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Canadian Half Dollars
  GEORGE V
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With the introduction of the first coins for George V in 1911, the term "DEI GRATIA" was omitted from the obverse inscription. Since this was latin for "God's Grace", these are known as "GODLESS COINS" and are a distinct type coin in the George V series. People were be displeased by this, so in 1912 "DEI GRATIA" was again added to the obverse inscription of Canadian coins. |
image of 1911 type only
image of 1912 TO 1936 type only
There are two varieties of the 1920 50 cent, in that the 0 of the date occurs as either a small O (also called the narrow date) or a large 0 (also called the wide date). On the small 0 variety, the inside of the 0 is narrow and very slightly pointed at the top and bottom, while on the large 0, the inside of the 0 is slightly wider and more rounded at the top and bottom. The large 0 (wide date) type is the scarcer of the two. |
In 1921, Canadian half dollars were minted in significant numbers (over 200,000) but here was no demand for them and they just sat in the mint unused. Only a very small number were ever issued for circulation. From 1922 to 1928 the demand was non-existent and none were struck during that period. Demand for half dollars resumed in 1929 but the mint master decided to recycle the metal from the 1921's that were still there, so they were melted so the metal could be used to make 1929's, resulting in less than 100 1921 50 cent coins now known to exist. Demand for 50 cent coins remained low during the depression, with no half dollars being struck in the years 1930, 1933 and 1935, and mintages being fairly small for those dates struck between 1930 and 1936, with most of the specimens we see being fairly worn. |
GEORGE VI
AD 1937 - 1952
image of 1937 TO 1947 type only
With the depression ending, as George VI came to the throne, the demand for 50 cent coins increased and we see the mintages beining to increase dramatically starting in 1937. Through the 1940's the mintages for most years exceeded a million coins, with the exceptions being 1947 maple leaf and 1948 (both made in 1948 and discussed below) and 1949 which was nearly a million. All of these dates are often seen with a fair amount of wear on them, showing they saw fairly wide circulation. There is an odd feature in the George V half dollars when we cannot yet explain. For some reason in most of the years we see at least one die exhibits a die cracked extending from the unicorn's hoof across the last digit or digits of the date, sometimes also propagating in the other direction as well. While die cracks are seen on many coins in many positions, it is the fact that it is see in the exact same position on so many different dates that is interesting, and suggests something in the designs causes a weakness in these dies, although what ever it is is not obvious. To date we have noticed in on examples from a 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 1946, 1949, 1950 and 1952, but expect it occurs on others as well. I have also seen it faintly on a 1953. |
Some people are trying collect George VI half dollars by varieties in the position of the final two digits of the dates. Because die production methods of that era nearly every die will be slightly different. For each date the major cataloges put them all into ony a handful of somewhat arbitrarily picked varieties but one sees many examples that cannot be clearly assigned one one variety or the other. Even the Charleton catalogue and ICCS occassionally die variety to two different types. A few people are asking about them, so I have provided images and explanations some of them as best I understand them, but many months of keeping records of what I encountered to determine relative rarities of these varieties (information provided below), in most cases I found them to have no significant rarity differences. In my opinion, it makes no sense to collect them that way unless one intends to collect these by die variety, and while I will leave in place the explainations and images I put here earlier, I have decided not to list most of them for sale based on variety other than in a handful of cases where I feel it is signficant or the particular variety has been a long recognized and well established as a collectable variety (such as the 1946 design, 1951 no design, etc). The major 1941 varieties are wide and narrow dates defined by the positions of the final 1 relative to the denticles below. Wide date coins have a 1 that points between two denticles and on narrow date coins it points directly at a denticle. out of 47 coins examined, that came to us randomly, there were 22 WIDE and 25 NARROW date coins. |
 1941 wide date, points between denticles. |
 1941 narrow date, points at a denticle. |
For 1942 Charlton lists a wide and narrow date, but looking at his images I see no significant difference to define them by. In a group of 5 examples that came in together, all were slightly different with no clear way to define them into categories. Two had a narrow gap between the 9 and 4 but one of those had a wide and the other a narrow gap between the 4 and 2. Three had a wide gap between the 9 and 4, of which two had a narrow and one a wide gap between the 4 and 2. Within those there were also variations on how the two lined up with the denticles below. With no way to define them, I see no point listing any varieties. |
