Obverse

Reverse

Evolving from the Franklin half dollar, the Kennedy half dollar is a coin of the United States first minted in 1964. This coin was first struck in 1964 less than a year after the death of President John F. Kennedy. The front features the face of President John F. Kennedy and on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse. The obverse was designed by Gilroy Roberts and the reverse was designed by Frank Gasparro. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1192x1193, 252 KB) Summary Obverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1192x1193, 252 KB) Summary Obverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1157x1146, 251 KB) Summary Reverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1157x1146, 251 KB) Summary Reverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar. ... The Half Dollar of the United States has been produced nearly every year since the inception of the United States Mint in 1793. ... Top row: Sacagawea Dollar, Lincoln Cent, and Roosevelt Dime. ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK, or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK, or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ... Binomial name Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus, 1766) The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey indigenous to North America, most recognizable as the national bird of the United States. ... Gilroy Roberts designed the obverse of the US half dollar coin (Kennedy), which was first issued in 1964. ... Frank Gasparro (August 26, 1909 – September 29, 2001) was the 10th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint and held this position from February 23, 1965 to January 16, 1981. ...

Bicentennial Kennedy half dollar (reverse)

Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Specifications

• Obverse design: President John F. Kennedy
• Reverse design: The Coat of Arms of the President of the United States
• Bicentennial reverse designer: Seth Huntington
• Bicentennial reverse design: Independence Hall in Philadelphia
• Edge: reeded
• Diameter: 30.6 mm

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK, or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... The belltower atop Independence Hall, formerly home to the Liberty Bell. ... Philadelphia is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ...

Composition

The Kennedy half dollar was struck in 90 percent silver in 1964. This was reduced to a silver-clad with a lower silver content. In 1971, the coin was minted without silver at all and used the copper-nickel clad common to the dollar, quarter, and dime. When the United States Mint started producing silver proof sets in 1992, the Kennedy half dollar had the same composition as the coins of 1964. Cladding is the bonding together of dissimilar metals. ...

Silver issue (1964, silver proof sets from 1992 to date):

• Weight: 12.5 g
• Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
• Silver content: 11.25 g (0.3617 troy oz)

Silver-clad issues (1965-1970):

• Weight: 11.5 g
• Composition:

  Outer layers: 80% silver, 20% copper

  Inner layers: 20.9% silver, 79.1% copper

• Silver content: 4.60 g (0.1479 troy oz)

Copper-nickel clad issues (1971 to date):

• Weight: 11.34 g (0.4 oz avoirdupois)
• Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel

History

The Kennedy half dollar replaced the Franklin half dollar within a year of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Collectors and even ordinary citizens hoarded the coins of 1964, both because President Kennedy was so beloved and because of the belief that the coins would someday be valuable. In 1965, the mint stopped producing silver dimes and quarters, but the half dollar was minted in a silver clad. The silver clad ended in 1970. In 1975 and 1976, the bicentennial half dollar was minted showing Independence Hall on the reverse. All of the bicentennial halves are dated "1776–1976." Starting in 1977, the half dollar experienced a decline in use and mintage. By 2002, the coins were no longer minted for commercial use, but only in special mint rolls, mint sets, and proof sets for collectors. The Franklin half dollar is a coin of the United States, minted from 1948 to 1963. ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK, or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ... The belltower atop Independence Hall, formerly home to the Liberty Bell. ...

Mints

In 1964, the mint mark appeared on the reverse, under the eagle's left talon. Starting in 1968, mint marks appear above the second and third numbers in the date under Kennedy's neck. Mint marks as of 2005 include: A mint mark is an inscription on a coin indicating the mint at which the coin was produced. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Blank (Philadelphia Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 1964–1979
• P (Philadelphia Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 1980—
• D (Denver Mint in Denver, Colorado)
• S (San Francisco Mint in San Francisco, California)

All San Francisco Kennedy halves are proofs. Proof coins were minted at Philadelphia in 1964, but all other proofs were minted at San Francisco. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love Motto: N/A Official website: http://www. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love Motto: N/A Official website: http://www. ... The Denver Mint Denver Mint A branch of the United States Mint established in 1906 that produces coins with a D mint mark (not to be confused with the mint in Dahlonega, Georgia). ... Nickname: The Mile-High City Motto: Official website: http://www. ... The San Francisco Mint is a government facility that produces currency. ... Nickname: The City by the Bay Motto: Official website: http://www. ...

References

• Yeoman, R.S.  A Guide Book of United States Coins. Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2004.
• Edler, Joel and Harper, Dave. U.S. Coin Digest. Iola: Krause Publications, 2004.

External links

• Current US Coin Prices
• PCGS Price Guide for Kennedy half dollars
• Kennedy half dollar mintages at coinfacts.com
• Kennedy Half Dollar pictures