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Today's Halacha:
It is customary during the month of Adar to make a charitable donation to commemorate the "Mahasit Ha’shekel," the annual half-shekel tax that every Jew would give during the times of the Bet Ha’mikdash to fund the expenses of the Temple. When one gives this money, he should not say that he gives it as "Mahasit Ha’shekel," since the actual Misva of "Mahasit Ha’shekel" does not apply nowadays, in the absence of the Bet Ha’mikdash. Rather, one should say that he makes the donation "Zecher La’mahasit Ha’shekel" – in commemoration of the "Mahasit Ha’shekel."
The preferred method for fulfilling the custom of "Zecher La’mahasit Ha’shekel" – the charitable donation that commemorates the annual half-shekel tax during the times of the Mikdash – is to use a half-coin that has silver content. In the United States, the half-dollar coins minted before 1964 have silver content, and thus those who have access to these coins should use them to fulfill the Misva at the highest standard.
The Torah uses the word "Teruma" ("donation") three times in the section dealing with the annual "Mahasit Ha’shekel" tax, and the first time Beneh Yisrael paid the "Mahasit Ha’shekel," when they constructed the Mishkan, they donated three half-shekels. It is therefore preferable to pay three half-dollars for the "Zecher La’mahasit Ha’shekel" to commemorate this initial "Mahasit Ha’shekel" donation, and since in any event the money is used for charitable causes.
If one does not have access to silver half-dollars, he should preferable use ordinary half-dollar coins, to commemorate the half-shekel payment. Of course, one must ensure to supplement the half-dollars so that he gives the minimum required value. The custom of "Zecher La’mahasit Ha’shekel" requires donating the value of nine grams of silver, which this year (2011) amounts to approximately $12. Therefore, if one gives three half-dollars, he must remember to donate additional money to complete the required amount.
Since our "Zecher La’mahasit Ha’shekel" donations are strictly commemorative, one fulfills the Misva even by giving ordinary cash, without giving half-dollars. As long as one gives something to the charity collector, even dollar bills, and even a check, he has fulfilled this custom. The question was posed to Hacham Ovadia Yosef as to whether one fulfills the Halacha through a donation made via credit card. One who pays via credit card does not actually give anything, but rather authorizes the beneficiary to use money for which he then assumes responsibility. Nevertheless, Hacham Ovadia ruled that this method is acceptable for the "Zecher La’mahasit Ha’shekel" donation. Since we simply commemorate the half-shekel donation, and even through a credit card donation the money is given to charity, this method suffices for fulfilling the Misva.
As mentioned, however, the most preferred method is through a silver half-dollar, or at least with ordinary half-dollars, and supplementing to reach the required amount.
Summary: Ideally, one should fulfill the custom of "Zecher La’mahasit Ha’shekel" by using half-dollar coins minted before 1964, as they contain silver. If one does not have access to silver half-dollars, he should use ordinary half-dollars, but he must then ensure to supplement this donation with additional funds to meet the required amount (which this year in 2011, due to the price of silver, is approximately $12). However, one may also fulfill this obligation through any payment method – including cash, checks and even credit card.
