As someone with an interest in coins, I have a pressing question from last night's episode: Where did the Kennedy half dollar come from that Saul/Jimmy used in the bar scam?
Did he just receive it in change after paying his tab? If so,
Half dollars in circulation are pretty rare in general, but that was a 1964 Kennedy--the last circulated US coin made in 90% silver--(Kennedys from 1965-1969 are 40% silver). Over the years, just the silver content alone of that coin has ranged from $5-$20, so, they were picked from circulation long ago. Can't say it is impossible, but finding one in circulation astoundingly unlikely.
Anyway, Jimmy's story about it being a rare version isn't true of course, but it isn't completely off-base. The Kennedy half was rushed into production after his assassination (it replaced the Benjamin Franklin half, not a Lincoln as Jimmy said). After an initial batch was made, the story is that Jackie Kennedy didn't like how the profile looked. Some cosmetic changes were made, but the original coins were released--maybe 100,000 of them of the 500M minted. Collectors can tell the difference by the smoother hair lines. One in great condition could be worth several hundred, maybe $1000.
