1776 To 1976 Half Dollar Value Guide

The 1776 To 1976 Half Dollar Value

The silver versions of the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollars hold a consistently higher value across all grades and versions.

The clad versions from Philadelphia and Denver have comparable values. 

High mint-state grades from the Denver Mint are more valuable than those from Philadelphia.

Proof-strike versions range from $3 to $1,100. Only those graded at an ultra/deep cameo 70 will see values of hundreds or low thousands. 

An N/A for a value below indicates no publicly known examples of that version of the 1776 to 1976 half dollar with that grade, or no value information (or not enough) exists for it yet.

Additionally, all values are conservative estimates based on research. Please note all values are subject to change due to the market or circumstances unaccounted for during research and publication. We always recommend doing further research or consulting with a professional.

Melt Value

The 1776 to 1976-S silver Kennedy half dollar’s melt value is approximately $3. The 1776 to 1976 clad Kennedy half dollar’s melt value is approximately negligible. The melt value will fluctuate with the market.

Circulation Strike Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1776 to 1976 Clad Kennedy Half Dollar	1776 to 1976-D Clad Kennedy Half Dollar	1776 to 1976-S Silver Kennedy Half Dollar
Good – G	$0.87	N/A	$4
Very Good – VG	$0.87	N/A	$5
Fine – F	$0.87	N/A	$5
Very Fine – VF	$0.87	N/A	$5
Extra Fine – XF	$1	$1	$5
About Uncirculated – AU	$1-$1	$1-$1	$5-$5
Mint State – MS	$2-$1,800 (67)	$3-$2,900 (67+)	$6-$16,000 (69)

Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1776 to 1976-S Proof Clad Kennedy Half Dollar	1776 to 1976-S Proof Silver Kennedy Half Dollar
PR 60	N/A	N/A
PR 61	N/A	N/A
PR 62	$3	N/A
PR 63	$3	N/A
PR 64	$4	$9
PR 65	$5	$10
PR 66	$6	$12
PR 67	$8	$14
PR 68	$10	$16
PR 69	$20	$22
PR 70	N/A	N/A

Cameo (CA/CAM) Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1776 to 1976-S Cameo Proof Clad Kennedy Half Dollar	1776 to 1976-S Cameo Proof Silver Kennedy Half Dollar
PR 60 CA/CAM	$3	N/A
PR 61 CA/CAM	$3	N/A
PR 62 CA/CAM	$3	N/A
PR 63 CA/CAM	$4	N/A
PR 64 CA/CAM	$5	$10
PR 65 CA/CAM	$6	$12
PR 66 CA/CAM	$7	$14
PR 67 CA/CAM	$9	$16
PR 68 CA/CAM	$12	$20
PR 69 CA/CAM	$23	$30
PR 70 CA/CAM	N/A	N/A

Ultra/Deep Cameo (UC/DCAM) Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1776 to 1976-S Ultra/Deep Cameo Proof Clad Kennedy Half Dollar	1776 to 1976-S Ultra/Deep Cameo Proof Silver Kennedy Half Dollar
PR 60 UC/DCAM	$3	N/A
PR 61 UC/DCAM	$3	N/A
PR 62 UC/DCAM	$3	N/A
PR 63 UC/DCAM	$4	N/A
PR 64 UC/DCAM	$6	$12
PR 65 UC/DCAM	$8	$13
PR 66 UC/DCAM	$10	$15
PR 67 UC/DCAM	$13	$17
PR 68 UC/DCAM	$16	$21
PR 69 UC/DCAM	$24	$51
PR 70 UC/DCAM	$1,100	$750

What Makes A 1776 To 1976 Kennedy Half Dollar Valuable?

Grading, rarity, strike types, errors, and composition can all add to the value of a 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar. 

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

You won’t find much above face value in any of the lower grades of the circulation-strike 1776 to 1976 bicentennial Kennedy half dollars. The value will increase in MS 66 and above. 

Because collectors took a great deal of the regular circulation-strike coins from circulation and saved them, they are readily available today.¹

The Mint never circulated silver versions of the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar, so they will be of better overall quality.

