Elvis Presley "Change of Habit" US Half Dollar Commemorative Coin

Elvis Presley is rightly called the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.  Not only was he a singing sensation, he was also a movie star!  This coin highlights one of hit films Elvis starred in. 
Mystic has permanently bonded a vibrant image of Elvis to this uncirculated US Half Dollar.  The coin features an original photograph of Presley from his estate’s official archives along with an image of his signature. The coin is officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Change of Habit

Change of Habit was the last film Elvis made for Hollywood, although he later made concert films.  A few months later, his co-star went on to star in the Mary Tyler Moore Show, one of the most popular television shows of all time.  One bit of trivia is that her boss in that show, Ed Asner, also played a police lieutenant in Change of Habit.

In the film, Elvis played John Carpenter, a doctor from Shelby County, Tennessee.  Carpenter relocates to a big city to run a free inner-city health clinic.  Three young ladies offer to help him out, but there’s a twist – these young women are nuns in disguise.

Mary Tyler Moore played Sister Michelle Gallagher, the head of the trio.  The nuns are part of an experimental program.  They don’t wear nuns’ habits (black robe and white headpiece) to see if they can fit in better as “ordinary” people.  Elvis and Mary start developing feelings for each other, but she is torn between her devotion to the Church and her feelings for the doctor.  The movie ends as she enters a church to pray for guidance.

This movie was more serious than many of Elvis’ musical romances.  Change of Habit dealt with significant inner-city issues, and gave Elvis a chance to show what he could do in a dramatic role.  Being the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, he slipped in a few musical numbers.  The soundtrack’s “Rubberneckin” became one of his biggest hits.

One touching scene shows Dr. Carpenter holding an autistic child during “rage reduction therapy,” a practice that was common at the time.  It was also symbolic of one of Elvis’ most famous quotes, “I figure all any kid needs is hope and the feeling he or she belongs.”