In recent years, the half dollar has all but disappeared from the channels of American commerce, becoming almost irrelevant to the nation’s coinage system. That’s a far cry from the role it played in America’s formative years, when it had a significant function and carried exceptional weight. Its importance was underscored by the fact that in 1794, when United States silver coinage began, the half dollar was one of the first three denominations to be issued in that metal, along with the silver dollar and half dime.
