The Kennedy Half Dollar was created in 1964 to honor the legacy of President John F Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. The coins had been extremely popular with collectors since their inception, and the large numbers minted led to a silver shortage. In 1965, Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1965 which reduced the amount of silver in the composition of the half dollar coins. The first mint of reduced silver coins were produced beginning in late 1965.
Minting of the 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar
After the coin shortage eased following the minting of the 1965 Kennedy Half Dollars, coins dated 1966 were struck beginning August 1, 1966. From this point onward, it became practice that the coins would be printed with the year in which they were struck. Due to continued collector demand and reduced amounts of production, the 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar was not often circulated, which made the Treasury Department hesitant to strike the coin in greater numbers. 1966 Kennedy Half Dollars retain the same design as previous years, and it bears no mint mark.
1966 Kennedy Half Dollar Value
The 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar had the second smallest mintage of all the Kennedy Half Dollars struck between 1964 and 1970. It remains relatively common and inexpensive in lower grades, but the coin becomes much more scarce when trying to find a higher grade for a collection.
Type of Coin: Half Dollar
Year: 1966
Mint Mark: Philadelphia
Total Mintage: 108,984,932
Metal Content: 40% Silver, 60% Copper
Face Value: Half Dollar
Weight: 11.50 grams
Edge: 150 Reeds
Designer: Gilroy Roberts/Frank Gasparro
Diameter: 30.61 millimeters