Are Half Dollars Rare?

Half dollars have been a part of American currency since the late 1700s, and they have been produced in various forms and sizes throughout the years. But are half dollars rare? The answer is yes, some half dollars are indeed rare.

The 1838 Philadelphia-produced half dollars are extremely rare, with two separate specimens having sold for $632,500 in Heritage auctions in 2005 and 2008 respectively. The sole surviving Orleans minted 1838 is one of the rarest of all American coins. In 1840, this mint produced nearly 180,000 half dollars.

In addition to the 1838 half dollars, the 1839 half dollars are also considered to be rare. This is due to the fact that the Philadelphia mint only produced a total of 10,000 coins in that year. As a result, the 1839 half dollars are highly sought after by collectors and can fetch a hefty price.

The 1836 half dollars are also considered to be rare. This is due to the fact that the Philadelphia mint only produced a total of 5,000 coins in that year. This makes the 1836 half dollars highly sought after by collectors and can fetch a hefty price.

The 1838-O half dollars are also considered to be rare. This is due to the fact that the New Orleans mint only produced a total of 1,000 coins in that year. This makes the 1838-O half dollars highly sought after by collectors and can fetch a hefty price.

The 1839-O half dollars are also considered to be rare. This is due to the fact that the New Orleans mint only produced a total of 2,000 coins in that year. This makes the 1839-O half dollars highly sought after by collectors and can fetch a hefty price.

The 1841-O half dollars are also considered to be rare. This is due to the fact that the New Orleans mint only produced a total of 2,000 coins in that year. This makes the 1841-O half dollars highly sought after by collectors and can fetch a hefty price.

The 1842-O half dollars are also considered to be rare. This is due to the fact that the New Orleans mint only produced a total of 2,000 coins in that year. This makes the 1842-O half dollars highly sought after by collectors and can fetch a hefty price.

The 1843-O half dollars are also considered to be rare. This is due to the fact that the New Orleans mint only produced a total of 1,000 coins in that year. This makes the 1843-O half dollars highly sought after by collectors and can fetch a hefty price.

The 1844-O half dollars are also considered to be rare. This is due to the fact that the New Orleans mint only produced a total of 1,000 coins in that year. This makes the 1844-O half dollars highly sought after by collectors and can fetch a hefty price.

The 1845-O half dollars are also considered to be rare. This is due to the fact that the New Orleans mint only produced a total of 1,000 coins in that year. This makes the 1845-O half dollars highly sought after by collectors and can fetch a hefty price.

In conclusion, half dollars can be rare depending on the year and mint that produced them. The 1838 Philadelphia-produced half dollars are especially rare, with two separate specimens having sold for $632,500 in Heritage auctions in 2005 and 2008 respectively. The 1839, 1836, 1838-O, 1839-O, 1841-O, 1842-O, 1843-O, 1844-O, and 1845-O half dollars are also considered to be rare and can fetch a hefty price when sold.