By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
With the nation in mourning, Congress passed legislation mandating that the United States Mint change the design of the half dollar to honor the slain President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Production of the coin took place at the Mint’s Philadelphia and Denver facilities. Production began on January 30, 1964. The Denver Mint held an official “ceremonial striking” on February 11. The coin was first issued on March 24. In total, 156,205,446 1964-D Kennedy Half Dollars were struck at Denver Mint facility. The 1964 and 1964-D were the only circulation-quality 90% silver Kennedy Half Dollars issued by the U.S. Mint. In 1965, the coin’s composition was changed to 40% silver-clad.
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1964-D Kennedy Half Dollar Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens
The Crystal Coin Shop of Wakefield, Massachusetts, ran a promotion in the October 1976 issue of The Numismatist suggesting that recent trade publications indicated a possible end to the Eisenhower dollar and Kennedy half dollar series, and that collectors should stock up on these “two underpriced series at competitive prices.”
In that ad, they offered the 1964-D Kennedy half dollar in Brilliant Uncirculated for $2.75 each or $23.50 for 10 coins.
In April 2020, NGC Certified an original Federal Reserve Bank bag of 1964-D Kennedy half dollars. The bag was dated March 19, 1964- five days before the coin’s official release date.
The bag was opened and graded by NGC. The coins were then sold by Rare Collectibles TV.
The PCGS population of MS67 coins has increased in line with collector interest in the series. In 2006, a 1964-D Kennedy half dollar at this grade (then the top pop) would have brought between $2,600 and $3,000 at auction. Today, a typical MS67-certified example sells for about $450. Higher prices are reserved for examples graded MS67+. One PCGS MS68 and one NGC MS68 coin have so far been certified.
When buying certified examples at the higher grades, we recommend that you avoid darkly toned coins.
Top Population: PCGS MS68 (1, 8/2025), NGC MS68 (2, 8/2025), and CACG MS67 (1, 8/2025).
- PCGS MS68 #21637941: Legend Rare Coin Auctions, February 18, 2016, Lot 278 – $22,325. Richard Green Coll. on label. Peacock toning on obverse and reverse.
- PCGS MS67+ #49820069: Heritage Auctions, September 15, 2024, Lot 7100 – $2,520.
- PCGS MS67+ #44655089: GreatCollections, May 29, 2022, Lot 1163639 – $3,487.50. Rose and rust colored toning.
- PCGS MS67+ #38164391: GreatCollections, June 21, 2020, Lot 841079 – $2,321.02. Large fingerprint on the right side. Toned obverse.
- NGC MS67+ #5743585-013: Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2020, Lot 3946 – $3,840. Dark rainbow toning on obverse.
- PCGS MS67+ #38580895: GreatCollections, March 1, 2020, Lot 773148 – $2,757.38. Pale green and rose toning on both sides.
- PCGS MS67+ QA #84738910: Heritage Auctions, September 5, 2019, Lot 3547 – $2,640. Dark red and green toning on the obverse.
- PCGS MS67+ QA #36777958: “The Sunset Collection”, GreatCollections, May 5, 2019, Lot 690743 – $4,331.25. Obverse rainbow toning.
- PCGS MS67+ #36176320: Legend Rare Coin Auctions, November 15, 2018, Lot 206 – $2,820. Orange and green toning along most of the obverse and reverse.
- PCGS MS67+ QA #25792413: Heritage Auctions, July 7, 2016, Lot 3672 – $5,405. Scattered obverse and reverse peripheral toning with sole magenta and peacock color on the obverse. At the time of the sale, this was a top pop, pop one coin.
1964-D Doubled Die Obverse (FS-101)
- PCGS MS66+ #81638415: Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2017, Lot 9985 – $763.75. 30th Anniversary holder.
- PCGS MS66+ #81638430: Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2017, Lot 9986 – $769.63. 30th Anniversary holder. Brilliant with small red spot at rim between L and I.
1964-D Tripled Die Obverse (FS-103)
- PCGS MS67 #82250180: Heritage Auctions, April 27, 2017, Lot 3963 – $1,645. Pop 2 with none finer at the time of the sale.
- PCGS MS66 #42190922: Heritage Auctions, August 8, 2022, Lot 45121 – $4,440. Population of three at the time of the sale.
