Last Updated on December 30, 2023
John F. Kennedy, United States’ 35th president, was assassinated in 1963 and is memorialized on the reverse side of the coins by a portrait of him. These coins have been in circulation since 1964 and are produced as needed to keep up with the demand for them.
The Kennedy half dollar was swiftly authorized by the United States government only weeks after John F. Kennedy was assassinated — a fact that ranks among the most rapid changes in US coinage history.
The Franklin half dollar was discontinued and replaced by a new coin called the Kennedy half dollar, which was produced from 1964 to 1963.
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How much is a 1976 bicentennial half dollar worth?
The standard 1776 to1976 half dollar value in circulated condition are worth only $0.50 of their face value. These coins may be purchased at a premium in uncirculated condition.
In uncirculated form, the 1776-1976 D half dollar is worth between $3 and $4. In MS 63 condition, both the 1776-1976 half dollar with no mint mark and the 1776-1976 D half dollar are valued at around $3.
The 1776-1976 S proof half dollar is worth around $4 in PR 65 condition.
Does the 1976 Kennedy half dollar have any silver in it?
During the Bicentennial in 1976, special collector coins were struck in silver-clad steel; first minted in 1992 was a 90% silver proof set featuring the dime, quarter and half dollar.
There were no 1975 coins because this currency was produced in both years of 1975 through 1976. In Mint (M-) Condition, the Uncirculated (MS+) Value of the 1976-S Kennedy Half Dollar is expected to be around $10.27. The value of proof coins may climb as high as $12.
How can you tell if a Bicentennial half dollar is silver?
The newer-designed coins will display the plating, while the older silver coins will look to be silver from face-to-face. According to others, the simplest method to determine whether a US minted quarter (or dime, half-dollar, or dollar) is silver is by looking at the mint date.
Are silver Kennedy half dollars hard to find?
If you go looking for Kennedy half dollars at banks, there’s about a possibility that you’ll come across silver half dollars.
The reason that silver half dollars are so uncommon is because they don’t circulate much, and most people don’t even think to ask for them in change or spend much time looking at them. On rare occasions, however, silver half dollars may appear in bank rolls.
You can find a 40% silver Kennedy half dollar (produced from 1965 through 1969 for circulation) or even a 90% silver 1964 Kennedy half dollar with some effort.
What is the error on the Kennedy Bicentennial half dollar?
In 1974, a coin die production error resulted in doubled letters on the obverse coin. The words on the coin appear to be tripled. The lettering in TRUST on the obverse is most affected by the doubling.
What are the most common Kennedy half dollars?
Though not frequently seen in circulation, Kennedy half dollars are actually quite common coins.
In the early 1960s, half dollars were still in circulation. However, a grief-stricken nation eager to get these mementos of President Kennedy’s assassination quickly established a national practice of keeping half dollars out of circulation.
Coupling that with the overall desire to rid minted silver coins from circulation during the mid 1960s, when people were hoarding coins that had any trace of silver, you can see how half dollars in circulation became a thing of the past.
100s of millions of Kennedy half dollars have been produced by the United States Mint. The majority of the 1970s was filled with a high output. By the start of the 1980s, usage of half dollars had dropped significantly across much of the country, and production numbers were on the decline.
More than 60 million half dollars were produced for circulation in 1983, which was the last year they were made.
The last year in which the Kennedy half dollar was minted at a rate of more than 100 million coins was in the mid 1970s.
What year half dollars are worth money?
The majority of the value of coins minted between 1964 and 1970 is derived from their silver content, with the exception of those that were struck during 1965-1970. The silver content was reduced from 90% (1964 dated coins) to 40% silver between 1965 and 1970. Kennedy half dollars are becoming increasingly popular among collectors.
What year is the Kennedy half dollars Silver?
The Kennedy Silver Half Dollar refers to coins produced by the United States Mint from 1964 through 1970 that were composed of 90% silver. The metal contained in 36169 ounces in each strike during that year.
Which Kennedy half dollars are worth the most?
During a public sale of uncommon US coins held Thursday, April 25, 2019, by Heritage Auctions, a 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar was sold for an incredible $108,000, making it the most valuable coin in its category.
