One of the most recognizable and long-running US coins, after the Washington Quarter, is the Kennedy Half-dollar coin. Over the years, the US Mint produced many different varieties of half-dollar coins, however, none was so loved as this one.
Billions of these coins were minted in different minting years and material varieties. So talking about the Kennedy half-dollar value, in general, is pretty hard. Yet, that won’t stop us from trying. The first Kennedy half-dollar coin was minted in 1964 in honor of President JFK who was assassinated a year before.
Since this minting series was a commemorative one, the US Mint decided to produce a large amount of these coins, which significantly affects their value. The good thing is that this particular coin is made from silver so even in a circulated condition it is worth at least its weight in silver, current melt value for this coin is $9.
Naturally, everything depends on the condition. Kennedy halves that show signs of wear are worth significantly less than those in pristine uncirculated condition. However, these coins usually reach higher prices on auctions. Let’s see how this collector’s item ranks on the coin market!
There is a major difference between the prices of uncirculated and circulated coins. For instance, the 1964 Kennedy Half-Dollar in circulated condition is estimated to be worth between $11 and $40, while those in mint state are $5,200.
Or let’s look at the value of the 1968-D Kennedy Half Dollar, in circulated condition this coin is worth from $4,75 to $25. If you want to invest in uncirculated coin you’ll need to invest around $4,800.
However, a lot of circulated coins are still in good condition and suitable as collecting examples. Here is the list of the top 5 common coins worth investing in:
So as you see this coin has both numismatic and silver bullion value, if this intrigues you, keep reading to learn more about this special silver coin.
Why Is The Kennedy Half-Dollar Coin Special?
Let’s first go over quick history facts. The first half-dollar coin was introduced in 1794. From this year until nowadays, this coin has been in continuous production, however, it undergo several changes in terms of design.
The most popular design is the one that features an image of 35th American President John F. Kennedy. This half-dollar was first produced in 1964 as a way to commemorate the assassinated president. The fact it commemorates the late president, the coin gains historical value.
Due to the amazing reactions of the general public, like the Washington Quarter, this design remained regular.
Also, this type of coin is special and valuable because a few series were minted on silver planchet, and we all know how coin collectors love coins made from precious metals. Since 2001, production for general circulation ended, and only a few coins were produced each year for collectors adding to the rarity and significance.
So are Kennedy half dollars worth keeping?
Well, Kennedy half-dollar coins are not very rare and in most cases, they are worth only their face value of 50 cents due to their large mintage volume. However, some Kennedy half-dollar coins are among the most valuable coins in US history and their prices are still rising, so it is up to you to decide if they are worth keeping or not. We still with yes.
Price Guide For Common Kennedy Half-Dollar Coins
These coins are very popular among coin collectors. With their historical background half-dollar coins sometimes sell for significant sums of money. Considering Kennedy half-dollar coins are made with three different material combinations, naturally, some of them are more valuable than others.
However, we’ve already seen that some regular coins made of clad material worth more than silver coins. That tells us that material is not the only feature that dictates the price, condition, and grade are vital as well.
In the following table, we’ve enlisted the most valuable and attractive Kennedy half-dollar coins and varieties so you know what to expect when buying or selling.
Rarest & Most Valuable Kennedy Half-Dollar coins on the coin market
The Main Features Of The Kennedy Half-Dollar Coin
As you probably already know the most popular design of all half-dollar coins is the one that features an image of John F. Kennedy. This is not surprising at all considering he was one of the most popular American President in history. So let’s talk in detail about this historically significant commemorative design.
We will start with the obverse side, or the head side as many people call it. On the obverse side, you will find a portrait of the President facing to the left slightly smiling. At the top side of the the word “LIBERTY” is inscribed. While, across the coin, at the base of the president’s profile, the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” are engraved but in a smaller font.
The minting year as well as a mint mark are placed at the bottom of the coin.
The reverse side is also known as the tail side and it features JFK’s presidential seal. This is an image of a heraldic eagle with fully outspread wings and a shield on its chest. In his beak, an eagle holds a scroll that is flying above his head. On this scroll, the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are inscribed.
If you look carefully, you’ll see that in his left talon, an eagle holds a bunch of 13 arrows, while in the right talon, he is holding an olive branch. This composition of three symbols shield, arrows, and an olive branch is what makes this coin special.
