1978 Kennedy Half Dollar Value Guide

The 1978 Kennedy Half Dollar serves as a mid-series example of the United States' long-running memorial to President John F. Kennedy. While no longer containing silver, these coins remain popular with collectors for their Gilroy Roberts obverse design and Frank Gasparro's heraldic eagle reverse.

What affects the value of 1978 Kennedy Half Dollar?

• Condition and grade, with uncirculated Mint State examples fetching higher premiums than face value.
• Presence of a 'S' mint mark, indicating a Proof strike intended for collectors rather than general circulation.
• Surface preservation, as coins with minimal contact marks or original mint luster are more desirable.
• The presence of rare minting errors, such as double dies or off-center strikes, which can significantly increase value.

How to Identify 1978 Kennedy Half Dollar?

• Verify the 1978 date located on the bottom center of the obverse side.
• Check the edge for a visible copper stripe, confirming the 75% copper and 25% nickel clad composition.
• Look for the 'D' or 'P' mint mark above the date to identify the Denver or Philadelphia minting origin.
• Confirm the weight is approximately 11.34 grams, consistent with the copper-nickel clad standard.

History of 1978 Kennedy Half Dollar

The Kennedy Half Dollar was first minted in 1964 as a memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy. It replaced the Franklin Half Dollar. The design of the obverse was based on the presidential medal created by Gilroy Roberts, while the reverse was designed by Frank Gasparro. By 1978, the composition had long since changed from silver to a copper-nickel clad.