2015-D John F. Kennedy Presidential Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ….
 

After the excitement of the Presidential Dollar’s initial rollout had waned and the hunt for so-called “Godless Dollars” dried up, the series plodded along as coins honoring the nation’s lesser-known Chief Executives rolled out with little public interest at a pace of four designs per year. The most aspirational objective of the Presidential Dollar Coin Act (Public Law 109-145 – PDF link), which Congress passed into law on December 22, 2005, was “to improve circulation of the $1 coin, [and] to create a new bullion coin”. As a circulating coin, this goal failed to materialize, and the accompanying $10 Gold First Spouse Coin floundered when rising gold prices pushed many collectors out of the series.

Of course, coins honoring popular presidents were more marketable, and with the 2015 issues came two popular POTUS coins, one honoring World War II Allied Supreme Commander-turned-politico Dwight D. Eisenhower and the other honoring America’s fallen icon, John F. Kennedy.

Don Everhart based his design on Aaron Shikler’s official portrait of Kennedy, which the artist unveiled in 1971. Shikler depicted Kennedy in a contemplative pose, with his arms crossed, his head bowed, and his eyes downcast. This representation of the nation’s 35th President starkly contrasts with Gilroy Roberts’s Kennedy Half Dollar design, which the Mint released within months of the assassination and shows a forever youthful and determined Kennedy facing to the left. On that coin, the reverse shows the Presidential Seal. On the Presidential Dollar, the Kennedy portrait is paired to a reverse that depicts a skyward view of the Statue of Liberty. Both couplings are appropriate, but with the Prexibuck, the directional perspective on both sides presents an unexpected symmetry.

Collecting the 2015-D John F. Kennedy Presidential $1 Coin

The United States Mint struck more Kennedy Presidential Dollars than any other 2015 Presidential Dollar design. Still, the Federal Reserve did not order them, and therefore, none of the coins entered circulation. This means that nearly the entire mintage survives in Mint State, and even with attrition, millions of examples will survive over the coming decades. Fresh-looking coins, however, may begin to pose a problem as golden dollars tend to tarnish. Unfortunately, this can be true even for coins in certified holders. For this and the Sacagawea / Native American Dollar series, proper storage is a must!

Raw 2015-D Kennedy Dollars in rolls or flips if affordability is the deciding factor. The going rate for a loose coin is about $3.50. Certified coins will cost more, but the cost to certify coins is usually higher than their retail value. Typically, dealers will submit the coin in bulk during the launch window to overcome this disparity and try to recoup their cost with the higher-grade coins.

eBay prices realized for coins certified MS67 have been all over the place in 2025, with some selling for as little as $14 and others selling for as high as $90. We’re inclined to believe the lower price points are also in line with what the 2015-P Kennedy Presidential Dollar has been selling for lately. This price disparity should serve as a cautionary tale for new collectors, and you should do your homework before snatching up coins you know little about.

* * *

2015-D John F. Kennedy Presidential Dollar Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS MS68 (6, 4/2025), NGC MS68 (63, 4/2025), and CAC N/A (4/2025).

• PCGS MS67: eBay, February 17, 2025 – $89.95. Buy It Now.
• ANACS MS67: eBay, March 30, 2025 – $64.95. Buy It Now.
• PCGS MS67: eBay, January 23, 2025 – $20. Buy It Now. Position B.
• NGC MS67: eBay, April 10, 2025 – $14.95. Buy It Now.
• NGC MS67: eBay, March 2, 2025 – $14. 1 Bid.

* * *

Design

Obverse:

Inspired by Aaron Shikler’s Official Presidential Portrait of John F. Kennedy, Don Everhart’s obverse for the 2015-D Kennedy Dollar coin offers up an unusual and somber image of the slain President. On the coin, Kennedy looks downward and to the left. The muscles on his face appear strained, as if he is deep in thought. Kennedy’s hair is neatly groomed, and his part is accentuated. His coat is form-fitting. The designer’s initials, DE, are on Kennedy’s left shoulder. The inscriptions wrap around the coin’s rim and read: JOHN F. KENNEDY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 35th PRESIDENT, and 1961-1963.

Common Reverse:

Don Everhart’s reverse design features an ant’s-eye view of the Statue of Liberty offset to the left. On the coin, Liberty occupies the bottom right quadrant of the coin, her extended elbow being the coin’s center point. The design is framed by a thin inner circle, which separates the graphic design from the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Beneath Liberty’s extended torch-bearing arm is the denomination $1. This is the standard reverse design for all Presidential Dollar coins.

Edge:

The edge of the 2015-D Kennedy Presidential Dollar features lettering and displays the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, the mintmark, the year of issuance, and 13 five-pointed stars. This edge inscription may be oriented facing the obverse (Position A) or the reverse (Position B).

Coin Specifications

* * *