Kennedy Silver Half Dollar

The Kennedy half dollar silver, first minted in 1964, is a fifty-cent coin currently issued by the United States Mint. Intended as a memorial to the assassinated 35th president of the United States John F. Kennedy, it was authorized by Congress just over a month after his death. Use of existing works by Mint sculptors Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro allowed dies to be prepared quickly, and striking of the new coins began in January 1964.

The silver coins were hoarded upon their release in March 1964 by collectors and those interested in a memento of the late president. Although the Mint greatly increased production, the denomination was seldom seen in circulation.

The Treasury Department made the half dollar coin silver available to the public beginning on March 24, 1964. A line over a block long formed at the department’s windows in Washington to purchase the 70,000 coins initially allocated for public sale. Although the department limited sales to 40 per customer, by the end of the day, the coins were gone, but the line had not shortened. Banks in Boston and Philadelphia quickly rationed supplies, but still sold out by noon. Sales in New York did not begin until the following day, and rationing was imposed there as well, to the disgruntlement of the head of the coin department at Gimbels, the largest dealer in the city, which had hoped to sell the coins at a premium.

Today, the Kennedy half dollar is one of the most popular and sought-after silver coins produced by the United States Mint. Many collectors and investors purchase these coins for their silver holdings because of the history and tradability associated with this coin.

More Facts About the Kennedy Half Dollar Silver Coin: 

• The silver half dollar coin features a striking design of President John F. Kennedy on the obverse side. It was created by sculptor Gilroy Roberts and adapted from a portrait by Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, Frank Gasparro.
• The reverse side of the coin showcases an image of the modified Presidential Seal with a bald eagle, holding arrows and an olive branch, encircled by 50 stars.
• The Kennedy Half Dollar Silver coin was initially minted in 90% silver from 1964 to 1970. Coins from these years contain 0.36169 ounces of pure silver.
• Starting in 1971, the coin’s composition changed to a copper-nickel clad, with only the bicentennial issues in 1975 and 1976 containing 40% silver.
• In 2014, the U.S. Mint commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy Half Dollar by producing a special 3/4-ounce gold coin featuring the same design.

For current pricing and more information on the Kennedy Half Dollar, please call us at (877) 444-0923.