Kennedy Half Dollar
Country of Origin: United States of America
Year of Issue: 1984
Denomination: 50 Cents (Half Dollar)
Composition: Copper-Nickel Clad (75% Copper, 25% Nickel outer layer bonded to a pure Copper core)
Brief Description
A proof United States half dollar featuring the profile of John F. Kennedy on the obverse and the Presidential Seal on the reverse, housed in its original purple proof set lens.
Historical Significance
The Kennedy Half Dollar was introduced in 1964 as a memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy. By 1984, these were no longer widely used in general circulation but were produced in high quality for collectors in annual proof sets.
Estimated Value
$3-$7 in PR-65 to PR-67; $20-$50 if it achieves a PR-70 Deep Cameo grade.
Care Instructions
Leave the coin inside the original US Mint plastic proof set lens. Handling proof coins with bare hands or removing them from the holder will likely cause fingerprints, hairlines, and environmental damage, significantly reducing their value.
Mint Mark
S (San Francisco Mint)
Mintage & Rarity
3,065,110 (Common for proof sets; not rare)
Weight & Diameter
11.34 grams / 30.61 mm
Edge
Reeded
Apparent Grade
Proof (PR-65 to PR-69 Deep Cameo). The mirrored fields and frosted devices are characteristic of a modern proof coin in its original packaging.
Obverse (Front)
Left-facing portrait of John F. Kennedy with the word 'LIBERTY' around the top edge, 'IN GOD WE TRUST' across the bottom center, and the year '1984' at the bottom.
Reverse (Back)
The Presidential Seal, featuring an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, surrounded by 50 stars. 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and 'HALF DOLLAR' inscribed around the rim.
What Drives This Coin's Value
Most influenced by the 'Cameo' or 'Deep Cameo' contrast between the frosty portrait and mirror-like fields. Scratches on the plastic holder do not affect the coin's grade, but scratches on the coin itself do.
Similar Coins
The 1984-P and 1984-D business strikes used for circulation which lack the mirror-like proof finish.
Authenticity & Counterfeit Red Flags
Authentic 1984-S halves always have a distinct mirror finish. Use of a magnifying glass to check for the 'S' mint mark. Counterfeiting of common proof copper-nickel halves like this is extremely rare.
Notable Varieties & Errors
No major recognized varieties for the 1984-S half dollar; focus is on the Deep Cameo (DCAM) contrast quality.
Created At: 2026-05-18T17:06:05.264414