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Canadian fifty-cent coin

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"50 Cent Piece" redirects here. For the United States half dollar, see Half dollar (United States coin).
50-cent coin
Canada
Value0.50 Canadian dollar
Mass6.9 g
Diameter27.13 mm
Thickness1.95 mm
EdgeMilled
CompositionNickel-plated steel
93.15% steel,
4.75% Cu,
2.1% Ni plating
Years of minting1870–present
Catalogue number–
Obverse
DesignElizabeth II, Queen of Canada
DesignerSusanna Blunt
Design date2003
Design discontinued2023
DesignCharles III, King of Canada
DesignerSteven Rosati
Design date2023
Reverse
DesignCanadian coat of arms
DesignerThomas Shingles
Design date1959, updated 1997

The Canadian fifty-cent coin (French: pièce de cinquante cents) is a Canadian coin worth 50 cents. The coin's reverse depicts the coat of arms of Canada. At the opening ceremonies for the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint, held on January 2, 1908, Governor General Earl Grey struck the Dominion of Canada's first domestically produced coin. It was a silver fifty-cent coin bearing the effigy of King Edward VII.

Though it is regularly minted, it is not made in large quantities (approximate annual average production of 150,000), and since 2004 has only been available to the public directly from the mint.[1] It is very rare to encounter this denomination in everyday transactions, since there seems to be the mistaken belief among many Canadians that the coin itself is rare. Most times, when a 50-cent coin is exchanged in a transaction, it is saved by its recipient. People quite commonly, upon being presented with 50-cent coins, question the legality of the coin, because of the non-circulating status of the denomination. The coin occupies a similar status to that of the United States half-dollar coin. Vending machines do not generally accept it, even when they accept coins of both higher and lower value.

A largely unsuccessful attempt was made by the Royal Canadian Mint to promote the use of the coin when a special edition was released in 2002 marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the throne. After this failed promotion, the mint stopped distributing 50-cent coins to banks and now sells them only in rolls or in coin sets available directly from their Numismatic Department at twice their face value, or $25 per roll of 25 coins.[2][3]

The mint's website lists the 2007 coat of arms 50-cent coin as "rarely seen yet replete with tradition".[4][5]

History

[edit]

During the early to mid-1920s, demand for 50-cent coins was minimal. Only 28,000 coins were issued between 1921 and 1929. When greater demand for the denomination arose in 1929, the Master of the Ottawa Mint decided to melt the stock of 1920 and 1921 coins. It amounted to a total of 480,392 coins. The decision was due to the belief that the public would suspect counterfeits if a large number of coins dated 1920 and 1921 were placed into circulation. It is believed that 75 or so of the 1921 coins have survived, mainly from sets that were sold at the time.[6]

The 2000-P 50-cent coin is another Canadian numismatic rarity. Approximately 276 of the 2000-P 50-cent coins are known to have been minted. Each of these 276 coins was mounted in a clock as gifts to mint employees. This makes the 2000-P 50-cent coin one of the rarest Canadian half-dollars ever produced.

Composition and size

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Years Weight Diameter Thickness Composition[7][8]
1870–1919 11.62 g 29.72 mm n/a 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
1920–1967 11.66 g 29.72 mm n/a 80% silver, 20% copper
1968–2000 8.10 g 27.13 mm 1.93 mm 99.9% nickel
2001–present 6.90 g 27.13 mm 1.95 mm 93.15% steel, 4.75% copper, 2.1% nickel plating

Circulation figures

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Victoria & Edward VII

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1871 Canadian 50-cent coin
Year Mintage Notes
1870 450,000 The "LCW" (initials) refers to the designer who made Victoria's bust (obverse side).
1870 LCW
1871 200,000
1871 H 45,000 The "H" on the coin refers to "Ralph Heaton & Sons".
1872 H 80,000 This figure includes the inverted "A" for "V" in Victoria variety.
1881 H 150,000
1888 60,000 Semi-key date
1890 H 20,000 Key date
1892 151,000
1894 29,036 Key date
1898 100,000
1899 50,000 Semi-key date
1900 118,000
1901 Victoria 80,000
1902 Edward VII 120,000
1903 H 140,000
1904 60,000 Key date
1905 40,000 Key date
1906 350,000
1907 300,000
1908 128,119
1909 302,118
1910 Victorian leaves 649,521 The leaves on the reverse were slightly modified.
1910 Edwardian leaves

