On November 22, 1963, the United States endured the tragic loss of President John F. Kennedy. Within three days of the assassination, the director of the mint gave notice to the chief engraver to prepare a coin bearing JFK’s portrait. Before deciding, officials gave serious consideration to the Quarter, Half Dollar, and Silver Dollar. The idea of the Dollar was quickly discarded and Jacqueline Kennedy herself requested that Washington be kept on the quarter. Because the Franklin Half Dollar had not yet fulfilled its required run time, President Lyndon B. Johnson asked Congress to authorize the replacement of the Franklin design with the new Kennedy image. The bill was signed into law, and three days after that, the Philadelphia Mint received dies for striking 1964 Proof Kennedy Half Dollars. Gilroy Roberts, chief engraver of the Mint, designed the obverse of the coin while Frank Gasparro, renowned engraver, designed the reverse. The coins were made available to the public on March 24, 1964. 



The obverse of the coin depicts Kennedy’s portrait, which was based on the portrait on the Kennedy inaugural medal to adhere to the time-sensitive nature of the project. Despite several suggestions that a full- or half-figure of the president be used instead of the profile, Roberts maintained that the left-facing profile would give an attractive appearance. He restructured the forehead and created a mouth that appears to be gently smiling. He also heeded Jacqueline Kennedy’s suggestion to soften the hair's part, and to add some additional hair lines to provide texture, and create a more life-like image. 



The reverse is Gasparro’s rendition of the Presidential Seal. The Seal centers around a heraldic eagle, facing left. It is grasping an olive branch and arrows in each of its talons. A U.S. shield is centered on its chest. A banner flies above and seems to be suspended in the air by sunrays and an arch of clouds. Fifty small stars surround the design, representing the states and framing the rim inscriptions. 

Kennedy Half Dollars have been struck in three different compositions. The 1964 issue was struck in traditional 90% silver. The following year, when dimes and quarters were changed to copper-nickel clad, the Half Dollar was preserved as a silver coin by striking it in a 40% silver version. Finally, as minting operations placed a strain on the Treasury’s stock of silver, the use of silver was abandoned in 1971. Current circulation issues are now struck in the same composition as dimes and quarters. A special reverse design can be found on the 1975 and 1976 issues that commemorate the American Bicentennial. These designs depict Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and were created by engraver Seth G. Huntington.

The “Accented Hair” variety was the first design struck by the Mint in 1964. However, when Jacqueline Kennedy expressed disappointment with the design of the hair on the President’s portrait, the Mint immediately ceased production, and on her recommendation, refigured the dies. The newly struck regular issue had many subtle variations from the Accented Hair design, most notably the detail on Kennedy’s hair just above his ear. On the Accented Hair variety there is a longer strand to the left paired with a shorter strand that runs parallel to the right, together forming a wishbone shape. This is absent on the regular variety. On the reverse of the Accented Hair variety, the eagle’s shield is slightly pitted and has rounded edges. The shield has no pitting and has sharper edges on the regular variety. It is estimated that of the almost four million Kennedy halves produced; only 100,000 are of the “Accented Hair” variety. 



Due to overwhelming popularity, the U.S. Mint continues to strike Kennedy Half Dollars to this very day. These stunning coins have captured the public’s attention and with such wide popularity, have become an important piece of our nation’s history.