2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Product Options

Three products featuring seven coins with four distinct finishes will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy half-dollar, the United States Mint has confirmed.

One of the anniversary coins is minted from 99.99% fine gold, four of them are composed from 90% silver, and two are cupro-nickel clad. Produced at four different U.S. Mint facilities, collector finishes include regular proof, reverse proof, regular uncirculated and enhanced uncirculated.

Higher Reliefs

Compared to standard annual issues, all seven 50th anniversary coins feature a higher relief of Kennedy’s portrait as originally designed by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts for a Kennedy medal which was adapted in 1964 for the half-dollar. Reverses share Gasparro’s Heraldic Eagle design as it appears on regular annual issues.

2014 Kennedy Four-Coin Silver Set, Two-Coin Clad Set and 24K Gold Coin

The three upcoming product options are a four-coin silver set, a two-coin clad set and an individual 24-karat gold coin. Available information about the products, the U.S. Mint facility striking each coin, and release dates are:

• 2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Four-Coin Silver Set. This four-coin set has four silver halves. There is a regular proof coin from the Philadelphia Mint, a reverse proof coin from the West Point Mint, an enhanced uncirculated coin from the San Francisco Mint, and an uncirculated coin from the Denver Mint. These silver coins have mint marks of P, W, S or D based on their production facilities. An on-sale date for this four-coin collection is still to be decided.

• 2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Two-Coin Clad Set. This two coin set has two uncirculated clad halves. One is from the Philadelphia Mint with a P mint mark and the other is from the Denver Mint with a D mint mark. The on-sale date for this set is July 24.

• 1964-2014 24K 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar. This gold coin is in proof quality, composed from 24-karat gold, and comes from the West Point bearing a W mint mark. Unlike the others, this coin has dual dates of 1964 and 2014. It goes on sale Aug. 5 during the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Rosemont, Ill.

Prices, mintages, or any other limits are not yet available. Collectors are speculating that the Mint will produce the coins to demand with the possibility of an ordering window.

Kennedy Reverse Proof and Enhanced Uncirculated

Buzz about the dual-dated 24K Kennedy gold coin has been building ever since news of its possibility surfaced in February. The clad and silver sets should draw interest as well. In particular, collectors are likely to have special affinity for the 50c reverse proof and 50c enhanced uncirculated. In briefly describing them:

• Fields of the 2014-W Reverse Proof Kennedy Silver Half-Dollar will be laser frosted on both sides, exactly opposite of the regular proof on which fields are highly polished. Additionally, the artwork, lettering and mint mark will be polished to a bright finish.

• Fields of the 2014-S Enhanced Uncirculated Kennedy Silver Half-Dollar will be wire brushed while different elements on the artwork and letterings will be frosted with varying intensities.

Thirteen 2014-Dated Kennedy Halves

These 7 anniversary coins are in addition to the 6 regular Kennedy half-dollars released every year in U.S. Mint rolls, bags or standard annual sets. While the Mint has a collection of customer surveys to support decisions behind these anniversary products, 13 coins may be high for some collectors to get their arms around. To reduce possible confusion, here is a chart that lists all 13 of this year’s Kennedy half-dollars along with their associated products.

For Kennedy half-dollar products already released, visit the U.S. Mint at www.usmint.gov/catalog for more information or to order.