HALF DOLLAR COIN VALUE

 Douglas Taylor

Between 1948 and 1963 the silver half dollar was known as the Franklin Half Dollar and on one side could be seen a picture of Benjamin Franklin and on the reverse side was the Liberty Bell with a small eagle. At the time of it first being minted this coin was required to have a small eagle to the right of the Liberty Bell by law. But what is ironic is that Benjamin Franklin actually opposed the use of the eagle as the USA's national symbol and would have preferred that they turkey (a more noble bird) was used instead.

Then in 1963 the coin was changed upon the death of John F Kennedy the president at that time he was assassinated. But what is the 1963 half dollar coin value and how is it calculated. But the value of this coin changed also because the value of silver had risen between 1962 and 1963 and as this coin contains such a high amount of silver compared to those that were minted in 1964 and onwards.

In the beginning the 1963 half dollar coin was being hoarded by many people for sentimental reasons (as a reminder of a US President who was truly loved) and also because they were the only precious metal US coin that remained in circulation at the time.

At present the 1963 half dollar coin is worth around $4.8141724190 and this relates to its rounded silver value. In order to reach this value a coin dealer will use the following equation. First they will need to get hold of the latest metal prices which at present are $13.31 an ounce for silver and $3.1256 an ounce for copper. They will then take the weight of the coin (12.5g) and convert the weight of the silver and copper within the coin in ounces. They then times the weight of the silver in the coin by the price of silver at the time and then times this by the weight of the coin and then times this finally by the percentage of silver that is contained within the coin and this will give you the final rounded silver value of the coin.

In order to arrive at the 1963 half dollar coin value if the half dollar were melted down, they need to use the same calculations shown above for the copper contained within the coin. Once you have the value of the copper held within the coin you then add this to the value of the silver and this provides the coin dealer with the 1963 half dollar coin melt value.

For more information on how to value coins using a coin value guide [http://www.find-coins.com/coin-collecting-information/how-to-value-coins-using-a-coin-value-guide-21] visit [http://www.find-coins.com] where will find useful tips, articles and resources to help you find old coins. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Douglas_Taylor

CUSTOMER REWARDS

 Mario S. Churchill

The idea of a customer reward program is to first get customers interested in your product. That is often achieved by introductory incentives. These incentives might be the lure of free car wash to the first fifty people to pump gas at the new gas station at the corner of East and Vine St. Or it could be a credit card promising not to charge interest on the new card for the first three months of activation. A publishing company might promise a huge raffle with the names of all first time subscribers. The incentive offered to real the customer in depends on the company, the type of product they are promoting, and the type of customer they are hoping to attract.

Once they have the client introduced to the product they have to come up with a way to get that client's pertinent information entered into their computers data base. A credit card company won't have to worry about that, the information would have already been entered when the customer applied for the credit card. But many businesses don't have that luxury they have to think of a way to get the customer into their database and convince their customers that it's a good idea for their name to be there. The company also has to bear in mine that a customer's name typed into their data banks isn't going to do them a lot of good if the customer comes back, preferably that they come back lots of times.

This part of the process normally requires a series of rewards or bribes. These rewards are things given to loyal customers. Some times the rewards are handed out based on how many times a customer has visited a store. Other times rewards are handed out based on the total doller amount a customer has spent at a business.

Most businesses offer customer rewards based on a point system. Each time a customer buys a certain doller amount of merchandise a point is rewarded to their account. When they have accumulated a pre-determined amount of points the company gives them a reward.

Credit card companies often use a point system when with their frequent flyer mile plans. Every time a customer uses their credit card for a purchase points are added to the customers account, these points are put in queue. When a customer has built up enough points they can use them to redeem a free airfare ticket.

Not to long ago customers had to take the companies words on the amount of points the customer had accumulated towards earning a customer reward. Now that so many businesses have websites that is changes. Most business give the customer a user id and a password and the customer can access their account and watch the customer reward points accumulate. This interactive reward point accounting makes customers feel like they have some control over the account.

Several businesses now put expiration dates on the points. If a customer does not redeem their points in a set period of time they loose them. Companies do this to encourage customers to come back as frequently.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written many articles on various subjects. For more information on sales incentives or employee incentives checkout his websites. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mario_S._Churchill

THE 700 BILLION DOLLAR

 Stephen Meidah

My phone rang and a frantic client asked, "What is this 700 billion dollar bailout mean and what is it going to do to my investments?"

The answer that Warren Buffett gave on CNBC the morning of Sept. 24, 2008 makes sense to me. The bottom line? The bailout is necessary and will probably end up making money.

This answer surprises most people and here is the reason. First, the word "bailout" creates the wrong mental picture. Bailout sounds as if the government is going to dip into an existing pool of money, thereby depleting our resources, then give it to individual Wall Street firms as a business grant. This is not what is happening.

The 700 billion dollars is not an expenditure at all, it is instead an investment for asset acquisition. The money will be used to purchase existing assets at currently depressed prices and later sell those assets at higher prices. This is why Warren Buffett said on CNBC that he wished he personally held the cash to do this for himself. Only the government, however, has enough capital to do this deal. The deal, however, is attractive as a pure investment.

