3 Rare Kennedy Half Dollars You Might Find in Your Pocket Change

For coin collectors and informal hobbyists alike, the Kennedy Half Dollar holds a unique vicinity in U.S. Coinage records. First minted in 1964 to honor the past due President John F. Kennedy, these 50-cent pieces have been in circulation for many years. While many are common and still in use, some uncommon editions are really worth a long way extra than their face cost—and they might simply be sitting in your pocket change or tucked away in an antique coin jar.

Here are the Top three Rare Kennedy Half Dollars that would be hiding in undeniable sight:

1964 Kennedy Half Dollar (Accented Hair Variety)

Estimated Value: $200 – $5,000+

The very first yr of Kennedy Half Dollar production became 1964, and amongst them is an extraordinary range known as the “Accented Hair“. This version was a part of an early evidence set and may be identified by the extra detailing in Kennedy’s hair above his ear.

Key Identifiers:

• Thicker, more pronounced strands of hair.
• Missing serif on the “I” in LIBERTY.
• Appears only in 1964 Proof Sets.

Collectors highly value this variety because it changed into pulled from production early in favor of a cleaner design. If you’ve inherited proof sets or encounter early Sixties coins, this could be a hidden gem.

1970-D Kennedy Half Dollar

Estimated Value: $50 – $200+ (uncirculated)

While half dollars from the 1970s are generally not rare, the 1970-D (Denver Mint) issue is an exception. It was never released for general circulation and was only included in special mint sets, making it one of the scarcest in the series.

Key Identifiers:

• Look for the “D” mint mark on the coin’s obverse.
• Struck in 40% silver—valuable for both collectors and silver stackers.
• Not typically found in regular circulation, but can appear in estate collections or old coin stashes.

If you find one in uncirculated condition, it’s definitely worth getting it appraised.

1982 No FG Kennedy Half Dollar

Estimated Value: $300 – $1,000+

This quirky error coin is missing the initials “FG” (for engraver Frank Gasparro) on the reverse side near the eagle’s tail feathers and leg. The 1982-P (Philadelphia Mint) version without the FG is considered an error coin, and collectors love rare minting mistakes.

Key Identifiers:

• No “FG” initials on the reverse.
• Typically appears on 1982-P coins.
• Only valuable if the FG is completely missing—partial fades don’t qualify.

This is one coin that might be hiding in plain sight in your loose change.

Final Thought

Kennedy Half Dollars are not only a tribute to a beloved president but also a fascinating series for collectors. While maximum are still worth 50 cents, those uncommon unearths may want to fetch loads or maybe hundreds of bucks—making it well worth it slow to check your coin jars, old wallets, and inherited collections. So subsequent time you get a half dollar in exchange or stumble upon an antique coin stash, take a better look—you would possibly simply find out the sort of rare treasures!

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