One of the most popular news articles last week was about the possibility of the United States Mint striking 2014 Kennedy half dollars in 24-karat gold to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the coin.
Today, as the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee is discussing the viability for such a product, the U.S. Mint has released mockup images of two gold Kennedy half dollars.
Based on these images and if an eventual go-ahead to strike such a coin is given, it would be produced at the West Point Mint as there is a "W" mint mark. Only obverse (heads side) mockups were released. The only difference between the two provided images is that one has a bottom inscription of the year "2014" while the other has "1964 – 2014."
Kennedy halves first entered circulation in 1964. The obverse depicts a bust of the former president as sculpted by Gilroy Roberts. The reverse depicts the Presidential Coat of Arms as sculpted by Frank Gasparro. The half dollars were exceptionally popular when first released but annual mintages began to fall and beginning in 2002 the U.S. Mint stopped striking them for general circulation. They are now produced solely to meet the demand of coin collectors.
Stay tuned to CoinNews.net for continued coverage on the topic.
I got my first proof set in 1964, cost $2.10 back then.
I think the Westpoint mint mark and a silver proof would sell better and more people could afford a special SILVER set (PDSW).
I feel the Mint should release this coin, in addition to a silver .999 Oz. and a commemorative 90% half. Regardless, the gold concept makes for a sweet clock! 🙂 http://coinclocks.webs.com/KENNEDY%2050%20GOLD%20MOCK%20CLOCK%20-%20LG.jpg
I think the US mint should make this Gold coin and the silver ones. If the mint had to pick only one I’d say go with the Gold coin pleeeeeeeeese! 😀
The coin commemorates the coin. Shouldn’t we commemorate the person and what he stood for instead?
Gold, Silver and why not Copper? Would make it Affordable for all pocketbooks.
The coin commemorates the person and the “date range” commemorates the coin. The second one with the date range of 1964 to 2014 makes the most sense.
I just wish they’d make the business strikes with the same quality that went into the 1964-1987 coins. Of all the coins made, the flattening of the designs and deep-grooving of the hair is most evident on the half-dollar. If only a small number are to be made for collectors, why not have the strike follow those old specifications? I miss designs whose sculpture was evident when rubbing them with your thumb. Take a common 1964 nickel (I swear there’s a least one in every roll of nickels you open) and compare it to one made from 2000, it’s like… Read more »
Not to push the envelope, but what about an uncirculated W Kennedy half similar to the Roosevelt dime in 1994 and include it with the uncirculated coin set. Also, a MS P, S Proof, D reverse proof and W Uncir. 4 coin set.
And while they’re at it a nice Enhanced Kennedy Silver half dollar. Just like the 2013 W Enhanced Silver Eagle.
That (mockup) gold coin looks amazing, but how about a reverse proof
as well? Just like other collectors I would also like to see a .999 silver
proof and W uncirculated. I’m wondering too if any of the 2014 Kennedy
coins will bear the date(s) ‘1964-2014’.
Design hairstyles, for example, is made, in my opinion, very sloppy.
Hear anything about the discussion the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee had in their meeting? Did they suggest anything specific for a 50th anniversary Kennedy half dollar commemorative coin? Or did they just agree/disagree that such a coin should be minted?
Jim, Coin World offers a nice review of the CCAC meeting.
http://www.coinworld.com/articles/ccac-praises-gold-half-dollar-initiative
Mike –
Thanks for the link.
I keep reading here about making a SILVER Kennedy coin. But the mint makes
SILVER Kennedy Proof coin’s ever year for there silver coin proof sets so what really is the point to doing that when it’s already being done!
what….”I keep reading here about making a SILVER Kennedy coin. But the mint makes SILVER Kennedy Proof coin’s ever year for there silver coin proof sets so what really is the point to doing that when it’s already being done!”
Dual date 1964 – 2014, possible .999 fine silver versus coin silver, possible reverse proofs from multiple mints, possible in conjunction with reverse proofs and burnished and/or multiple finishes. Anxious to see what the mint decides!
I think the gold Kennedy half is a great idea!! Since this would really be a commemorative issue, instead of the dual date 1964-2014, why not !917-1963,
After all this coin honors the life of a great man. Lets make it about him, not how long his coin has been produced. Just a thought.
Too late. It’s supposed to be all about the coin, not the man.
Besides 2017 is coming up, plenty of time to do it up right as a commemorative coin.
Remove “god” from the secular state currency