$1.00 Face Value 90% 1964 Silver Kennedy Half Dollar Avg Circ

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The year 1964 marked a significant turning point in American coinage, serving as the final year the United States minted circulating half dollars with a 90 percent silver composition. These coins rapidly disappeared from daily commerce as the public hoarded them, driven by both the rising cost of precious metals and the introduction of copper and nickel clad alternatives. Today, these mid-century relics remain highly prized for their high silver content, with a pair of these fifty-cent pieces containing approximately 0.715 troy ounces of pure silver. On the obverse side, the coin displays a left-facing portrait of President John F. Kennedy, designed by Gilroy Roberts, with the date of mintage positioned directly beneath the truncation of the neck. The legend "IN GOD WE TRUST" is split across the lower field. The reverse side features Frank Gasparro's rendering of the Great Seal of the United States, surrounded by the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" along the top rim and the "HALF DOLLAR" face value denomination along the bottom.