1964 Kennedy Half Dollar
The first Kennedy half dollar was struck within months of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, and Americans saved it in enormous numbers. The 1964 issue is the only year of the regular Kennedy half struck in 90% silver, which sets it apart from every Kennedy half that followed.
This page covers the coin's origins and design, how to tell it from the later 40% silver halves, how it is graded, the varieties to know, and how 1964 Kennedy halves trade on Changes Hands.
Quick facts
| Years | 1964 (90% silver; later Kennedy halves are not listed) |
|---|---|
| Designers | Gilroy Roberts (obverse), Frank Gasparro (reverse) |
| Denomination | 50 cents |
| Composition | 90% silver, 10% copper (0.3617 troy oz silver) |
| Weight | 12.50 g |
| Diameter | 30.61 mm |
| Mints | Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D); mint mark on the reverse left, below the claw holding the olive branch |
| Edge | Reeded |
History: a memorial in silver
President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Within weeks the decision was made to place his portrait on the half dollar, replacing the Franklin half years before its design would otherwise have changed, and Congress approved the change before the year was out. To meet the deadline, Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts adapted the portrait he had already prepared for Kennedy's presidential medal, and Frank Gasparro adapted the presidential coat of arms for the reverse.
The coins reached the public in early 1964 and disappeared almost at once. People kept them as keepsakes and, as the price of silver rose, held on to them for their metal as well. Despite very large mintages, the half dollar largely vanished from everyday change.
The design
Kennedy's portrait faces left, with LIBERTY above and the date below. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast, an olive branch in one claw and arrows in the other, ringed by fifty stars. Roberts's initials, GR, appear on the obverse at the truncation of the bust, and Gasparro's, FG, on the reverse.
1964 versus 1965–1970: silver content
The Coinage Act of 1965 removed silver from the dime and quarter and cut it in the half dollar. From 1965 through 1970 Kennedy halves were made of a clad composition that is 40% silver overall and weighs 11.50 grams; from 1971 they contain no silver at all. Only the 1964 coins are 90% silver at 12.50 grams. The date is the quickest check, and a scale or the edge confirms it: a 1964 has a solid silver edge, while the 40% coins show a layered edge and the later clad coins a copper stripe.
How to grade a 1964 Kennedy half
Wear shows first on Kennedy's cheekbone and jaw and on the hair above the ear and at the part, and on the reverse at the center of the eagle's breast, the tops of the wings, the tail feathers and the claws. Under the Changes Hands Grading Standard, the bands with their own markets require, on both sides:
- Extremely Fine: wear only on the cheekbone, jaw and hair above the ear; otherwise complete hair detail; eagle's feathers complete except at the breast high points.
- About Uncirculated: trace friction only on those high points, with mint luster on at least half of each side.
Why most worn coins trade as silver
Because the 1964 half was saved in such quantity, circulated coins in Very Fine or lower carry little or no premium over their silver content. Changes Hands therefore routes them to a circulated bulk class instead of grading them into separate bands. Coins that look fully uncirculated are offered certification first, since a PCGS or NGC grade can matter more than a house band at that level.
Proofs, Special Mint Sets and varieties
Philadelphia struck 1964 proofs for collectors, and some early proofs show the Accented Hair variety, with sharper, deeper hair lines above the ear. It exists only on proofs, so a circulated coin cannot be one; a worn coin with mirror fields is an impaired proof. A handful of 1964 Special Mint Set coins with a satin-like finish are known and are major rarities. Doubled-die and repunched-mint-mark varieties of the 1964-D are attributed with reference images and excluded from pools.
Buying and selling 1964 Kennedy halves on Changes Hands
Better-condition coins trade in house-graded pools in Extremely Fine and About Uncirculated, where either a Philadelphia or Denver coin that meets the band can be delivered. Circulated coins trade one per unit in the 1964 circulated bulk class. Every coin is weighed, measured and metal-tested before it is graded.
Buyers pay no fees. Sellers pay 3% plus a one-time grading fee when the coin sells. Read about junk silver for how bulk silver coins are valued.
Key dates
| Date | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 1964 and 1964-D | Both are common. Condition and eye appeal drive premiums in uncirculated grades. |
| 1964 Accented Hair proof | An early proof die variety with heavier hair detail; proof only. |
| 1964 Special Mint Set | Extremely rare satin-finish coins; not found in circulation. |
| 1964-D varieties | Doubled dies and repunched mint marks, attributed by specialists. |
Kennedy Half Dollar (1964) markets
- Kennedy Half 1964, Circulated
- Kennedy Half Dollar (1964), 1964 P and D, Extremely Fine
- Kennedy Half Dollar (1964), 1964 P and D, About Uncirculated
Frequently asked questions
Is a 1964 Kennedy half dollar silver?
Yes. The 1964 Kennedy half is 90% silver and 10% copper and contains about 0.3617 troy ounces of silver. It is the only regular-issue Kennedy half with that composition.
Are 1965 to 1970 Kennedy halves silver?
They contain some silver: they are 40% silver overall and weigh 11.50 grams. From 1971 the circulating half dollar contains no silver. Changes Hands lists only the 1964 coins.
Is a 1964-D Kennedy half worth more than a 1964?
Not as a rule. Both were struck in very large numbers. Condition, eye appeal and certified grade matter far more than the mint, apart from specific attributed varieties. This is general information, not investment advice.
What is a 1964 Accented Hair Kennedy half?
An early 1964 proof variety with deeper, more pronounced hair lines above Kennedy's ear. It was made only as a proof, so circulated business-strike coins cannot be Accented Hair.
Where is the mint mark on a 1964 Kennedy half?
On the reverse, at the left, just below the claw holding the olive branch. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark.