New circulating-quality 2015 Kennedy half-dollars are now available from the United States Mint. They’re different, but not entirely. This year’s 50-cent pieces have something in common with last year’s special 50th anniversary Kennedy coinage — they bear Gilroy Roberts’ 1964 portrait of the president.
Last year, the U.S. Mint struck 13 different Kennedy halves. There was 6 regular annual issues with the "modernized" portrait of Kennedy and 7 anniversary versions bearing the restored 1964 Kennedy portrait. This year, all halves will sport the restored portrait.
On Thursday, Feb. 12, the U.S. Mint began selling the new half-dollars in two-roll sets and in 200-coin bags. For $139.95, buyers can get a bag with coins made in the Denver Mint or Philadelphia Mint. At a lower price of $32.95, collectors can pick up two-roll sets which have one 20-coin roll from each minting facility. All coins bear either the ‘P’ or ‘D’ mint mark to declare their origin, and the same goes for their packaging.
While both product options include circulating-quality Kennedy half-dollars, none of these coins have actually entered circulation. The U.S. Mint stopped striking half dollars for circulation in 2002. Since that time, production has been geared solely toward coin collectors. The table below illustrates how mintages have mostly declined since that change.
2000 – 2015 Kennedy Half-Dollar Mintages
| Total Mintage | |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 42,070,000 |
| 2001 | 40,700,000 |
| 2002 | 5,600,000 |
| 2003 | 5,000,000 |
| 2004 | 5,800,000 |
| 2005 | 7,300,000 |
| 2006 | 4,400,000 |
| 2007 | 4,800,000 |
| 2008 | 3,400,000 |
| 2009 | 3,800,000 |
| 2010 | 3,500,000 |
| 2011 | 3,450,000 |
| 2012 | 3,500,000 |
| 2013 | 9,600,000 |
| 2014 | 4,600,000 |
| 2015 | 4,600,000 |
The 4.6 million mintage total of 2015 Kennedy Half-Dollars includes 2.3 million from Denver and 2.3 million from Philadelphia. Those figures are as of January, but the amount produced early on is usually enough to satisfy collector demand for an entire year.
Ordering
Rolls and bags of 2015 Kennedy half-dollars may be ordered by going to the United States Mint’s website at www.usmint.gov with a link to Kennedy products right here.
Orders are also accepted by calling the Mint’s toll-free number at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). No household ordering limits have been established.
Recent Sales
The U.S. Mint usually has plenty of older circulating-quality Kennedy halves to offer them well into a new year. That’s not the case this year. Last year’s 50th anniversary of Kennedy half-dollars helped boost interest and all 50-cent roll and bag products sold out. The following table offers sales of Kennedy half-dollar products since 2011.
| Latest Sales | Total Coins | |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 P&D 200-Coin Bag | 12,967 | 3,806,640 |
| 2014 P&D Two-Roll Set | 30,331 | |
| 2013 P&D 200-Coin Bag | 9,980 | 3,001,440 |
| 2013 P&D Two-Roll Set | 25,136 | |
| 2012 P&D 200-Coin Bag | 10,323 | 3,415,240 |
| 2012 P&D Two-Roll Set | 33,766 | |
| 2011 P&D 200-Coin Bag | 9,455 | 3,002,280 |
| 2011 P&D Two-Roll Set | 27,782 |
2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy products that remain for sale include the proof gold half-dollar for $1,202.50 and the silver coin collection for $99.95.
