Are Half Dollar Coins Valuable? (Plus, the Priciest & Rarest Mints)

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A deep-dive into the value of Kennedy half dollars
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The United States Mint no longer issues half dollar coins, which makes the category uniquely interesting for contemporary coin collectors. But like any coin that saw circulation, there can be huge gaps in how much the coins are worth depending on the condition and rarity of the coin. Here, we’ll break down whether Kennedy half dollars are worth anything, when they’re worth big bucks, and even why you might want to hold onto them anyway. We’ll also cover the other common half dollar runs from before the Kennedy coin!

Are Kennedy Half Dollars Worth Anything?

Generally speaking, the vast majority of Kennedy half dollars are worth face value. At most, really high-condition mints will normally fetch $1-5. However, there are a handful of years and variations that can fetch thousands of dollars, so inspect your coins carefully.

Section 1 of 6:

Are Kennedy half dollars valuable?

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  1. The vast majority of Kennedy half dollars are not worth much. Kennedy 50-cent pieces have been printed for a long time. The US Mint has released them every year from 1964-2002, so there are a lot of them floating around. Some special misprints, proofs, and rare print runs are worth some solid money, but the vast majority of them are worth $0.50-3. [1]
    • Why were the Kennedy half dollars made? In 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. The country was shocked and devastated. The US Mint planned to release the half dollars starting in 1964 to honor Kennedy’s memory.
    • Kennedy half dollars will likely fetch more money in the future. The US Mint has officially stopped making these coins, so they’ll only become more rare with each passing year. If you own any of these coins and you don’t need the money now, consider holding on to them. They might be worth a lot later!
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Section 2 of 6:

Spotting Valuable Kennedy Half Dollars

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  1. 1
    Look for especially sought-after years on your coins. The value of Kennedy half dollars shifts dramatically from year to year, and there are a handful of mint runs that fetch a premium. [2] Your coin may (emphasis on “may”) be worth more money if it was printed in:
    • 1964-1968
    • 1970
    • 1976
    • 1979
    • 1981
    • 1991-1996
    • 1998-2000
    • 2014
  2. 2
    The condition of the coin impacts the value of the coin greatly. Uncirculated and mint coins fetch a higher premium. Most of the Kennedy half dollar printings were either 40% silver or 10% nickel. These are highly reflective metals, which gives the vast majority of the mint and uncirculated coins a reflective sheen that is especially bright for a half dollar. If your coin is bright, clean, and well-defined, it's probably worth more. [3]
    • If you do have an especially high-quality coin and it isn’t protected, get a coin case or coin sleeve to keep it safe.
  3. 3
    “S” mint marks are slightly more expensive. It’s not usually much of a difference, but the Kennedy half dollars that were minted in San Francisco are slightly less common than their Denver or Philadelphia counterparts. These coins are stamped with an “S,” short for San Francisco. [4]
    • Where are the mint stamps on Kennedy half dollars? Look below the right claw on the eagle for older coins. For newer coins, look below the neck on the front of the coin.
      • P stands for Philadelphia.
      • D stands for Denver.
      • S stands for “San Francisco.”
      • No mint mark means the coin was minted in Philadelphia.
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Section 3 of 6:

Valuable 50 Cent Pieces

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  1. 1
    1964 initial Kennedy half dollar (special strike) The first round of Kennedy half dollars were minted in 1964 after the president’s assassination. The initial print run depicted JFK with very defined hair, but Jacqueline Kennedy (the president’s widow) didn’t like the way the hair looked and asked for a new design. As a result, these coins fetch a special premium. https://bullionsharks.com/blog/5-most-valuable-kennedy-half-dollars/
    • How much are they worth? These are especially rare, so they can fetch up to $156,000 if they’re in good condition.
  2. 2
    1968 Kennedy half dollar proof In 1968, the US Mint began striking a new Kennedy half dollar design. These 1968 proofs have an S on them to indicate their origin (San Francisco) and they’re especially shiny and reflective. Deep cameos (coins with strong, even frosting on the edges) of these coins are relatively rare and fetch a high price. [5]
    • How much are they worth? Up to $21,600 depending on the condition of the coin.
  3. 3
    1964 Kennedy half dollar proof After the initial 1964 special strike, the 1964 proofs were the first round of the coins to be minted. The deep cameos of the ‘64 proofs are really the prize.
    • How much are they worth? High end cameos can run up to $10,000.
  4. 4
    1964 Kennedy “accented hair” circulation Once the proofs were initially printed, the normal 1964 coins were put into open circulation. These coins are known as the “accent hair” version because they have an odd and distinct hair pattern—there’s an extra tuft of hair above Kennedy’s ear that looks kind of out of place. The “I” in “LIBERTY” is also missing a serif on these coins. [6]
    • How much are they worth? Regular coins are worth up to $3,000, while the cameos can fetch up to $20,000.
  5. 5
    1976 Kennedy half dollar printed in Denver There’s a kind of complicated story here, but these bicentennial coins were made to honor America’s 200th birthday, which is why 1776-1976 is printed on them. Millions of these coins were printed to accommodate demand at the Denver mint, but the supply has dwindled over the years and now they’re considered relatively rare if they’re in mint condition. [7]
    • How much are they worth? If they’re worn to bits, they’re only worth face value. However, certified mint coins from 1976 regularly fetch over $5,000, with one coin collecting $10,000 at an auction.
  6. 6
    1971 Kennedy half dollar printed in Denver 1971 is super important in the history of the Kennedy half dollar and collectors who are especially interested in numismatics (the study of the history of money). That’s because 1971 is the year the Mint changed the composition of the coin, going from 89% silver to 40% silver. Less than 500 mint-condition coins from this run exist, making them especially valuable.
    • How much are they worth? Up to $13,000.
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Section 4 of 6:

