To read more about the backstory behind this coin series, read our article on the history of the Kennedy Half Dollar. Coins struck from 1971 onward are clad coinage, except for silver proof issues which are 80% silver. The 1964 coins are 90% silver, while the coins issued from 1965 through 1970 were struck in 40% silver. Gasparro designed the reverse and modeled it after the Presidential Seal, with a heraldic eagle surrounded by stars, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” on the upper periphery and the denomination, “HALF DOLLAR,” on the lower periphery. The word “LIBERTY,” adorned the upper periphery, the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST,” was separated by the truncation of the neck and the date is on the bottom periphery. Roberts designed the obverse with a bust of President Kennedy facing left. The Kennedy Half Dollar replaced the Benjamin Franklin Half Dollar, which was first struck in 1948 and legislation was rapidly approved to redesign the coin to honor President Kennedy.

It was reported that US Mint designers Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro went to work on designing a memorial coin that same weekend as the president’s body was being flown back to Washington. The public outcry for an official government memento to honor the slain president was deafening. The Kennedy Half Dollar series was struck in 1964, as soon after the assassination of President Kennedy as possible.