Description
The story of how the Kennedy Half-Dollar came
to be is one the most fascinating in our nation's more recent coinage.
Both Congress and the U.S. Mint scrambled to create the coin
memorializing our nation's 35th President a reality following President
Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963.
Under existing law, coin designs could not be changed more often
than every 25 years, and the Franklin-Liberty Bell Half-Dollar had only
been minted for 15 years. Committed to minting the Kennedy Half-Dollar
for the new year, Congress passed an act authorizing the Kennedy
Half-Dollar on December 30, 1963.
Design
The obverse of the Kennedy Half-Dollar features a
bust portrait of President Kennedy surrounded by the word 'L I B E R T
Y'. The motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' crosses his neckline. At the bottom of
the coin appears the date of issue, except for coins minted in 1975 and
1976. In these years, the dates '1776-1976' appeared to commemorate our
nation's Bicentennial.
The reverse features the Presidential Coat of Arms which the United
States Mint has used on various medals that it has minted. The
denomination is listed at the bottom. The only years that did not
feature this design were 1975-76. Coins minted during these years
featured the Independence Hall in Philadelphia to commemorate the
Bicentennial. Flanking the Hall are the phrases '200 YEARS OF FREEDOM'
and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM'. The words 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and 'HALF
DOLLAR' encircle the coin.
Minting Information
As you can see from the Detailed Coin
Information below, Kennedy halves have been minted using three separate
compositions. Their first year of mintage was the last for 90% silver
circulating coins in the United States. In 1965, Congress decided not
to remove all silver from the half-dollar as it did with the
quarter-dollar and dime. Through 1970, Kennedy Half-Dollars were minted
in the silver-clad style outlined below. This was also the style for
the Bicentennial Kennedy halves of 1975-76. The third composition type
of Kennedy contains no silver at all.
Mint Marks have been placed in two separate locations throughout the
Kennedy Half-Dollar's mintage. From 1964-67, this mark appears above
the 'L' in 'HALF' on the reverse. The next year, it moved below
Kennedy's bust on the obverse, directly below the 'W' in the motto.
| Detailed Coin Information - Silver Coinage |
| Designer: Gilroy Roberts (obverse); Frank Gasparro (reverse). ' Same for all versions. |
| Gross Weight: 12.50g |
Silver Content: 0.36169 troy oz. |
| Diameter: 30.6mm |
Thickness: 2.15mm |
| Edge: Reeded |
|
| Date: 1964 |
| Mints: Denver, Philadelphia |
| Detailed Coin Information - Silver Clad Coinage |
| Gross Weight: 11.50g |
Silver Content: 0.14792 Troy oz. |
| Composition: Silver Clad
(Outer Layer of 80% Silver, 20% Copper bonded to Inner Core of 20.9% Silver, 79.1% Copper) |
| Diameter: 30.6mm |
Thickness: 2.15mm |
| Edge: Reeded |
Date: 1965-70; 1975-76* ; 1992-present (Proofs only)
* Dated '1776-1976', featuring Bicentennial reverse design by Seth G. Huntington |
| Mints: Denver (1968-70), Philadelphia (1965-67), San Francisco (1968-70 ' Proof only; 1976 ' Proof and Uncirculated) |
| Detailed Coin Information - Copper-Nickel Clad Coinage |
| Gross Weight: 11.34g |
Silver Content: None |
| Composition: Cupro-Nickel Clad: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel
(Outer Layer of 75% copper, 20% nickel bonded to Inner Core of Pure Copper) |
| Diameter: 30.6mm |
Thickness: 2.15mm |
| Edge: Reeded |
| Date: 1971-present (1975-76 coins dated '1776-1976' and feature Bicentennial reverse design by Seth G. Huntington) |
| Mints: Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco |
