1964-D Kennedy Half Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

The United States Mint struck 156,205,446 1964-D Kennedy half dollars at its Denver Mint facility. 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. This was the only circulation-quality 90% silver Kennedy half dollar issued by the United States Mint.

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.

Top Population: PCGS MS-68 (1, 3/2024). NGC MS-68 (2, 3/2024). CACG Details (1, 2/2024).

The PCGS population of MS-67 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 USD at auction. Today, a typical MS-67-certified example sells for about $450. Higher prices are reserved for examples graded MS67+. One PCGS MS-68 and one NGC MS-68 coin have so far been certified.

When buying certified examples at the higher grades, we recommend that you avoid darkly toned coins.

• PCGS MS-68 #21637941: Legend Rare Coin Auctions, February 18, 2016, Lot 278 – $22,325. Richard Green Coll. on label. Peacock toning on obverse and reverse.
• PCGS MS-67+ #44655089: GreatCollections, May 29, 2022, Lot 1163639 – $3,487.50. Rose and rust colored toning.
• PCGS MS-67+ #38164391: GreatCollections, June 21, 2020, Lot 841079 – $2,321.02. Large fingerprint on the right side. Toned obverse.
• NGC MS-67+ #5743585-013: Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2020, Lot 3946 – $3,840. Dark rainbow toning on obverse.
• PCGS MS-67+ #38580895: GreatCollections, March 1, 2020, Lot 773148 – $2,757.38. Pale green and rose toning on both sides.
• PCGS MS-67+ QA #84738910: Heritage Auctions, September 5, 2019, Lot 3547 – $2,640. Dark red and green toning on the obverse. 
• PCGS MS-67+ QA #36777958: “The Sunset Collection”, GreatCollections, May 5, 2019, Lot 690743 – $4,331.25. Obverse rainbow toning.
• PCGS MS-67+ #36176320: Legend Rare Coin Auctions, November 15, 2018, Lot 206 – $2,820. Orange and green toning along most of the obverse and reverse.
• PCGS MS-67+ 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 MS-66+ #81638415: Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2017, Lot 9985 – $763.75. 30th Anniversary holder.
• PCGS MS-66+ #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 MS-67 #82250180: Heritage Auctions, April 27, 2017, Lot 3963 – $1,645. Pop 2 with none finer at the time of the sale.
• PCGS MS-66 #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 MS-66 #33933943: Heritage Auctions, February 5, 2017, Lot 21189 – $881.25. Brilliant. Population of five with none finer at the time of the sale. 
• PCGS MS-66 #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 Repunched Mintmark (FS-501)

• PCGS MS-66 #82114120: Heritage Auctions, September 7, 2018, Lot 3751 – $780.
• PCGS MS-66 #81281342: Heritage Auctions, October 4, 2016, Lot 3918 – $881.25. 30th Anniversary holder. Brilliant.

Coin Specifications

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Discover more about the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar, by reading our collector profiles of the Philadelphia Mint version.