1964-2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Gold Coin Launches

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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.

1964-2014 Proof 50th Anniversary Kennedy Gold Coins
Photos of dual-dated 1964-2014 Proof 50th Anniversary Kennedy Gold Coins taken in the U.S. Mint at West Point where they are produced

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.

Watch Kennedy gold coins produced in a coining press at the West Point Mint

 

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.

Changes in Design of Kennedy Half-Dollars
The portrait on Kennedy half-dollars has changed over the years. When comparing the original design (left) to modern issues (center and right), there are sharp differences around the hair, eyes, nose, chin, and cheek. The original obverse design was restored for the new 50th anniversary Kennedy half-dollars. The Kennedy gold coin is even more unique from the other anniversary halves in that it has the dual-date of 1964-2014.

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.

2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Coins
A photo collage of 1964-2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Coins

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.

2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Proof Coin in Case
2014-W 24K Kennedy Gold Coin in brown mahogany hardwood presentation case with removable coin well

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.

Here is another video that shows a tray of freshly produced Kennedy gold coins

 

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.

Photo of the outside, unfolded Certificate of Authenticity for Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Coin
Photo of the outside, unfolded Certificate of Authenticity for the proof Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Coin

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.

2014-W Reverse Proof Kennedy Half-Dollar Silver Coins
Photos of 2014-W Reverse Proof Kennedy Half-Dollar Silver Coins, one of the coins in an upcoming four-coin set of 50th Anniversary Kennedy Silver Half-Dollars.

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.

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Joe33

Was anyone able to get their gold Kennedy at the Rosemont show (or the retail mint stores)? How was the process, how long was the wait in line for tickets, then the line for the coins? Were people tuned away after the 500 tickets? How many? Did the dealers at Rosemont get most of the coins? Are they flipping them at the show? Did they require ID? How will they stop people from buying over the 1 per day and 5 total without ID?

That’s a lot of questions! lol

Sure looks like a beautiful coin.

Todd

I read the first people in line were offered $20K per coin by SilverTowne and took the offer.

Mike Irwin

At 11:30 Am I was put in a waiting room to log on with a 2.5 hr wait. I had better luck getting my Hall of Fame Gold and Silvers.

GK

I was able to order one from usmint.gov after waiting in the waiting room for 35 minutes. My order status is “Backordered”.

Jack

I’d take $10K for mine but that’s just me.

Joe33

The first, lets say 10,000 coins were minted weeks or months ago. Then randomly placed in capsules, then randomly placed in wood holders, then randomly placed in mint boxes, then randomly put in shipping boxes to the three retail outlets. They are selling 500 per day at each outlet. The coins have no serial number on them. There is no mintage limit (yet). There is no way to be sure if a particular coin was the first or last struck with a particular die set. Could someone explain to me what coin value difference would it make to be the… Read more »

Rick

Got my order confirmed at 12:19

Anybody have any idea how many have sold today, or when the first 40,000 will be gone?

(Understanding enough have been set aside to sell 500/day directly at the pre-arranged sites)

Jack

Not sure Joe, but I wish it was me in that line!

drew scott

As someone who was able to go to the US Mint Store in DC, it was a very unusual experience. I arrived roughly 1 hr 15 mins before noon, and the line was massive. I went to where I thought the back of the line was, next to an alleyway and waited beside what I would only describe as a bunch of very random looking folks. About 15 minutes later someone came up and asked if this is the end of the line, where one of the randoms said the line went way down the end of the block. I… Read more »

jim

My guess is the thrill of running up and down the streets of one’s neighborhood yelling “I got one” is the difference. What? Isn’t that what you would do?

Beyond that a rational mind is boggled.

stinky

An estimate based on four people’s order numbers in our office and the time they completed their orders, the mint was averaging about 8,500 orders on their web page per hour. See that you have 40,000 pre-sale minted coins, of which 4,900 will be sold at retail locations leaving 35,100. If the web orders averaged just 2 per order, and many would be for more if not the full 5 coin limit. All the pre-mint coins of the 40,000 would be sold out in the first two hours.

And yes I will take $20,000 for my five coins!