Why? The assets being purchased are mortgage bonds. Again, commentators and congressman make it sound as if we will purchase individual mortgages that are currently in foreclosure. Not true. The bonds are large pools of currently performing mortgages with only the usual risk of any particular one mortgage defaulting. No one is talking about the average default rate, which only hovers around 2.5%. We only hear of the percentage increase in defaults over the last reporting period which makes the foreclosure problem sound much worse than is actually the case. The truth is that the vast majority of these mortgage bonds are functioning well and only a very small percentage will ever default.

No one is bailing out fat cats on Wall Street, as it is often represented. The capital influx is actually going to bailout the average guy on Main Street, if it can be considered a bailout at all. Most people are blissfully unaware that Wall Street is merely the vehicle for everything that any one individual does with his or her credit card, car loan, house payment and ATM card. The so-called Wall Street fat cat only makes it possible for the average person to do the regular business of daily shopping and living.

If we fail to make this $700 billion investment now, thereby creating a market for these mortgage bonds, then the potential price of the true bailout in the future will be a second depression. People will not be able to use credit cards, buy cars or get mortgages. Since businesses will not be able to borrow, the same people complaining about the bailout now will still be complaining, but with the exception that they will then be unemployed. If you think people can't pay their mortgage now, watch what happens when the unemployment rate goes to 20% because their employers can't access credit to run their companies. When this happens employers must let people go. There is simply no choice.

The economy is like the mobile on my grandmother's front porch. When the wind blows it's not just one chime that moves. They all move. We all live in a credit culture that is now saturated. The average person cannot live without the Wall Street guy that he or she criticizes. We are all interconnected. The ATM won't work, credit cards won't work, car dealers won't work and certainly mortgages won't work unless Wall Street works. This is the harsh economic reality of our current credit culture.

This crisis is not fun and a $700 billion plan, whether seen as a bailout or an investment, is an obnoxious necessity either way. But, it is necessary. Not acting now, as difficult a pill as it is to swallow, will create an unimaginable future crisis. Warren Buffett is right. Swallow this pill now. The future disease without taking this current medicine may be deadly.

For further information concerning investments, pensions or retirement please read Steve Meidahl's highly regarded book, "Lessons Of A Real Life Investment Advisor" or visit Stephen O Meidahl's website at http://www.smeidahl.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Meidahl

THE QUIT ROOM

 Kristen Lee Costa
he Quiet Room

A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness

Written by Lori Schiller and Amanda Bennett

Published by Warner Books, 1994

Lori Schiller, together with her practitioners and family present an intensive account of her personal struggle and recovery through schizophrenia. She reveals the torment of her illness, along with details of ultimately who and what helped deliver her from severe psychosis to stabilization. Amazingly, Lori goes on to take what she has learned to help out others.

This account has a strong impact since it provides a very personal viewpoint of schizophrenia. It reveals how life was turned upside down because of a very serious mental illness. There are many lessons in this extraordinary retelling of a long, hard-fought recovery process. It calls one to remember not to give up hope even in dire circumstances.

Some of the most outstanding passages include:

Dr. Jane Doller on schizophrenia: "...What is there in any human being's experience to prepare him or her to cope with a broken brain? Who can understand what a catastrophe this break is for the human soul? For the thing that has broken is the person's ability to relate to another person. The thing that breaks is whatever it is that connects people to their environment that allows them to recognize another person as someone outside of themselves".

Lori Schiller: "Many people helped me get to where I am now. Now it is my turn...If my life and experiences can help other people find their own ways out of darkness, I will know that I have not wasted the great gift I have been given: to begin life again..."

The Quiet Room is recommended because of its unique insight into an illness that often is misunderstood. The different perspectives offered in this selection allow the reader to understand the recovery course of a courageous woman, with her family, friends and practitioners. It demonstrates how even those who suffer greatly, can still take what they have learned and help others. The Quiet Room is definitely not light reading, but it is certainly worth picking up.

Kristen Lee Costa, LICSW is the founder of Helping Helpers, dedicated to providing life-changing resources for professional and personal development. Visithttp://www.helpinghelpers.com for access to innovative tools for therapists, teachers, nurses and those in helping professions. Kristen provides a clinical blog, called "Kristen's clog" with everyday stress management guidance. For the past decade, Ms. Costa has worked with numerous individuals, families and non-profit organizations to create positive change. A graduate of Boston University, Ms. Costa has raised over eight million dollars in grant funding within her community. Ms. Costa is an experienced speaker, writer and therapist with a passion for advocacy and education. Kristen speaks to professional and general audiences in a variety of settings. She is convincing, with her direct, warm, down-to-earth style and creative flare that allows audiences to enjoy learning. Titles include "Finding Balance in An Unbalanced World", "Is There a GPS for My Stress?", "Not a Bird, Not a Plane...SUPER-Vision", and "Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say: Grant Strategies That Work". Interactive, fine-tailored presentations are offered for each audience served. In addition to professional grant writing, Kristen's range of expertise includes composition of a variety of clinical resources for patients, speech and seminar writing, newspaper articles, and currently a book manuscript titled "Flung-Over: Overcoming The Intoxication Of Too Much To Think©" to be published. Kristen has appeared on local radio and provided community presentations to raise awareness surrounding emotional wellness. A lifelong New Englander, Kristen has many never-ending winters and fly-by summers under her belt. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband and children, who inspire and enrich her. Kristen's life mission is to encourage others to be HELPERS, and to equip them with innovative resources to help themselves and others better. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristen_Lee_Costa