Roger Overton

Mercury Dimes (1916–1945) feature one of the most celebrated designs in U.S. coinage. Learn about key dates, Full Bands varieties, and building your collection.

Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916–1947) feature the iconic design used on American Silver Eagles. Explore key dates, mint marks, and how to build your set.

Peace Silver Dollars (1921–1935) commemorate WWI’s end with iconic Art Deco design. Explore key dates, high relief varieties, and tips for building your set.

Morgan Silver Dollars minted 1878–1921 remain the most collected U.S. coin series. Learn about key dates, mint marks, grades, and building your collection.

The 2026 Silver Eagle Collection marks America's 250th anniversary with the first-ever dual date and Liberty Bell privy mark. Explore all 2026 options.

For many modern collectors, the most exciting way to acquire Kennedy Half Dollars is through Coin Roll Hunting (CRH). This involves ordering boxes of half dollars from a local bank and systematically searching them for valuable coins.

For most Kennedy Half Dollars, intrinsic metal value or low mintage provides a baseline price. However, what transforms an ordinary coin into a highly desirable numismatic piece is its condition and finish. In the collector market, scarcity is only half the story; a coin’s value is ultimately determined by its certified grade on the 70-point Sheldon scale. 

One of the most valuable and actively searched error types in the Kennedy series involves the initials of the coin’s reverse designer, Frank Gasparro. His initials, "FG," are typically located on the reverse, near the eagle’s left leg and the central tail feathers. 

Unlike many older coin series, the Kennedy Half Dollar does not have a single “stopper” coin of extreme rarity in regular circulation strikes, making the series relatively accessible to complete.   However, specific dates are dramatically scarcer because they were either exclusively sold to collectors or produced in extremely low quantities. 

The Kennedy Half Dollar series stands as one of the most iconic U.S. coins, rich in history and extremely popular among collectors. It is America's longest-running half dollar design. Born from a national tragedy, the coin was conceived as a permanent memorial to the 35th President, John F. Kennedy, following his assassination. Over the course of just seven years, the series chronicled a critical inflection point in American economic history as the U.S. moved away from silver coinage.