2015-S Kennedy Half Dollar

USA Half Dollars (50 cents or Halfs) were first minted in 1794 and continues (most years) until today. It is the largest United States denomination in current circulation although it is not commonly used today. Until 1965 the half-dollar was around 90% silver but now is a sliver clad (coated) coin.

Main Varieties of the Half Dollar:

Silver half dollars


40% silver half dollars

    Kennedy 1965–1970
    Kennedy 1976 (only collectors sets produced with 40% silver)

Copper-nickel clad half dollars

    Kennedy 1971–1974, 1977–present
    Kennedy Bicentennial 1975–1976 (all dated 1776-1976)
    
Diameter is 30.61 mm (1.205 in) and thickness of 2.15 mm (0.085 in).Soon after John F Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, the US Mint decided to commemorate the late President with a coin. JFK's widow, Jacqueline Kennedy decided that her husband portrait should replace the image of Benjamin Franklin on the half dollar and leave George Washington on the quarter.

The Kennedy Half Dollar was first minted in 1964 as a 90% silver coin, and has been minted ever since (although today it is a copper-nickel alloy).  The Obverse was by Gilroy Roberts and depicts a bust of President Kennedy.

The Reverse was by Frank Gasparro and shows the Presidential Coat of Arms. In 1975 and 1976 the reverse showed Philadelphia's Independence Hall to commemorate the United States Bicentennial.

Although the coin was in general circulation, due to the popularity of Kennedy the coin was quickly horded away by much of the population.

As silver prices were rising at the time, many coins were also stored and subsequently melted for the metal price. This prompted the US Mint to reduce the silver content to 40% for the 1965 minting. Coins minted between 1965 and 1970 are described as 'Silver Clad'.

Copper-Nickel from 1971

By 1971 the actual silver content was eliminated altogether and the coin was made from an alloy of copper (75%) and nickel (25%) on a copper core. A few coins (1971-D and 1977-D) were minted as silver clad by error.

Current coins for circulation are still like this although Silver proofs are available for collectors in boxed sets. In 2014 to celebrate the coin's 50th anniversary, a pure gold proof version was also struck.The San Francisco Mint Facility of the US Mint was created in 1854 to cater for the California Gold Rush. The current Mint buildings have been used since 1937. Mint mark = 'S'.
The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a constitutional federal republic composed of 50 states. It's currency is the Dollar (USD $1) and that is equivalent to 100 cents.

The United States mints many famous coins in gold, silver and lesser metals. The USA has several Mints, such as Philadelphia, San Francisco, West Point (NY) and Denver.