent to the population of halves. Halves don't circulate. When was the last time you got one in change? Most people no longer use coins or currency any more. Fenway Park, for example, does not take cash at the concessions.

I ask you this question, "What is the lowest grade clad half dollar you have seen?". I don't think I've seen one in less than 'Fine' condition. I've seen plenty of very worn Walking Liberty halves and, to a much lesser extent, Franklins. So, if the clad halves are wearing out, I'm not seeing any evidence of it.

I worked in a Mom & Pop shop in the late 60s. Clad coins had just started to make their appearance and gradually, per Gresham's Law, the 90% silver coins began disappearing from circulation. 40% silver halves, however, did not have more than fifty cents of silver, so why pull them out?

But silver aside, there were very few halves in the till at any time. Many people would just throw each half they received in change into a jar and then, if money got tight, they'd roll the coins and convert them in for currency. It was an easy way to save.

Sometime in the 50s or early 60s, halves began to circulate less and less. I don't know why, but someone must have studied this phenomenon.

Another point on wear : half dollar slot machines could and did impart a lot of wear on the coins, but coin-operated slots have gone the way of the dodo. Vegas approved the TITO (ticket in, ticket out) system in 2000 which sounded the death knell for coin-operated slots.

 

[robertk]

When was the last time you got one in change?

Actually the last time I went to the convenience store (which has been a few months), I got a half in change. And it was a 1964 silver Kennedy.

 

[MIhunter]

I challenge your claim that those halves just 'wore out'.

There aren't enough CRHers to make any kind of a dent to the population of halves. Halves don't circulate. When was the last time you got one in change? Most people no longer use coins or currency any more. Fenway Park, for example, does not take cash at the concessions.

I ask you this question, "What is the lowest grade clad half dollar you have seen?". I don't think I've seen one in less than 'Fine' condition. I've seen plenty of very worn Walking Liberty halves and, to a much lesser extent, Franklins. So, if the clad halves are wearing out, I'm not seeing any evidence of it.

I worked in a Mom & Pop shop in the late 60s. Clad coins had just started to make their appearance and gradually, per Gresham's Law, the 90% silver coins began disappearing from circulation. 40% silver halves, however, did not have more than fifty cents of silver, so why pull them out?

But silver aside, there were very few halves in the till at any time. Many people would just throw each half they received in change into a jar and then, if money got tight, they'd roll the coins and convert them in for currency. It was an easy way to save.

Sometime in the 50s or early 60s, halves began to circulate less and less. I don't know why, but someone must have studied this phenomenon.

Another point on wear : half dollar slot machines could and did impart a lot of wear on the coins, but coin-operated slots have gone the way of the dodo. Vegas approved the TITO (ticket in, ticket out) system in 2000 which sounded the death knell for coin-operated slots.

To suggest that halves don't circulate is simply not accurate.
A coin doesn't have to be given as change by a retailer to qualify as circulation.
As I wrote above, whenever somebody buys halves from a bank and then later deposits them, that is circulation.
Handling the coins, dumping them in a coin counter, and when the bank sends them to be counted and rolled.
All of this is wear and tear on coins.

Even the SBA of 1979-81 ran low and the mint needed to make more dollar coins in 1999.

The lack of abundant circulation is shown is the low mintages (37.6 million in 2024 as compared to 1.7 billion for the qtr). But, coins minted in the early 1970s can not last forever. Unless they are keep in a vault and not moved like the Morgan/Peace Dollars. They were kept for decades in bags in the Fed Reserve.

 

[MIhunter]

I challenge your claim that those halves just 'wore out'.

There aren't enough CRHers to make any kind of a dent to the population of halves. Halves don't circulate. When was the last time you got one in change? Most people no longer use coins or currency any more. Fenway Park, for example, does not take cash at the concessions.

I ask you this question, "What is the lowest grade clad half dollar you have seen?". I don't think I've seen one in less than 'Fine' condition. I've seen plenty of very worn Walking Liberty halves and, to a much lesser extent, Franklins. So, if the clad halves are wearing out, I'm not seeing any evidence of it.

I worked in a Mom & Pop shop in the late 60s. Clad coins had just started to make their appearance and gradually, per Gresham's Law, the 90% silver coins began disappearing from circulation. 40% silver halves, however, did not have more than fifty cents of silver, so why pull them out?

But silver aside, there were very few halves in the till at any time. Many people would just throw each half they received in change into a jar and then, if money got tight, they'd roll the coins and convert them in for currency. It was an easy way to save.

Sometime in the 50s or early 60s, halves began to circulate less and less. I don't know why, but someone must have studied this phenomenon.

Another point on wear : half dollar slot machines could and did impart a lot of wear on the coins, but coin-operated slots have gone the way of the dodo. Vegas approved the TITO (ticket in, ticket out) system in 2000 which sounded the death knell for coin-operated slots.

I realized later that I replied to your post without answering many of your questions and statements

"There aren't enough CRHers to make any kind of dent..." I don't know how many CRHers there are, and neither do you.

I don't think I ever gotten a half dollar in change, but as I have explained, that doesn't mean there is zero circulation of halves.

I have seen Kennedy halves in G4 condition, but I don't know the process to remove worn out coins. I would assume it is a mechanical process not a human, one coin at a time visual system.

I agree with you, that the last great user of halve dollars were the slot machines. Their end is likely the reason the Mint switched to NIFC level production in 2002.

Well, if I am right then the mint will continue with low level production for circulation, above NIFC levels but no where near the levels seen for nickel, dime, or quarter.

 

[halfdime]

I just finished this week's half dollar box which consisted of 1,000 uncirculated 2023D coins.

After doing a little digging, I discovered that the mint resumed producing half dollars for circulation in 2021 (after a 20 year hiatus) to the tune of about 10 million coins (total mintage was 15 million, but 5 million was for mint sets and other collector items).

2022 produced about 10 million halves, but I could not find the 'for circulation' figures.

2023 was a significant uptick : 58 million halves.

2024 to date : 13 million.

So that's 85 million +/- 'business strikes' over the past 4 years.

A quick look at mint production figures of clad (1971 and later) half dollars is over 2 BILLION coins that do not circulate. They are collecting dust in bags at the Fed, in boxes at the Brinks / Loomis / Garda warehouses, or in forgotten jars throughout the country.

On what planet is there a need for more half dollars? Why waste the taxpayers' money on this boondoggle?

CRHers in the Metrowest region of Massachusetts will soon be seeing these beauties in their own Loomis boxes.

I recently got 18 consecutive boxes of 2024D and thought I was done with that. Yesterday, five of my six boxes were 2024. Make it stop!

 

[blueberra]

I recently got 18 consecutive boxes of 2024D and thought I was done with that. Yesterday, five of my six boxes were 2024. Make it stop!

This week's and last week's half dollar boxes were both 2025P.

 

[Jose The Goon]

"blueberra" wrote:
"I just finished this week's half dollar box which consisted of 1,000 uncirculated 2023D coins."

According to NGC:
2023 D 50C MS

2023 D Kennedy Half Dollar Value​

According to the NGC Price Guide, as of November 2025, a Kennedy Half Dollar from 2023 in circulated condition is worth between $0.55 and $0.65. HOWEVER, on the open market 2023 D Half Dollars in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $20.

2023 D 50C MS | Coin Explorer | NGC

View coin specifications and analysis for 2023 D 50C MS in our Kennedy Half Dollars category. With price & auction data.

www.ngccoin.com

I hope you still have them.