Canadian 50-cent coin · Elizabeth II
2003 Canadian 50 cents (half dollar)
A 2003 Canadian 50-cent coin contains no silver. The Mint reports that none were struck with this date.
The Mint reports a mintage of zero for the 50-cent coin in 2003. A coin carrying this date should not exist.
What the Mint says it is made of
| Period | Composition | Weight | Silver | Diameter | Magnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 - present | 93.15% steel, 4.75% copper, 2.1% nickel plating | 6.9 g | none | 27.13 mm | attracted |
How many were struck
Reported mintage, 2003
The Mint reports a mintage of zero for 2003. Coins dated 2003 in this denomination should not exist, and a coin that appears to carry that date is far more likely to be a worn or altered example of a neighbouring year than a discovery.
Portrait on the obverse
Elizabeth II
Canadian artist, Susanna Blunt, designed the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, again accompanied by the words ELIZABETH II D G REGINA. Blunt's version recalls the effigy of George VI, who also chose to be portrayed without a crown.
Designs on the reverse
1959 - 1966, 1968 - present
The Canadian Government approved a new Coat of Arms in 1957. In 1959 it appeared on the 50-cent coin, where it remains to this day.
1997 - present
In 1994, the motto of the Order of Canada was added to the Coat of Arms, which is the version of the coin produced today.
The rest of your 2003 change
Nobody inherits one denomination. If there is a 2003 50-cent coin in the tin, these are the other coins carrying that date and whether they hold any silver.
| Denomination | Composition in 2003 | Silver | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cent penny | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating | none | 748,123,000 |
| 5 cents nickel | 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating | none | 101,793,000 |
| 10 cents dime | 92% steel, 5.5% copper, 2.5% nickel | none | 164,617,000 |
| 25 cents quarter | 94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel plating | none | 100,638,000 |
| 1 dollar | 91.5% nickel, 8.5% bronze plating | none | 5,102,000 |
| 2 dollars toonie | outer ring 99% nickel, inner core 92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel | none | 11,244,000 |