Kennedy
Half Dollar |
|
|
| Obverse |
Reverse |
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
had to scramble to make the coin memorializing our
nation’s 35th President a reality after his
assassination on November 22, 1963.
According to law of the time, coin designs could
not be changed more often than every 25 years, and
the Franklin-Liberty Bell Half-Dollar had only existed
for 15. Not wanting to release any Franklin Half-Dollars
dated 1964, 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 take
all the silver out of the half-dollar as it did with
the quarter-dollar and dime. Through 1970, Kennedy’s
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 |
|