1943 has four variations of wide date, medium and narrow dates plus a distinctive 3/3 date. The wide, medium and narrow dates can be defined by drawing a line down the left side of the three and looking to see how the cross bar of the 4 ends relative to that line. Out of 158 examples examined I noticed varieties even within those major catagoried and the occassional coin where it was not clear which way it should be assigned. The wide date was slightly scarcer than the medium and narrow, but not by enough to justify a different price. There was one variety that was much scarcer and for which a higher value is justified, which is a 3/3 variety with only 4 examples in that 158 coins we examined. |
 1943 wide date, the 4 ends before line. |
 1943 medium date, the 4 end slightly across line |
 1943 narrow date, 4 ends further across line. |
 1943 3 over 3. |
1944 half dollars are complex with many sub varieties composed of a combination of wide and narrow dates with high, medium and low 4's. I find that the high, medium and low 4's are more distinctive definitions so will differentiating them that way. There is also a very distinctive and scarce 4/4 over variety. I define high, medium and low 4's by how the tail of the 4 meets the unicorn's hoof. On the low 4 the unicorn's hoof ends above back of the 4, not touching any part of the 4. For both the medium and high 4's the unicorn's hoof touches the 4, but on the medium 4 the bottom of the hoof ends against the back of the 4, and on the high 4 the back of the hoof ends below the bottom of the 4. There are a number of minor sub varieties of each, including a few not distinctly one or the other so we are now leaning towards combining the low and medium 4 into one group called the regular 4. There is also a scarce 4/4 variety where a die started as a medium 4 and a second 4 was punched slightly to the right and slightly higher, so that there is a clear doubling on the left slant and at the bottom of the 4, and the unicorns hoof touches the back upright of the 4. If one were to define the varieties as only a low 4, regular 4 and 4/4, out of 145 random examples I found 13 HIGH 4's, 129 regular 4's, 3 4/4's. As the low 4 and 4/4 are much scarer, higher values are justified and we will list them as distinct variations when available. |
 1944 low 4 where hoof ends far above the 4). |
 1944 medium 4, hoof end at at back of 4 with both wide and narrow date varieties. |
 1944 high 4, hoof ends below back of 4 gap between the 4's is either wide or narrow. |
 1944 4/4 with a distinct doubled final 4. |
In 1945 there are blunt and pointed 5's, plus wide and narrow dates. So far I have found all blunt 5's are wide dates. Pointed 5's come in both wide and narrow dates defined by the spacing between the 4 and 5 but there are several dies with various spacings and some are not clearly wide or narrow dates. In 102 random examples, there were 18 blunt 5's (all wide date), and 84 pointed 5's with a fairly even distribution of wide and narrow dates. With only 18 blut 5's out of 102 coins, the blunt 5 is scarcer but still easy to fine and we do not feel a higher price is justified. Because the two different five shapes, probably two different punches were involved making this a justifiable variety, but with no difference in value we will no longer list them separately but if you are looking for one or the other we will try to help. |
 1945 blunt 5. |
 1945 narrow date with 4 and 5 close together. |
 1945 pointed 5 wide date (4 and 5 further a part). |
1946 half dollars are somewhat complicated, even more so than the standard references indicate where non-"design" types are only listed as wide and narrow dates, but there are clearly wide, medium and narrow date examples. They can be distinguished as follows : |
 Narrow date 6 ends to the left of rock line edge. 4 and 6 touch. |
 Middle date 6 ends on the rock line edge. Gap between the 4 and the 6. |
 Wide date 6 ends to the right of rock line edge, nearer the ring. Distinct gap between the 4 and 6. |
Unless you use three types the middle date would be defined a narrow date based on the distance between the 6 tip and the ring, but as a wide date based on the gap between the 4 and 6. I have now examined 44 examples and found 12 wide date, 30 middle date, and 2 narrow date. The wide and middle dates do not show enough difference in scarcity to justify a different value, but the narrow date where the 4 and 6 touch are much scarcer and do justify a higher value. For now we have decided it is best to just list the scarce narrow dates as a separate variety, and combine the middle and wide dates as just 1946 without designation, but if you wanted to purchase a particular one we will be happy to sort one out for you if you let us know. |
To make the 1946 half dollars even more complicated, one or more of the dies deteriorated in stages resulting various stages of infilling in the 6. First a small die break started inside of the 6, resulting in a small filling at the top, in what we call the "partial design". While not listed in most commonly used references, it was noted by Zoell in his books on Canadian varieties as # R447a. Until recently I thought all were narrow date varieties, but I have now determined these exist for the wide date variety, so clearly two different dies are involved. On one of the dies, that break expands across the 6 to the left where it touches the bottom of the 4, but with still only the top of the 6 filled, becoming a full design (defined by this die break touching the 4) in what we call the "design #2". Finally the break widens inside the 6 until more than 50% of the 6 is fill, becoming what we call the "design #1", and which is the "design" type listed in most references. |
 partial design die break only inside top of 6. Listed by Hans Zoell as P447c. |
 design #2 die break extends across to 4 only top of 6 filled. |
