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History is always reflected in the works of art, and coins comprise that non-mainstream yet fine sector representing the best and the worst episodes on their face. Indeed, the XX century had been rude to humankind, which is why the main units of currency usually depicted events and figures everybody has definitely heard of, e.g., 1943 wartime steel cents.
Half dollars, the largest coins in the US, constitute one of the most historically significant yet sophisticated numismatic groups – a commemorative one. In this material, we are to discuss a notorious iteration of this unit with Kennedy on the obverse. So, what does the Kennedy half dollar reverse look like, and what is the best coin value checker online?
First Things First: Who's on the Half Dollar Coin?
Numismatic creations tend to display unique, exquisite designs, but whose face is on the half dollar as of today? It is an open secret that the current 50C coin bears the profile of the late president John F. Kennedy, and this tradition has persisted for many years, though the long path the coin took saw various design decisions (even the most extravagant ones). Nonetheless, the evolution of the design and the details are to be discussed further.
Historical Context of This Commemorative Coin
The half dollars have been in circulation for years, and the introduction of the Kennedy half dollar was not the starting point of their history. In fact, he was the eighth to illustrate the coins' obverse and pay tribute to the fallen president, soon after the assassination had left the nation in shock for years.
In 1964, four months after his death, the idea of releasing and distributing these coins was not really controversial, but definitely good to support a symbol of the era and people who fueled that period for good. This is how the 1964 Kennedy half dollar was born. The US Mint, which was responsible for the development of the creations, was aware of the preferences of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to employ half dollars but no other denominations so far.
Design Features and Specifications
The half dollar itself is indeed a variation that is strongly connected to the person depicted on it. Although the US Mint strived to produce more and more coins, it had to suspend this aspiration in order to keep the profile of Kennedy and commemorate him further. So, whos on the half dollar?
Obverse: Depicts the left-facing profile of John Kennedy, by Giroy Roberts, i.e., a person who was in charge of dollar design, as well as the inscriptions “LIBERTY” along the upper rim, “IN GOD WE TRUST” on either side of the portrait, and the year of minting below.
Reverse: If not a bicentennial, demonstrates the Presidential seal, a bald eagle, and the arrows surrounded by the stars, referring to particular states in the country, along with the traditional inscriptions like “E PLURIBUS UNUM” (which means “Out of many, one”) on the banner, held in the eagle’s beak, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, and the denomination “HALF DOLLAR” along the bottom rim.
The Main Characteristics | |
Designer | Gilroy Roberts (obverse), Frank Gasparro (reverse) |
Year of Issue | 1964 |
Composition | 1964: 90% silver, 10% copper 1965-1970: 40% silver, 60% copper 1971-now: copper-nickel clad |
Weight | 1964: 12.50 g 1965-1970: 11.50 g 1971-now: 11.34 g |
Diameter | 30.6 mm |
Edge | Reeded |
Mintmark | “D” for Denver “P” or no mint mark for the Philadelphia Mint “S” for San Francisco (proofs) “W” for West Point (only for the 50th anniversary) |
A Unique Type: Bicentennial Half-Dollars
Within the same series, there was launched the initiative to commemorate America’s 200th anniversary of independence, and the 50C coin (along with other denominations) was chosen for a good reason. The 1976 Bicentennial half dollar, no matter what version we are talking about, features a dual date “1776–1976” and a new reverse design by Seth G. Huntington.
Clad Type
Produced by: the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints
Auction Record: $8,400 for MS66
Composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel over a pure copper core. Retained the same obverse portrait by Gilroy Roberts, but with a unique reverse design, i.e., the depiction of Independence Hall instead of the traditional Presidential Seal.
Silver Type
Produced by: the San Francisco Mint
Auction Record: $9,600 for MS69
The only silver version intended for collectors, composed of 80% silver and 20% copper in the outer layers, with a 79% copper and 21% silver core. These were originally sold in three-piece sets, but the current market is still full of separate pieces and complete sets through auctions, coin dealers, and online marketplaces (e.g., JM Bullion and the like).
