Kennedy Half Dollar
1964 silver
1965 to present clad

When JFK was assassinated in 1963 there was a lot of demand for putting his face on a coin. The reverse of the coin features a shield eagle surrounded by stars. Although the first year issue was made of the same 90% silver and 10% copper as previous half dollars, the composition was changed just a year later to be the clad standard of a core of 21% silver and 79% copper, covered by a coating of 80% silver and 20% copper, giving a total silver content of .15 ounces. In 1971 the silver was removed altogether and was replaced by nickel in the clad covering. In 1976 a figure of Independence Hall was put on the reverse for the Bicentennial. During that year, a number of silver clad coins were minted.

The mint mark can be something of a challenge on this coin. Originally, it was on the reverse, above the L and the F in HALF. In 1968 it was moved to the obverse, between the portrait and the date.

Starting in 1992, silver proofs of this coin were minted for collectors. In 1998, a matte finish example was made and is worth about $125 today.

The coin at left is a 1964 example of the new Kennedy half. This coin (at left) is one of the silver coins that were only made in that year of 1964, after which the composition was changed (see the note at left). This example is a proof coin, one of a very few proofs of the Kennedy half that I have in my collection. I do, however, have a number of the 1964 silver Kennedy halves in uncirculated condition, in a special album labelled accordingly.

 
My example above is uncirculated and is worth about $1. I also have a 1966 clad coin worth about $4. And I also have a complete album of all issues.   This is the reverse of the coin at left.