samclem, are these US half dollars? And are they simply old coins, or are we still minting these at miniscule rates like Canada?
dqa
Yes, the US still mints halves. We pass out the non-silver ones (post-1970) which come in over our counter in the coin shop in the course of buying collections/accumulations every week.
Miniscule rates? Are you kidding? The US makes about 50 million per year. What? You don’t see them. That’s because the average person resists using them, therefore their bank doesn’t order them from the Federal Reserve, therefore they don’t get circulated.
I went to the post office in the Clarica Centre on the way home from work. There was a little notice taped to the counter: “Ask about the new 50-cent coin.” So I did. Yes, they would sell me a roll. I got 25 coins for $12.50. 
The new 50-cent coins are extremely shiny: they almost look chromed. The ‘head’ side has a large portrait of the Queen. Unusually, her name Elizableth II is not printed in full; instead there is only the Royal Cipher, “E II R”, with the word Canada beneath. The other side of the coin has the full coat-of-arms of Canada, with “50 CENTS” above and “1952 - 2002” below.
The coins are larger than a quarter and smaller than a toonie. I left three as part of a tip at the restaurant tonight. The rest await the morrow.
The revolution begins! 
Perhaps it’s because you have quarters as part of your currency - not as much need to have a 50-center in general use.
Australia has 5 / 10 / 20 / 50 / $1 / $2 as coins. The 50C is the largest of our coins, and is like your $1 coin - 12-sided. But it is the coin most used for commemorations or anniversaries, eg the marriage of Charles & Di; U.N. “International Year of” whatever, the Queen’s 25th coronation anniversary.
So the normal face (Aussie coat of Arms) is only slightly more likely to be on the face as something else.
The Laura Secord in the mall near where I work just closed. 
Well… I made a little stop at the royal Bank today and managed to put quite a few of these halves into circulation. When I mentioned what I was intending the teller said it was a fabulous idea and said she would be picking up a number of rolls since they are abundant and never going to be worth much as a collectors piece.
A clerk at a store took four of them when I bought my lunch and I explained our mission to her. She said she was going to keep one and pass on the other three. She thought it was a lovely idea.
I was impressed by how easily it was to convert these people.
I’ll surely convert more in the coming days and weeks, I plan to pick up many many more halves on pay day and am going to try and pay for as much as possible with them.
And I’ve used a dozen at various convenience stores, as tips, and so on. One of the cfeteria ladies at work bought six off me so she could give one to each of her children and grandchildren.
I’m almost through my first roll of them…
I had a few of these as a child–my mother would get them from the Crown and Anchor games at the CNE (a big fair), where fifty cents was a common bet. I guess it was easier for the operators to use the fifty-cent coins rather than deal with quarters. Anyway, Mom would always part with some for my sister and I.
But I haven’t seen them since. Thanks for the tip, Sunspace; I’ll try to remember to get some when I next pass by a Royal Bank. Or even better, a Laura Secord.
I’m amazed no one else noticed this yet. The loonie, my friend, is eleven sided. Why eleven, you may ask?
I really don’t know. Perhaps it adds to the coin’s mystique.
Eleven sides on the loonie… eleven points on the leaf in the Maple Leaf Flag… eleven is a prime number… it’s clearly a conspiracy by <Sunspace looks around furtively and whispers> Them.
:eek:
Hmm…this sounds fun. The banks have rolls now, you say? I just may have to scoot down there and get some…
Just the Royal Bank, Arwen, plus “participating Canada Post outlets” and Laura Secord.
Mmmm… Laura Secord.
Now I’m hungry.
You know, there’s a Laura Secord on my way home from work… Personally, I prefer Baskin Robbins. But this is a cause. Anything to support the cause - I’ll even eat Laura Secord ice cream if I have to, gosh darn it!
OK. I just bought 5 rolls from the post office. They only had 2 left after I was there!
I’ll do my duty and spend them. The only thing that ticks me off is I bet they’ll spend less than a day in circulation… Some kind-hearted Grandma will probably save them for their Grandson, or the like.
Oh well… all we can do is try.
I’ve discovered that, after the novelty factor wears off, they will be used as change. I had to flood the cafeteria at work with them for this to happen there though.
I’ll bet you by January, you’ll get one in change about as often as you get a $1 bill.
Hmm… I wonder what the Mint’s total production of them was/is?