One half-dollar is an object of veneration (4)
I believe the answer is:
idol
'an object of veneration' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'one half-dollar' is the wordplay.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'half' suggests halving the letters.
'dollar' cut in half is 'dol'.
'i'+'dol'='IDOL'
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for idol that I've seen before include "Object of worship (or love?)" , "Pop - - (TV)" , "Subject of adoration, may be graven" , "loved one" , "Object of excessive adoration" .)