The Kennedy Half Dollar entered circulated in 1964 after the US Congress approved emergency legislation to end the Franklin Half Dollar's production run to honor the late President John F. Kennedy. Chief engraver at the US Mint from 1948-1964, Gilroy Roberts, designed the obverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar. His initials reside below the bust of President Kennedy. The reverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar was designed by Frank Gasparro, it shows the Presidential Coat-of-Arms (Gasparro was appointed chief engraver in 1965) The Kennedy half dollar has a diameter of 30.6mm and a reeded edge. The Kennedy Half Dollar is minted in Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.

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The Kennedy Half Dollar has gone through many different incarnations since its inception. In 1964 the Kennedy Half Dollar was composed of .900 Silver, .100 Copper (net silver weight .36169 oz) and weighed 12.5 grams. In 1965 the composition was changed to include less silver in the Kennedy Half Dollar; the new composition consisted of .400 Silver, .600 Copper (net silver weight .1479 oz; commonly known as 40%) and weighed 11.5 grams. In 1971 the composition was changed yet again following the US Government's decision to remove silver from circulation coins. The circulation Kennedy Half Dollar minted from 1971-present consists of .75 Copper, .250 Nickel (commonly known as Copper Nickel Clad) and weighs 11.34 grams. In 1992 production of 90% Silver Kennedy Half dollars resumed, but only in Proof Strike and were only included in special Silver Proof Sets.

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Like the Franklin Half Dollar, the Kennedy Half did not enter circulation without controversy. Due to the escalating tensions of the Cold War the Mint started to recieve complaints that the image on the base of Kennedy's neck bore the Hammer and Sickle symbol. Closer examination will reveal that the symbol is a scripted version of "GR" Gilroy Roberts, the obverse designer's initials. Also in 1964 when the Proof Strikes of the Kennedy Half Dollar started to appear the "I" in "LIBERTY" appeared to have a truncated lower-left sarif and the hair above President Kennedy's ear was heavily accented. Some scholars and numismatists believe that Jacqueline Kennedy disliked the heavy accents in her late husband's hair and wanted the dies redesigned to remove the accent. It is believed that approximately 120,000 Proof Kennedy Half Dollars were minted with the heavily accented hair and remain a popular variety with collectors.

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