Joe33

Thanks Drew Scott! Pretty much how I thought it would go. Glad you got one! Just to be clear, I understand wanting to get a new coin, and almost drove to Rosemont myself (I would have if I had known I could flip a golden ticket for $20,000, or 40,000 circulated half dollars). I completely understand flipping something for a profit, I just don’t get what collector would pay such a large amount! $1,800 or $2,000, still to much for me, but $20,000. Mind boggling That said, I REALLY like these coins (or I wouldn’t waste time posting about them.… Read more »

Todd

Coin World
4 hours ago Ā·
Guess how much the first four people in line to buy the gold Kennedy half dollars were offered by two dealers?

http://www.coinworld.com/news/first-four-in-line-to-buy-gold-kennedy-half-dollars-from-los-angeles.html

Boz

I dont have the funds for gold thanks to two first souses hitting in July and two more coming right up. Those you dont have to wait for and there is no uncertainty of when the bill is going to hit. Based on past experience, unless you went to the boutiques, the Chicago show, or successfully ordered before 12:05, you will not get a Kennedy or a bill until Christmas, which would ding the holiday budgetbigtime. I do have a query for the experts. Will the gold Kennedy pricing fluctuate week to week like other gold offerings, or is it… Read more »

Boz

Sorry I meant to say first spouses.

Mammoth

I already had the mint’s website up on the monitor when it went into the holding pattern at 11:45 a.m. As soon as it said that I could enter the waiting room I did, and then waited for about an hour before finally being able to order. The ordering itself went smoothly.
Order tracking says the coin is backordered and will ship on August 5.

Let’s see when this order actually ships…

Boz

Showing September 10 for orders after 3 PM

Sith

@boz – Yes these coins will fluctuate in price with the price grid. FYI based on commenst I read the Mint ran out of the initial batch of coins at around 1:20 PM to 1:25 PM

SactoMike

Very interesting experiences, all. I logged on precisely at 8:45 a.m. PDT and immediately got into the waiting room…however, the wait time “fluctuated” from 45 minutes…to 57 minutes…then 1 hour, 5 minutes…then backpedaled further…I ended up waiting 63 minutes and ordered two of the coins. “Backordered” was the response. Wow. And I have a T-1 lightning fast conned speed. Regardless, these are beauts.

Victor DeCurtis

It took me almost two hours, but I managed to purchase two coins. August 12 seems to be the ship date. For now, anyway.

Bob

I got one at the DC Location today. Does anyone know how I go about getting it first day authenticated. I have the receipt.

Brian

I was one of the 730 people in line for 3 1/2 hours at Rosemont, IL this morning. The line was about a mile long, literally, and my wife and I didn’t get a ticket. A few dealers had busloads of people in line for them (I don’t think 50 Asian woman all lined up together were coin collectors), but that’s just a guess on my part. I was VERY disappointed not to get a Gold coin today, and wasn’t surprised the US Mint didn’t just do the right thing and let everyone who was in line for hours on… Read more »

scott

I ordered my 5 coins at approx. 1 hr 45 min after the site opened. All my information was loaded for quick checkout. Within minutes I checked my credit card website and saw a charge for 720.00 dollars….than another minutes later for 500.00…I was questioning what was going on when the credit card co called. Five bogus charges from new York in minutes. I had tried to call the mint when I saw the first charge….all lines busy!! no way to contact them via e-mail! Anybody else have this prob? I think the site has been hacked

Tom

In years to come, a coin that will barely return its weight in gold with no mintage limits. Let the retailers get their money from those that are willing to pay, personally, I’m not even sure the Mints price is actually worth it. Not one of the better values I’ve seen in 22 years of collecting.

Kenneth

I have to agree with you, Tom, talking about the cost of the coin versus its bullion value, but I am a collector. I invest my money elsewhere. I don’t speculate and don’t worry about the dollar value of my coins. The real value is the joy I get from my collection! The Kennedy Half Dollar Set has a number of interesting varieties. I waited 45 minutes in the web queue and ordered one. The email confirms the 8/5/14 transaction date and states, “backordered”. There is nothing included about any ship date. I will be happy to have one gold… Read more »

Tom

It depends on what you do with your collection Kenneth, for most, collections are hidden away in a safe or a draw out of site. Most people are not willing to display a coin collection where people coming and going can see them.

art

It seems like the Kennedy gold half dollar is a good deal at $1240.00 for 3/4 oz of gold. The 1/4 oz gold eagle is $422.50. Multiply 422.50 Ɨ3= 1267.50. And the Kennedy is 99.99% gold compare to the eagle 91.67 % gold.

Annie

My back ordered date was moved from 9/15 to 9/3 and another from 9/10 to 8/27. I wondered why?. My estimation for number of sales is around 60,000 piece as of now.

Brian

I talked to someone at the Mint yesterday and he said they sold the initial 40K that they had for inventory in 3 hours. Orders after that I’m sure are going to have to wait at least 2 months to see their coins. I just got home from trying to get a Gold Kennedy in Chicago for the 2nd morning in a row, and there have to be at least 1000 people waiting outside to try and get one. I got there at 5:15 this morning and turned around.

