Today, Aug. 5, the United States Mint released the most anticipated gold product of the year, its dual-dated 1964-2014 Proof 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Coin.
Sold for $1,240.00, the gold coin is the second of three products issued for 2014 to celebrate the semicentennial of the Kennedy half-dollar. Kennedy halves debuted in 1964 to memorialize the 35th President of the United States following his assassination in 1963.
Restored Design for 50th Anniversary Kennedy Coins
The new gold piece is struck from three-quarters of a troy ounce of .9999 fine gold and features a restored portrait of John F. Kennedy.
The original portrait was restored using a Galvano Bronze of Gilroy Robert’s original plaster model of President John F. Kennedy along with an original die that was dated Dec. 28, 1963. For more on this topic, read how the U.S. Mint restored Kennedy’s portrait.
Robert’s image of the president was based on a portrait prepared for Kennedy’s presidential medal. He crafted his original 1964 design within weeks of Kennedy’s assassination in anticipation of its use on a circulating coin.
Shown on reverses of all Kennedy half-dollars is United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Frank Gasparro’s heraldic eagle with shield design. The reverse design on the anniversary coins is the same as that on regular issues.
See: More photos of the Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Coin taken from the U.S. Mint facility at West Point while they were produced.
Ordering
Collectors started buying 24-karat JFK gold coins at noon (Eastern) directly from the United States Mint.
Early online ordering was extremely busy with the U.S. Mint switching on its "waiting room" feature due to high traffic. For some, stated wait times were close to three hours. This Mint used the same process when the first 50th anniversary Kennedy product, the two-coin clad uncirculated set, launched on July 24.
To order the dual-dated 1964-2014 Proof 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Coin online, visit the Mint’s product page, located here. Phone orders may be placed by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Initial pricing is $1,240.00, but that is subject to change per the Mint’s precious metal coin pricing policy.
In addition to online and phone orders, Kennedy gold coins may also be purchased directly from the U.S. Mint at several locations, including:
- the United States Mint booth at the 2014 Chicago ANA World’s Fair of Money in Rosemont, Illinois, and
- U.S. Mint retail shops in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Denver.
In-person purchases are limited to one coin whereas online and phone orders have a household ordering limit of five coins.
The U.S. Mint began handing out 500 tickets at 8 AM this morning at the 2014 Chicago World’s Fair of Money to those in line outside of the show’s bourse floor. Paying ticket holders can receive a coin in hand today, with their orders also taken beginning at noon ET. Up to 2,500 of the coins have been set aside for sale at the show with 500 available per day.
Early today, Coin World reported that there were more than 700 people in line by 8 AM ET and that the first four "accepted an offer of $20,000, and four more gold half dollars in trade, tendered by two coin dealers, for the coins they plan to buy."
Retail U.S. Mint shops will have 500 of the gold Kennedy coins on hand for sale today. An additional 100 will be available each day for the first three days after launch.
As shown in the photo higher above, the 1964-2014 Kennedy gold coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom-designed, brown mahogany hardwood case. A certificate of authenticity is included with each purchase.
Additional Kennedy 50th Anniversary Coin Products
As mentioned, the 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Uncirculated Coin Set was released from the U.S. Mint on July 24th. It has seen robust sales with its 2014-P Kennedy Uncirculated Half-Dollar and 2014-D Kennedy Uncirculated Half-Dollar for $9.95. Check out photos of the Kennedy Half-Dollar Clad Set.
Later this year, the U.S. Mint will introduce its 2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Four-Coin Silver Set. Within are 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. Pricing for the set has been announced at $99.95. This set is slotted for a fall release. Check out photos of the 2014-W Reverse Proof Kennedy Half-Dollar.
