1977 Kennedy Half Dollar: How Much Is It Worth Today?
If you are passionate about coin collecting, the Kennedy Half Dollar collection is worth considering. Among the fascinating coins in this collection are various versions of the 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar minted in different locations throughout the United States.
In this coin review page, we’ll take a closer look at the 1977 Half Dollar’s history, features, and errors, as well as its different varieties from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, and the respective 1977 half dollar values of each minting location.
1977 Kennedy Half Dollar Value
The following is a price value chart for the 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar value based on data from the Greysheet website. This chart displays the current market value of the coin in various conditions, from MS64 to MS68 for mint state and PR66 to PR70 for proof variations.
1977 Kennedy Half Dollar Value Chart |
|||||
| Mint Mark | MS64 | MS65 | MS66 | MS67 | MS68 |
| 1977 No Mint Mark Kennedy Half Dollar Value |
$4.05 |
$8.10
|
$36.45 |
$188 |
– |
| 1977 D Kennedy Half Dollar Value |
$4.05 |
$8.10 |
$47.25 |
$292 |
$2,810
|
| 1977 Proof Kennedy Half Dollar Value | |||||
| PR66 | PR67 | PR68 | PR69 | PR70 | |
| 1977 S Proof Kennedy Half Dollar Value |
$8.10 |
$10.80 |
$13.50 |
$16.20 |
$81 |
1977 No Mint Mark Kennedy Half Dollar Value
In 1964 after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Kennedy Half Dollar was introduced. Although it was popular among the public, certain individuals believed it held greater value than other half dollars, leading to its discontinuation.
In 1977, the Philadelphia Mint produced the 1977 Half Dollar, a coin with a face value of 50 cents. This coin belongs to the Kennedy Half Dollar coinage type, which has been manufactured since 1971 and is still being produced today. Composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, this business strike-type coin weighs 11.34 grams (equivalent to 0.36169 ounces) and has a diameter of 30.6 mm.
On the obverse side, it displays the image of President John F. Kennedy, surrounded by the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” and the year of mintage, which in this case is 1977. The mint mark is also on the obverse side, but none were from coins minted in Philadelphia. Flipping the coin on the other side, the reverse side features the Seal of the President of the United States with the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “HALF DOLLAR.” The coin’s design was the creation of Gilroy Roberts (obverse) and Frank Gasparro (reverse). In total, 43,598,000 of these coins were produced in 1977.
The value of the 1977 Half Dollar coin depends on its grade, which is determined on a numerical scale from 60 to 67. The highest grade is MS67, and the lowest possible grade is AU50. So it can vary from as little as $1.05 to as much as $188 depending on the coin’s grade.
The 1977 Half Dollar value is worth little, even in auctions. Most of them are only worth hundreds of dollars compared to other variations. Still, the highest recorded 1977 Half Dollar with no mint mark and Graded MS67+ got to be sold for $ 1,116, and it was back in 2014 at the Heritage Auctions.
While locating a particular kind of KennedyHalf Dollar is relatively easy, those graded MS66 or MS67 and possessing a superior appearance are considered rare. Furthermore, certain variations are uncommon because they were not widely produced and were only distributed in specific collections.
1977 D Kennedy Half Dollar Value
It’s common knowledge among coin collectors that the Kennedy Half Dollar replaced another coin called the Franklin Half Dollar, which started being made in 1948. The Kennedy Half Dollar was first made at the beginning of 1964. In the same year when the 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar from Philadelphia was minted 1977, the Denver mint also produced 31,449,106 Kennedy Half Dollars, generally affordable, with prices ranging from $1.05 (AU50) to $292 (MS67). The highest quality coins with an MS68 grade can cost around $2,810.
In 2019, Heritage Auctions sold a 1977 D Kennedy Half Dollar coin graded by PCGS as MS67+ for $2,160. This coin was deemed to have exceptional visual appeal. Two years before that, in 2017, a coin with the same grading was sold by the same auction house for $1,528.
1977 S Proof Kennedy Half Dollar Value
The 1977 S Half Dollar is the only proof variety of the Kennedy Half Dollar from this year. It was produced at the San Francisco Mint and has a mintage of 3,251,152. Although meant to be collectors, this variety is also made of 75% copper and 25% nickel and has a diameter of 30.6 mm and a weight of 11.34 grams.
Many individuals, especially coin collectors, appreciate the Kennedy Half Dollar collection due to its affordability. Although the coins are generally widespread, seasoned collectors value those with gleaming surfaces from the early stages of the collection as they are scarce and highly coveted.
For the highest grade, Proof 70, the value of the 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar was $81.00. For a grade of Proof 69, the value was $16.20, and for Proof 68, the value was $13.50. As the grades decrease, the values also decrease, with a Proof 67 having a value of $10.80, a Proof 66 having a value of $8.10, a Proof 65 having a value of $6.75, and a Proof 64 having a value of $5.74.
