Kennedy Half Dollars
In the year following President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, a new half dollar coin was created in his honor. Designed by Gilroy Roberts (obverse) and Frank Gasparro (reverse) it replaced the Benjamin Franklin half dollar which had only been in production since 1946.
The intial production run of 1964 coins had a silver content of 90% silver. While dimes and quarters were converted from high content silver to clad production in 1965, the JFK half dollar continued to be produced with a lower silver content of 40% from 1965 through 1970. Starting in 1971 all regulary circulating Kennedy halves were of clad composition.
A favorite variation of Kenndey halves is the Bicentennial half dollar which was produced along with a commemorative dollar coin and quarter in 1976.
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Quick Facts
John F. Kennedy was the youngest person elected to the office of President of the United States.
Like Franklin Roosevelt, Kennedy appeared on American coinage only a year after his untimely death.
The San Francisco mint has produced only proof versions of the JFK half dollar.
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More Information
Find out how much your Kennedy half dollars are worth with price, grading and value information via PCGS
Encyclopedia article about the President John Kennedy half dollar coin.
Kids Learn about Kennedy Halves
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