The JFK Half Dollar is the current design used on the US 50-cent piece in circulation. This design was created and introduced in 1964, just months after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in office. The rapid development of the Kennedy Half Dollar was aided by the use of existing designs that had been created years earlier during his administration. The JFK Half Dollar is, today, a popular coin for private mints to use in creating commemorative pieces. Now, Colorized JFK Half Dollar Coins are available to you for purchase online at JM Bullion.
Coin Highlights:
- Coins arrive in protective capsules with an included Certificate of Authenticity!
- Designed in 1964!
- Colorized reverse field!
- Legal tender US coin!
- Contains a cupronickel alloy.
- Issued a face value of $.50 (USD) by the United States.
- President John F. Kennedy on the obverse.
- Modified presidential seal on the reverse.
Following President Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963, there was a conversation regarding a change in US coinage to include the late president on one of the nation’s circulation coins. The designs in circulation then, as now, included the Lincoln Penny, Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt Dime, and the Washington Quarter.
Initial conversations revolved around replacing President George Washington on the Quarter, but the former first lady, Mrs. Kennedy, did not think that choice was appropriate. The decision was made, instead, to replace Benjamin Franklin on the Half Dollar with a new design honoring the late president.
President John F. Kennedy is featured in left-profile relief on the obverse of the Colorized JFK Half Dollar. This left-profile portrait was not a new creation, but rather, had been designed early in his presidency for use on the Presidential Medal.
In the reverse design of the Colorized JFK Half Dollar, the US Mint features the image of a modified version of the Presidential Seal. This visual includes an American bald eagle in front-facing relief with its wings spread, the US national shield on its chest, the arrows of war in one talon, and the olive branch of peace in the other. The colorization added to this side brings a golden color to the rim of the field, with blue in the background field and real-life colors for the bald eagle, the olive branch, and the arrows.
These Colorized JFK Half Dollar Coins were modified by the Merrick Mint with the reverse colorization. Each coin is actual US legal tender and arrives in a protective capsule with a Certificate of Authenticity included.
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