According to the Greysheet website, a set of 36 proof coins were sold at an auction in 2021 by the David Lawrence Rare Coins auction house. The coins are 50-cent pieces featuring John F. Kennedy on the obverse side and were minted between 1977 and 2011, with each coin having an “S” mint mark indicating that they were struck at the San Francisco Mint.
All the coins in the set have been graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and received a grade of Proof 70, the highest grade possible for a Proof coin. Additionally, all the coins have the Ultra Cameo (UCAM) designation, indicating that they have a frosted design and a mirror-like background.
This 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar set consists of a total of 36 coins, and the selling price at the auction was $801.
1977 Kennedy Half Dollar Grading
1977 Kennedy Half Dollars were graded on a scale from VF20 to MS65, with VF20 showing noticeable wear on the hair, cheek, and jaw, and EF40 displaying slight wear on the high points of the hair and arrows.
U50 showcases only a trace of wear on the highest points, MS60 denotes an uncirculated coin that may contain minor blemishes, MS63 represents a selected uncirculated specimen with light blemishes, and MS65 is reserved for chosen uncirculated coins with only a few small blemishes. Each coin has a unique mint luster and may display varying signs of wear or damage, like this 1977 Half Dollar grade from the video below.
Rare 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar Error Lists
Presented below is a comprehensive list of the errors that occurred in the production of the 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar. This list provides detailed information on each error, including its nature and potential impact on the 1977 Half Dollar value.
1. 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar on Silver Planchet Error
In 1977, the United States Mint began producing half dollar coins that were made of copper-nickel alloy. However, collectors later discovered a small number of 1977 D Half Dollars that were struck on a planchet intended for silver coins, resulting in a rare error coin.
A planchet is a blank metal disk that is used to make a coin. In this case, the planchet intended for a silver coin was mistakenly used to strike a copper-nickel half dollar coin, resulting in a composition different from what was intended.
The error was discovered by collectors who noticed that the coins’ weight and color differed from the regular issue 1977 D Half Dollars. The silver planchet coins were found to be much rarer than the regular issue coins and became in high demand among coin collectors.
2. 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar DDR Error
The 1977 No Mint Mark Kennedy Half Dollar Error Coin with DDR error refers to a variety of the 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar coin minted at the Philadelphia Mint (indicated by the lack of mint mark) that has a doubled die reverse (DDR). A doubled die error occurs when there is a misalignment during the die creation process, resulting in doubling the design elements on the coin.
In this case, the doubling can be seen on the reverse side of the coin, where the design elements such as the lettering and the eagle’s wings and legs, appear to have a double or blurry effect. This error is considered minor and relatively common among modern coins.
3. 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar Missing “FG” Error
This 1977 Half Dollar error is characterized by the absence of the designer’s initials “FG” on the reverse side of the coin, near the bottom of the torch image. The initials “FG” stand for Frank Gasparro, the coin designer.
The missing “FG” error is considered rare and has been highly sought after by coin collectors for many years. It is estimated that only a small percentage of the 1977 D Kennedy Half Dollars were affected by this error. As for the value, a 1977 D Kennedy Half Dollar with a missing “FG” error can be worth around $20.00 or more, depending on its condition and the level of interest from collectors.
4. 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar Multiple Grease Error
This error in the 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar means that during the minting process, there was a problem with the machinery that caused too much grease to be applied to the dies that imprint the design onto the coins. As a result, some of the coins were struck with incomplete or distorted features or with areas of the design missing entirely. This type of error is relatively common in coin collecting and can make certain coins more valuable to collectors.
To learn more about the rare 1977 Half Dollar coins, make sure to watch this video. Couch Collectibles will provide you with valuable information and insights on what you need to know about this coin.
1977 Kennedy Half Dollar FAQs
Q1: How much is a 1977 dollar coin worth today?
The 1977 Half Dollar value today depends on various factors such as its mint mark and condition. If the coin has no mint mark and is from Philadelphia, its current worth in circulated condition is approximately $1.05. However, if the coin is in mint condition or uncirculated, its value may be as high as $189.
On the other hand, a 1977 Half Dollar with a “D” mint mark from Denver may be worth around $1.05 in circulated condition, while its value could increase up to $2,810 if it is in mint condition or uncirculated.
Lastly, if the 1977 Kennedy Half Dollar has an “S” mint mark from San Francisco, its worth in circulated condition could be around $5.74, while its value may go up to $81 if the coin is in mint condition or uncirculated.
Q2: What makes a 1977 half dollar rare?
In 1977, the Kennedy Half Dollar coins were minted with a composition different from their traditional silver makeup. Instead, they comprised 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. Although most of these coins followed this new composition, a few error coins were unintentionally produced using silver planchets. Consequently, these coins are exceptionally rare, akin to the odds of scoring a big win.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 1977 Half Dollar coin is a precious addition to any coin collection, with its unique design, historical significance, and variations in minting locations. Collectors can choose from mint state and proof strike versions and should be aware of rare errors that can increase their value.
Recent data suggests that the coin can fetch varying prices based on its condition, rarity, and mint location, so collectors should conduct proper research before purchasing.