“Despite large-scale destruction of the Bicentennial coins in silver melts of subsequent years, they remain common today.”
— Ron Guth, a renowned numismatist and a licensed Certified Public Accountant
PCGS CoinFacts
Who Was on the Half Dollar Before Kennedy?
Though the coin of a half dollar depicted various figures, both fictional and real ones, the most appropriate answer to the question “Who is on the half dollar before Kennedy?” should be “many people”. Let us review the main programs one by one.
Flowing Hair (1794 to 1795)
One prominent issue: 1794 Flowing Hair 50C
Auction Record: $252,000 for AU58+
Who was on half dollar before Kennedy? The first figure should have been metaphoric. It was the earliest half dollar on the territory of the US, developed by Robert Scot, which features Lady Liberty with her hair flowing (on the obverse) and a small eagle (on the reverse side). It was struck only for two years, but this period was quite immense and productive anyway.
Draped Bust (1796 to 1807)
One prominent issue: 1796 Draped Bust 50C 16 Stars
Auction Record: $822,500 for MS66
For the next 20 years, the US Mint released the Draped Bust pieces by Robert Scot. It featured a renewed Liberty’s portrait along with the heraldic eagle design from 1801 onward. Before that, though, the reverse introduced a small eagle enclosed within a simple wreath.
Capped Bust (1807 to 1839)
One prominent issue: 1837 Capped Bust 50C
Auction Record: $180,000 for MS67
The design, developed by John Reich, that presupposed the appearance of Lady Liberty, wearing a cap (inscribed “LIBERTY”), as well as the eagle with a shield on its chest. The most distinctive feature of these creations is the “Lettered Edge” and later “Reeded Edge” variants, i.e., the revolutionary shift in the American coinage of that time.
Seated Liberty (1839 to 1891)
One prominent issue: 1874-CC Seated Liberty 50C
Auction Record: $94,000 for MS65
In 1839, there was released the Seated Liberty design, i.e., the variation with Christian Gobrecht’s Liberty seated on a rock, with a shield and a staff in her hands. As for the reverse, there was nothing special, for it also featured a bold eagle with a shield and arrows in its talons (just like the previous one).
Barber (1892 to 1915)
One prominent issue: 1896-O Barber 50C
Auction Record: $123,375 for MS67
Obviously enough, this variety was designed by Charles E. Barber, and it featured a right-facing portrait of Liberty, wearing a laurel wreath, with a heraldic eagle on the reverse.
Walking Liberty (1916 to 1947)
One prominent issue: 1921-S Walking Liberty 50C
Auction Record: $188,000 for MS66
One of the most beautiful coin series in the US undoubtedly refers to the iconic Walking Liberty design. As such, it demonstrates a full-growth portrait of Liberty, going toward the Sun with the US flag draped around her shoulders.
Franklin (1948 to 1963)
One prominent issue: 1958 Franklin 50C FBL
Auction Record: $129,250 for MS67+ FBL
Finally, here comes the last pre-Kennedy iteration, which continuously replaced allegorical imagery with a portrait of Benjamin Franklin. The reverse depicts the Liberty Bell, and those units with the full bell lines (FBL) are the most valuable among the rest.
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FAQs
What presidents have been on the half dollar?
Only one US president has appeared on the 50C coin, and it is John F. Kennedy. Earlier designs mainly focused on metaphorical figures (Liberty) or historical personas (Benjamin Franklin), in turn.
Who was the first person on the half dollar?
The very first person to appear on the 50C is Lady Liberty, but the first REAL person refers to Benjamin Franklin.
Who was on the original 50 Cent piece?
The original 1794 Flowing Hair 50C features Liberty on the obverse.
Who was on the half dollar before John Kennedy?
There is a long list of figures who managed to appear on the surface of these coins. These include Liberty in various artistic forms and Benjamin Franklin, too.
Are Ben Franklin half dollars worth anything?
Yes, indeed. Any coin can be valuable if it belongs to the key-date variety, low-mintage issue, or erroneous set. In this case, one should look for high-grade “Full Bell Lines” (FBL) pieces, for they can be worth thousands, depending on condition.
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