US · Fifty Cents · 1964–present
Kennedy Half Dollar (1964–present)
Rushed into production within months of the Kennedy assassination, replacing the Franklin half. The 1964 issues were 90% silver; 1965–1970 dropped to 40% silver clad; 1971 onward is copper-nickel clad. Heavy hoarding kept the series largely out of circulation. The 1976 Bicentennial reverse (Independence Hall) was struck dual-dated 1776–1976.
i.
Reference photos
Obverse
Photo: Eric Golub from Gulfport, Florida / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kennedy_1964-D_half_dollar_(2611684807).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: Len Augsburger / Wikimedia Commons (cc0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kennedyhalfdollar1964-1.jpg (cc0) 
Photo: Len Augsburger / Wikimedia Commons (cc0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kennedyhalfdollar1964-2.jpg (cc0) 
Photo: Michel Curi / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suspension_(14684287728).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: Michel Curi / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Signs_of_the_Tyme_(14870552542).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: frankieleon / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tired_Kennedy_(3289074926).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: Amfeli / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moneda_de_medio_d%C3%B3lar_USA_1964.jpg (cc-by-4.0) 
Photo: Chi Ho Chan from Hong Kong / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_Kennedy_half_dollar_coin_1976_(52029556640).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monnaie_-_Etats-Unis,_1-2_dollar,_1964_-_btv1b11336627z_(2_of_2).jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Eric Golub from Gulfport, Florida / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kennedy_%2764_obverse_(2643571335).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: James St. John / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_F._Kennedy_half-dollar_silver_coin_(1964)_(obverse)_(54340394390).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: Eric Golub from Gulfport, Florida / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kennedy_half_dollar_(2959818803).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: Don Norris, http://worldcoingallery.com/ / Wikimedia Commons (attribution) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USA-50cent1971.jpg (attribution) 
Photo: Originally uploaded by Bobby131313 (Transferred by RepliCarter) / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kennedy-Half-Dollar-Accented-Hair.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: wehwalt / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-3.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kennedy_half_line.jpg (cc-by-sa-3.0) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Half_Dollar_Obverse_2015.png (public-domain) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bicentennial_50c.png (public-domain) 
Photo: Excel23 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1968KHDUCB.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: slgckgc / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1964_Kennedy_Half_Dollar_(54187367859).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:50_%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%96%D0%B2_1964_2.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Professional Coin Grading Service / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2014-P_50th_anniversary_Kennedy_half_dollar_high_relief.jpg (public-domain)
Reverse
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_50_Cent_Rev.png (public-domain) 
Photo: RubySS (talk) / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kennedy200coinback.png (public-domain) 
Photo: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tails_Coin.png (public-domain)
ii.
Specifications
| Designer | Gilroy Roberts (obverse); Frank Gasparro (reverse) |
|---|---|
| Composition | 90% silver (1964); 40% silver clad (1965–1970); 75% copper / 25% nickel clad (1971–present, plus silver-clad collector issues) |
| Weight | 12.5 g |
| Diameter | 30.61 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Series | Kennedy Half Dollar |
| Years issued | 1964–present |
iii.
Key dates & varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | D | — | 2.1M | semi-key |
| 1998 | S | Matte Finish (RFK collector set) | 62K | key |
iv.
All varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | D | — | 2.1M | semi-key |
| 1976 | P | Bicentennial — Independence Hall reverse | — | common |
| 1998 | S | Matte Finish (RFK collector set) | 62K | key |