Other Common Half Dollars & Their Value

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  1. 1
    Benjamin Franklin half dollars Franklin half dollars were circulated from 1948-1963 (Kennedy took over the design in 1964). It depicts a contemplative Franklin on one side with the Liberty Bell on the other. It’s a beautiful coin, but unfortunately it isn’t especially rare or sought after. [8]
    • Are they worth anything? Like Kennedy half dollars, most Franklin half dollars are worth $0.50-3. However, the 1953-S and 1955 mints are sought after, and can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on the condition.
    • What’s the most expensive Franklin half dollar? That prize goes to the 1963 FBL (full bell line) strike, which sells for as much as $89,000.
  2. 2
    Barber half dollars Before Benjamin Franklin, the Barber half dollars were in circulation. Named after their designer (Charles E. Barber), the Barber half dollars depict “Liberty” wearing a Phrygian cap and a laurel wreath on their head. These coins were circulated from 1892-1915. [9]
    • Are they worth anything? Barber half dollars consistently fetch $20-300. Extremely high quality copies and uncirculated coins can cost $500-$2,000.
    • What’s the most expensive Barber half dollar? The 1892-O “Micro O” regular strike Barber half dollar can cost up to $100,000.
  3. 3
    Walking Liberty half dollars Filling in the gap between the Barber and Franklin half dollar, the Walking Liberty half dollar coins were in circulation from 1916-1947. They show “Liberty” in stride carrying a giant pine branch (weird, right? It was supposed to represent America). Unlike Barber half dollars, these coins fluctuate wildly in value depending on the year and condition of the coin. [10]
    • Are they worth anything? These coins usually fetch $10-20 for circulated coins, although higher-quality specimens may cost anywhere from $200-10,000 depending on the year and version.
    • What’s the most expensive Walking Liberty half dollar? The 1921-S Walking Liberty will cost up to $105,000.
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Section 5 of 6:

What is the rarest 50 cent coin?

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  1. 1
    The 1873-S with no arrows is considered the rarest coin. The 1873 silver half dollar is so rare that it’s believed zero of them exist today. Only 5,000 of them were printed back in the 17th century, and collectors assume they’ve all been lost to history. [11]
    • How much are they worth? The “arrow” version of the coin regularly fetches $1,000-10,000, so it’s safe to say the no-arrow version would fetch exponentially more. It’s theorized they’d be worth at least $1,000,000!
  2. 2
    If you only count coins confirmed to exist, the 1796-97 halves are the rarest. The 1796 and 1797 “halves” are especially rare. Only a total of 800 were printed over the course of the few years, at which point the US Mint discontinued the coin and changed the design. Due to the metal composition of these coins, most of them have developed an absolutely beautiful patina that collectors love.
    • How much are they worth? Depending on the condition of the coin, these sell for $200,000-500,000. One especially high-quality coin sold for $1,527,500. [12]
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Section 6 of 6:

The Bottom Line

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  1. Most Kennedy half dollars aren’t valuable, but that may change. If you’ve ruled out the possibility that you’re sitting on a gold mine of rare Kennedy coins, don’t worry. The thing about rare coins is that they tend to appreciate in value the longer they’ve been out of circulation, so consider holding on to your Kennedy half dollars and waiting to see what happens to the price!
    • If you do have a rare Kennedy coin or want to sell your coins regardless of the value, visit a rare coin shop or list the coin privately to sell it .

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      • Starting in 2002, the US Mint started to produce Kennedy half dollars for collectors. They continue to offer these coins today. [13] Ironically, most rare coin enthusiasts do not seek these coins out because they’re artificially priced and uncirculated, but t hey’re available if you’re interested.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.pcgs.com/news/decline-of-the-kennedy-half-dollar-in-circulation
      2. ↑ https://www.coincollecting.com/kennedy-half-dollars-key-dates-and-values
      3. ↑ https://scpm.com/article/Circulated-Coins-vs-Uncirculated-Coins-What’s-the-Real-Difference
      4. ↑ https://kennedyhalfdollars.net/composition-and-specifications/
      5. ↑ https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1968-s-50c/6804
      6. ↑ https://www.pcgs.com/news/telling-a-1964-accented-hair-proof-kennedy-half-dollar-apart
      7. ↑ https://coinweek.com/1976-d-bicentennial-kennedy-half-dollar-a-collectors-guide/
      8. ↑ https://www.coinvaluechecker.com/rare-franklin-half-dollars-worth-money/
      9. ↑ https://www.jmbullion.com/coin-info/half-dollars/barber-half-dollars/
      1. ↑ https://www.jmbullion.com/coin-info/half-dollars/walking-liberty-half-dollars/
      2. ↑ https://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/2668/half-dollars/seated-liberty/1873-S/no-arrows/
      3. ↑ https://www.coincollecting.com/10-most-valuable-half-dollars
      4. ↑ https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coins-and-medals/circulating-coins/half-dollar

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