Although seldom used today, half dollar coins were once common in circulation and saw regular use alongside other denominations of United States coinage. When the value of silver rose, The United States reduced the amount of silver in the half dollar until 1971 when they did away with silver content entirely. By this time the half dollar coins were used rarely in commerce. In both size and weight, it is the largest circulating coin currently minted in the United States. The half dollar has witnessed significant transformations in both design and composition.