The Kennedy Half Dollar coins minted in 1964 are gaining popularity and their price has been increasing. The US mint and the US treasury produce the Kennedy Half Dollar coins after President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November 1963 in his honour.
Among the valuable Kennedy Half Dollar coins, the 1966 coin is worth $20,000. Since its minting and circulation, it’s one of the most sought-after coins among collectors. Coin collectors wondering about Kennedy Half Dollar coins can check every detail here.
Kennedy Half Dollar Worth $20,000
After the assassination of President Kennedy, the US treasury and US mint released a commemorative coin, the Kennedy Half Dollar, in his honour. The Kennedy half dollar coin is a 50 cent coin that replaced the Franklin Half Dollar.
According to reports, the President’s wife favored the half dollar coins as it does not replace the other President commemorative coin. Since the introduction of Kennedy Half Dollars, the authority has minted 4 billion coins with various versions or variants. The Type 1 version made of 90% silver was one of the most famous ones, which was struck in 1964.
However, due to the high silver, the value of the coin was increased so to reduce the challenges, the US Mint reduced the silver content and made the coin 40% silver and 60% copper. In 1971, the US mint again changed the composition and removed the silver totally from the coins and produced the Kennedy Half Dollar coins with 75% copper and 25% nickel.
The Kennedy Half Dollar coins from 1966 were most sought after due to their historical significance and silver presence. According to the NGC price guidelines, as of now, the Kennedy Half Dollar is worth $4.85 and $5.25 in circulated condition, the coins in uncirculated condition are worth $20,000.
How to identify the Kennedy Half Dollar coins?
The coin collectors who wish to grab their hands on the Kennedy Half Dollar coins can see the following factors that can help them identify the Kennedy Half Dollar coins:
- Compositions: The composition of the coins will tell you from which year it was minted or circulated. For instance, if the coin is 90% silver, it is a 1964 minted Kennedy Half Dollar, if it has 40% silver, it is minted between 1965 and 1970, and if it does not have any trace of Silver, it is minted after 1971.
- Mass: The 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar coin weighs around 12.5 g, whereas the 1965-1970 coins weighed around 11.50 g and coins after 1971 weigh around 11.34g.
- Design and Error: The Kennedy Half Dollar of 1964 has the President’s face, on the front side of the coin, with the Year inscribed and the text LIBERTY in a circular motion and In GOD We Trust. The back side of the coin has the eagle’s claws grasp the olive branch, which is a Presidential Seal, the official symbol of the US President’s Office. The errors in the coins define them like the Accented Hair coin, the curve lines above the President portrait ear make it unique.
- Mint Marks: The Mint marks on the coin define the location of the coin minting. The 1964 SMS Kennedy Half Dollar is the rarest in the series as it has no mint mark. The mint mark in many Kennedy Half Dollars was omitted from 1965 to 967 and the coins minted in Philadelphia before 1980.
Most Valuable Kennedy Half Dollar coins
As we mentioned, the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar coin is the most valuable and sought-after coin, however, with many variants, you can get confused, so, here are the most valuable Kennedy Half Dollar coins:
- Special Mint Set 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar SP68: The highest quality Kennedy Half dollar coins, which were sold with a price of $150,000. According to the Professional Coin Grading Service, they were sold with the highest value in 2019 in Stack’s Bowers Auction.
- Accented hair PR69 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar: This variant was popular due to its unique marking in the coin. The coin has curved lines above the ear of the President portrait, from where the hair begins, that’s why it was named as Accented hair and quite popular due to unique marketing. The highest prices for the coin noted so far are $45,600 in December 2022.
- 1968 Kennedy Half Dollar Proof: This Kennedy Half Dollar coin minted in San Francisco and minted in 1968. According to collectors, the 1968 proof coins have a higher quality than the Philadelphia minted coins, making them rare. According to reports, the highest price it has been sold is $21,600,
- 1964 SMS Kennedy Half Dollar: The coin is certified by PCGS and popular as one of the unique coins in the whole series. The coins were popular as they were never officially issued in special packaging and never introduced till 1965. According to reports, these coins have achieved the highest value of $108,000 in 2019.
Where can you buy the Kennedy Half Dollar coins?
The coin collectors who wish to get these Kennedy Half Dollar Coins in auctions, or the online platforms like Etsy or coinstamp.in. The Collectors can also find the Kennedy Half Dollar coin on the United States Mint official website and shop for the coin they wish to buy.
Collectors should check the coin authenticity before buying, and check the coin description briefly. When you buy, remember to get it checked from a professional coin numismatist and get the assurance you bought the right piece.
The Kennedy Half Dollar coin is again gaining popularity, the coin collectors who wish to get their hands on these coins can check the US Mint official website or other platforms.