1983-D 50C MS66 Certification #34179400, PCGS #6744

Charles Morgan

The 1983-D Kennedy Half Dollar

While the Denver Mint struck 32,472,244 1983-D Kennedy Half Dollars (#6744), it was still uncommon to encounter a half dollar in circulation in the early 1980s. The reasons for this vary, but when the Coinage Act of 1965 changed the composition of the dime and quarter to copper-nickel clad while leaving 40% silver in the half dollar, it likely doomed the denomination. Furthermore, the quarter, dime, nickel, and cent were small, utilitarian denominations. The silver-clad (and later copper-nickel) half dollar was a large, cumbersome coin—its size a holdover from the era of specie. It is hard to believe that Treasury officials and those who oversaw the nation’s coinage in Congress did not see this, but their failed attempt at introducing a small dollar with the Susan B. Anthony in 1979 likely forestalled any attempt to reform the nation’s higher-denomination coinage to make them useful in commerce.

Although I remember getting a Kennedy Half Dollar in change as a youngster in 1983—the same weekend Sean Connery returned to play James Bond for the final time in Never Say Never Again (don’t ask me why I remember this so vividly)—I knew even then that what I held was "zombie coinage."

Because the half dollar wasn't a ubiquitous denomination, people tended to hold onto them in the sporadic event that one turned up. For many, they were coins spent only in a pinch—a last resort—when no other money was available. This was the 1980s, when cash was king and Americans had not yet entered their cashless future. Still, the Kennedy Half Dollar limped on, with annual mintages that were often less than 5% of the quarter dollar's output. These figures were still high by Franklin Half Dollar standards, but too low to be impactful in circulation when vending machines gobbled up dimes, nickels, and quarters by the billions.

Collecting the 1983-D Kennedy Half Dollar

As a collectible, the 1983-P (#6743) and 1983-D Half Dollars present an interesting opportunity since the Mint did not produce annual Uncirculated Coin Sets that year. Production of these sets was suspended in 1982 and 1983 as the United States Mint underwent reorganization, diverting its capacity to the creation of commemorative coins. While the Mint continued to produce its annual Proof Set, collectors seeking uncirculated Kennedy Halves for that year were limited to three options: purchasing a 'Souvenir Set'—sold exclusively at Mint gift shops and known to few—scouring local bank branches, or buying them directly from a dealer. Some dealers even marketed "unofficial" 1983 Mint Sets to fill the void.

While collectors at the time were focused on filling holes in their albums, few were especially picky about conditional rarity. In three years, PCGS would change that, but even in the era of third-party grading, it took time for the market to appreciate the scarcity of well-struck, unabraded clad coinage. Interestingly, the 1983-P and 1983-D Kennedy Halves are "sleepers" in my opinion. These coins were typically struck from worn dies; yet, and even when those dies were fresh, they were born from aging master hubs that had long since lost their original luster and detail. Because of this, even high grade coins will boast characteristics unique to them (like die polishing marks, blunt lettering, leftover annealing chatter on the planchets, various degrees of tarnish or toning, etc.) 

The 1983-P Washington Quarter has been treated like a modern key coin for years, yet the Kennedy Halves from the same year receive only a slight bump. With a little more market clarity, I believe these non-Mint Set Kennedy Halves will finally gain the status they deserve.

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