U.S. coin series
Kennedy half dollar
United States 50 cents, 1964–present
A U.S. half dollar with Kennedy on the obverse, first issued in 1964. 1964 coins are 90% silver; 1965–1970 are 40% silver; later circulation issues are copper-nickel clad. The reverse is a presidential seal (with bicentennial and a few commemorative exceptions).
Visible identification features
- Obverse: Kennedy profile, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, date
- Mint mark location changed over the years (above the date, then on the obverse)
- Larger and heavier than a quarter; not a dollar coin
Why people photograph these
Half dollars turn up in inherited jars. Silver content by year is the practical question — and it is a date/composition fact, not a photo appraisal.
Lookalikes
- Walking Liberty half dollar
Walking Liberty (1916–1947) shows a striding Liberty, not Kennedy. Different series, also 90% silver in those years.
Next steps
- Read the date first. 1964 vs 1965–1970 vs 1971+ is the silver split.
- Photograph both sides. Not an appraisal of “what a dealer will pay.”
Sources
- Kennedy Half Dollar — U.S. Mint
Updated 2026-08-19. Claims are limited to these sources.