The Kennedy half-dollar is a commemorative coin produced by the US government and is a part of American history. Its widespread presence contributes to its appeal. Kennedy half dollars occasionally appear in circulation and are worth $5 or $10. Additionally, it will be much more valuable if you come across a Kennedy half-dollar with a better-than-average strike.
The first Kennedy half-dollar was produced in 1964 after President John F. Kennedy’s death. President Kennedy is depicted in profile on the coin’s obverse, and the presidential seal is found on the reverse. It was minted in 2004 and is still in print today.
Everything you want to know about the Kennedy half-dollar is right here.
Key Dates, Rarities, and Varieties
There are a few Kennedy half-dollar minor varieties, but none of the variations are particularly rare or expensive. The mint produced unique collector coins from 1965 to 1967 and once more starting in 1992. The price of these coins is very reasonable for any coin collector’s budget.
The dates on the 1975 and 1976 coins ranged from 1776 to 1976. These coins are commemorative coins that are currently in circulation to mark the bicentennial of the United States. Despite having a unique appearance, these coins were produced in the billions and had no unique value.
However, the Denver and San Francisco mint facilities both produced Kennedy half dollars in 1970 for the US Mint. 1970 saw no half dollars being produced by the Philadelphia mint. For inclusion in the 1970 Proof set, the mint in San Francisco produced coins with a Proof finish.
Denver-produced business strike quality coins were featured in US Uncirculated Mint Sets. So, purchasing the United States Uncirculated 1970 Mint Set is the only way to acquire a coin of a circulation-quality 1970-D Kennedy half-dollar.
In 2014, the mint produced unique collector edition coins to mark the Kennedy half dollar’s 50th Anniversary. The first was a limited-edition set for collectors termed the Kennedy Half Dollar Uncirculated Coin Set for the 50th Anniversary.
Two 2014 Kennedy half-dollars, one from each of the United States Mint locations in Philadelphia and Denver, are covered in copper-nickel and have uncirculated finishes. These coins’ designs are replicas of the high-relief portrait on the original coin from 1964.
The Kennedy Half Dollar Silver Coin Collection commemorating the 50th Anniversary was the second set released in 2014. The four silver half-dollars in this set each had a distinct finish. Each piece incorporated the high relief obverse design from the initial 1964 issue, which US Mint Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts manually sculpted in 1963.
Finally, the Kennedy Half Dollar Gold Proof Coin commemorating the 50th Anniversary was also released. 99.99% pure gold was used to create this unique Proof bullion coin.
Kennedy Half-Dollar Market
Kennedy half-dollars are still available from some institutions for face value and are highly prevalent. The majority of the value of commonly used coins produced between 1964 and 1970 comes from the silver they contain. Silver content dropped from 90% (in coins dated 1964) to 40% silver between 1965 and 1970. Kennedy’s half-dollar collecting is starting to gain prominence.
The market for half dollars started to decline significantly in 2002. The US Mint only made Kennedy half dollars for collectors as a result. The Federal Reserve Bank placed an order for more circulated half dollars in 2022. In more than twenty years, the Kennedy half-dollar hasn’t been made for commercial use until now.
Mint Marks
Three different mints, Philadelphia (no mint mark or P), San Francisco (S), and Denver (D), each produced Kennedy half dollars (S). The mint mark is visible on the reverse of the 1964 coin, to the left of the eagle’s claw. The mint mark has been present on the coin’s obverse since 1968, just above the date and below Kennedy’s bust. All US coins were struck without a mint mark between 1965 and 1967.
How Can I Know Whether The Kennedy Half-Dollar I Have Is Silver?
The Kennedy half-dollar coins are struck in.900 fine silver. This means that a Kennedy half-dollar is made up of 90% silver and 10% copper. A magnet can be used to determine whether or not your coin is made of silver. If the magnet sticks, it is not made of silver. A sharp object can also n be used to scratch the coin to look for clues of silver.
Kennedy Half Dollar Average Prices and Values
The buying price is the cost of the coin, and the sale value is the amount you may anticipate receiving from a dealer when you sell the coin. Values for average circulation and average non-circulation are provided. These are the rough wholesale and retail pricing. Depending on the coin’s actual quality and other factors affecting its value, the offer you receive from a particular coin dealer may differ.
