Why is the 1913 Barber Half Dollar valuable?

1913 Philadelphia — low mintage, scarce in any grade.

Why is the 1921 Walking Liberty Half Dollar valuable?

1921, 1921-D, 1921-S — all low mintage, key dates of the series.

Why is the 1955 Franklin Half Dollar valuable?

1955 'Bugs Bunny' — die clash gives Franklin's mouth the appearance of buck teeth.

Why is the 1970-D Kennedy Half Dollar valuable?

1970-D — only released in mint sets, never in circulation. Always 40% silver.

Why is the 1998-S Kennedy Half Dollar valuable?

1998-S Matte Finish — special collector issue, low mintage.

50¢ face value

Half-Dollar lookup

Half dollars hide a lot of silver — every issue dated 1969 or earlier contains some.

№ 01Year

Look for the date on the obverse (the front). Mintage spans 1892–2099 for this denomination.

Matches: Kennedy Half Dollar (1964–present)

№ 02Mint mark

A small letter on the coin showing where it was struck. No mark usually means Philadelphia.

Where to find it: obverse below Kennedy (1968+); reverse left of branch (1964)

№ 03Condition

Estimate the visible wear. Pick the closest match — values shift significantly between tiers.

№ 04Errors & varieties

Check anything you can verify on the coin.

Inspect

Worth a closer look.

In good condition or with error features, this coin can carry a real premium. Inspect carefully before deciding.

Estimated value: $0.50 – $30
Face value: 50¢
Confidence: High

Estimates reflect typical retail values for the noted condition. Actual sale prices vary with grade, eye appeal, and authentication. Confirm valuable finds with PCGS or NGC.

What this means

In plain English

This is a Kennedy Half Dollar. For this date and mint, it's a common issue typically worth face value in circulated condition. Mint-state examples or future error spotting could change that.

What to inspect

A short checklist

1964: 90% silver — substantial melt value at any silver price
1965–1970: 40% silver clad — note the silvery-copper edge has a different look than fully clad coins
1970-D was issued only in mint sets — none entered circulation officially
Mint mark on the reverse 1964; on the obverse below Kennedy from 1968 onward

Series details

Kennedy Half Dollar

Years issued: 1964–present
Composition: 1964: 90% silver. 1965–1970: 40% silver clad. 1971 onward: 75% copper / 25% nickel clad over copper. Special collector silver issues exist.
Obverse: John F. Kennedy, left-facing portrait
Reverse: Presidential coat of arms

Check another coin Reset this lookup

✦ Reference table ✦ Key dates & varieties

Every half dollar key date we track.

5 catalogued entries sorted by year. Values shown across condition tiers — heavy wear is rare, so most circulated finds will sit in the lower half of each range.

Specimen	Series	Why it's notable	Circulated	Uncirculated
1913	Barber Half Dollar	1913 Philadelphia — low mintage, scarce in any grade.	$150 – $350	$700 – $2,500
1921	Walking Liberty Half Dollar	1921, 1921-D, 1921-S — all low mintage, key dates of the series.	$300 – $800	$2,500 – $30,000
1955	Franklin Half Dollar	1955 'Bugs Bunny' — die clash gives Franklin's mouth the appearance of buck teeth.	$35 – $60	$60 – $300
1970-D	Kennedy Half Dollar	1970-D — only released in mint sets, never in circulation. Always 40% silver.	$35 – $55	$50 – $200
1998-S	Kennedy Half Dollar	1998-S Matte Finish — special collector issue, low mintage.	$150 – $200	$300 – $800

1913
Barber Half Dollar
1913 Philadelphia — low mintage, scarce in any grade.
Circulated
$150 – $350
Uncirculated
$700 – $2,500
1921
Walking Liberty Half Dollar
1921, 1921-D, 1921-S — all low mintage, key dates of the series.
Circulated
$300 – $800
Uncirculated
$2,500 – $30,000
1955
Franklin Half Dollar
1955 'Bugs Bunny' — die clash gives Franklin's mouth the appearance of buck teeth.
Circulated
$35 – $60
Uncirculated
$60 – $300
1970-D
Kennedy Half Dollar
1970-D — only released in mint sets, never in circulation. Always 40% silver.
Circulated
$35 – $55
Uncirculated
$50 – $200
1998-S
Kennedy Half Dollar
1998-S Matte Finish — special collector issue, low mintage.
Circulated
$150 – $200
Uncirculated
$300 – $800

Authenticate any high-value find with a professional grading service (PCGS, NGC). Altered dates and added mint marks are common in older key dates — strong third-party authentication protects your investment.