Art Schuetze

I’m not at all impressed with the online ordering system, I got on at 1145 and got in the ordering room at 1206, and after trying to order for 30 minutes I got looped into the wait room for two hours and 30 minutes, after that wait I got looped again for an hour. I finally said screw this and called and got a rep in 20 minutes and ordered one. Next time I will use both methods,but it seems the phone is the best method. Your lucky if you didn’t get looped a couple of times in the online… Read more »

jim

Nobody is impressed with the online ordering system – that’s why they’re changing it.

RonnieBGood

Here is my experience. I used 3 clocks to get on the Mints web site at the correct time. I tried 3 minutes early (just to see if I could) and was told they were not excepting logins till noon. So I used my computers clock, my Smartphone and Netflix to get on at exactly Noon EST. My wait jumped from 21 minutes to 38 but took 29 minutes get in and another 5 to place my order. Ship date was listed for 8/5 (awesome). I will see if it slips but I was happy with my ordering process. This… Read more »

RonnieBGood

Just checked and my Status is Hold “In Stock and Reserved” with no ship date.

Larry

What makes the first four coins that valuable?

art

That’s a 20k question Larry.

jim

it’s called fool’s gold.

Larry Ramos

I went to Chicago from MI trying to get a coin but couldn’t because they were sold out by 0800 on the very first day. Some dealers are paying bus loads of people 1000 to stand in line all week for them. then they give them the money to buy the coin before they get to the counter. Why can’t the US mint make sure that everyone in line has a USmint account. And they are buying ONLY the limit at the coin show? The US mint ignores the limit that they imposed and we the people get shafted by… Read more »

Victor DeCurtis

Larry, the four coins fetched $5,000, each. To have the very first coins sold is a “big deal” to some. However, a real collector, not a hoarder goes for condition. A 70, is a 70, no matter whose “authorized facsimile autograph” is on it. A mint worker or a mint head’s signature is no more valuable, than the letters, MS-70 or PF-70. But, bragging rights can be one hell of a lure. šŸ™‚ Larry Ramos, don’t forget to add the cost of the trip to what you pay for the coin. Add in the tolls, breakfast and lunch, too. šŸ˜‰… Read more »

Bill

Bought one simply by logging into my account at Mint website. No issues no problems. Got it yesterday, the 6th. Did not seem a big deal at all. Of course the wife does not know I just dropped $1200!

Victor DeCurtis

Bill, I promise not to tell her, if you don’t let it slip, that I went for 2400. šŸ˜‰

Joe33

Like RonnieBGood above, my order is still:
ā€œIn Stock and Reservedā€ with no ship date.
So, I called and the rep said “Orders are
filled in the order received” I told her I doubted
that was really true. I got my order in and paid
for and logged out at 12;:24 EST. First 24 minutes.

What time was your order entered at RonnieBGood?
12:10, 12:15? Just want to know if they really did fill
“in order received”.

Joe33

Oops, I had meant to address that question to “Bill”,
who already received his coin. So:

What time was your order entered at Bill?
12:10, 12:15? Just want to know if they really did fill
ā€œin order receivedā€.

Annie

Ok. now I have back ordered dated 8/27, 9/3 and 9/10 . Order numbers were 43727xxx, 43730xxx and 43742xxx respectively.

I think the average price for kennedy gold raw coin is around $1,750.00 each. And the average certified perfect one is $3,500.00 each. Mint offered at $1,240.00. Next week might able to go up to $1,277.50. But the bullion value is around $982.13 based on $1,309.50 per ounce.

Victor DeCurtis

Annie, “The Coin Vault” is selling each PF-70 Gold for $4,995.95. Modern Coin Mart is selling PF-70’s for 4950.00 and Silver Towne has them for $4999.95 PF-69’s are $3,999.95.

Dave

Had my order confirmation at 12:17 and the status at this point is in stock and reserved. So far no charges to my credit card. ordered 2 ( 1 for me and one for my dad ). Cant wait to get them. I would like to know how everyone else is making out with the status of their order if you’d like to chime in. Thanks.

dads friend

“So far no charges to my credit card.” US mint does not charge your cc until they ship. Mine said in stock & reserved ships 08-05. But its 08-11 and nothing has shipped. Plus when I went yesterday to see how the delay was it said ships 09-15 but today says ships 08-11. Something shady going on at the mint fo’ sure. Maybe the big dealers like apmex are getting priority over the little onesie and twosie orders like myself.