# Canadians! Let's bring back the fifty-cent coin! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 14, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632 "2002-04-14T22:44:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/1 "2002-04-14T22:44:20Z")
After reading **javaman’s** [Pit thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=107578) about coinage reform, I began to wonder about the Canadian fifty-cent coin. On the street these are very rare, and I haven’t seen one in circulation since the mid-nineties. I remember reading somewhere that they were in common use on the east coast, and the 25-cent coin was much less prominent there. I don’t know how true this is; it would be interesting to find out. I’ve decided to bring this coin back from the dead, by using it in everyday life. I went to the TD Canada Trust branch in the Clarica Centre on Friday and asked whether they had any rolls of fifty-cent coins or could order them. The lady behind the couinter was somewhat confused by my question; possibly she’d never seen a fifty-cent coin. At any rate, they did not have any. So I emailed the [Royal Canadian Mint](http://www.mint.ca/). Today I got this reply: > [@](#): > > Because of extremely low demand, most financial institutions do not carry rolls of fifty cent coins, and our annual production mostly serves the coin collector market. > > These coins can be obtained from coin dealers (look under “coins” in the Yellow Pages) and the Royal Canadian Mint has some in its locations in Ottawa and Winnipeg. > > Since we do not ship rolls of circulation coins in small quantities, you would have to physically purchase them from our boutiques in our Ottawa or Winnipeg locations. If you cannot come to Ottawa or Winnipeg, perhaps there is someone you know in either of these two cities who could purchase them for you and send them to you. > > However, if you wish to order relatively large quantities of circulation coins, we do have a bulk coin sales line in Winnipeg, which can be reached at 204-984-0804 or Coin-Q&A@mint.ca Thank you for visiting the Royal Canadian Mint web site. I wonder what their lower limit for a bulk sale is. It looks like I’ll be going to Ottawa for my holidays, and I guess I’ll pick up some rolls of fifty-cent coins while I’m there… Anyone want to join in the crusade? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/2 "2002-04-14T23:48:12Z")
I notice you’re in Totonto. I am a coin dealer. I don’t know if what I am about to suggest will help, but it would here in the US. Look in your Yellow Pages(are they yellow in Canada?) under _coin dealers_, call around, you may find some who would be glad to sell you quantities of post-1968 halves(non-silver) for face value. Tell them an American coin dealer suggested it. That may/or may not help. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/3 "2002-04-14T23:54:50Z")
Well, they’re not in common circulation here, I can tell you that for sure! ---
**Author:** ![etc\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@etc\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etc_1)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/4 "2002-04-15T00:22:55Z")
I’m from St. John’s and, although I haven’t lived there in a while, I visit at least once a year and I have never received a 50 cent coin in my change. I’ve never received any in Halifax, either. I live in Ottawa. It would be interesting to pick up a roll from the mint and see peoples reactions as I put them in circulation. I wonder how many people would refuse them … etc. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/5 "2002-04-15T00:27:37Z")
Related to the **OP** We pass out hundreds of halves in our coin shop(in the US) every week. Some people like it, some people don’t. This is not just a Canadian problem. Many people in the US haven’t seen a half in the last 25 years. Most people just don’t care. Half dollars aren’t important in everyday life. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/6 "2002-04-15T01:21:05Z")
Egaj mensoj same pensas, chu ne, Sunspaco? I went to a local TD a few months ago with the same intent. The nice lady at Information said that they did not have any 50c pieces at all, and had no way of ordering them. But she did not mention either the Mint or coin dealers. Of course, I used to live in Winnipeg, and went there again in November for the NDP general convention, but this hadn’t occurred to me then. Oh well, maybe next time I’m in Ottawa (in May, for the National Youth Summit on Sustainable Urban Transit). ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/7 "2002-04-15T12:17:23Z")
What’s really sad is that I have the same problem with Sackies here in the U.S. I like them and try to use them, but often the bank dosen’t have any, I usually ask. If you do run down a Canadian half dollar coin, I’d like to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/8 "2002-04-15T13:30:45Z")
