Semi-Numismatic

1995-S Silver Kennedy Half Dollar (Impaired Proof)

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The 1995-S Silver Kennedy Half Dollar represents a fascinating moment in modern United States coinage. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this fifty-cent piece is composed of 90 percent silver, containing 0.3575 troy ounces of the precious metal. This particular coin is classified as an impaired proof, meaning that while it was originally minted using the high-quality proof process, it has since acquired minor wear or handling marks that alter its pristine state, giving it a distinct character of its own. The obverse of the coin displays a left-facing portrait of President John F. Kennedy, originally created by sculptor Gilroy Roberts. Surrounding the bust are the inscriptions "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the minting year of 1995, along with the "S" mint mark indicating its San Francisco origin. The reverse side, designed by Frank Gasparro, features a detailed heraldic eagle grasping a bundle of arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other, symbolizing both strength and peace. This classic national emblem is framed by the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the denomination, "HALF DOLLAR."