George V & George VI

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A 1917 50-cent piece featuring King George V
A 1946 50-cent coin featuring King George VI
Year Mintage Notes
1911 No "DEI GRA" 209,972 The word "GRA" (Gratia) was removed from the obverse of the coin to make room for "IND:IMP" (Emperor of India).
1912 With "DEI GRA" 285,867 "DEI GRA" was later restored in 1912 after public backlash for "godless" coins.
1913 265,889
1914 160,128
1916 459,070
1917 752,213
1918 754,989
1919 1,113,429
1920 584,691
1921 Unknown Only 75 to 100 coins are known to exist.
1929 228,328
1931 57,581
1932 19,213 As coin collecting was becoming widely popular, many of these coins were saved.
1934 39,539
1936 38,550
1937 192,016
1938 192,018
1939 287,976
1940 1,996,566
1941 1,714,874
1942 1,974,164
1943 3,109,583
1944 2,460,205
1945 1,959,528
1946 950,235 This figure includes the "hoof in 6" variety.
1947 424,885[a]
1947 ML 38,433[a] Obverse "IND: IMP:" aka Indiae Imperator (Emperor of India) removed.
1948 37,784
1949 858,991 This figure includes the "hoof over 9" variety.
1950 2,384,179 This figure includes the "lines" and "no lines" in 0 varieties.
1951 2,421,730
1952 2,596,465

Elizabeth II

[edit]
1967 Canadian Centennial half (reverse side)
Year Mintage Notes
1953 No strap 1,630,429[9] This variety is also called with/without shoulder fold.
1953 Strap
1954 506,305[9]
1955 753,511[9]
1956 1,379,499[9]
1957 2,171,689[9]
1958 2,957,266[9] Large reverse design, simple coat of arms.
1959 3,095,535[10] Small reverse design, complete coat of arms.
1960 3,488,897[10]
1961 3,584,417[10]
1962 5,208,030[10]
1963 8,348,871[10]
1964 9,377,676[10] 1st obverse portrait
1965 12,629,974[11] 2nd obverse portrait
1966 7,920,496[11] Last regular issue coin in silver.
1967 4,211,392[12] Canadian Centennial, this half dollar features a howling wolf and is dated 1867–1967.
1968 3,966,932[13]
1969 7,113,929[13]
1970 2,429,526[13]
1971 2,166,444[13]
1972 2,515,632[13]
1973 2,546,096[13]
1974 3,436,650[13]
1975 3,710,000[13]
1976 2,940,719[13]
1977 709,839[14]
1978 3,341,892[15] This figure includes the "square" and "round" jewels varieties.
1979 3,425,000[15]
1980 1,574,000[15]
1981 2,690,272[15]
1982 2,236,674[15] This figure includes the "small" and "large" beads varieties.
1983 1,177,000[15]
1984 1,502,989[15]
1985 2,188,374[15]
1986 781,400[15]
1987 373,000[15] From this date forward, halves were generally minted in smaller amounts.
1988 220,000[15]
1989 266,419[15] 2nd obverse portrait
1990 207,000[16] 3rd obverse portrait
1991 490,000[16]
1992 445,000[17] 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada, this half is dated 1867–1992.
1993 393,000[16]
1994 987,000[16]
1995 626,000[16]
1996 458,000[16]
1997 387,000[18] Revised coat of arms on the reverse.
1998 308,000[18]
1999 496,000[18]
2000 559,000[18] Struck in nickel
2001 P 389,000[19] Struck in nickel plated steel (P).
2002 P (GJ) 14,440,000[20] (1952 - 2002) Elizabeth II Golden Jubliee
2003 P — Canadian half dollars minted since 2003 are not for circulation.[2][b]