Here you go, **Weirddave** : [the fifty-cent coin](http://www.mint.ca/en/collectors_corner/circulation/index_circ.htm#50cent). You may have to scroll down. Dankon, **matt\_mcl**. Looks like you’ll be in Ottawa before me. And hej! if you get elected, you’ll be in Ottawa a lot more often than me too! 🙂 I think I’ll make a web page about this… ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/9 "2002-04-15T15:14:28Z")
I’m from PEI, and have never seen a 50-cent coin ever used in a purchase nor received one as change. I even worked cash at several drugstores, so i’ve seen a fair amount of cash from that area. I’m in Ottawa now as well, and on my next trip downtown I will be sure to pick up a roll or two as well. Thanks for the nifty idea! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/10 "2002-04-15T16:49:03Z")
I like the idea. I’d like to get a bunch from a store, but if you get them from a coin-dealer, they would surely want to make a profit on them as opposed to face-value… which is why it would be nice to get some from a bank. I would buy a couple hundred and spend them, just to get them into circulation. I, too, wonder what there min “bulk-purchase” quantity is. ---
**Author:** ![corvidae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@corvidae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corvidae)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/11 "2002-04-15T17:08:14Z")
About five years ago when I was a cashier, one of my customers used a fifty cent coin to pay for a purchase (a 30 cent bagel.) It was the only time I’d ever seen one. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/12 "2002-04-15T17:35:18Z")
Cool! I’m glad others like the idea! 🙂 I can just imagine the reaction of the people in the boutique as first one person, then another, asks for the previously-obscure coin. 😃 I wonder how much demand there’d have to be for the Mint to crank up the forges for more production… ---
**Author:** ![Soba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Soba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soba)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/13 "2002-04-15T19:32:42Z")
I like the 50 cent piece… but i dunno… carrying those toonies and loonies and now a 50 cent piece in my pockets, God forbid I fall into a lake for I would sink like a rock… and Canada does have a whole lotta lakes… (Today I just realized we got a new 5 dollar bill… gotta love those multicoloured bills) ---
**Author:** ![Efrem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@Efrem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Efrem)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/14 "2002-04-15T19:46:33Z")
Never in my life had I seen a 50 cent coin. I have even worked at a cash register in a corner store for a year. I have seen a lot of freaky money, but not a 50 cent coin yet. Does Canada even make them? That is a good idea though I would like to see a half-dollar in circulation. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/15 "2002-04-15T19:48:33Z")
I wonder if it will be more difficult to do the smiley/frowney face trick with the new fives. I’ll be in Ottawa the Friday after next. Hmmm… $.50… ---
**Author:** ![Supersaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Supersaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Supersaurus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/16 "2002-04-15T19:54:52Z")
I’ve never spent a 50-cent coin, or recived one in change. The only one I own was made in 1944. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/17 "2002-04-16T13:32:01Z")
Well aren’t you a bunch of ornery troublemakers 😉 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/18 "2002-04-16T13:57:22Z")
Yup, which explains the campaign 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/19 "2002-05-27T13:48:02Z")
_Bump_ According to an [article](http://thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1022099638957&call_page=TS_Life&call_pageid=991479973472&call_pagepath=Life/News&col=991929131147) in today’s Toronto Star, the Mint has arranged to distribute the coin through a major ice-cream retailer, Laura Secord… when you buy _mint_ ice-cream: > [@](#): > > The golden jubilee commemorative 50 cent coins are now available at face value throughout Canada at more than 175 Laura Secord Stores, 6,500 participating Canada Post outlets, Hudson’s Bay and the Royal Bank of Canada. Noticeably missing from the list of sources for the coins are Canada’s chartered banks, except for the Royal. It seems that our quiet work behind the scenes has paid off… 😃 …but \ what’s with those “other banks” not doing their patriotic duty? ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632/20 "2002-05-27T13:57:22Z")
The major banks also refused to issue the 1999/2000 millennium quarters… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-lets-bring-back-the-fifty-cent-coin/103632.md?page=2)