half-dollar
B2Informal, Semi-formal, Numismatic (technical for coin collecting)
Definition
Meaning
A coin of the United States or Canada worth fifty cents.
Any coin or unit of currency valued at half of a standard monetary unit (e.g., a 50-cent piece). Less commonly, it can metaphorically refer to a significant or substantial half of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a concrete noun referring to a specific coin. Its use as a general term for '50 cents' is less common than simply saying 'fifty cents'. Associated with physical currency, not digital money.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American, referring to a specific U.S. coin. In British contexts, the concept is alien as there is no equivalent circulating coin; the closest historical reference might be a 'half crown' (pre-decimalisation).
Connotations
In the US: nostalgia, physical currency, coin collecting. In the UK: recognised primarily from American media, with connotations of foreign currency or history.
Frequency
High frequency in US contexts discussing coins or historical prices; very low to zero in everyday UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + half-dollar (e.g., find, collect, save, spend, mint)[Adjective] + half-dollar (e.g., silver, commemorative, tarnished)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not a half-dollar to his name (rare, meaning completely broke).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in contexts of currency production, vending machine specifications, or cash handling.
Academic
Used in economic history, numismatics (study of coins), or American cultural studies.
Everyday
Used when discussing coins, change, or found money (e.g., 'I found a half-dollar in my old jeans').
Technical
Precise term in numismatics for U.S. coin series (e.g., 'Walking Liberty half-dollar').
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
American English
- He saved his half-dollar collection.
- The half-dollar coin is less common now.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have one half-dollar in my pocket.
- The toy costs a half-dollar.
- My grandfather gave me an old silver half-dollar.
- Vending machines rarely accept half-dollars anymore.
- The 1964 Kennedy half-dollar is made of 90% silver.
- She paid me with two crisp half-dollars and some quarters.
- Numismatists value the 1916 Walking Liberty half-dollar for its iconic design.
- The proposal was met with a reaction worth about a half-dollar's worth of enthusiasm—utterly insubstantial.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DOLLAR cut in HALF. A 'half-dollar' is its 50-cent piece. Visualise the profile of President Kennedy on the modern coin.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE/SUBSTANCE AS METAL: The coin represents tangible, physical wealth (as opposed to digital). HALF AS COMPLETION: Sometimes used to represent a significant portion (e.g., 'He gave me his half-dollar opinion').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'полдоллара' for the coin itself; the correct term for the US coin is 'полдоллара' or 'монета в 50 центов', but the cultural referent is absent in Russia.
- Avoid using it as a general term for 50 US cents in abstract financial contexts; use 'пятьдесят центов' instead.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'half-dollar' to mean 50 cents in a non-US context (e.g., 'It costs three half-dollars').
- Misspelling as 'half-dolar' or 'half-doller'.
- Treating it as an adjective without a hyphen (e.g., 'half dollar coin' is less standard than 'half-dollar coin').
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the 'half-dollar' a standard circulating coin?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in value, but 'half-dollar' specifically refers to the physical coin. You can have 50 cents in other forms (e.g., two quarters).
They are still minted but are uncommon in daily circulation. They are popular with collectors and are sometimes used in coin-operated machines.
Since 1964, the obverse (front) features President John F. Kennedy. The reverse has varied, often featuring the Presidential Seal or other designs.
No. The UK's decimal system has a 50 pence coin, but it is not called a 'half-pound' in common parlance. Historically, the half-crown (2 shillings and 6 pence) was a similar mid-value coin.