All circulation-strike Kennedy half dollars since 1971 have been struck of copper-nickel composition.Īll other circulating U.S. This precious metal content was decreased to. Production dropped dramatically, to about 65.8 million, in 1965.Īnother situation, however, brought even more interest to the 1964 issue. The 1964 Kennedy half dollar was eagerly sought by souvenir hunters, collectors and those nostalgic of the 'Kennedy era.' The coins were hoarded by speculators despite a mintage exceeding 273 million from the Philadelphia Mint and an additional 156 million from the Denver Mint, compared to just more than 89 million half dollar coins from both Mints combined a year earlier when Franklin's portrait was used.ĭemand and an effort to place coins into circulation were primary reasons for the more than 429 million 19-D Kennedy half dollars. The reverse is an interpretation of the Great Seal of the President by Sculptor-Engraver Frank Gasparro. Mint Chief Sculptor-Engraver Gilroy Roberts. The half dollar obverse design is the work of U.S. The prototype for the obverse and reverse of the Kennedy half dollar was the inaugural medal.

Emotions ran high and Kennedy's effigy quickly replaced that of Franklin's on the obverse of the half dollar beginning in 1964 by an act of Congress.

By law, the designs of circulating coins are not supposed to change in less than 25 years without congressional approval. president, but also the 15-year-old series of Franklin half dollars introduced in 1948. Kennedy, is still remembered on the annually produced half dollar struck in his honor.Īs far as collectors are concerned, the shot cut short not only the life of a U.S.

The shot heard around the world in 1963, a bullet from an assassin's weapon that ended the life of U.S. Kennedy half instantly popular with collectors

1972 kennedy half dollar silver value