1965 Kennedy Half Dollar

Historical Notes

First year of the 40% silver composition Kennedy Half Dollars (1965-1970).

The Kennedy Half Dollar began production in 1964 to honor President John F. Kennedy after his assassination in November 1963. Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts designed the obverse portrait, while Frank Gasparro designed the reverse featuring the Presidential Seal. The Mint rushed production to release the coins by March 1964. They replaced the Franklin Half Dollar series after only 16 years of production. The silver content dropped from 90% in 1964 to 40% from 1965 through 1970. The Mint removed silver entirely starting in 1971. The reverse design changed temporarily in 1975 and 1976 to feature Independence Hall for the Bicentennial. The series remains in production today, though the Mint stopped issuing these coins for general circulation in 2002.

Start your collection with the copper-nickel coins from 1971 to the present, as you can often find these in circulation for face value. Look for the 1964 90% silver coins and the 1965-1970 40% silver issues to build value. High-grade specimens from the 1970s often show bag marks or abrasions on the cheek of the portrait, so use a magnifying glass to check for surface wear. Avoid buying cleaned coins, as they lose significant numismatic value. You rarely find counterfeits of common dates, but always weigh silver issues on a digital scale if you suspect a fake.