It has been 50 years since the U.S. Mint released the silver half-dollar featuring President John F. Kennedy. While these coins are not rare, their value in silver means few if any are being circulated today.
When Luke Drewel of Valley Coin Jewelry and Pawn in Spring Valley began collecting coins as a child, the 1964 Kennedy half-dollar was one of his first pieces. “It’s common but most collectors have one in their collection. People like it because it’s 90 percent silver,” said the 20-year old, staff numismatist (coin expert) at Valley Coin Jewelry and Pawn. The silver content of the coin is worth about $7 in today’s market.
Half-dollar Back Story
From 1794 to 1947 the half-dollar, like many coins, were made of silver and decorated with symbols of liberty. In 1948, Benjamin Franklin’s likeness was placed on the front of the half-dollar. He was never president but was a well-known shaper of the nation and therefore, coin-worthy. The back of the Franklin half showed the Liberty Bell. The back was replaced by the eagle from the presidential seal with the Kennedy half, except during 1975 and 1976, the nation’s 200th birthday. At that time, the coin showed an image of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
When the coins were released March 26, 1964, people flocked to banks to get them. Citizens could buy them or get them as change, said Chris Drewel, owner of Valley Coin-Jewelry-Pawn in Spring Valley.
“You could get one in change because it was general circulation,” Drewel said.
The 50-cent pieces were 90 percent silver. Today, each one would be worth $7.25 in silver, based on current prices, Drewel said. As a collectible it is worth $10 to $12, depending on the condition, he said.
From 1965-70, the Kennedy coins were 40 percent silver, Drewel said. The Kennedy half issued in 1969 was the last general circulation U.S. coin that contained silver, he said.
“You could get one in change because it was general circulation,” Drewel said.
The 50-cent pieces were 90 percent silver. Today, each one would be worth $7.25 in silver, based on current prices, Drewel said. As a collectible it is worth $10 to $12, depending on the condition, he said.
From 1965-70, the Kennedy coins were 40 percent silver, Drewel said. The Kennedy half issued in 1969 was the last general circulation U.S. coin that contained silver, he said.
In 1970 you could only get the silver Kennedy half in a special proof set from the U.S. mint, Drewel said. From 1971 on, Kennedy halves issued for general circulation were copper and nickel and like the rest of U.S coins, contain no silver.
The 1964 Kennedy coins are 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper and each weighs 12.5 grams (0.44 ounces). In 1964 and earlier all dimes, quarters and half-dollars were 90 percent silver, Drewel said. Nickels, however, were not, he said.
“Right before the Kennedy (half-dollar) was the Franklin (half-dollar),” Drewel said. The Franklin was issued 1948 to 1963, he said.
Kennedy half dollars are still released and circulated today.
“From 1971 to present there’s no silver in them,” Drewel said.
Special proof sets are occasionally issued that contain Kennedy half dollars. The U.S. mint lists a 2014 proof set, which contains 14 silver U.S. coins including one Kennedy half-dollar, for $48.55. The mint also lists for sale a bag of 200 Kennedy 2013 half-dollars, circulating quality, for $139.95.
“They’re looking at putting out a gold Kennedy half-dollar in the future that is 0.9999 percent, the finest 24-karat gold,” Drewel said.
Jake Frazier of Oglesby has collected coins since he was 7 years old. He was not alive when the Kennedy coin was first issued. Just four months prior, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
“After he died, we decided to give him the half-dollar,” Frazier said. From 1965 to 1969, the only silver U.S. coin issued was the JFK coin, in 40 percent silver, “in order to pay homage to him,” Frazier said.
Although silver half dollars were issued for circulation, you’re unlikely to see one, he said.
“You don’t see them in change anymore,” Frazier said. “You would like to but it’s probably unlikely.”
The attraction to the original 1964 coins is the silver content.
“When silver hit 50 dollars an ounce, even though silver isn’t the price it used to be, everyone got an eye for it,” Frazier said. “People that don’t normally follow it, started to follow it.”
Frazier explained the 2013 release of the new $100 Ben Franklin 2009 bills with the holographic stripe. When the bills were released to banks in larger cities, owners could sell them for $150. Once they were circulated, their value dropped to face value, $100.
A similar demand happened when the Kennedy half dollar was released in 1964, he said.
“I’d like to think with any first release of any coin, people like to go get them, collectors out there that just want to have that mint,” Frazier said.
The coin had two attractions: first mint release and Kennedy’s image.
“Something that has two different things that make it valuable, it’s going to be more collectible,” Frazier said. “When Kennedy died he was a loved president. When Kennedy died people started collecting Kennedy artifacts.”
The 1964 Kennedy coins are 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper and each weighs 12.5 grams (0.44 ounces). In 1964 and earlier all dimes, quarters and half-dollars were 90 percent silver, Drewel said. Nickels, however, were not, he said.
“Right before the Kennedy (half-dollar) was the Franklin (half-dollar),” Drewel said. The Franklin was issued 1948 to 1963, he said.
Kennedy half dollars are still released and circulated today.
“From 1971 to present there’s no silver in them,” Drewel said.
Special proof sets are occasionally issued that contain Kennedy half dollars. The U.S. mint lists a 2014 proof set, which contains 14 silver U.S. coins including one Kennedy half-dollar, for $48.55. The mint also lists for sale a bag of 200 Kennedy 2013 half-dollars, circulating quality, for $139.95.
“They’re looking at putting out a gold Kennedy half-dollar in the future that is 0.9999 percent, the finest 24-karat gold,” Drewel said.
Jake Frazier of Oglesby has collected coins since he was 7 years old. He was not alive when the Kennedy coin was first issued. Just four months prior, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
“After he died, we decided to give him the half-dollar,” Frazier said. From 1965 to 1969, the only silver U.S. coin issued was the JFK coin, in 40 percent silver, “in order to pay homage to him,” Frazier said.
Although silver half dollars were issued for circulation, you’re unlikely to see one, he said.
“You don’t see them in change anymore,” Frazier said. “You would like to but it’s probably unlikely.”
The attraction to the original 1964 coins is the silver content.
“When silver hit 50 dollars an ounce, even though silver isn’t the price it used to be, everyone got an eye for it,” Frazier said. “People that don’t normally follow it, started to follow it.”
Frazier explained the 2013 release of the new $100 Ben Franklin 2009 bills with the holographic stripe. When the bills were released to banks in larger cities, owners could sell them for $150. Once they were circulated, their value dropped to face value, $100.
A similar demand happened when the Kennedy half dollar was released in 1964, he said.
“I’d like to think with any first release of any coin, people like to go get them, collectors out there that just want to have that mint,” Frazier said.
The coin had two attractions: first mint release and Kennedy’s image.
“Something that has two different things that make it valuable, it’s going to be more collectible,” Frazier said. “When Kennedy died he was a loved president. When Kennedy died people started collecting Kennedy artifacts.”
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