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I was sorting halves this AM and found a 1970 D half dollar. Looks like only 2.15 million were minted so assume these are hard to find

extremely hard to find! nice score

Why were so few minted that year? Was it because they knew they were going to stop making 40% in 1971?

That's a great score...I'm pretty sure those carry a nice premium in comparison to other 40%ers

I just bought a 70D for the melt value of a 64. So ya, there is a premium for them.

Nice score! I'm still looking for my first in the wild. I have found Franklins, Walkers, and even a Barber but never a 70 D. Now hold onto your 1987s!

Pennysaved wrote:Why were so few minted that year? Was it because they knew they were going to stop making 40% in 1971?

The 1970-Ds were only produced for the US mint sets in 1970; the 1970-S for the proof sets. Actually, there were no 1970 half dollars minted for general circulation. A few of these were broken out of the mint and proof sets, put into general circulation as they were spent. It is these few that we find today very occasionaly.

The 1987-D and the 1987-S half dollars we find today had the same story being minted only for US Mint sets and US Proof sets.

But why do you think they only made the 1970s halves for Mint or Proof sets and none for general circulation? Was it because they were preparing for the conversion from silver?

Pennysaved wrote:But why do you think they only made the 1970s halves for Mint or Proof sets and none for general circulation? Was it because they were preparing for the conversion from silver?

I think the decision to discontinue 40% halves was made sometime in 1969 as the price of SILVER had already exceeded $2.25/ounce in 1968. The mint possibly had some remaining committment with coin blank suppliers to supply them with blanks. Also, there most likely were some 40% coin blanks that the mint already had in storage. I suppose it was decided to use these to supply collectors (at a mint and proof set premium) for the 40% halves in 1970.

I love finding the 1970 D while half hunting. I have found 2.

Even harder to find is a silver 1776-1976 half.