Collecting Kennedy half dollars can be an interesting hobby. Some of these Kennedy half-dollar coins can be worth a lot of money. Some half dollars that have not been circulated, meaning coins that have never been used, might have a high value.
Kennedy fifty-cent coins are generally easy to find and not too expensive. However, certain coins can be worth a lot, especially if they are from specific years or are still in great condition. This article contains a list that can help you find the top five most valuable Kennedy half-dollars worth a lot of money.
The History of the Kennedy Half-Dollar
The United States Mint started making the Kennedy half dollar in 1964, just a few months after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. This coin replaced the Benjamin Franklin half dollar and was made of 90% silver and 10% copper.
From 1965 to 1970, the Mint changed the materials used because of a copper shortage. They made the coins with 79% copper core and an outer layer combination of 80% silver and 20% copper. This combination is part of what makes the 1971 Kennedy half-dollar rare.
After 1971, all half dollars were made with a mix of 75% copper and 25% on the outside, with a pure core inside. This design has stayed the same since 1964. The Kennedy half dollars were made in San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia. In 1964 alone, about 156 million Kennedy half dollars were produced.
In 1992, the Mint made a special collector’s version of the Kennedy half dollar with 90% silver. By 1998, they released more collective versions that had 90% silver. One special version of the 1964 coin is the “Accented Hair” variety. This special version has a very detailed look of Kennedy’s hair. His widow, Jacqueline Kennedy Matt, did not like how it looked, so the Mint changed it to make the hair look softer. However, some coins had already been made with the original design.
In 2022, for the first time in over 20 years, the Federal Reserve asked the Mint to make more Kennedy half dollars for regular use. So, today you can easily find modern Kennedy half dollars, but the most valuable ones are the silver coins made between 1964 and 1970.
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Most Valuable Kennedy Half Dollar Coins Worth Money
The following are 5 of the most valuable Kennedy dollar coins are worth money:
1. 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar Special Strike
This coin is the rarest regular coin from that year. It has special features that make it stand out from other coins that were made in 1964. You can recognize this special coin by its smooth, satin-like finish and very sharp details on both the front and back. The edges are also sharp and well-made.
These coins usually do not have any scratches or marks because they were carefully made and protected to stay in perfect condition. Unlike proof coins, which are shiny, the 1964 Kennedy half-dollar special strike has a matte, dull finish. The only marks you might see on the coin are from the polishing tools used during minting.
So far, only about 12 of these unique coins have been officially certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). This makes them the rarest of the 1964 special strike coins. One of these coins was graded as SP68, which means it is in an almost perfect condition. The coin was sold for $156,000 at a Stack’s Bowers auction.
2. 1968 Kennedy Half Dollar Proof
In 1968, the United States Mint started making special versions of the Kennedy half dollar called proof coins. These proof coins were made in San Francisco, and you can tell because they have an “S” mark on them. Before 1968, the Mint only made proof Kennedy half dollars once, in 1964, but those were made in Philadelphia.
The 1968-proof coins are much better quality than the 1964 ones, so many are in excellent condition. They also have two types of finishes, “cameo” and “deep cameo.” Cameos are easy to find, but deep cameos, which have a sharper and shinier finish, are rarer and harder to get. One very deep cameo coin that was graded as perfect was called PF70. It was sold in a 2017 Heritage auction for $21,600.
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3. 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar Proof
The 1964 Kennedy half-dollar proof was the first of its kind. It was made in Philadelphia, but the quality was not the best. Unique versions of the coin with a shiny “cameo” look are scarce and can be expensive. Coins graded lower, like PF68 or below, are easier to find. One perfect coin, graded PF70, was sold for $9,400.
4. 1964 Accented Hair Kennedy Half Dollar
The 1964 Accented Hair Half Dollar is the most famous version of the Kennedy Half Dollar coins. It was first used for proof coins in 1964. This special design has extra hair above President Kennedy’s ear, which looks different from the softer, thinner hair on regular 1964 coins. Another noticeable difference is that the letter “I” in “LIBERTY” on the Accented Hair coin is missing a small line.
This version was only made for one year before the design was changed, making it rare. Less than 5% of the coins from that year have the Accented Hair design. A well-preserved coin can be worth up to $3,100. The rare version in even better condition was sold for nearly $20,000.
5. 1976 (D) Kennedy Half Dollar
In 1976, the Denver Mint made over 200 million Kennedy half dollars, so they are pretty common. You can easily find these coins in your pocket change, and they are usually only worth their face value.
Even though 1976 was the 200th anniversary of the United States, and many people collected these coins thinking they would be worth a lot, there are still plenty around, and they are not valuable unless they are in excellent condition.
Coins in top condition, especially those graded MS67 or higher, are very rare. Only a few exist, and less than 12 are certified. One of these rare coins, certified as GENUINE by the PCGS, was sold for $10,000 in a 2021 online auction.