Canadian Silver Half Dollars (1937–1966): The Collector's Guide
If Canadian silver coins had a heavyweight division, the half dollar would be the champ. It's the biggest silver coin most Canadians ever carried around, it's got almost a third of an ounce of silver in it, and it's covered in history on both sides.
Here's everything a collector needs to know about Canada's silver 50-cent pieces from 1937 to 1966.
The specs
From 1920 to 1967, Canadian 50-cent coins were made of 80% silver and 20% copper. Here's what that works out to:
- Weight: 11.66 grams
- Diameter: 29.72 mm
- Silver content: about 0.30 troy oz of pure silver per coin
Put that in your palm next to a modern 50-cent piece and you'll feel the difference right away. It's a solid, chunky coin.
Two kings… well, a king and a queen
The front (obverse) of a 1937–1966 half dollar will show one of two monarchs:
- King George VI (1937–1952). His portrait was designed by T.H. Paget. George VI coins have a cool vintage look that a lot of collectors love.
- Queen Elizabeth II (1953–1966). Her first coin portrait, by Mary Gillick, shows a young Queen wearing a laurel wreath. In 1965 it was swapped for a more mature portrait by Arnold Machin, with the Queen wearing a tiara. Fun fact: Canada got the Machin portrait in 1965, three years before it showed up on coins in the UK.
That means a single handful of halves from this era can show three different royal portraits. That's a mini history lesson right there.
The back: two coat of arms designs
The reverse of every half dollar from this era shows the Canadian coat of arms, but there are actually two versions. Once you know what to look for, you can't unsee it.
1937–1958: the Kruger Gray design
The original design was created by George Kruger Gray and approved in 1936. He simplified the official coat of arms a lot. He left out the helmet, the flourishes, the lion on top and the ribbon with Canada's motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare. He also made the crown bigger and gave the shield more breathing room. It's a clean, bold look.
1959–1966: the Shingles design
In the late 1950s, Canada's official coat of arms was redrawn. The crown changed from the Tudor style to St. Edward's Crown, and the flowers along the bottom were simplified. The Mint's head engraver, Thomas Shingles, made a new 50-cent design to match. This version is much closer to the official arms and includes the helmet, flourishes and motto ribbon that Kruger Gray left out.
Collector move: Put a 1958 half next to a 1959 half. Having both designs side by side is one of the easiest and most satisfying pairs to add to your collection.
Dates collectors hunt for
Most half dollars from 1937–1966 were made in big numbers, but a few dates are famous for being scarce:
- 1948. This is the big one. Only 37,784 were made, which makes it the key date of the George VI halves.
- 1947. 463,318 in total: 424,885 regular halves plus 38,433 of the "maple leaf" variety, which has a tiny maple leaf added next to the date.
- 1955. Only 753,511 were made, a low number for an Elizabeth II half.
- 1953. 1,630,429 were made, and they come in "no strap" and "shoulder strap" varieties, depending on whether the Queen's shoulder shows a strap on her gown. Specialists love this one.
Finding one of these in a pile of halves is the kind of moment that gets people hooked on this hobby for life.
What about 1967 and 1968?
The 1967 half dollar is still 80% silver, but it has a special design for Canada's 100th birthday: a howling wolf, from a series of centennial designs by artist Alex Colville. Starting in 1968, the 50-cent coin was made of nickel, with no silver at all.
So if you've got a pile of halves, sort them this way:
- 1966 or earlier: 80% silver
- 1967: 80% silver, with the wolf design
- 1968 and later: nickel. You can check by holding a magnet up to it; nickel sticks.
Why halves are so great to collect
- Size. They're big enough to really see the detail in the portraits and the coat of arms.
- Variety. You get two monarchs, three portraits and two reverse designs, plus a handful of legit key dates to chase.
- Feel. Nothing beats the weight of an old silver half in your hand. Once you've felt one, the modern coins just feel wrong.
Start your half-dollar collection
The easiest way to get a bunch of these into your collection is a bundle. Our 5-coin Canadian 80% silver half-dollar bundle is a great starter set. If you want to go bigger, the 10-coin half-dollar bundle is the move. Every coin is genuine, circulated Canadian silver from 1937–1966, and each bundle comes in a velvet pouch.
Then comes the fun part: check the dates, flip them over, and see which portraits and coat of arms designs you've got.
FAQ
Are Canadian 50-cent coins silver?
Yes, if they're dated 1967 or earlier. From 1920 to 1967 they're 80% silver. Before that they're 92.5% sterling silver. From 1968 on, they're nickel.
How much silver is in a Canadian half dollar?
A 1920–1967 half dollar has about 0.30 troy oz of pure silver in it.
What is the rarest Canadian silver half dollar from 1937–1966?
The 1948 is the famous key date, with only 37,784 made.
What's the difference between the 1958 and 1959 half dollars?
The coat of arms on the back was redesigned in 1959. The 1959 version is more detailed and includes the helmet, flourishes and motto ribbon that the older design left out.
Is the 1967 wolf 50-cent coin silver?
Yes. The 1967 centennial half dollar is 80% silver.
Hunting for halves? Browse all our Canadian silver coin bundles.