The arrows symbolize war while the olive branch symbolizes peace. In the end, the shield symbolizes the president’s role in protecting the country’s sovereignty against enemies. Also, a ring of 50 stars represents all 50 states surrounding the eagle.
Around the top of the coin, the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” are inscribed, while the denomination “HALF DOLLAR” is inscribed around the bottom.
Let’s talk about minting material
Only the 1964 Kennedy half-dollar was struck on 90% silver planchets. Coins produced between 1965 and 1970 were minted on a planchet made from 40% silver. All coins minted from 1971 until today use copper-clad composition planchet.
The diameter measures of these coins are 30.60mm and 2.15mm in thickness. Coins made from 90% silver weigh 12.5g, those made from 40% silver weigh 11.5g, while clad-composition coins are 11.34g. This weight information will help you make a difference between different varieties. Remember that the edge is reeded with 159 reeds.
Mint marks
The Kennedy half dollars were produced at the Denver Philadelphia, San Franciso, and West Point mints. Only the 2014 commemorative Kennedy half-dollar coin was minted in West Point Mint. As usual, coins minted in Philadelphia will not have a mint mark. Mint Marks
As you probably noticed coins minted from 1964 to 1968 were produced only in Philadelphia and come with no mint more. The only exception is the 1964 coin which was also minted in Denver Mint. This coin carries a D mint mark on the reverse side just below the eagle’s claw.
All other coins, from 1968 until today, have the mint mark on the obverse side of the coin just below Kennedy’s bust and above the date.
List Of Most Valuable Errors Found On Kennedy Half-Dollar Coins
No series of coins was perfectly minted. No matter the minting year and technology the error always appears somehow. In earlier years in larger numbers but in fewer varieties, and in these new age series in fewer numbers but in more error varieties.
Some of the most valuable and common errors in coins are off-center errors, clips, broken dies, double die errors, or other strike anomalies. Errors like this as well appear in the Kennedy half-dollar series. We will talk about some of the most valuable errors in the following rows.
Also, in this paragraph, you will find a table with a list of current market prices for some of the most valuable Kennedy half-dollar error coins. Here is the list of common errors in the Kennedy Half-dollar series:
- 1964 Proof Heavily Accented Hair – It is believed that this was the first version of the 1964 Proof Kennedy Half-dollar coin that was struck. You can see that the Heavily Accented Hair variety features hair that stands over Kennedy’s right ear and it is easily visible to the naked eye. Also, you can see that the lower left serif of the letter “I” in the word “LIBERTY” is missing. It is estimated that less than 5% of the entire proof mintage features this type of “error” which enhances a collectible value.
- 1964 Proof and circulation strike doubled die error – Turn a Proof coin on the obverse side and you’ll see a minor doubling on top parts in letters of the word “WE TRUST”. It can also be seen in the “RTY” part of the word “LIBERTY”. In some 1964-D coins, you can also find double-die errors. A doubled die error is when we see both sets of letters rising from the field of the coin.
- 1966 SMS no FG – The US Mint recalled making proof sets and uncirculated sets in the 1960s. Instead, they offered an SMS (Special Mint Sets) type of coins. This coin was struck on a polished die and planchet with a superior finish. These were struck from 1965 through 1967. One of the most intriguing series was the 1966 SMS Kennedy half-dollar which miss the “FG” initials on the reverse side under the eagle. This is not the only series with this kind of error.
- 1966 SMS doubled die obverse – There is one more interesting error in the 1966 SMS half-dollar series. You can see it as a doubling in the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” and across the whole of Kennedy’s profile.
- 1968-S Proof inverted mint mark – In 1968 mint marks were still manually punched into the coin dies. The name of the error explains it all – a coin features an upside-down “S” mint mark. You can recognize it easily since the upper hook is larger than the lower.
- 1971-D and 1977-D struck on 40% silver clad – During a period from 1965 to 1970 a number of 40% silver planchets slipped into regular production at the Denver Mint in 1971 and 1977. You can easily find out if you have a silver or regular 1971-D or 1977-D coin. Look at the edge of the coin and find a bright strip of copper it is a regularly struck coin.
