Kennedy Half Dollar (40% Silver)
Country of Origin: United States of America
Year of Issue: 1969
Denomination: 50 Cents (Half Dollar)
Composition: 40% Silver, 60% Copper (Silver-clad copper)
Brief Description
A prominent silver-colored coin featuring the profile of President John F. Kennedy on the obverse and the Presidential Seal on the reverse.
Historical Significance
The Kennedy half dollar was created as a memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy. The 1969 issue belongs to the 1965-1970 period when the silver content was reduced from 90% to 40% due to rising silver prices.
Estimated Value
$4.00 - $8.00 (mostly based on silver melt value in circulated condition; higher for MS grades)
Care Instructions
Handle by the edges only to avoid fingerprint oils. Do not clean or polish, as this destroys numismatic value. Store in a PVC-free flip or capsule.
Mint Mark
D (Denver Mint)
Mintage & Rarity
129,881,800; Common
Weight & Diameter
11.5 grams; 30.6 mm
Edge
Reeded
Apparent Grade
Very Fine to Extremely Fine (VF-XF); shows moderate circulatory wear and some toning/discoloration.
Obverse (Front)
Left-facing portrait of John F. Kennedy with 'LIBERTY' above, 'IN GOD WE TRUST' across the neck, and the date 1969 at the bottom. Designer: Gilroy Roberts.
Reverse (Back)
The Presidential Seal, featuring a heraldic eagle with a shield, holding an olive branch and arrows. 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and 'HALF DOLLAR' surround the design. Designer: Frank Gasparro.
What Drives This Coin's Value
Current market price of silver, mint mark (D), and surface preservation/luster.
Similar Coins
1964 90% silver Kennedy halves (distinguished by date and brighter white edge) and post-1971 copper-nickel clad halves (distinguished by the visible copper streak on the edge).
Authenticity & Counterfeit Red Flags
Weight should be approximately 11.5g. Check for a faint silver tint on the reeded edge compared to the distinct copper/orange stripe of later base-metal issues.
Notable Varieties & Errors
1969-D No FG variety (missing designer initials on reverse), though rare.
Created At: 2026-05-11T13:31:06.790197