1984 Half Dollar Value: How Much Is It Worth Today?
If you are here, you are probably thinking about buying or selling a 1985 half Dollar. So, does it have any value, and can you make a fortune selling it?
Well, that depends on a number of factors. First, the 1984 Kennedy half dollar is made of an alloy of copper and nickel, meaning it does not have exceptional melt value given it is not made of precious metals.
In good condition, the 1984 Kennedy Half dollar price is around $0.50 to $1. However, some varieties of this coin can be very valuable. Let’s check those out!
1984 Half Dollar Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1984 P Dollar Value | $0.50 | $0.80 | $1-$2 | $4 or higher |
| 1984 D Half Dollar Value | $0.50 | $0.80 | $1 | $2-$5 |
| 1984 S Proof Half Dollar Value | / | / | / | $6 or higher |
1984 P Half Dollar Value
The 1984 Half dollar is known as Kenney half dollar because it features President John F. Kennedy on the obverse. The history behind the design is connected with John F Kennedy’s assassination.
As you probably know, John F. Kennedy, the youngest person to assume the presidency, was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald on 22 November 1963 in Dallas. On the same day, Mint Director Eva Adams proposed creating a new half dollar design that would feature a recently deceased president.
She contacted the Chief Mint Engraver, Gilroy Roberts, and explained the idea. Interestingly at the time, these coins were made of silver. A couple of days later, the project was approved, and even his widow Jacqueline Kenny was advised before making the final decision.
She also agreed that placing the design on the half dollar rather than the quarter, which featured the Found Father, George Washington, would be best. The obverse was designed by Gilroy Robert, and the reverse by Frank Gasparro.
They already had some designs that they modified for the new coin. After the design was completed, the Mint started the trial strike. Again, the family of the deceased president was often contacted for suggestions and ideas.
Jacqueline and her son Robert Kenney approved the design and gave the green light for minting. Generally, the coin design changes every 25 years for certain anniversaries and special events.
So, to change the coin design before it reaches the 25 years mark, one would need Congressional approval to do so.
However, considering the delicacy of the situation and circumstances, for the Kennedy half dollar, this was not a problem.
The half dollar was released into circulation on 24 March 1964, precisely 70,000 pieces of the Kennedy dollars, they were all sold. Interestingly, these coins were popular not only in the US but also in Africa.
Some of the first coins were melted down, and also the metal composition was changed. Initially, the Kennedy dollar was made of 90% silver and 10% copper, but the silver content was reduced to 40%.
Ultimately, it was eliminated fully and changed to an alloy of copper and nickel, the composition of the 1984 half dollar; it features 91.67% copper and 8.33 % nickel.
The coin weighs 11.34 grams, and the edge is reeded. The coin’s diameter is 30.6 mm, while the face value of the 1984 Kennedy dollar is $0.50 (half a dollar). Regarding the design, the obverse features Kennedy’s bust facing left, while the mintage date is struck in the center of the lower rim “1984”.
The president’s bust is surrounded by the capitalized inscription “LIBERTY” alongside the upper rim. On the left side of the president’s bust is half of the American motto, “IN GOD,” which continues on his right side, “WE TRUST.”
The obverse depicts an American Bold Eagle, encircled by 50 stars. The eagle’s wings are outstretched, holding three arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other. Alongside the upper rim, we can see the capitalized “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
The denomination is struck at the lower rim. Above the eagle’s head, we see a banner with the American motto, “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” These coins were minted in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver. The total mintage of 1984 Kennedy half dollar is 55,356,268, which is moderately high.
However, many of these coins never saw any circulation; despite that, they are pretty common and easy to find. The Philadelphia Mint struck 26,029,000 Kennedy dollars in 1984, while the Denver Mint produced even more coins, 26,262,158.
Interestingly, the San Francisco Mint produced proof coins in 1984- 3,065,110.
The coins struck in Philadelphia have a “P” mint mark, which is interesting considering that many coins minted in Philadelphia were struck without a mint mark. As mentioned, these coins are not particularly valuable, especially in lower grades.
In good condition, the coins with a “P” mint mark are worth around $0.50 or their face value and range to $3. Although the 1985 P Kennedy half dollar in mint state and uncirculated condition can cost around $4 to $5, these coins can go for a nice amount in high grades.
In 2014 the 1984 P half dollar was sold at the Heritage auction for over $1,000, a huge monetary jump from the face value.
1984 D Half Dollar Value
The coins minted in Denver have a recognizable “D” mint mark on the reverse. Generally, the mint mark on the 1984 Kennedy half dollar is on the obverse, underneath the Lincoln bust, or above the mintage date.
As noted, the Denver Mint had the highest mintage in the series-26,262,158. Therefore, these coins are readily available, and you can buy them in pawn shops or on eBay for $0.50 in good condition, while in fine condition, it costs around $0.80.
The price does not change drastically if the 1984 D half dollar is in extra fine condition- $1. It can cost from $3 to $5 or higher in mint states, depending on the market. Such a specimen in MS 65 was sold at an auction for $6, but another example in the same grade was sold for $14.
