Half Dollars

Condition: Coins are all circulated
Details: Good - All text is readable including date and fine details. Barber coins will usually be less legible.
Softness: In magic, we refer to softness of the metal as to how the coin feels on your fingers. A softer coin is not only smoother, but it grips better to your skin aiding in slights. On a scale of one to ten with ten being the softest, slick coins will be a 9.5 or 10. Soft coins will be a 8 or 9 and detailed coins will be a 4 or 5. Detailed Kennedy 90% silver coins are a 6 as the silver helps them grip much better.
Reeded Edge: Good but used condition. Kennedy coin will have very good edges.
Patina: Darkened slate and graphite colors give a rich contrast to brilliant silver highlights. (Note: Kennedy coins will not have much contrast.)
Date: Various
Silver Content: Noted on each coin
Magical Touch: These coins have the majestic soft feel that only US silver coins provide. The coin will be easy to roll and manipulate. A real worker, each coin is hand selected for sleight of hand magic and will exhibit all the best properties a silver coin can offer. Pick one up now before they're gone!*

Condition: - Well circulated.
Details: Fair to Poor - Text may be worn or not fully readable.
Softness: 9.5-10/10 - Coin is extremely smooth to the touch and will slide perfectly against other coins or flat surfaces. No burrs or dents.
Reeded Edge: They are typically not very good.
Patina: Coin will have less variation in colors since the metal is smoother. Colors are usually softer, cold tones.
Date: Various.
Magical Touch: These coins are chosen for intermediate to advanced sleights. They grip extremely well with practice and are typically used by professional workers. Because of their thin characteristics, multiple coins can easily be stacked and palmed with practice. Slick coins tend to smoothly glide through your finger tips. There is a finesse in using them. Like touchy brakes on a sports car, you can fly or stop in a moment because of how the worn silver reacts to your skin. Performing with them is like a dance. The performer uses strength balanced with grace for beautiful results. Absolutely worth a test drive!

Please Note: Slick coins will have less details with near smooth faces and the edges may be significantly worn down.

• One (1) Dealer's Choice US Half Dollar Silver Coin of your style choice.
• Insurance on coin during shipping (standard shipping cost is still added at checkout)**
• Note: IF YOU BUY MULTIPLES OF THE SAME COIN FROM THIS PAGE THEY WILL NOT MATCH. If you need matching coins, buy a set of coins that have been meticulously matched with much time and effort; otherwise, you will be sent coins that will not match in color and tone. Again, we do not match these single coins for you.View Matching Half Dollar sets here.

United States silver coins are the "golden" standard among magicians because of their ability to capture and reflect light, sound, weight, superior grip, and soft feel. One of the easiest ways to elevate your magic is to have quality props like our brand name coins and real silver coins. Among 30.5mm silver coins, these coin are for purchase when available:

Walking Liberty - The most iconic, historical, and affordable US half dollar must be Walkers. These coins have epic imagery and tone extremely well. They have 90% silver content and the feel is just great. Dates vary most from the 1940s. These coins had the perfect amount of pocket carry and circulation to soften them up for magic while still maintaining some reeded edges for grip. Beginners and Professionals alike choose Walking Liberty. (Note: Slicks will be smooth on face and edges.) Soft Walking Liberty coins are the most iconic half dollar coins used by magicians. Every performer should have a set.

Barber - An excellent choice of Intermediate to Advanced manipulators, Barber Half Dollars are chosen because of their thickness or lack there of... These coins, mostly from the early 1900s, were carried and spent daily. One hundred and twenty years ago, each coin was worth a labor's daily wage or more! Barbers saw a lot of milage in transactions and with 90% silver content they wore down with all the daily use. Therefore, they are thinner and take up less "real estate" in stacks. These coins will have great tone but less details, sometimes the dates are hard to read and there will be little to no reeded edges left (Note: Slicks will be very thin and completely smooth on face and edges.)

Benjamin Franklin - Not just for Hundred Dollar Bills, beloved American Inventor/ Scientist/Discoverer Benny Franklin was once minted onto a coin, too. Circulated in the 1950s, this half dollar is an overlooked hand pleaser for sleights. It features raised details, but has a very smooth texture. Minted in 90% silver, these coins received much less circulation as the US half dollar lost it's transactional use and became more of a collector's item in the 1960s. Fun to work with and great for all skill levels, these coins are interesting to spectators and feel like a memory foam mattress: firm, yet soft. They are great for any skill level!

Kennedy - 1964, the year after JFK's assassination, was the first year of the Kennedy half dollar and the last year of the true American silver coin. Very sad. 1964 Kennedy half dollars are all 90% silver. They received little if any circulation because they were gobbled up by collector's and speculator's who knew their value was instantly worth more than 50 cents, and it was only going to increase. After '64, Kennedy coins maintained a 40% silver content through the next several years. Both coin types are barely worn and have a brighter silver color. They may have a "golden" tarnish that wears away with use, but there is not much toning as far as blacks and greys because they never tarnished with daily carry. Kennedys are great for beginners or just people that like a more modern coin look. 90% silver Kennedy coins are a soft material, just as the other coins described here, but the coins will not be smoothed through pocket carry. A little firmer, the 40% silver coins are an excellent value to start using real silver coins. All of our Kennedy coins would be considered detailed because of the light circulation they recieved.

 † Please Note: Historical US Silver coins contain 90% silver. Clad and copper coins contain no Silver. Other coins contain the amount of silver noted.

*It is highly recommended that you never clean or polish your coins. Simply use them everyday and the silver highlights will become more brilliant naturally.

These are Copeland Coins's independent ratings and are a subjective opinion. Buyer must understand this before purchasing and should feel free to ask questions before purchasing. Please contact Copeland Coins before ordering from outside of the United States to insure shipping is possible.

**While other coin venders may add on Insurance costs in extra fees, Copeland Coins includes this in the purchase price. It is mandatory for shipping valuable coins and will not be removed. Standard shipping costs will be added on at check out as a normal purchase.

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