All three coins were redesigned in a contest that had a cash prize of $5,000, and artists were tasked to revamp the reverse of the coins. The other two coins were a quarter and a dollar. It was one of three coins minted to celebrate our 200 years of freedom from the British Empire, so these bicentennial coins are a big deal.
But the 1776 to 1976 half dollar isn’t just any old coin. They’re just the right size and weight for slot machines. While most people prefer dollar bills or credit cards, half dollars and dollar coins have always been popular at casinos. How much is a 1776 to 1976 half dollar worth? In mint state, the coin can net $5,000, but a typical coin is closer to its face value of 50c.
The US Mint stopped producing half dollars for circulation in 2002 due to disuse, but they resumed in 2021. Our preferred coin of choice is the quarter or 25c. $1 coins have never been popular in the US because they’re bulky.