Rarity

The Mint minted 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollars approximately 543,932,347 times across all of its versions. Please see the following list for the breakdown for each version:

• 1776 to 1976: 234,308,000 minted in Philadelphia^1-2
• 1776 to 1976-D: 287,565,248 minted in Denver^3-4
• 1776 to 1976-S Silver: 11,000,000 minted in San Francisco^5-6
• 1776 to 1976-S Clad Proof: 7,059,099 minted in San Francisco^7-8 
• 1776 to 1976-S Silver Proof: 4,000,000 minted in San Francisco^9-10

With a massive mintage of nearly 544 million coins, the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar is a common coin.

It does become rarer in the higher mint-state grades. This is where you will see more value.  

Mint Marks

There are 2 mint marks for the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar. 

Coins minted in Denver will have a “D” mint mark.^3-4

Coins from San Francisco will have an “S” mint mark.^5-6 This is the most valuable mint mark. San Francisco minted both of the proof-strike coins.^7-10

The coin is from Philadelphia if there is no mint mark.^1-2 

Strike Types

Circulation and proof are the 2 strike types for the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar.^16-18 

There are 2 versions of the circulation-strikes: those for circulation and those sold to collectors.

Philadelphia and Denver produced the copper/nickel-clad versions. These are regular circulation-strike coins. 

San Francisco minted the silver uncirculated collectible coins. These are approximately 40% silver, never put into circulation, and sold in three-piece bicentennial mint sets.²⁴

Proof strikes come in clad and silver types, as well as cameo and ultra/deep cameo versions.

An ultra/deep cameo version is the most valuable, followed by cameo, then proof, and finally, a regular circulation strike.   

Design Variations

The 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar has no design variations.

Special Designations

There are no special designations for the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar.

Error Coins 

Errors, or mint errors, are mistakes made during the coin-striking process. Some can significantly increase a coin’s value. 

Several known errors exist for the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar. Some of the more valuable examples are broadstrike, off-center, and clipped planchet errors.²²

A broadstrike error occurs when the die strikes the coin without its collar. A collar keeps the coin the appropriate size for its denomination. If the die strikes the coin without the collar, the metal expands, resulting in a larger-than-normal coin. 

This error will increase a coin’s value.

A wrong planchet error is when the die strikes a coin’s design on the planchet intended for a different denomination. For example, this is when a half dollar’s design is struck on a penny, a dime, or a quarter. 

Usually, these are very valuable errors that add thousands to a coin’s value. 

A clipped planchet occurs when a blank isn’t punched properly, and part of the coin is clipped off. The edge can be curved, ragged, or straight, and the amount clipped off can vary in size.

This error tends to increase a coin’s value. 

Die Varieties

The 1776 to 1976 bicentennial Kennedy half dollar does not have many notable die varieties.²³ 

There are some doubled varieties. The 1976-S Silver DDO (double die obverse) FS-016 is the only one to gain mention by the NGC.²³ 

Composition

The clad versions of the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar are 75% copper and 25% nickel over a copper core.

The circulation- and proof-strike 1776 to 1976-S silver Kennedy half dollars have an outer layer of 80% silver and 20% nickel. The core is 79% copper and 21% silver. This gives the coin an approximate 40% silver and 60% copper composition overall. 

We do not recommend melting any version of the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollars. They will be worth more when sold intact.

How Do You Know If You Have A Valuable 1776 To 1976 Kennedy Half Dollar?

The best way to know if you have a valuable 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar (or any coin) and to get that value out of it is to have it professionally certified.

However, you can look for many elements to get you started in determining what coin you have.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

Look for coins graded MS 66 and up. This is where the circulation-strike 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar’s value increases.

Look for well-struck coins with a nice luster and few imperfections, such as marks and scratches.

Mint Marks

You will find the mint mark on your coin’s obverse side. Look just below Kennedy’s neck.

You will see a “D” mint mark if your coin is from the Denver Mint. 

There will be an “S” for coins minted in San Francisco. This is the most valuable version.

If your coin has no mint mark, it is from Philadelphia. 

Strike Types

For circulation-strike 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollars, look at the mint mark to determine what type you have. 

