<P> Half dollars issued through the end of the 1960s were hoarded as the only precious metal U.S. coins remaining in production, and as the price of silver continued to rise, pre-1964 halves disappeared from circulation as well . By the time that the coin's composition was changed to match that of the clad dimes and quarters in 1971, both businesses and the public had begun to adapt to a country in which the half dollar did not generally circulate . The half saw a moderate increase in usage during the mid 1970s, only to fall again by the end of the decade . The quarter then took over the half's role as the highest - value component of change in general use . </P> <P> Most coins enter circulation through the change drawers of businesses . Few businesses stock their change drawers with half dollars, and some banks do not stock them at all . Most banks do not hand them out as normal business practice, so the coins see little circulation . Most U.S. vending machines do not accept half dollars, nor do payphones, which further curtails their circulation; Many transit systems however, accept halves and the coin is the most common denomination used for U.S. commemorative coins . </P> <P> Since 2002, half dollars have been minted only for collectors, due to large Federal Reserve and government inventories on hand of pre-2001 pieces; this is mostly due to lack of demand and large quantity returns from casino slot machines that now operate "coinless". Eventually, when the reserve supply runs low, the mint will again fill orders for circulation half dollars . It took about 18 years (1981--1999) for the large inventory stockpile of a similar low - demand circulation coin, the $1 coin, to reach reserve levels low enough to again produce circulation pieces . Modern - date half dollars can be purchased in proof sets, mint sets, rolls, and bags from the U.S. Mint, and existing inventory circulation pieces can be ordered through most U.S. banks . All collector issues since 2001 have had much lower mintages than in previous years . Although intended only for collectors, these post-2001 half dollars sometimes find their way into circulation . </P> <P> On December 1, 1794, the first half dollars, approximately 5,300 pieces, were delivered . Another 18,000 were produced in January 1795 using dies of 1794, to save the expense of making new ones . Another 30,000 pieces were struck by the end of 1801 . The coin had the Heraldic Eagle, based on the Great Seal of the United States on the reverse . 150,000 were minted in 1804 but struck with dies from 1803, so no 1804 specimens exist, though there were some pieces dated 1805 that carried a "5 over 4" overdate . </P>

When was the last 50 cent piece made