Yes, John F. Kennedy is featured on the United States half dollar coin.
Here’s some additional information about the Kennedy Half Dollar:
- Inception: The Kennedy Half Dollar was first minted in 1964 as a memorial to President Kennedy after his assassination in 1963.
- Design:
– Obverse (heads): Features a left-facing profile of John F. Kennedy. The initial design was based on a portrait prepared for his presidential medal.
– Reverse (tails): Depicts the Presidential Seal. It consists of a heraldic eagle holding an olive branch (symbolizing peace) and a bundle of 13 arrows (representing war). A shield with 13 stripes is on the eagle’s breast, surrounded by a ring of 50 stars representing the states. The reverse design temporarily featured an image of Independence Hall in Philadelphia during the bicentennial years of 1975 and 1976.
- Composition:
– 1964: 90% silver, 10% copper.
– 1965-1970: 40% silver (outer layer bonded to a copper core).
– 1971-present: Copper-nickel clad (75% copper, 25% nickel outer layers bonded to a pure copper core), with the exception of special collector issues.
- Circulation and Collectibility:
– The Kennedy Half Dollar was met with overwhelming public demand upon its release in 1964 and quickly disappeared from circulation as people saved them as souvenirs.
– For a period, rising silver prices also contributed to hoarding of the 90% and 40% silver versions.
– While production continued, the coin became less commonly seen in everyday transactions.
– [The U.S. Mint (.gov)] currently sells rolls and bags of Kennedy Half Dollars, primarily catering to collectors.
Was JFK ever on a coin?
The Kennedy half dollar was first minted in 1964 to commemorate President John F. Kennedy after his assassination in 1963. The half dollar has a rich history beginning in 1794. From 1794 to 1947, half-dollars were made of silver and decorated with an allegorical image that symbolized liberty on the obverse.
Is John F. Kennedy on the 50 Cent coin?
From my experience, The obverse (heads) shows an image of Kennedy based on a portrait prepared for his presidential medal. The Presidential Seal appears on the reverse (tails). The Mint made the first half dollar in 1794 of silver. The designs from 1794 to 1947 showed a woman symbolizing liberty on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse.
Do they still make JFK coins?
Production of Kennedy half dollars for general circulation was temporarily suspended in 2001; from 2002 to 2020, the coins were produced to satisfy the demand from collectors and sold at a premium through the Mint. In 2021, the mint resumed striking Kennedy half dollars for general circulation.