Kennedy Half Dollar

United States of America · 1974

A silver-colored United States half dollar featuring the profile of John F. Kennedy on the obverse and the Presidential Seal on the reverse.

Country: United States of America
Year: 1974
Denomination: 50 Cents (Half Dollar)

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Overview

A silver-colored United States half dollar featuring the profile of John F. Kennedy on the obverse and the Presidential Seal on the reverse.

Historical significance

The Kennedy Half Dollar was first minted in 1964 as a memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy. By 1974, the composition had moved from silver to clad to save precious metals for the Treasury.

Obverse (front)

A left-facing portrait of John F. Kennedy. Legends: LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date 1974. Designed by Gilroy Roberts.

Reverse (back)

The Presidential Seal, featuring an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, surrounded by 50 stars. Legends: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HALF DOLLAR. Designed by Frank Gasparro.

Estimated value

$0.50-$1.00 in circulated condition, $2.00-$20.00 in high Mint State (MS-65+)

What drives this coin's value

Most 1974 halves are worth face value unless they are in exceptional Mint State condition or feature a recognized strike error.

Grade assessment

Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated (XF-AU). Shows light wear on high points like Kennedy's hair and the eagle's breast feathers, and some surface bag marks.

Mintage & rarity

201,596,000 (Very common)

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Authentic clad coins have a distinct copper layer visible on the edge. High mintage makes counterfeiting this specific year rare for circulation, but watch for 'plated' coins sold as silver.

Notable varieties & errors

Double Die Obverse (DDO) varieties exist for 1974, most notably on the letters of 'TRUST' and 'LIBERTY'.

Similar coins

1964 (90% silver) and 1965-1970 (40% silver) versions. Check the edge; if it shows a solid copper stripe, it is a post-1970 clad coin.

Care & preservation

Handle by the edges only to avoid skin oils damaging the surface. Store in a PVC-free coin flip or holder. Do not clean or polish the coin, as this significantly reduces numismatic value.