Commemoratives

[edit]
Date Mintage Artist Reason
1998
43,269
 William Henry James Blakemore 90th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint.
1998
14,000
 F.G. Peter 110th Anniversary of Speed and Figure Skating
1998
14,000
 F.G. Peter 100th Anniversary of Ski Racing
1998
56,428
 Friedrich Peter 110 Years Canadian Soccer
1998
56,428
 Friedrich Peter 20 Years Canadian Auto Racing
1999
52,115
 D.H. Curley 95th Anniversary of the 1904 Open Golf Championship
1999
52,115
 D.H. Curley 125th Anniversary of the first Canadian vs U.S. Yacht Race
1999
52,115
 D.H. Curley 100th Anniversary of the First Grey Cup
1999
52,115
 D.H. Curley 60th Anniversary of the invention of basketball
2000
50,091
 Brian Hughes 125th Anniversary of the first recorded modern hockey game
2000
50,091
 Brian Hughes 240th Anniversary of the introduction of curling to North America
2000
50,091
 Brian Hughes 160th Anniversary of the first steeplechase held in North America
2000
50,091
 Brian Hughes Birth of the First 5-pin bowling league
2002
65,315
 Thomas Shingles Elizabeth II (Golden Jubilee) (non-circulating silver proof).
2003
21,537
 Mary Gillick Elizabeth II (Golden Jubilee)
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II - Battle of Britain
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II - Battle of Scheldt
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II - Battle of Sicily
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II - Battle of the Atlantic
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II - Liberation of the Netherlands
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II - Raid of Dieppe
2008
3,248
 William Henry James Blakemore 100th Anniversary of Royal Canadian Mint
2008
25,004
 Various[c] 100th Anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens
2011
6,000
 William Henry James Blakemore 100th Anniversary of George V on Canadian coins.
2012
30,900
 Christie Paquet Elizabeth II (Diamond Jubilee)
2012
14,997
 Yves Bérubé 100th Anniversary of Titanic
2012
5,988
 Christie Paquet 150th Anniversary of the Cariboo Gold Rush
2013
24,967
 DC Comics 75th Anniversary of Superman
2014
15,000
 Yves Bérubé 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland.
2014
4,746
 Matthew Bowen 150th Anniversary Sesquicentennial of the Charlottetown and Québec Conferences
2015
5,102
 Pierre Leduc 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Flag
2017
8,017
 — 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (Centennial Wolf; 2017 version).
2017
20,000
 Ariana Cuvin 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada, features the Canada 150 logo (silver proof).
2017
4,000
 — 100th anniversary of the 50-cent coin
2018
4,000
 — 75th anniversary of George VI on the 1943 Half-Dollar.
2018
Unknown
 Steve McPhee 200th Anniversary of the 49th Parallel
2019
2,500
 Thomas Shingles 60th anniversary of the 50-cent coin (1959-2019)
2021
250,000
 George Kruger Gray 100th anniversary of the Canadian Coat of Arms
2023
20,000
 Cathy Bursey-Sabourin Elizabeth II (Platinum Jubilee) (silver proof).
2024
7,500
 Cathy Bursey-Sabourin Elizabeth II (Platinum Jubilee).

Collecting

[edit]

Long known as the "king of Canadian coins", the 1921 Canadian half dollar brings a price commensurate with its rarity and reputation, with a high grade example (PCGS MS-66) having sold for US$227,546 (this price includes buyers premium but not the taxes) in a January 2010 Heritage Auction.[21] The highest graded specimen is graded by PCGS at MS-67 and sold (by Diverse Equities[22]) in the year 2000 to a private collector for the then sum of US$400,000. Today this coin would most likely bring US$1 million at an auction.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b This figure includes the "straight" and "curved" 7 varieties.
  2. ^ While half dollars remain legal tender, they are rarely used in commerce.
  3. ^ These coins came in a set of 6 (25,004 minted each) all celebrating the same theme.

References

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  1. ^ "50 cents". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, Volume One, 67th Edition, W.K. Cross, Editor, p. 194, ISBN 0-88968-354-9, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  3. ^ "Special Wrap Circulation Coin Roll - 50 Cent - Mintage: 10,000 (2012)". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "Royal Canadian Mint". Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  5. ^ "Royal Canadian Mint". Archived from the original on June 22, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  6. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, W.K. Cross, Editor, p. 143, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  7. ^ "From sea to sea – the 50-cent coin". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  8. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, W.K. Cross, Editor, pp. 139–153, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Canada 50 Cents KM# 53 1953(no mint mark) large date, straps". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Canada 50 Cents KM# 56 1959(no mint mark) horizontal shading". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Canada 50 Cents KM# 63 1965(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  12. ^ Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 29, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (44th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 322. ISBN 978-1440246548.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Canada 50 Cents KM# 75.1 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 75.2 1977(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Canada 50 Cents KM# 75.3 1978(no mint mark) round jewels". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "Canada 50 Cents KM# 185 1990(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 208 1992(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d "Canada 50 Cents KM# 290 1997(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  19. ^ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 290b 1999 P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 444 1952-2002P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  21. ^ coins.ha.com
  22. ^ diverseequities.com
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