# Where can I get Half-Dollar Coins? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898 "2003-10-22T13:27:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/1 "2003-10-22T13:27:20Z")
I had a bunch my father gave me when I was a kid, but over my lean years in college I picked away at them and now find myself with only three left. When I think about how many I had, and how much I associate them with my dad, it makes me sad to think that I frittered them away like that. So I want to get more. They won’t be the same ones, of course, but it’ll still be satisfying. Only problem is I have no idea where to get them. Can I just ask at the bank? Or will I need to “buy” them from a collector, or what? Anyone see these coins regularly who can give me a heads up? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/2 "2003-10-22T13:46:33Z")
Tito’s Tacos, on the corner of Washington and Sepulveda. 😃 Seriously, Tito’s does use half-dollars as change; but it might be a bit far for you to go. If your bank doesn’t carry them, then they can probably “order” them for you. Buy many, and spend them! 😉 ---
**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:** [October 22, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/3 "2003-10-22T14:07:49Z")
The post office was selling rolls last year commemorating the Queen’s fiftieth anniversary on the throne, but they seem to have sunk into obscurity again. You _can_ buy them at the Mint in Ottawa, or so I’ve heard. \ Oh. US 50-cent coins. Hmm. I’ve never seen one… I wonder whether they’re even rarer than Canadian ones…? ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/4 "2003-10-22T14:32:11Z")
According to the [U.S. Mint](http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/coin_production/index.cfm?action=production_figures&allCoinsYear=2003#starthere), half-dollars are still being produced every year, though in very small quantities (like 5 million, versus 2 _billion_ quarters). You should be able to get them in a bank, though I suspect some banks don’t have any. Whatever, you do, don’t buy them from a collector, unless you’re interested in actually collecting specific dates, specific mint marks, proof or uncirculated condition, and so on. No sense paying a premium for something you should be able to get at face value. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/5 "2003-10-22T14:46:07Z")
Thanks all! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/6 "2003-10-22T15:25:47Z")
Is there a casino in your neighborhood? Casinos always have them around–for one thing, to pay off odd dollar amount blackjack bets (a $5 bet would pay $7.50). So they also keep a few .50 slots around to help you get rid of them. They’d be happy to sell you a roll. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/7 "2003-10-22T15:57:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*Tito’s Tacos, on the corner of Washington and Sepulveda. 😃 > > Seriously, Tito’s does use half-dollars as change; but it might be a bit far for you to go. If your bank doesn’t carry them, then they can probably “order” them for you. Buy many, and spend them! 😉 \*\* OMG! That was the very first thing that came to my mind when I read the subject of this thread. I grew up in West L.A. and have been eating at Tito’s for over 30 years, since they were in the original location half a block from where they are now. If I could only have one more meal before I die, it would be Tito’s Tacos. They’ve given out those half-dollars for as long as I can remember. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/8 "2003-10-22T16:05:07Z")
Just ask at your bank. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/9 "2003-10-22T16:18:28Z")
That is the obvious answer, yeah. But fwiw, my credit union doesn’t handle coins – doesn’t accept them or give them out in rolls. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/10 "2003-10-22T16:21:30Z")
And stock up on $2 bills, too! (Hmm… do 16-year-old clerks recognize these?) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/11 "2003-10-22T16:59:05Z")
**Jsc1953** : Ask at a different bank then. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/12 "2003-10-22T19:40:39Z")
I always seem to acquire them when at casinos. Try you local gambling facility. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/13 "2003-10-22T20:22:05Z")
Depends if you want: New ones can be gotten from the bank in rolls. You can often get a good buy on older ones on EBay. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-half-dollar-coins/208898/14 "2003-10-22T20:22:21Z")
Depends on what you’re looking for. Banks will have Kennedy halves. If you want Franklin or Liberty halves, you might try a bullion dealer. They often have people unloading silver coins for melt value. By the way: $2 bills, with few exceptions, are worth exactly face value.