 design #1, die break extends across to 4 inside of 6 more than 50% filled. |
1947 half dollars come in four significant varieties. The two major divisions are those minted in 1947 without a small maple leaf after the date, and those minted in 1948 which have the small maple leaf after the date. Each of those are found with either a curved 7 (curved right 7) or a 7 (curved left 7). Wide and narrow date variations exist, but I have not yet found a simply diagnostic for them, and as there seems to be no difference in scarcity between narrow and wide dates, for now I am not listing them here. The maple leaf types are much scarcer than those without, and the maple leaf with the straight 7 (or curved left 7) is very rare. |
 1947 curved left or straight 7 |
 1947 curved right or curved 7 |
In 1947 India received its independence, so "IND IMP" (India's Emperor) had to be removed from the King's titles on any British Commonwealth coins dating 1948 or newer. Preparing new hubs for the dies dies with the new inscription was done in England and the new 1948 die were not ready until late in the year. While waiting for the new dies to arrive, dated 1947 with "IND IMP" were struck, but a small maple leaf was placed behind the date to indicate they were really minted in 1948. 1947 half dollars maple leaf (ML) half dollars also come with the curved right and curved left varieties, but the curved right variety is extremely rare. All 1947 Maple Leaf half dollars with a curved right 7 are wide date, and all curved left are narrow date, so there is no need to list them via those varieties. |
1947 maple leaf curved left
Because the dies for the 1948 half dollars did not arrive from England until late in the year, very few of these were struck and are today fairly scarce. There are varieties in Charlton for narrow and wide date, and high and low 4, 1948 half dollars, but we no longer differentiate between them as there are relatively insignificant and nearly impossible tell apart (I see no real different between the ones illustrated in the Charlton catalogue). |
1949 half dollars are complicated with a combination of the position of the 4's relative to the 9's, with high, medium and low 4's, and the size of the gap between the first 9 and the 4, with wide and narrow gaps. The more we look, the more varieties we find (there are some with even higher 4's), and every die must have been different. We have noticed that the low 9's seem to be a little scarcer than the high and medium 9's but not by enough to justify any difference in value, so at this time I will not be separating them in our listings. The one distinctive variety is that called the "hoof" or "hoof over" where a die crack extends from the unicorn's hoof and onto the 9, making it look like the hoof overlays part of the 9. They would have been struck late in the working life of just one die, and are scarce and the only variety we now feel justifies being listed separately at a higher value. |
 1949 high 4 narrow date Top of 4 higher than 9's. narrow gap between 9 and 4 |
 1949 medium 4 wide date Top of 4 nearly level with 9's wide gap between 9 and 4 |
 1949 low 4 narrow date top of 4 below 9's, narrow gap between 9 and 4. |
 1949 low 4 wide date top of 4 below 9's, wide gap between 9 and 4. |
 Hoof-over Die crack from hoof onto 9. |
When the 1950 half dollar dies were engraved, most of the dies showed some ground lines overlapped the "0" of 1950 and several small lines are visible inside the "0". The degree to which these lines in the "0" show varies from very clear to only a trace, but at least one die shows no trace of them. This resulted in two major and two minor varieties of these coins : 1) Full design - four clear lines inside the "0" with the top line extending more than half way across the "0", with parts of three lines visible between the "5" and "0", and parts of four more to the lower right of the "0". 2) Partial design - parts of some grounds lines visible inside the "0", but the top line extends no more than half way across the "0", although some examples with only traces of these lines fall into this catagory. There are also traces of ground lines between the "5" and "0", and to the bottom right of the "0". If any traces of these lines are visible, the example cannot be called a "no design" variety. The Charlton Standard Catalogue lists the part design with a slightly higher priced than the full design, but in my experience no difference in value between the full and part design is warranted and I will not differentiate them in our listing. .3) No design - no trace of any ground lines are visible either inside the "0", between the "0" the "5", or to the lower right of the "0". 4) No design with die break. The same characteristics as the no design, except for a clear die break going across the "0" and the bottom of the "5". Years ago only examples with the die break were considered true no design varieties but in recent years that requirement has been dropped to the point the example example illustrated in the Charlton's Standard Catalogue lacks this die break. Those with the die break are scarcer and we do differentiate them and price them higher. |
1950 full design
1950 part design with strong lines
1950 part design with only trace lines
1950 no design, this example has the die break
ELIZABETH II
AD 1953 - PRESENT
Young Head Series
When the first issue of Elizabeth appeared in 1953, it was quickly noticed that her shoulder was bare. This was considered inappropriate, so the design was redrawn to include a fold of cloth over the shoulder, and a slight change in some of the letter forms. 1953 50 cent pieces occur in three types, with the large date no-shoulder-strap type slightly scarcer.