1964-D Quadruped Die Obverse (FS-105)
- PCGS MS66 #33933943: Heritage Auctions, February 5, 2017, Lot 21189 – $881.25. Brilliant. Population of five with none finer at the time of the sale.
- PCGS MS66 #33933947: Heritage Auctions, October 18, 2016, Lot 25770 – $822.50. Brilliant. Population of four with none finer at the time of the sale.
1964-D Doubled Die Obverse (FS-108)
- NGC MS67+ #8210922-002: Heritage Auctions, November 20, 2024, Lot 3245 – $960. Brilliant.
1964-D Repunched Mintmark (FS-501)
- PCGS MS66 #82114120: Heritage Auctions, September 7, 2018, Lot 3751 – $780.
- PCGS MS66 #81281342: Heritage Auctions, October 4, 2016, Lot 3918 – $881.25. 30th Anniversary holder. Brilliant.
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1964-D Kennedy Half Dollar Coin Specifications
| Country: | United States of America |
| Year of Issue: | 1964 |
| Denomination: | Half Dollar (50 Cents USD) |
| Mintmark: | D (Denver) |
| Mintage: | 156,205,446 |
| Alloy: | .900 silver, .100 copper |
| Weight: | 12.50 g |
| Diameter: | 31.00 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer: | Gilroy Roberts |
| REV Designer: | Frank Gasparro |
| Quality: | Business Strike |
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Discover more about the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar, by reading our collector profile of the Philadelphia Mint version.
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The kennedy half dollar has always been one of my favorites
one of my favorites.
they are beautiful coins, and hard to believe that they’ve been around for more than 60 years.
My dad had several of these that he left me, and I cherish them!
I like the large coins . My dad saved a lot of these Kennedy halfs ..
Very interesting. I had no idea these existed.
The only circulated 90% Kennedy Half Dollar. One year that’s crazy to think of
Initially these were so undervalued that a sheet could be bid and won at barely above face value
Makes me want to check my drawers for old coins I may have stashed away.
What makes the 1964 Kennedy special to me is that 1964 was the year that Iwas born, plus it’s the “birth” of the Kennedy series, and signifies the last year for circulating US coins to be 90% silver. I’m also a fan of President John F. Kennedy.
I remember these from my youth. I think I have them from my birth year,
Very informative article, let’s me know I need to defently need to get my coins graded
Great article. I’m checking my collection now.
I have many Kennedy half dollars. I would love to research them one day.
Interesting article, I had no idea some of these were worth so much! I love these half dollars!
This is the last year of this design. Will the 2025’s be highly sought after?
A great half dollar series.
Always loved the 1964 coins, especially the Kennedy Half Dollar. 1964 was my birth year and the last year they did 90% silver coins as standard issue, so it was the end of an era.
This coin is great also it has a great historical past to it
I love the Kennedy half dollars
Love all the half dollars. A few years ago, I bought some rolls at the bank and ended up with someone’s collection dump, which included an entire roll of 1964 and 1964 D Kennedy halves.
I remember as a kid back in the 70’s, my Grandpa was a coin collector. I wonder how many 1964 Kennedy Half Dollars he had…
Any U.S. silver coin is worth collecting!
Excellent article. Very informative.
Love JFK.
The silver ones always had the best eye appeal..
I remember him so well and loved his coin.
Like that toning
Thanks for the article!
Great article!
Worked many years in retail; cannot recall any passing through my hands as spending money.
I am glad the Kennedy half dollar continues to stick around year after year
Wish I saved all the early Kennedy halves I had as a kid!
Wish I had saved the early Kennedy halves I had as a kid.
Beautiful coins!
My favorite
These Kennedy half-dollars were the first coins my PAPA started collecting for me. I love them!
I’ve saved a couple halves over the years. Shame I can’t find more.
Article was very helpful, very good details. Thanks for the well written summary of the Kennedy Half dollar.
One of my favorites and also I have three 64 D’s One of them is in decent shape but my head is stumped on one of my bicentennial Kennedy halves, it looks like a repunch mint mark D but then on the front and the back it looks like a proof coin and I can’t find where they had any proof coins with the D Mart any thoughts I would appreciate a response they are one of my favorites so
I’m curious as to how NGC came upon that bag of half dollars.
Definitely one of my favorite coins.
Good article
❤️
Great article, good info
Love the Kennedy half dollars. Good article!