CollecTons Keepers #15: 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar 90% Silver Inaugural Issue Certified in Exclusive ANACS Gem Proof Holder

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We are excited to release the fifteenth coin in the CollecTons Keepers program, an exclusive series only offered by CollecTons. The fifteenth coin we present, CollecTons Keepers #15 in Series, features the rare 1964 Proof Kennedy Half Dollar in 90% Silver.

Why is the 1964 Kennedy Proof Half Dollar a Coin Worth Keeping?

Just hours after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Chief U.S. Mint Engraver Gilroy Roberts was contacted by Mint Director Eva Adams, who informed him that serious consideration was already being given to designing a coin to commemorate the late president's life. On November 27, 1963, just 5 days after the assassination, the new design was authorized by the mint, though not approved by Congress. The late president's widow, Jacqueline Kennedy, was consulted, and it was decided to replace Benjamin Franklin on the half dollar, since the first lady did not want to take George Washington off the quarter. While the dies for the new coin were being created, a new coinage bill was passed by Congress on December 30, 1963 which allowed the design to be used on the half dollar.

There was very little time to create a new design for the coin so Gilroy based the coin on a medal that he and Frank Gasparro had already created. The coin features a bust of JFK on the obverse and a Presidential Seal on the reverse. It is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper and is the only year of the Kennedy Half dollar to have this composition.

The coin was met with overwhelming public approval which, in combination with the rising price of silver, resulted in the coins being hoarded. In response, the Treasury Department announced that no proof sets would be struck in 1965, 1966 or 1967 and modified the composition of the circulating coins to contain only 40% silver, making this first year of issue the only Kennedy Half dollar composed of 90% silver.

Here we present the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar in Proof finish.

Coin Specifications

• Year: 1964
• Mint: Philadelphia
• Mintage: 3,950,762
• Designer: Obverse: Gilroy Roberts, Reverse: Frank Gasparro
• Composition: .900 Silver, .100 Copper
• Weight: 12.5 grams
• Diameter: 30.6mm
• Edge: Reeded

Here at CollecTons, we work hard researching coins that should be part of every collection. Our goal is to utilize our knowledge in the numismatic industry to select coins worthy of being in everyone's collection! Therefore, the CollecTons Keepers program will only feature those Coins Worth Keeping.

Each coin is hand selected and given to ANACS (America's Oldest Grading Service) for grading and authentication. The coins are then sealed in an ANACs certified proprietary slab holder for long-term storage, with our limited edition label marking it a CollecTons Keeper.

Collect one or collect the entire series!