U.S. Coin Library

Half Dollars (1794 - Present)

Half dollars have been made since 1794. Only four different designs are ever usually seen by the public. They are the Barber design, made from 1892 until 1915, the Walking Liberty design, made from 1916 until 1947, the Franklin Half, made from 1948 until 1963, and the Kennedy Half from 1964 to the present.

The Barber Half has a head of Liberty facing right and has its mint mark on the reverse under the eagle. The Walking Liberty design features a full figure of Liberty facing left. On coins dated 1916 or 1917, the mintmark can be found either on the front of the coin just below the word TRUST or on the reverse just below the branches. After 1917 the mintmark is always on the reverse. The Franklin Half has its mintmark on the reverse above the bell. The Kennedy design also has two mintmark locations. In 1964 the mintmark is above the letter L in HALF, next to the olive branch. From 1968 on the mintmark is just below Kennedy's bust to the left of WE.

When either Barber or Walking Liberty halves are found by the public, they are quite worn and are worth only their silver value. The most valuable Barber half dollars are the ones dated 1892-O, 1892-S and the 1897-S. The rarest Walking Liberty halves are the 1921 and 1921-D.

The Franklin series, however, contains no particular rarities and most circulated coins are only worth their silver value. Kennedy halves dated 1964 are also worth their silver value.  Those Kennedy halves dated 1965 through 1970 only contain 40% silver.  The Kennedy half dollar, dated 1776-1976 was issued for the Bicentennial and is only worth its face value.

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