Most Kennedy half-dollar coins are worth merely their face value of 50 cents. Nevertheless, some are more valuable than others, depending on their condition and the year they were struck. For instance, a 1970-dated Kennedy half-dollar coin in uncirculated condition is worth roughly $8.
| Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
| 1964 | $11.50 | $10.00 | $12.50 | $10.50 | |
| 1964-D | $11.50 | $10.00 | $13.00 | $10.50 | |
| 1965 | $5.00 | $4.00 | $7.00 | $6.00 | |
| 1966 | $5.00 | $4.00 | $7.00 | $6.00 | |
| 1967 | $5.00 | $4.00 | $7.00 | $6.00 | |
| 1968-D | $5.00 | $4.00 | $7.00 | $6.00 | |
| 1969-D | $5.00 | $4.00 | $7.00 | $6.00 | |
| 1970-D | $7.50 | $5.50 | $13.50 | $12.00 | |
| 1971 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.00 | |
| 1971-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.00 | |
| 1972 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.60 | $1.00 | |
| 1972-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.60 | $1.00 | |
| 1973 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.50 | $1.00 | |
| 1973-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.50 | $1.00 | |
| 1974 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.40 | $1.00 | |
| 1974-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.10 | |
| 1976 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.20 | $0.80 | |
| 1976-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.10 | $0.80 | |
| 1976-S Silver | $5.00 | $4.00 | $7.00 | $5.00 | |
| 1977 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.20 | |
| 1977-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.50 | $1.00 | |
| 1978 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.10 | $1.40 | |
| 1978-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.70 | $1.90 | |
| 1979 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.30 | $0.90 | |
| 1979-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.50 | $1.00 | |
| Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
| 1980 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.50 | $1.00 | |
| 1980-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.50 | $1.10 | |
| 1981 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.60 | $1.20 | |
| 1981-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.40 | $1.00 | |
| 1982 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.60 | $1.90 | |
| 1982-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.10 | $1.40 | |
| 1983 | $1.00 | F.V. | $3.40 | $2.50 | |
| 1983-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.50 | $1.90 | |
| 1984 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.00 | $1.40 | |
| 1984-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.10 | $1.40 | |
| 1985 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.50 | $1.70 | |
| 1985-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.80 | $2.00 | |
| 1986 | $1.00 | F.V. | $5.40 | $3.90 | |
| 1986-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $3.90 | $2.60 | |
| 1987 | $1.00 | F.V. | $3.50 | $2.60 | |
| 1987-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $3.70 | $2.60 | |
| 1988 | $1.00 | F.V. | $3.30 | $2.30 | |
| 1988-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.20 | $1.60 | |
| 1989 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.10 | $1.50 | |
| 1989-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.80 | $1.30 | |
| Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
| 1990 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.20 | $1.50 | |
| 1990-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $3.00 | $2.00 | |
| 1991 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.50 | $1.70 | |
| 1991-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $3.90 | $2.70 | |
| 1992 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.10 | $0.80 | |
| 1992-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.80 | $1.90 | |
| 1993 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.00 | $1.30 | |
| 1993-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.00 | $0.90 | |
| 1994 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.00 | $0.70 | |
| 1994-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.00 | $1.00 | |
| 1995 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.00 | F.V. | |
| 1995-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.00 | F.V. | |
| 1996 | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.00 | F.V. | |
| 1996-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $2.00 | F.V. | |
| 1997 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.20 | $0.80 | |
| 1997-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.20 | $0.90 | |
| 1998 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 1998-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.20 | F.V. | |
| 1999 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.20 | F.V. | |
| 1999-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
| 2000 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2000-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2001 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.60 | $1.10 | |
| 2001-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2002 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.20 | |
| 2002-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.20 | |
| 2003 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.10 | F.V. | |
| 2003-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.10 | F.V. | |
| 2004 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2004-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2005 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2005-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2006 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2006-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2007 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2007-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2008 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2008-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2009 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2009-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
| 2010 | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2010-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2011-P | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2011-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2012-P | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2012-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2013-P | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2013-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2014-P | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2014-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2015-P | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 2015-D | $1.00 | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| Complete Date-Mint Set Total Coins: 96 | $130.00 | $65.00 | $225.00 | $150.00 |