-
Inventory:
12 In Stock
- Product ID: 3577
When the Kennedy Half Dollar was first conceived, just one month after John F. Kennedy's assassination, lines around the US Mint buildings were endless. The US Mint couldn't keep up with the demand for the new half dollar, lending to zero actually being put into circulation. The fact that their were more people than coins minted, over 273 million to be exact, reveals not only how much Kennedy was loved by his country but also, the prediction of 90% silver becoming more valuable someday couldn't be more accurate. Kennedy Half Dollars are now appreciated for their history, who they represent, and are just fun to collect for someone looking for a hobby. The 90% silver Kennedy halves are extremely popular and there aren't enough to go around for the demand.
The 2008-P Kennedy Half Dollar was minted by the Philadelphia Mint, the actual first mint in the US. The Philadelphia Mint produced exactly 1.7 million half dollars in 2008, which is on the lower end of the Kennedy Half Dollar mintage scale. The Kennedy Half Dollar is the only half dollar to see three metallic changes through its series. Starting in 1964, the Kennedy was made from 90% silver then was cut down to 40% silver. From 1971 and onward, the Kennedy Half Dollars are made from a copper-nickel clad composition. It wouldn't be until 1975 that Congress passed a bill allowing the US Mint to use 40% silver in the proof halves. Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro were the sculptors who had the honor of designing the Kennedy Half Dollar. Needing a design quickly, the US Mint approved of a design the two had created for a presidential medal that was liked by the late president.