How to Identify the Kennedy Half Dollar 50th Anniversary High Relief

Begin with the relief of the portrait. The defining feature of this issue is how far Kennedy's bust rises from the field. Hold the coin at an angle under a light: the anniversary high-relief portrait casts a deeper shadow and shows crisper detail in the hair and jaw than the shallow, flattened bust on an ordinary circulation Kennedy half. LIBERTY should arc across the top and IN GOD WE TRUST sit in the lower obverse field.

Confirm the metal next. This is a 90% silver coin, so it should show a bright, uniformly silvery surface and a solid silver-colored reeded edge. Tip the coin and inspect the edge: a copper-colored stripe means you have a common clad half dollar, not the silver anniversary issue. The coin should feel like a standard half dollar in size, about 30.6 mm across and roughly 12.5 g.

Check the mint mark and date. This example carries a P for Philadelphia near the base of the bust, with the 2014 date; the anniversary coins were issued with the dual date 1964-2014. The same anniversary program produced coins from other mints in different finishes, so the mint mark helps pin down exactly which coin you have.

Turn to the reverse to confirm the type. You should see the Presidential Coat of Arms eagle with a shield, olive branch, and arrows, ringed by stars, rendered in enhanced relief to match the obverse. This heraldic eagle, not a plain design, marks it as a Kennedy half reverse.

Finally, be cautious about condition and packaging. Because these were sold as collector coins, value depends heavily on finish and preservation. Do not clean the coin, as this harms its surface and appeal. If the piece is loose, worn, or its silver content is in doubt, or if you cannot confirm the edge and relief, have it reviewed by a reputable dealer or a third-party grading service (such as PCGS or NGC) before assuming it is the genuine silver anniversary issue.