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The 50 cent piece is the common name of the Canadian coin worth 50 cents. It is also referred to as a half dollar. Its 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 Gray struck the Dominion of Canada’s first domestically produced coin. It was a silver fifty-cent piece bearing the effigy of His Majesty King Edward VII.
Though it is regularly minted, it is not made in large quantities (approximate annual average production of 450,000). It is very rare to encounter this coin in everyday transactions. 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 Queen Elizabeth II ascending the throne.
[edit] History of Composition [1]
| Years |
Weight |
Diameter/Shape |
Composition |
| 2000–present |
6.9 g |
27.13 mm |
93.25% steel, 4.75% copper, 2.0% nickel |
| 1968–2000 |
8.10 g |
27.13 mm |
99.9% nickel |
| 1967–1968 |
2.33 g |
18.034 mm |
50% silver, 50% copper |
| 1937–1967 |
11.66 g |
29.72 mm |
80% silver, 20% copper |
| 1920–1936 |
11.62 g |
29.72 mm |
80% silver, 20% copper |
| 1870–1919 |
11.62 g |
29.72 mm |
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
[1]
[edit] 1921 Fifty Cents
During the early to mid 1920’s, the demand for fifty-cent pieces was very light. Only 28,000 pieces 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 from sets that were sold at the time. [2] This coin is believed to be valued at over $125,000 in pristine condition. [3]
[edit] Special edtion
- 1967: Canadian centennial, all coins had unique reverses, the 50 cent coin had a wolf.
- 2002: 50th Anniversary, Queen Elizabeth II ascension to the throne
[edit] First Strikes
| Year |
Theme |
Mintage |
Issue Price |
| 2005 |
Coat of Arms |
2,298 |
$14.95 |
| 2006 |
New Mint Mark |
5,000 |
$29.95 |
[edit] References
- ^ 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
- ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, W.K. Cross, Editor, p. 143, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
- ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, W.K. Cross, Editor, p. 144, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
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