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One 1958 half dollar die deteriorated resulting in a small pit below the last "A" in "CANADA", producing coins with raised dot there. We listed there here because they are listed in the Canadian Coin News trend sheet and some people are asking for them, but in our opinion this is a insignificant variety. |
1958 dot
Mature Head Series
In 1967, to celebrate Canada's 100th anniversary as a country, all of the standard circulating coins were issued depicting various animals common to Canada, with a howling wolf depicted on these 50 cent coins. Please note that the examples of this type we offer here are exceptional examples, either Proof-likes, Specimens or high end MS examples, often with a cameo portrait and/or wolf. Normal examples, even in MS-60 to 62, or even specimens and proof-likes with any problems, are very common and only worth the value of the silver they contain so we do not list them here. For most coins if listed as cameo it is only the portrait side where the cameo effect is important. On these 1967 coins many people like the cameo effect on the animals, so for these we will note if the cameo is on the portrait, on the wolf or both (you seldom get it on both, but they do show up sometimes in the specimen sets). |
NICKEL HALF DOLLARS
With the switch from silver coins to nickel coins in 1968, the size of the half dollars was reduced from 29.72 mm used for the previous silver coins to 27.13 mm, making it very easy to sort of nickel half dollars from silver ones. The only exception being that from 1996 the half dollars in the special proof sets were struck from sterling (.925) silver. Nickel half dollars from 1968 to 1986 are very common and average ones are not of enough value for us to list here. We the only only list either exceptionally high quality examples (normally from Proof-like, Specimen or Proof sets) or scarce varieties, but as you can see below even they are not of any significant values. Starting in 1987 the mintages were dramatically reduced as the mint stopped issuing them through banks, and most dates after 1986 command a small premium with the newest dates being the most difficult to find. |
Beginning in 1971, the mint begins striking three different striking qualities of coins, with a fourth added in 1981 :
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In 1978, there were two varieties of how the three beads on the band of the small crown dividing the date are drawn. On the common variety all three beads are rectangular but a known as the Square Bead (SB) variety. On the scarcer variety the center bead is still square but the two too the sides are rounded, so it is known as the round bead (RB) variety. |
1979 half dollars come in two varieties depending on how the very right tip of Queen Elizabeths portrait is shown. The common type has that tip slightly rounded so is known as the Rounded bust variety. The second type has that tip distinctly pointed so is known as the Pointed Bust variety and is only slightly scarcer than the others. |
In 1982 there were two varieties of obverse, one with small beads and low relief portrait, and the other with large beads and a high relief portrait. The small bead variety, which only occurs on circulation strikes is much rarer than the large bead variety (some older volumes of the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins had this reversed). All examples in the Proof-like, Specimen and Proof sets are the large bead variety. I find the easiest way to differentiate between the two is by looking at the bead right at the back of the Queen's tiara where on the common large bead type it is attached with a slightly flaired attachment point and on the rarer small bead variety that attachment point is more like a straight stick (almost as if the bead was the head on a match). |
Half dollars were seldom seen in circulation after the mid-1960's but continued to be struck in fairly large numbers until 1985. Starting in 1986, mintages were significantly reduced, after which time none of the regular issues have a mintage over 1 million. I suspect the dies were only made so they could included in mint sets, with the circulation strikes made to use up the dies after they too worn to produce Proof-like or Specimen quality coins. The one exception to this is the 2002 special issue for the Queen's 50th anniversary of her accession, of which just over 14 million were made, and an attempt to get them into circulation was made but largely failed. For the 1986 and newer 50 cent coins we have in original rolls, we will offer them below just graded as "UNC" for uncirculated, and send them as they com from the rolls. They will probably average in the MS-62 to MS-63 range. |
