This week the United States Mint unveiled Part I of a four-part series about John F. Kennedy and the half-dollar coin which honors him.
Presented online at www.usmint.gov, the retrospective commemorates the 50th anniversary of the coin’s release with the first installment entitled Creating the Kennedy Half-Dollar.
"Over the next few months, the United States Mint will explore some of the major aspects of the president’s life as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the minting and issuance of the iconic Kennedy half-dollar coin," the Mint describes.
John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963. Less than four months later, on March 5, 1964, 26 million Kennedy halves were sent to Federal Reserve Banks for release into circulation. Public demand for them soared, resulting in nearly 430 million made for 1964 alone.
Part I of the series walks the reader along the development of the coin’s design which depicts the Gilroy Roberts bust of President Kennedy and the Frank Gasparro adaptation of the Presidential Seal.
Current and Upcoming Kennedy Half-Dollar Products
For anyone interested in getting new 50-cent pieces, 2014 Kennedy half-dollar products launched earlier this year with the U.S. Mint offering two-roll sets of the coins for $32.95 and a 200-coin bag of them for $139.95. These halves are produced at the U.S. Mint facilities in Denver and in Philadelphia.
A clad proof version from the U.S. Mint in San Francisco is also within the 14-coin 2014 United States Mint Proof Set® for $31.95. Next week, on April 29, the Mint will release its annual 14-coin Silver Proof Set for $53.95. It includes a special 90% silver Kennedy half-dollar.
These products are available at www.usmint.gov/catalog or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
Later in the year, the U.S. Mint will present a special 50th anniversary 1964-2014 Kennedy half-dollar in 24-karat gold. The Mint released mockup images of the gold coin in early February with one of them shown above. The bureau will also offer unique 50th anniversary sets with the coins produced at different U.S. Mint facilities and in varying finishes and compositions.
Nice! i cant wait to get my hands on them.
Gold only? Why not silver for us poor folk??
RFK – Knock, Knock…
“The bureau will also offer unique 50th anniversary sets with the coins produced at different U.S. Mint facilities and in varying finishes and compositions.”
Is the Kennedy silver half dollar going to be sold separately if so how do I order 10 of them.
There should be a more affordable option for the “poor schmuck collectors” of the world to acquire one (1) example of a 2104-s clad 50c than to have to purchase the $31.50 plus S. & H. proof set or the “2-roll” set..
yes, i hope they have a special set in silver, can’t afford gold…anyway no reverse silver eagle sets this year….