Use of the half-dollar is not as widespread as that of other coins in general circulation most Americans use dollar coins, quarters, dimes, nickels and cents only, as these are the only coins most often found in general circulation.A special three-coin set of 40% silver coins were also issued by the U.S. The Quarter-Dollar, Half-Dollar and Dollar coins were issued in the copper 91.67% nickel 8.33% composition for general circulation and the Government issued six-coin Proof Set. Regardless of date of coining, each coin bears the dual date '1776-1976'. Some modern commemorative coins have been minted in the silver dollar denominations. Dimes and quarters from before 1965 and half-dollars from before 1971 are generally not in circulation due to being removed for their silver content. The half-dollar continued to be minted in a 40% silver-clad composition between 19. Prior to 1965 and passage of the Coinage Act of 1965 the composition of the dime, quarter, half-dollar and dollar coins was 90% silver and 10% copper.Few of these are still found in circulation.

This allowed the saved nickel metal to be shifted to industrial production of military supplies during World War II.

Nickels produced from mid-1942 through 1945 were manufactured from 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese.

This is partially due to the fact that unlike the formerly silver denominations (dollar, half dollar, quarter, and dime), the composition of the pre-1982 cent, nearly pure copper, is not so much more valuable over face value for it to be hoarded to the extreme extent of the silver denominations. Some dates are rare, but many can still be found in circulation.

The wheat cent was mainstream and common during its time.

However, cents minted from 1944 to 1946 were made from a special salvaged WWII brass composition to replace the steel cents, but still save material for the war effort, and are more common in circulation than their 1943 counterparts. These 'steel pennies' are not likely to be found in circulation today, as they were later intentionally removed from circulation for recycling the metal and by collectors. Cents minted in 1943 were struck on planchets punched from zinc-coated steel which left the resulting edges uncoated. Both types were minted in 1982 with no distinguishing mark.

The mass and composition of the cent changed to the current copper-plated zinc core in 1982.

For table standards, see the coin specification table. These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. Various designs, honoring an innovation or innovator from each state See article: American Innovation dollars 9 Seal of the President of the United States surrounded by 50 starsĢ007–2016, 2020 (after 2012 not for circulation) See article: America the Beautiful quarters Most such coins that still exist are now in the hands of collectors and museums. The CC, O, C, and D mint marks were used on gold and silver coins for various periods from the mid-19th century until the early 20th century by temporary mints in Carson City, Nevada New Orleans, Louisiana Charlotte, North Carolina and Dahlonega, Georgia. S and W coins are rarely found in general circulation, although S coins bearing dates prior to the mid-1970s are in circulation. Denver coins bear a letter D, San Francisco coins bear a letter S, and West Point coins bear a letter W. Among marked coins, Philadelphia coins bear a letter P. Unmarked coins are issued by the Philadelphia mint. The identifying letter of the mint can be found on the front side of most coins, and is often placed near the year.

The producing mint of each coin may be easily identified, as most coins bear a mint mark. The proof and mint sets are manufactured each year and contain examples of all of the year's circulating coins. Philadelphia and Denver produce the dies used at all of the mints.

The West Point Mint produces bullion coinage (including proofs). The San Francisco Mint produces regular and silver proof coinage, and produced circulating coinage until the 1970s. The Denver Mint also produces circulating coinage, mint sets and commemoratives. The main mint is the Philadelphia Mint, which produces circulating coinage, mint sets and some commemorative coins. Today, four mints operate in the United States producing billions of coins each year.

Us liberty coins history