Starting with 1996, all of the Proof strikes of 50 cent coins are of sterling (92.5%) silver at 9.3 grams so contain 0.276 ounces of silver. Proof-like, specimen and circulation strike coins continue to be pure nickel at 8.10 grams. Because the mint did not create a fully sealed packaging for the proof sets, silver coins in these sets will often have a light golden brown toning around the edges and one should expect that on these coins. That toning can often be fairly attractive. |
In 1998, the Canadian Mint experimented with mint marked coins in the mint sets by placing a small "W" in front of the Queen's head on those struck at Winnipeg, but without a mint mark for those struck at Ottawa. The experiment was abandoned part way through the year, and examples with the "W" are much scarcer than those without. |
To commemorate the Royal Canadian Mint's 90th anniversary, special sets of coins were struck with the sizes, alloys, and general reverse designs of the 1908 coins, but Queen Elizabeth's portrait and the date shown as "1908 - 2008". The early sets were struck with an antiqued matte-proof finish that proved unpopular with collectors, but are now the scarer type. The later sets have a mirror proof finish. |
In 1999, as a cost saving measure, the Canadian Mint made plans to strike 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cent coins on plated steel blanks. The blanks were first nickel plated, then copper plated, with the 1 cent coins struck on the copper plating, but the 5, 10, 25 and 50 cent were given a second nickel plating before being struck. A small letter "P" was placed below the Queen's head to indicated the coins were on plated blanks. No "P" coins were issued for circulation in 1999, but sets of them were made as test tokens for calibrating vending machines to accept them. The vending machine companies were required to return test tokens after they are done with them, but some of the tokens appeared on the market at very high prices (over $100 each). The mint decided to get in on the action and made about 20,000 sets of 1999 "P" coins to sell directly to collectors at just over $100 per set of 5 coins. The packaging was similar to Proof-like sets, so we call these coins Proof-likes, although there exact status is not certain. The 1999 P 50 cent below, is from one of these sets. |
The first circulation strike "P" 50 cent coins were struck in 2001, although a few 2000 "P" 50 cent coins exist due to an accidental release mounted on mint issued souvenir clocks. |
A commemorative half dollar for the Queen's 50th anniversary as Queen was issued in 2002. These have the date below the shield on the reverse written as "1952 - 2002", an obverse showing portrait as the Queen looked on her accession in 1952, with a crowned "E II R CANADA" inscription to the left, and "D G REGINA" to the right. These were given out in change at Post Offices and Hudson Bay stores in 2002, making them the only Canadian half dollar actually in circulation since the early 1980's. |
A second type of 2002 half dollar was issued in the mint sets. These are a regular design with the traditional up to date portrait of the Queen, but with the "1952-2002" dating below the portrait. None of this type were issued for circulation. |
2003 saw a return to the standard half dollar designs. |
Part way through 2006 the "P" for plated was replaced by a small mint logo, but the meaning remained the same to indicate a coin struck on a plated steel blank. The also made special Proof silver half dollars in 2006 to be given away on the covers of mint reports, and which were gold plated only on the reverse, and do not have either the "P" or the mint logo. |
In 2007 the "P" on the plated coins was replaced with a small mint logo, although the coins are still struck on plated blanks. |
Between 1995 and 2000, Canada struck a series of 50 cent coins called the Discovering Nature Series depicting various animals native to Canada. All were struck in sterling silver, and only in Proof quality. The examples we offer below are single coins in standard 2x2 holders, not their original mint packaging, unless otherwise noted to be in the case of issue. |
Between 1998 and 2000, Canada struck a series of 50 cent coins to celebrate Sports Firsts for Canada. They are struck from sterling silver in Proof quality. The examples we offer below are single coins in standard 2x2 holders, not their original mint packaging. |
Between 2002 and 2003, Canada struck a series of 50 cent coins to celebrate Canadian festivals. They are struck from sterling silver in Proof quality. The examples we offer below are single coins in standard 2x2 holders, not their original mint packaging. |
In 2008, a very strange 50 cent coins was struck to commemorate milk delivery in Canada. It was struck on a triagular sterling silver blank, has the Queen's head on the obverse, and the reverse shows the head of a milk cow and a bottle of milk. To make it even stranger, the reverse is covered in a layer of clear green enamel. These were made only in Proof quality. The example we offer below is in a standard 2x2, not the original box of issue. |
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