Commemorating the semicentennial of the Kennedy half-dollar with its first appearance in 1964, the United States Mint today, July 24, released the 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Uncirculated Coin Set.
Available for $9.95, the two-coin set has no mintage limits but there is an established household ordering limit of five in place. Early ordering was lively with the U.S. Mint toggling on its "waiting room" feature due to high traffic. By about 2:00 PM ET, or two hours after the sets launched, ordering and movement around the U.S. Mint website returned to normal. (Return to this article on Friday for an update on early sales totals.) The U.S. Mint has said 37,000 sets are on hand to ship immediately.
CoinNews Update: First day sales for the 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Uncirculated Coin Set hit 68,974.
Found inside the set are the following two clad halves:
- 2014-P Kennedy Uncirculated Half-Dollar
- 2014-D Kennedy Uncirculated Half-Dollar
Both are struck to uncirculated quality with one coming from the U.S. Mint facility in Philadelphia and the other from the U.S. Mint facility in Denver.
Original Design
An obverse portrait of President John F. Kennedy is featured on both halves just it first appeared on inaugural 1964 coins. The effigy, by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Gilroy Roberts, has seen a several revisions over the years. When comparing the original design on the 1964 and 2014 50th anniversary halves to the one appearing on other modern Kennedy halves, like those found within the rolls and bags releases earlier this year, there are distinct differences in the hair, chin and cheek details.
Reverses include United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Frank Gasparro’s heraldic eagle with shield design. This design has remained unchanged over the years.
Packaging
Both coins are encapsulated and attached to a specially illustrated coin card which also includes design descriptions, coin specifications, a certificate of authenticity, and the official Department of the Treasury seal. The card allows viewing of both the obverse and reverse of each coin.
A folder is also included to house the card. Printed on the front of the folder along with imagery of the obverse side of a 1964 Kennedy Half is "50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Uncirculated Coin Set."
The inside of the folder has a large partial likeness of the reverse of the coin as well smaller obverse and reverse images.
Ordering
Those interested in purchasing one of the newly available 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Uncirculated Coin Sets may do so directly from the United States Mint. Orders are accepted via Mint’s online catalog page, located here, or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
Upcoming 50th Anniversary Products
This two-coin set is issued as one of three special 2014 products from the United States Mint that marks the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy halves. Due to be released on August 5, 2014 is a 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Proof Coin. It will be followed at a later date, yet to be determined, by the 2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Four-Coin Silver Set.
I commend the Mint for having 37,000 units on hand and ready to ship and limiting the household orders to 5 sets. This will keep the end user, the collector happy. It has seemed that in the past the Mint has been catering to the larger orders from dealers/grading services and have finally recognized that if the end user, the collector, is happy the hobby will thrive.
I got my order in for 5.
I logged in to the Mint’s web site at exactly noon and was placed in the waiting room. It all went fairly well. The wait time jumped from 21 minutes to 37 minutes but ultimately took a little over a half an hour to place my order of 5 sets. Thanks to those at the Mint that made this happen. I believe your new ordering system is a success!
I jump in the waiting room about 1145 am at a1212pm my 5 sets were ordered. It went smooth a delivery date 7/28/14…can’t wait to see these coins.
Ordered a couple of sets at 2:30 PM. No waiting, but shipping won’t be till the first week of September, so they’re doing additional minting as demand exceeds supply. All in all a well handled sale with reasonable limits at a very fair price, and mintage controlled by a fairly efficient ordering system. Hopefully the silver set will go off as well.
The U.S. Mint just reported that first-day sales for the set hit 68,974.
RBG –
Not the new ordering system yet. I vaguely remember seeing something very recently about it saying more info to come, but not here yet. I think it will be a visibly new interface and the waiting room will also go away.
Are these any different than the normal halves included in the annual uncirculated coin set? I’ve tried to figure it out but there is nothing conclusive that I’ve seen.
Look at the second image in this article and read the caption.
The new image looks like he lost some weight and aged a little.
Ok, so these are the same as the mint set coins. I read that the 4-coin silver set would have some coins that go back to the original higher relief design.
Well, if 37,000 were made available AND the US Mint is selling these at the US Mint Gift Shops AND the ANA Show in Chicago, how many do you suppose were set aside for “Online Orders”?
I see that the current “expected ship date” has been slipped from 7/28/2014 to 09/07/2014 for folks that order today (7/25/2014).
I wouldn’t hold my breath on the promised ship date unless you were HSN. The mint doesn’t usually deliver as promised here. I’m basing this on experience all the way back to the 2011 ASE 25th Anniversary sets.
My ship sate has slipped one day to 7/29/14…still not bad.
It will keep slipping Dale.
JT, These are not the same as the mint set coins. Read the articles.
Yea …now slipped to 7/30/14 lost 2 days in 2 days…lol
I’m slipping too Dale…lol. When you are checking status on the mint sight and it doesn’t give you the option to cancel your order to the right, It should be shipping in the next couple days. Been thru it several times. The communication system has a little bit to be desired.
Mine slipped out another day as well. I guess I should have expected it.
After all, they’d been taking orders for a full 26 minutes before mine was placed.
WTH is going on???
Thanks for the info Jack,
I will be checking daily as to no doubt may not see these till mid August.
Dale
Yea..i feel once you where in line or on the portal your order should be shipped in that order …i think we may of been jumped over…. thus the push back of date could be wrong sure seems that way..
Now slipped to 7/31/14 even on the weekends ..
Jack you were right…
This totally sucks.
Glad I can be helpful Dale! I’m hoping, most likely they will be shipped early next week. It’s a strange computerized system the mint has for promised ship dates. The mint even told me one time that the system will display random dates. Just remember, when you don’t have the option to cancel your order, it’s ALMOST on it’s way. Happy collecting!
These sets are selling for crazy money. I just came back from DC on a long weekend vacation and picked up several at the US Mint in DC. There were lines out the door. Dealers were paying $50 extra per set from people who could get them on the first day. The Mint had a strict limit of 2 sets per customer, no exceptions. The sets on ebay are selling from $50-100 per set!!!! Brian
7/28/14 cancel block is gone today in stock and reserved…hope this means shipping isn’t far off…
Now you’ll get an e-mail in the wee hours of the morning (probably tomorrow) letting you know it shipped.
2014 KENNEDY ANNIVERSARY UNC CLAD SET 5 $9.95 $49.75 5 units shipped on 07/30/2014 confirmed !!!! yes on the way. next up silver 4 coin set this fall..thanks for the help jack your word is true…best regards, Dale
Do these come with certificate of authenticity?
You mean………..like the packaging perhaps??
I had no problems whats so ever. Placed my order at 12p.m. noon and everything went as smooth as silk. One of the easiest orders I’ve ever placed for coins with a small mintage and a special 50th anniversary set. Also received order of 4 sets in exactly 4 days from order date placed. Thank You U.S. Mint.gov. They have been very good to me on all my orders and subscriptions. I just dislike those dealers and television sellers who scoop up all the sets wiith a very small mintage like 13,000 total mintage for $50 dollars or so, and… Read more »