The United States Mint first minted the Kennedy half dollar in 1964, a few months after the assassination of popular President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
The Kennedy half dollar replaced the Benjamin Franklin half dollar and was made of 90% silver and 10% copper.
However, this metal composition changed from 1965 to 1970, when the Mint struck coins with a core containing 79% copper and an outer layer containing 80% silver and 20% copper. The change in metal was due to the shortage of copper at the time.
Beginning in 1971, all half dollars were minted with a core of 75% silver and 25% copper, with a pure copper core.
The design of the coin has not changed since its first mintage in 1964. The obverse shows a portrait of President Kennedy facing left, and the reverse shows a heraldic eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and a bundle of arrows in the other, symbolizing independence.
San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia minted the Kennedy half dollar. An estimated 156,205,446 half dollars were minted in 1964 alone. Beginning in 2002, the Mint reduced production of these coins, minting only collector Kennedy dollars, which anyone can purchase at face value.
In early 1992, the Mint struck a special 90% silver Kennedy half dollar coin for collectors. In 1998, the 90% silver half dollar was minted in both matte and shiny versions.
The most famous variant of the Kennedy dollar is the 1964 hair accent coin. Kennedy’s hair appeared sharply outlined on the early coins, but the president’s widow, Jacqueline Kennedy, did not like the design, so the Mint had to soften the hair. The Mint made the necessary changes, but a limited number of proof coins had already been struck.
Rare Kennedy Half Dollar Coins
More than two decades later, in 2022, the Federal Reserve ordered the Mint to produce more Kennedy coins for circulation. This means that today you can easily buy a modern Kennedy half dollar. However, the most valuable are the silver Kennedy half dollars minted between 1964 and 1970.
The 1964 Kennedy Special Strike Half Dollar
Among all the coins minted during all these years, the 1964 Kennedy Special Strike half dollar stands out as the rarest errorless coin in its series. Its distinctive characteristics set it apart from other coins minted during that year.
A Special Strike 1964 half dollar can be identified by its smooth finish, distinctive obverse, and intricate reverse design details. In addition, the edges are remarkably crisp and well-defined.
Typically, these unique coins are free of contact marks, meaning they were minted and meticulously maintained to maintain their distinctive character. Unlike proof coins, the specially minted Kennedy half dollar features a matte finish, where the only visible imperfections are the die polish lines.
To date, the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) has only authenticated twelve 1964 special mintage Kennedy half dollars, underscoring that this is the rarest of all special mintage coins produced that year.
The expensive 1964 Kennedy half dollar special mintage received a grade of SP68 and sold for $156,000 at a Stack’s Bowers auction.
Find out the value of other coins through the expert website Coin Value.
Here’s a table summarizing key Kennedy Half Dollar information:
| Year | Mint Locations | Metal Composition | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | San Francisco, Denver, Philadelphia | 90% Silver, 10% Copper | First Kennedy half dollar |
| 1965-1970 | San Francisco, Denver, Philadelphia | 79% Copper (Core), 80% Silver (Outer Layer) | Metal composition change due to copper shortage |
| 1971-Present | San Francisco, Denver, Philadelphia | 75% Silver (Core), Pure Copper (Core) | Standard mintage |
| 1964 Special Strike | San Francisco | 90% Silver | Smooth finish, rarest Kennedy coin |
Find out the value of other currencies through the expert website Coin Value.