Some notable pieces include the 1966 round 50 cent coin or the 1988 50 cent coin, which marked the bicentenary of the First Fleet. If you're looking for an alternative to 50 cent pieces, consider one with a higher value. In the past few years, a number of commemorative 2 dollar coins entered circulation.
A list of valuable 50c Australian coins is fairly short - most are only worth their face value unless they are in premium grade. One of the first 50 cent piece designs that many people notice in their change are the fifty cent coins struck for the Centenary of Federation - there is one for each state and territory.
In Australia in 1977, the Royal Australian Mint produced a special circulating commemorative 50 cents coin to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II. This silver jubilee issue was intended to be the only design for the 1977-dated 50 cents coins produced that year.
It's from 1966,' she wrote. Coin enthusiasts were quick to offer their varying assessments on its worth, with most guessing between $8 and $15 dollars. 'Dealers will give you $8 or so for them or charge you $11 or thereabouts unless in extremely fine or mint condition,' one person wrote.
Kennedy half-dollar coins are not very rare and most of them are worth only their face value of 50 cents. However, some are more valuable, depending on the year they were minted and their condition. For example, a Kennedy half-dollar coin minted in 1970 and in uncirculated condition is worth about $8.
1971 Kennedy Half Dollar Value
According to the NGC Price Guide, as of June 2023, a Kennedy Half Dollar from 1971 in circulated condition is worth between $0.60 and $0.75. However, on the open market 1971 Half Dollars in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $2050.
A really interesting error on a 1977 50 cent. It looks like it was struck through an attached cold shut. The smooth surface of the struck through area indicates a cold shut while the fractured edge shows that the cold shut was probably attached. Something quite different to a typical planchet flaw.
They are, therefore, not particularly valuable. Specimen coins in their original red plastic cases can be found for just $10, while regular uncirculated coins might be bought for just $5 or so.
You can see the Numisbid images of the coin above. This is for a coin with a McDonald's catalogue value of $5, from a proof set with a mintage of 80,000. The set itself has a catalogue value of $50 but in the real world 1983 proof sets can be had for less than twenty dollars.
Some of the 2010 50 cent coins were minted with the obverse and reverse die rotated 30 degrees or one face of the dodecagonal shaped planchet. Presumably this was in error.
This is a scarce die variety of the coin, with only around 200,000 manufactured. It is well worth looking out for in your change as they can still be found, and they are worth $20-30 in average circulated condition.
Because of this, the round 50c bearing the Arnold Machin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Stuart Devlin Coat of Arms reverse is only really traded as silver bullion. Some coins in exceptional grades may sell as numismatic coins but even these are only worth 2-3x the silver the coins contain.
According to the NGC Price Guide, as of June 2023, a Kennedy Half Dollar from 1973 in circulated condition is worth between $0.60 and $0.75. However, on the open market 1973 D Half Dollars in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $300.
The 1969 D half dollar is worth around $6 in uncirculated condition with a grade of MS 63. Uncirculated coins with a grade of MS 65 can sell for around $30. The 1969 S proof half dollar is worth around $8 in PR 65 condition. Click here to search for 1969 half dollars on Amazon.
The 1977 Coat of Arms 50c is the rare one. They were not meant to be minted but 10 of them have appeared.
1975 Kennedy Half Dollar Value is $0.00. None where minted with this date, they are dated 1776-1976 instead.
The most notable 1970s quarter errors are the 1974 and 1977 quarters that were accidentally struck on 40% silver clad planchets. These transitional errors are very rare and valuable, generally selling for more than $1,000 each.
Quantity Discounts
Weighing 13.28 grams with 0.3416oz of silver it wasn't long before the value of the silver content far outweighed the 50c face value and it was withdrawn from production and replaced in 1969 with the dodecagonal-12 sided shape.
This particular 1966 round 50 cent shows a linear planchet flaw on the obverse of the coin extending fully from one rim to another across the full diameter from the second E in ELIZABETH to the I in Australia.
The coin is the silver 50c coin released for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, which was initially sold for $12.50. Following the Queen's death, the numismatist said the coin is now valued at $100.