1964 Kennedy Half Dollar Value
Struck within months of the assassination, the 1964 Kennedy half was hoarded from the first day: over 400 million minted and most never circulated. It's also the only 90% silver Kennedy (0.3617 oz), so the live melt floor below is the price engine; collector premium on common examples is modest.
Proof collectors chase the accented hair variety, an early proof die state with heavier hair lines above the ear, changed reportedly at Jacqueline Kennedy's preference. Regular proofs are common; accented-hair examples carry a clear premium.
| Mintage | 400M+ (P+D) |
|---|---|
| Silver | 90% — 0.3617 oz, live floor below |
| Sole year | Only 90% silver Kennedy |
| Proof variety | 1964 accented hair |
Live melt floor: 0.3617 oz silver × spot ≈ $25.00 right now, and no fair offer goes below it.
Value bands
| Condition / variety | Typical retail |
|---|---|
| Circulated | melt + $0–3 |
| Uncirculated | melt + $3–10 |
| Proof | melt + $8–20 |
| Accented hair proof | melt + $40+ |
Bands are conservative US retail ranges for problem-free coins; dealers buy below retail. Where a melt floor applies it overrides any lower band figure.
1964 vs later Kennedys
Date first, always: 1965–1970 halves are 40% silver (0.1479 oz), 1971+ clad. A drawer of “silver halves” usually contains all three; the composition table on the half dollar melt page sorts a pile in minutes.
Coin specifications from U.S. Mint standards; key dates should be checked against the PCGS / NGC price guides; value bands are editorial retail ranges reviewed against public auction and dealer pricing; they are context, not offers. Live melt data via gold-api.com. See how we calculate.