Collector’s Corner: 50 cent coin still exists

By Ron Schmidt on December 24, 2022.

Many people have thought that the mint does not make the 50 cent coin any more except for in mint sets. That is not true, the mint has made the 50 cent coins for circulation in every year since 1921, and even before that, but they were not minted each year.

The 50 cent coin was not liked by merchants as they did not have enough separate trays in their cash registers to hold the coins. There are only approximately 8,000 coins minted in resent years compared to over 1 million coins made each year back in the 80’s.

Most coin dealers will carry the 50 cent coin, dated after 1968, in uncirculated condition, for sale for about $1.50. Now let us go back to the first 50 cent coin made under the reign of Queen Victoria.

The coins listed below are based and priced on the average condition for that particular year. The better conditions of these coins are worth more money. In 1870 there are 4 varieties. The most common coin is worth about $30.00.

The 1870 with no LCW is worth $750.00. In 1871 there is again 4 varieties ranging from $40.00 to $75.00. In 1872 there are 5 varieties, the common one is about $30.00 and the one with the bar in the V is worth $250 and could get up to $10,000 in uncirc. condition.

They stopped production in 1873 and never started until 1881. That coin is worth about $40.00. Again production stopped until 1888. That year 3 varieties were found.

In G condition this coin ranges from $150.00 to $450.00. Remember that unless you have a better quality coin you may not be able to tell which variety it is and then it becomes the price of the lowest value.

From 1888 to1898 they only made coins as needed. (1890,1892,1894) The coin that would be nice to have would be the 1890 which is worth about $900.00 in G condition ranging to over $10,000 in au condition.

The 1892 is worth about $50.00 and the 1894 is worth about $300.00. From 1898 to 1901 the coins are worth about $40.00 with the exception of 1899 which is about $125.00.

From 1902 to 1920 these coins are worth about $15.00 to $40.00 with the exception of 1904 and 1905 which are worth about $100.00. From 1911 to 1939 they range from $15.00 to $25.00 with the exception of the well known 1921.

In poor condition this coin could bring over $30,000. In 1932 the coin is about $90.00 in G condition. From 1940 to 1968 most coins are worth bullion value except for some varieties in the years of 1946,1947,1948,1949,1950.

Some of these varieties could range around $100.00. From 1968 to today’s date, unless you have a coin that is in au condition it is only worth face value.

Collector’s Corner is contributed by the Medicine Hat Coin & stamp Club. For questions or comments about coin or stamp collection email medhatcsc@live.co

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