Kennedy Half Dollar

The Kennedy Half Dollar is a United States coin that was first minted in 1964 following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963. The coin was introduced as a tribute to President Kennedy's memory and quickly gained popularity among collectors and the general public. Here's a brief overview of the history of the Kennedy Half Dollar:

Before the Kennedy Half Dollar, the United States circulated the Franklin Half Dollar, which was minted from 1948 to 1963. The decision to replace the Franklin design with a coin honoring President Kennedy was made shortly after his assassination.

The design of the Kennedy Half Dollar was created by Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, Gilroy Roberts, and was based on a portrait of President Kennedy by sculptor and medalist, Frank Gasparro. The obverse (front) of the coin features a profile of President Kennedy, while the reverse (back) depicts the presidential coat of arms. The coin was officially released into circulation on March 24, 1964.

From 1964 to 1970, the Kennedy Half Dollar was minted with a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper, similar to earlier silver coins in the United States. These silver coins are highly sought after by collectors and investors due to their silver content.

1971, the composition of the Kennedy Half Dollar was changed to a clad composition, consisting of outer layers of copper-nickel bonded to a copper core. This change was made due to the increasing price of silver and the need to reduce production costs.

Over the years, there have been various special editions, mint errors, and varieties of the Kennedy Half Dollar that have become collectible. Some of these include proof coins, special commemorative editions, and coins with specific mintmark variations.

 

Key Dates

1964: This is the inaugural year of the Kennedy Half Dollar and holds a special place in history. The 1964 Kennedy Half Dollars were minted in 90% silver and 10% copper. They were only produced for a few months and are highly sought after by collectors.

1964-D: The 1964-D Kennedy Half Dollar is the Denver mintmark variation of the inaugural year coin. It is notable for being minted at the Denver Mint and has a lower mintage compared to the Philadelphia minted coins.

1964 Proof: The 1964 Proof Kennedy Half Dollar refers to the special coins minted for collectors using polished dies and specially prepared planchets. These proof coins have a mirror-like finish and are highly collectible.

1966 SMS: In 1966, Special Mint Sets (SMS) were produced for collectors, which contained higher quality uncirculated coins. The 1966 SMS Kennedy Half Dollar has a relatively low mintage and is highly sought after by collectors.

1970-D: The 1970-D Kennedy Half Dollar is notable because it was not intended for circulation and was not officially released. However, a few examples were mistakenly released, making it a rare and valuable coin.

1976-S Silver Proof: As part of the bicentennial celebration, special 40% silver proof coins were minted in 1976. The 1976-S Silver Proof Kennedy Half Dollar is a popular collectible among coin enthusiasts.

1987: The 1987 Kennedy Half Dollar has a lower mintage compared to other years, making it relatively scarce. It is sought after by collectors, especially those assembling complete sets of the series.

1992-P Close AM: In 1992, a few Kennedy Half Dollars were minted with a close "AM" (letters in "AMERICA") variety, where the letters are nearly touching. This variety is considered rare and highly valued by collectors.

1998-S Matte Finish: The 1998-S Kennedy Half Dollar was produced with a special matte finish in Silver Proof Set.