1964 Kennedy Half Dollar

About the Kennedy Half Dollar

The Kennedy Half Dollar is a popular coin introduced in the United States in 1964 to commemorate the life of President John F. Kennedy who was assassinated the year before. There have been several variations of the coin since its introduction including reverse designs, different metal compositions, and minting years.

The main design of the Kennedy Half Dollar remains unchanged from the original coin. It depicts a left-facing portrait of President Kennedy, with the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust” inscribed on the rim. At the top of the design is the inscription of “John F. Kennedy”, while the year of minting appears at the bottom.

The original Kennedy Half Dollar was composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. This composition was used until 1965 when it was changed to a composition consisting of 40% silver and 60% copper. The 40% silver coins were minted from 1965 through 1970. However, after 1970 the coins were minted with a composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

The reverse of the coins also changed numerous times since the original release. After the initial release, the half dollars featured a presidential seal design until 1975. That year, the reverse featured a design from the Apollo 11 mission celebrating the first space landing. Then, from 1976 to 1998, the design changed to the eagle with a shield for liberty. Finally, in 2004 it was changed to a design featurining a heraldic eagle with an olive branch as a symbol for peace.

In addition to the changes in design, the United States mint also issued special editions of the Kennedy Half Dollar. These coins have featured obverse designs in honor of the 25th and 50th anniversaries of John F. Kennedy’s presidency, as well as special reverse designs to commemorate the Apollo 11 mission and the bicentennial of the United States.

The Kennedy Half Dollar has remained a popular coin amongst collectors and is still in circulation today. It will continue to be a reminder of President Kennedy’s legacy and the spirit of hope he brought to the United States.

The 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar coin, has a total mintage of 273,304,004, struck at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania mint, and engraved by Gilroy Roberts. Made of silver (.900), weighing 12.5 grams, with a diameter of 30.61 mm, and a thickness of 2.15 mm, and featuring a reeded edge.

The obverse is portrait of john f. kennedy to the left, date below. It reads “LIBERTY GR IN GOD WE TRUST 1964”. The reverse is modified presidential seal of the united states of america: a shield (with vertical stripes) on the chest of an american eagle. the eagle holds an olive branch on its right talon and a bundle of thirteen arrows on its left, and in its beak a scroll with "e pluribus unum". a circle of stars surrounds the eagle. It reads “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA E PLURIBUS UNUM FG HALF DOLLAR”.