Historical Context

The Kennedy Half Dollar was introduced in 1964, shortly after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963. Designed by Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro, the coin was rushed into production as a memorial to the fallen president. The design features Kennedy’s profile on the obverse and the presidential seal on the reverse.

Composition and Silver Content

The 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar is unique as the only year this coin was struck in 90% silver composition, matching other silver coins of the era. Each coin weighs 12.5 grams and contains 0.3617 troy ounces of pure silver. From 1965-1970, the composition changed to 40% silver, and after 1970, to copper-nickel clad.

Collectibility and Investment Value

Due to the national mourning following Kennedy’s death, millions of 1964 Kennedy Half Dollars were hoarded by the public, making them widely available today. While not rare, they remain popular with both collectors and silver investors. The 1964-D (Denver mint) had a massive mintage of over 156 million coins, making it one of the most common silver half dollars for stacking purposes.