- 1972-D no FG – The 1972-D error coin is highly sought after among collectors. These coins always show some striking weakness in other areas, particularly in the feather details around the eagle’s left leg.
- 1974-D doubled die obverse – The most sought-after doubled die error in the Kennedy half-dollar series is the 1974-D obverse doubled die. You can recognize this coin by the heavy doubling in the “IN GOD WE TRUST” Since it is believed that there are only a few thousand examples of this error it is very valuable.
- 1979-S Type II Proof filled S and clear S – In 1979 the US Mint made a significant change in the “S” mint mark. This mint mark was imprinted on the 1979 Kennedy half-dollar proof coins. It ended up in two varieties – a filed blobby-looking “S” mintmark (Type I) and a clear and sharp “S” (Type II). Type II is a less common and far more valuable error coin.
- 1981-S Type II Proof clear S and flat S – In 1981 more modifications to the “S” mintmark came. The Type II “S” mintmark that was used in 1979 was now used as the Type I “S” mintmark for 1981. On the other hand, a clearer “S” mintmark with bulbous serifs became a Type II mint mark. Perhaps only 10 to 15% of the 1981-S proofs are represented by the Type II mint mark so they are scarce.
- 1982-P no FG – The 1982-P with no FG initials is a very popular Kennedy half-dollar coin. This variety is more valuable than regular strike coins. However, since it is much more common than the 1966 SMS and 1972-D no FG coins they do not reach higher price tags.
Where Can You Trade Valuable Kennedy Half-Dollar Coins?
Every valuable collectible item can be bought or sold on the Internet. However, not choosing the right platform or a dealer for it is the biggest mistake many people do. Unfortunately, everything that has value will be replicated sooner or later.
When we talk about fake coins, we have bad news, these replicas look so good that you’ll hardly notice it. This is when hiring a professional dealer will come in handy. You can learn how to determine if the silver is real or fake. Well, you can even learn how to determine fake from real clad half-dollar but why when you can choose to work with reliable sources instead?
Here is our list of auction houses and coin web pages that are proven and reliable – Heritage Auctions, PCGS, Coins For Sale, Stack’s Bowers, or Littleton Coin Company.
Also, you can check the market trends on web platforms like eBay, Etsy, and LiveAuctioneers. These online market platforms are great sources where you can get informed about the price ranges, demand, and supply. Information like this is vital when forming a final price.
Also Read:
- The 1965 Kennedy Half Dollar: History, Value, and More (Rarest Sold For $9,000)
- 1974 Kennedy Half Dollar Value Chart (Auction Record $8,000!)
- 1979 Half Dollar Value: How Much Money Is A 50C Worth?
- 1973 Half Dollar Value Chart (Worth As Much As $4,888)
- 1964 Half Dollar Value (Rarest & Most Valuable Sold For $108,000)
FAQ
What Kennedy half-dollar coins should I keep?
This is a pretty simple question. Logically, all silver series are very valuable and sought-after among collectors. This means you should pay a lot of attention to coins minted from 1964 until 1970. The 1964 coin is the only one with 90% silver content, the rest are with 40% silver content. However, also pay attention to these clad composition coins – 1971-D, 1976 Biccential 50C coin, 1977-D, and 1980-D.
What are SMS coins?
Since the US Mint did not issue regular proof sets from 1965 to 1967 they instead introduced high-quality “special mint sets” (SMS). These coins were produced on a planchet with 40% silver content. As you see these coins are not of proof quality, but they still feature a higher caliber than normal circulation coins.
Collecting Kennedy Half-Dollar Coins – Yes Or No?
Kennedy half-dollar is undoubtedly one of the most favorite US coins. So anything that is popular among the general public soon gains a particular status and value. Considering there are too many Kennedy half-dollar coins most of them will not have any significant value.
However, if you are a passionate coin collector, and US coins are your thing, then you’ll for sure want to complete the full collection of Kennedy half-dollar coins. Be aware that this will be a pretty hard task considering these are in production since 1964 and still going strong.
Hopefully, this article answered at least some of your questions and dilemmas and helps you figure out if this coin is the right collectible item for you. In case you know some information that we didn’t mention here, please do not hesitate to share your opinions and advice in the comment section below. Good luck and happy hunting!