The 1984 D Half Dollar on eBay can be bought for $3 to $150, depending on the condition and seller. The auctions are generally unpredictable, and you also need to think about the auction’s house commission and other potential expenses that might affect your purchase or selling of a coin.
Having your coin graded also costs money, so people tend to calculate those expenses when selling a coin. However, although these prices are not pretty high, the Kennedy dollar can reach a jaw-dropping amount. The auction record for the 1984 D half dollar in MS 67 is $3,700.
1984 S Proof Half Dollar Value
The San Francisco struck proof coins in 1984- over 3 million Kennedy dollars. As you probably know, proof coins are, in most cases, collectible, rare, and sought-after by collectors who want to make some profit.
However, the price for the proof coins is not very impressive; you can find the 1984 S half dollar for $4 to $5 if you are lucky! On eBay, their price range is between $15 and $100, but you can also find some ungraded pieces for $6.
The 1984 S Kennedy half dollar in PR 70, the highest grade on the scale, costs around $500 or higher, depending on the market. A proof specimen in this grade was sold at an auction for $5,000 without defects.
Also, PR 70 is the highest grade on the Sheldon scale, meaning this coin is perfect.
The highest record for the 1984 S proof Half dollar in AU 53 is $12 600.
1984 Half Dollar Grading
If you know anything about the coins, you know that grading them can be very confusing and complex. So, how are coins graded? The most popular agencies, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) use the Sheldon scale to assign grades to the coin!
1984 Half Dollar Rare Error List
The 1984 Kennedy half dollar has a couple of very valuable errors and will make a huge difference when buying or selling the coin! Let’s check those out!
1984 Half Dollar Broadstrike Error
The broadstruck error, in most cases, will drastically boost the price of a coin, and it occurs when the coin is struck incorrectly or outside of the retaining collar.
The 1984 half Dollar with broadstruck error in MS 65 was sold for $120. However, if the mint state of the coin is higher than 65, that will affect the price.
1984 Half Dollar Double-Struck Error
As its name suggests, the double-struck error happens when the coin is struck twice, and the second striking was done at an incorrect angle, resulting in a seemingly doubling effect. The double-struck error is usually on the obverse, while the reverse shows no defects.
Many collectors seek this error on the 1984 half dollar for a reason. A proof specimen with an S mint mark in PR 62 with a double-struck error was sold for over $5,000.
1984 Half Dollar Off-center Error
The off-center error is very common and happens when the coin is struck with a die incorrectly aligned to the coin, resulting in partial design instead of complete. The error is best seen at the coin’s rim, where the design is missing.
This is not a particularly valuable error. The 1984 P half dollar with off-center error in MS 63 was sold for a little over $50. The mint state is the major key when determining the value, and sometimes a coin can have a valuable error, but if it is in poor condition, it will not do much for the coin’s worth.
For example, a specimen of the 1984 P Kennedy half dollar in MS 67 was sold for $1,000 because these coins in such a condition are very rare.
1984 Half Dollar Rotated Die Error
The rotated die, as its name implies, is the type of error that happens when the coin is struck with an incorrectly positioned die, usually at an angle of 90 degrees. Basically, the die that hits the coin has improper orientation and is usually confined to one side of the coin.
1984 Half Dollar FAQ
What is a 1984 half dollar worth today?
The 1984 Kennedy half dollar is worth around $0.50 to $1 or higher, depending on the coin’s condition. As mentioned, pieces in mint states, such as MS 65 and higher, can be very valuable.
The 1984 Kennedy half dollar in MS 70 or PR70 costs around $500 or higher, depending on whether it is a regular coin or proof,
How can you tell if a half dollar is rare?
The rarity of a coin depends on numerous factors, such as the total mintage number, its condition and level of preservation, mint mark, and the presence of errors, among others. The coin is rare if there are not many pieces of that coin in a particular state.
For example, the 1984 half dollar in MS 70 is very rare, so the price for the coin in this state starts at $500, while a regularly circulated 1984 Half dollar in good condition costs around $0.50 to $1.
What year is the rarest half dollar?
The rarest half dollar is the 1797 Draped bust half dollar. Why? These coins were struck for only two years, and 1797 is the last year these coins were produced. Although this coin’s production was short-lived, many appreciated its interesting design and amazing toning.
This coin is also special because only 2,984 pieces were struck in 1797, making it super rare. It is estimated that less than 250 of the 1797 Draped bust half dollar have survived and are extremely hard to find.
1797 Draped bust half dollar in MS 66 was sold in 2015 for a jaw-dropping price and one of the highest ever in the history of auctions- $1, 527,500.
Does a 1984 half dollar have silver?
The 1984 JFK half dollar does not contain silver; its metal composition is copper and nickel. Previously, the half dollars in 1964 were made of 90% silver and 10%, and the levels of silver were slowly reduced for the 1970 half dollar from 90% to 40%.
