The Kennedy half dollar replaced the Franklin Half-Dollar shortly after JFK's assassination in November 1963. The new coins were immediately swallowed up by collectors upon their release in March 1964. By this time, the rising price of silver was driving most silver coinage out of circulation, and despite a huge production run in 1964, these half dollars almost never circulated. To solve the problem, the Johnson administration removed silver from most US coinage for 1965; the silver content of the Kennedy half dollar was reduced to 40%. As a result, 1964 is the only year that 90% Kennedy halves were produced for circulation.
SPECIFICATIONS:
| Denomination: | 50 cents (2 x .50 = $1) |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Metal: | Silver (Ag) .900 Fine Silver |
| Weight: | .715 |
| Size: | 30.6 mm |
| Finish: | Junk Silver |
| Grade Service | None |
| Mintage: | N/A |
| Date of issue: | 1964 |
| Additions | N/A |