HomeUS CoinsHere’s Why You May Find Kennedy Half Dollars in Circulation Again

Here’s Why You May Find Kennedy Half Dollars in Circulation Again

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS ……
Here’s Why You May Find Kennedy Half Dollars in Circulation Again

The 2021-P and 2021-D Kennedy half dollars are being distributed via circulation, marking the first time since 2001 that Kennedy halves have been fanned out to the public this way. All three images are courtesy the United States Mint

Half dollars really haven’t been a regular part of circulation for some 40 or 50 years now, but you may soon be finding new Kennedy half dollars turning up in pocket change – or at least in bank rolls. As it turns out, the Federal Reserve is ordering 2021 Kennedy half dollars for circulation, marking the first time this has happened since 2001, when half dollars were previously issued for circulation.

2021 Kennedy Half Dollar, reverse. Image courtesy United States MintThe United States Mint facilities in Philadelphia and Denver are producing both 2021-P and 2021-D Kennedy half dollars for commerce, though exact numbers on how many have been made for these purposes have not yet been released. However, it marks a definite departure from the case of the past two decades, when business-strike half dollars were released only for use in special P-and-D roll sets offered directly from the U.S. Mint, United States Uncirculated Sets, and other products designed patently for coin collectors.

For now, the 2021-P and 2021-D Kennedy half dollars are appearing mainly in bank rolls being distributed through the Federal Reserve. Whether or not this new circulation pattern is a lead-up to a grander effort to get half dollars more widely circulating in channels of U.S. commerce remains to be seen. The question also lingers whether this is some type of collector-oriented initiative to spur interest in coin collecting, akin to efforts of similar intent with the limited-edition, circulation-only 2019-W and 2020-W West Point America The Beautiful quarters, which generated sizable interest both within the numismatic community and beyond.

Time will tell what this new half dollar arrangement between the Federal Reserve and United States Mint means, but it’s safe to say that collectors have something new to look for – at least when it comes to bank rolls. This also means new opportunities may come about for obtaining high-end Mint State Kennedy half dollars for PCGS Registry Sets and collections, including examples grading MS66, MS67, or potentially even higher.

Good luck finding these new 2021-P and 2021-D Kennedy half dollars!

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3 COMMENTS

    • The 1964 half dollar is 90% silver and the minimum value would be it’s “melt value” which is about $8-$10. If it’s uncirculated and really nice you can get a few dollars more.

      The 1971 Eisenhower dollar has no silver in it. If it is uncirculated and in very nice condition it is worth $5.00-$10.00 to collectors who are usually trying to put together a full set.

  1. Thank You CoinWeek for being our eyes and ears to this classic world of coin news….
    And TY everyone who supports and reads this….
    really new to this Numismatic world…

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