1964 half dollar
| Issue | Composition | Weight | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
Kennedy half dollar The last 90% silver half dollar made for circulation. | 90% silver | 12.50 g | 0.3617 ozt |
What matters about 1964
The Kennedy half dollar was designed, approved and struck within weeks of the assassination, and the public hoarded it from the day it appeared.
The last half dollar struck for circulation in 90% silver. Every date after this contains less silver or none.
Identifying it
A 1964 half dollar is a Kennedy, designed by Gilroy Roberts (obverse) and Frank Gasparro (reverse). The obverse shows john f. kennedy facing left and the reverse the presidential seal, or independence hall on the bicentennial issue. It measures 30.6mm across.
Mint mark: Reverse in 1964, none from 1965 to 1967, then obverse below the neck from 1968 onward.
Because it is a silver coin, the edge is the fastest check: hold it side on and look for an unbroken silver-grey band. A clad coin of the same design shows a copper stripe sandwiched between two lighter layers. The other three checks take about the same time.