These coins remained popular and out of circulation. The outer layer of this coin is plated in a mix that is 80 percent silver, so they still have the same look, but they are not as intrinsically valuable. From 1965 to 1970 the half dollars they produced were 40 percent silver and 60 percent copper. In 1965 the Mint reduced the amount of silver in the half dollar. While 1964 Kennedy half dollars aren’t rare, they are still valuable and very collectible for their historical significance. The silver content makes them valuable independent of their numismatic value. In 1964 these half dollars were 90% silver and 10% copper. Silver Content of the Kennedy Half DollarĪnother reason for the continued scarcity of the Kennedy half dollar was its silver content. In 1964 alone it struck 160 million half dollars and continued producing this coin into 1965 until numbers reached 430 million, but the coin remained very popular and scarce. Few of the first coins released ever saw circulation because the demand for them was so intense both by coin collectors and also by the public who wanted a memento of their beloved president. There were long lines at the Treasury Department they day they went up for sale and actually sold out. When the Mint issued the coin, the public grabbed them up immediately. Her only request was that the hair be modified slightly. Jacqueline Kennedy approved the use of this image for the coin. Fortunately for the Mint, Kennedy already had his profile on a medal for the Mint’s Presidential series so they did not have to create one from nothing. One tangible symbol of that grief was the Kennedy half dollar.Ĭongress authorized the production of the Kennedy half dollar only a month after his death, and the United States Mint first struck this coin in 1964 and released in March. An outpouring of grief resulted from this tragedy. Generations of people still can say where they were when they heard Kennedy was shot. It was a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. When Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, the nation was shocked and mourned him deeply. The war years were over, the economy was booming, and the future seemed bright. Kennedy was elected President of the United States in 1960, he was the youngest man to ever hold that office, and many saw in him hope for the future of the country. Why is this coin worth seeking out? Which ones are the most valuable? We will answer those questions here. However, the Federal Reserve may still order them for circulation.The Kennedy half dollar is a very popular collectible coin that has both sentimental value for many Americans as well as numismatic value for coin collectors. Since 2002, half dollars have been minted primarily for annual coin sets and other numismatic products. In 1971, the Mint removed silver from the half dollar and the composition became copper-nickel clad. A temporary reverse featuring Independence Hall in Philadelphia appeared in 19 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence. The Kennedy Half Dollar was issued in 1964 and continues to today, except for a brief period in the 1970s. The reverse depicted the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. In 1948, an image of Benjamin Franklin replaced Liberty on the obverse of the half dollar. The reverse features an eagle with unfolded wings perched on a rock. She’s draped in the folds of the American flag while the sun rises in the background. The obverse shows the figure of Liberty walking with her right arm extended and holding laurel and oak branches in her left. Weinman also designed the iconic Mercury dime. circulating coin.įrom 1916 to 1947, the Mint produced the “Walking Liberty” half dollar designed by Adolph A. 1947 was the last year that Liberty appeared on a U.S. The designs from 1794 to 1947 showed a woman symbolizing liberty on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse. The Mint made the first half dollar in 1794 of silver. The Presidential Seal appears on the reverse (tails). The obverse (heads) shows an image of Kennedy based on a portrait prepared for his presidential medal. Mint first issued this design in 1964, a year after the assassination of President John F. The “Kennedy” theme is the current design of the U.S.
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