1979 50C MS65 Certification #42473267, PCGS #6735

Charles Morgan

The 1979 Kennedy Half Dollar

The 1979 Kennedy Half Dollar (PCGS #6735) is generally a well-made issue that was largely overshadowed by the debut of the Susan B. Anthony Dollar. While neither denomination saw significant circulation, the small dollar was an immediate failure; the Kennedy Half Dollar, conversely, has persisted for decades as a "limping" denomination. For this, one can blame Congressional inaction; a redesigned 50-cent piece—specifically one that was smaller and not easily confused with a quarter—might have returned the denomination to regular use. The Philadelpha Mint struck 68,312,000 1979 Kennedy Half Dollars, with 2,526,000 examples produced for the 1979 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set and 294 pieces reserved for assay. 

Operational Improvements

In 1979, the United States Mint implemented major operational improvements across all facilities. While these initiatives may not be immediately visible on the coins of that calendar year, they significantly improved the well-being of production floor employees. Specifically, the Mint launched its Industrial Hygiene program and began wide-scale efforts to reduce occupational noise levels.

The Last of the "No P" Halves

The 1979 issue is historically significant as the final year a Philadelphia-struck half dollar appeared without a "P" mintmark. Mintmarks were originally adopted in 1838 to identify coins struck at branch facilities. However, starting in 1980, Mint Director Stella B. Hackel ordered that all Philadelphia denominations—with the exception of the Lincoln Cent—would carry the "P" mark.

Collecting the 1979 Kennedy Half Dollar

Because many were saved in sets or held by the public, much of the mintage likely survives today. Collectors can often still find these in circulation by purchasing half-dollar rolls at local banks for face value, or by acquiring singles and Mint Sets. As this is a well-made issue, it is not prohibitively difficult to find examples that grade PCGS MS65 or MS66. However, given the large surface area of the coin, the "Superb Gem" grade of MS67 presents a significant challenge. As of January 2026, only two coins have earned our "Top Pop" grade of MS68—and remarkably, these two specimens were submitted 28 years apart!

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