A national memorial through silver, clad, and collector eras

Kennedy Half Dollar

The Kennedy half dollar began as an immediate national memorial in 1964, then moved through 90% silver, 40% silver, copper-nickel clad, Bicentennial, and modern collector formats.

This guide covers the Kennedy design through 2025. The one-year 2026 Enduring Liberty design is separate; the Mint says Kennedy's portrait returns in 2027 with Youth Sports reverses through 2030.

Core specifications

Issue period: 1964 to date
Catalog mints: 4
Reported catalog mintage: 4,437,416,493
Composition: Varies by type
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Weight: Varies by type

A portrait approved in weeks becomes a long-running design

After President John F. Kennedy's assassination, the Mint and Congress moved quickly to place his portrait on the half dollar. Gilroy Roberts adapted the presidential-medal portrait, and Frank Gasparro adapted the presidential seal for the reverse.

The first 1964 coins were 90% silver. Circulation issues changed to 40% silver for 1965–1970 and then to copper-nickel clad, while Bicentennial and later proof, silver, and special products expanded the series beyond ordinary circulation.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

Kennedy faces left, with LIBERTY around the rim, IN GOD WE TRUST divided at the neck, and the date below.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

The regular reverse adapts the presidential seal with a heraldic eagle, stars, and a ring of state emblems; the 1976 Bicentennial reverse shows Independence Hall.

Where the cataloged coins were made

Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.

P — Philadelphia: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026; 2,253,676,395. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.
D — Denver: 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026; 2,054,624,752. Confirm the D mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
S — San Francisco: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026; 128,894,211. Confirm the S mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
W — West Point: 2014; 221,135. W identifies West Point; use the year, product, and finish to separate circulation releases from collector issues.

Representative issues that explain the series

Define composition and product channel first: 1964 silver, 1965–1970 silver clad, later circulation clad, Bicentennial, proofs, silver proofs, and special mint issues.

1964 P — 277,254,766. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
1970 D — 2,150,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
1976 S — 7,059,099. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
2014 W - Silver Reverse Proof — 221,135. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Start with the major type, then study smaller die differences

The current catalog records 44 varieties. A variety name describes repeatable die features; it does not automatically mean error, rarity, or added value.

The issue catalog keeps all 44 modeled varieties attached to their parent issue records.

Issue catalog

From one type coin to a complete catalog

One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
Variety study: Choose one date or diagnostic family and record several matching markers for every attribution.

Catalog status note

The normalized Kennedy catalog still contains four provisional 2026 Semiquincentennial rows with unknown mintages. Official Mint guidance identifies Enduring Liberty as a separate one-year design, so those rows are preserved and disclosed here but are not described as Kennedy-design issues.

Sources

Letter from Director Adams to a Constituent Announcing the Kennedy Half Dollar — United States Mint
Half Dollar Coins — United States Mint
Kennedy Half Dollar category reference — PCGS CoinFacts