1964 Kennedy Half Dollar Varieties Are Exploding in Value — The 1964 Kennedy half dollar is not a coin; it is an image that reminds of one of the most emotive and turning times in the American history. After the assassination of the President John F. Kennedy in November 1963, the whole country went into mourning. This coin was minted during this period in order to give the people a permanent reminder of their favorite president. That is why this coin, which was released in 1964 turned out to be a pocket-sized memorial. With time, some rare types of this coin have not only been rendered to have an emotional significance but also to be highly valuable in terms of economy.
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A Historical Coin Made out of Sorrow.
Even the Kennedy half dollar was passed a few months after the death of President Kennedy, an unprecedented speed in the history of the U.S. mint. It was all to do honor to the feelings of the nation. The coin has a serious dignified picture of John F. Kennedy on the obverse to the coin, designed by the Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts. The other side, which showed the presidential seal and the American eagle, was created by Frank Gasparro.
The coin in 1964 was composed of 90 per cent pure silver and had a high intrinsic value. But it was not only the silver, but the feeling that made millions of people love it not to spend it, but to keep it as a treasure. That is why today there is a great number of 1964 Kennedy half dollars, however, only some rare types are taken as the real treasures.
Coining Money in a Hurry and the Birth of Uncommon Varieties.
In 1964 the demand of this coin was so high that the mint was forced to mint this coin at an extremely high rate. This rush and early experimentation was what produced some of the varieties made which are now legends in the numismatic world. These versions were not the ones that were created on purpose, but the minor modifications in the production procedure and technical trials.
Accented Hair Proof: Finding the Early Design.
The Accented Hair Proof is regarded as the most famous and the most expensive type of the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar. This is one of the early proof strikes with deep and clear lines in the strands of hair above the ear of Kennedy. This was subsequently toned down a little as Jacqueline Kennedy considered the design too rough.
This shift led to the variety of Accented Hair being made in small amounts. A coin today that is in good condition would be sold between thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars and thus would be a great aim to collectors.
Doubled Die Varieties: A Little Minting Mistake, Huge Price Tag.
In the minting process, the design in the die is not always aligned. It results in such varieties as the Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) and Doubled Die Reverse (DDR).
There is a slight doubling effect in the words of the DDO coins such as, IN GOD WE TRUST and Liberty. However, DDR varieties have doubling of the wings of eagle and the text of United States of America. These errors are usually present in very few coins and they are thus very desirable and precious.
Special Mint Set (SMS): Mysterious and Extremely Rare.
The Special Mint Set (SMS) is the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar that is said to be the most mysterious. The surface of these coins is not like a business strike of ordinary surface, and is not a complete proof. They are of a satin-mirror finish which is instantly recognisable.
These coins are considered to be a component of an experiment held between 1964 and 1966, which sought to make non-proof quality collectible coins of high quality. Their very small mintage makes them very rare and worth a lot of money priced in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Determination of the Value of a Coin?
The price of a Kennedy half dollar of the year 1964 will not be only based on a mere chance, but will be based on a number of tangible factors. The first one is rarity; the less coins there are the more value it has. Condition is also the second important aspect. The coins are rated on a scale of 1-70 with the coins having a rating of MS or PR 67 and above selling many times more than the average coins.
The third and most important factor is authenticity. The coins that are certified by well established grading organizations such as PCGS or NGC give more confidence to the buyers further boosting their market value.
And have you also a secret treasure?
The first thing to do is to look closely at a half dollar of 1964 that you possess of Kennedy. Examine with a plain magnifying glass the texture of the hair above the ear of Kennedy, any redundancy of the lettering and the surface lustre. The luster of SMS coins is smooth and distinct, and this can be identified easily.
To give a conclusive finding, however, it is always better to refer to an expert numismatist or a professional grading service.
The peculiar mixture of the history, art and worth.
Kennedy half dollar of 1964 is considered to be one of the most emotionally colored coins of America. This coin confirms the fact that even the most ordinary objects may turn extraordinary in the course of time. To the collectors, its rare varieties are not only an investment, but also a chance to touch in history. This silver-minted story keeps on taking people through a journey of discovery, learning, and wonders.
FAQs
Q. Why is the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar so special?
A. It was the first half dollar issued after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and is made of 90% silver.
Q. What is the Accented Hair variety?
A. It is an early proof version with deeper, more detailed hair lines above Kennedy’s ear, making it rare and valuable.
Q. What does Doubled Die mean on a coin?
A. It refers to a minting error where letters or images appear doubled due to misaligned dies.