Regular circulation strikes come from Denver and Philadelphia. So, they will have a “D” or no mint mark. 

“S” mint marks indicate the 40% silver version. Only San Francisco minted the silver circulation strikes. These are the most valuable. 

Also, San Francisco minted the clad and silver version of the 1776 to 1976 proof Kennedy half dollar.

These will be of much better quality than a regular circulation strike. They will have very few imperfections, be well-struck, and have clear details.

Cameo versions will exhibit greater mirroring on the fields and frosting on the devices. 

The contrast between the mirroring and frosting will be even greater on an ultra/deep cameo coin. This is the most valuable version.

Design Variations

The 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar has no design variations.

Special Designations

There are no special designations for the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar.

Error Coins

Here are some pointers to help you identify errors for your 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar.

Broadstrike

For a broadstrike error, look at the size of your coin. Is it larger than it should be? If so, you may have this error. The whole design should be present with plain metal around it. 

Wrong Planchet

For this error, check the size and metal of your coin. 

If it was struck on a penny, for example, it would be a different color than it is supposed to be. Or the coin could be smaller or larger than a regular 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar.

A 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar graded at MS 62 struck on a quarter planchet reached over $1,200 at auction.²² So, you could have a valuable coin in your hands.

Clipped Planchet

Examine the edge and rim of your coin to see if any is missing. The clipped edge may be curved, ragged, or straight.

The amount clipped off is referred to in percentages. The higher the percentage, the more valuable the coin.    

Die Varieties

For the 1976-S Silver DDO FS-016, first, make sure you have the San Francisco Mint’s silver version. 

Look at the obverse side of your coin. You should see doubling on the letters of “We Trust.” This is to the right of Kennedy’s neck.

You may also find other doubled varieties on coins from different Mints. Die varieties can be tricky to establish, so it is always best to consult with a professional when determining your coin’s die variety. 

Additional Information About The 1776 To 1976 Kennedy Half Dollar

History

After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963, it was quickly decided that a current circulation coin should be re-designed to honor the late President. 

Kennedy’s widow, Jackie Kennedy, did not want to displace Washington on the quarter, so the half dollar was chosen as the commemorative denomination. 

Due to the speed required for this mintage, there was no design competition. The US Mint’s Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts designed the obverse side, and his Assistant Engraver Frank Gasparro designed the reverse. 

The Kennedy half dollar was first minted in 1964 and is still minted today.

In celebration of America’s bicentennial (1776 to 1976), three coins, the quarter, the half dollar, and the dollar, had new reverse designs honoring America’s independence. 

Chosen by competition, the winning design of the half dollar came from Seth G. Huntington. It features an image of Liberty Hall in Philadelphia. This is where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed.  

Two versions of the bicentennial Kennedy half dollar were minted: a clad version for circulation and a 40% silver version as a collectible coin. 

Despite melting many of the silver versions, they are still readily available. 

^{Sources: 1-6,15-18,20-21}

The Coin’s Obverse Side

The left-facing profile of John F. Kennedy fills the majority of the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar’s obverse side. Roberts’ initials “GR” are at the base of his neck. 

The words “In God” are to the left of Kennedy’s neck, and “We Trust” are to the right.

If present, the mint mark will be below Kennedy’s neck. A “D” is on coins from Denver. An “S” is on coins minted in San Francisco. 

Circling the coin’s rim is “Liberty” at the top and “1776 – 1976” at the bottom.

^{Sources: 1-6}

The Coin’s Reverse Side

Independence Hall is in the center of the reverse side of the 1776 to 1976 Kennedy half dollar. Under it is “Independence Hall.”

On the left of the Independence Hall is “200 Years Of Freedom.” On its right side is the Latin motto “E Pluribus Unum.” This is the motto of the United States of America and it means “Out of many, one.” Huntington’s initials “SGH” are at the bottom left of the motto.  

Curving around the coin’s rim is “United States of America” at the top and “Half Dollar” at the bottom. 

Following the curve, above “Half Dollar” are 13 stars. These represent the 13 states who declared independence in 1776.

^{Sources: 1-2}

Sources

1776 To 1976 Half Dollar Value Guide Sources