The 2001 Kennedy Half Dollar demonstrates significant investment potential driven by condition rarity and specialized collector demand. Auction results highlight dramatic value differences across grade levels, with perfect PR70 Deep Cameo specimens achieving $1,725 and exceptional MS68 examples reaching $900.
Kennedy Half Dollars remain compelling investments due to their historical connection, commemorative appeal, and collector focus on unique errors, ensuring steady demand within the numismatic market.
The substantial price gaps between grade levels illustrate how preservation quality determines market value in this accessible yet historically significant series, creating opportunities for collectors who understand the importance of condition when evaluating long-term investment potential.
2001 Half Dollar Value By Variety
The following value chart provides current market pricing for 2001 Kennedy Half Dollars across different conditions and varieties.
2001 Half Dollar Value Chart
| TYPE | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 P Half Dollar Value | $0.97 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $18.38 | — |
| 2001 D Half Dollar Value | $0.97 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $14.00 | — |
| 2001 S DCAM Half Dollar Value | — | — | — | — | $4.78 |
| 2001 S Silver DCAM Half Dollar Value | — | — | — | — | $16.67 |
Tip: Use our CoinValueChecker App for real-time variety identification and current market values.
History of the 2001 Half Dollar
The Kennedy Half Dollar began in 1964 as a memorial to the assassinated President Kennedy, designed by Mint sculptors Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro using existing works from Kennedy’s presidential medal. The coins were immediately hoarded upon release, leading to continuous circulation issues throughout the series’ history.
The year 2001 marked a pivotal transition for the Kennedy Half Dollar series. Production at the Philadelphia Mint began unusually late, starting in September, with the majority of output struck during that single month.
Distribution encountered significant complications when none of the Philadelphia production was initially released through the Federal Reserve, while Denver mint coins saw partial circulation.
An attempt by a Tennessee dealer to secure Philadelphia coins through the Nashville Federal Reserve was quickly thwarted when Treasury officials had the shipment returned to mint vaults.
The unreleased Philadelphia inventory remained in storage for more than two years before slowly entering circulation beginning in late 2003.
The U.S. Mint later capitalized on this unusual situation by offering 2001-dated coins as collector products beginning in April 2004, selling them in specially packaged two-roll sets and bags at premiums above face value. This distribution pattern foreshadowed the shift from circulation-focused to collector-only production that would define subsequent years.
Also Read: 10 Most Historic Years of Kennedy Half Dollar (1964-2025)
Is Your 2001 Half Dollar Rare?
2001-P Half Dollar
2001-D Half Dollar
2001-S DCAM Half Dollar
2001-S Silver DCAM Half Dollar
The rarity rankings for 2001 Kennedy Half Dollars reveal distinct scarcity levels across different varieties and mint locations.
Both circulation strikes from Philadelphia and Denver share identical rarity scores of 17, earning “Uncommon” status, though they rank differently within the series at positions 58 and 65 respectively.
The proof varieties show contrasting results, with the 2001-S DCAM clad proof receiving a “Common” classification and ranking 442nd, while the silver proof version achieves a better position at 97th despite also being labeled “Common” with a rarity score of 12.
These rankings demonstrate how mint location, composition, and striking method create varying degrees of collectibility even within the same year.
For collectors seeking to assess the relative scarcity of their Kennedy Half Dollar collection, the CoinValueChecker App provides comprehensive rarity analysis and real-time market valuations for individual coins.
Understanding these variations makes a complete Kennedy Half Dollar Rarity Ranking (Top 100) essential for identifying the series’ most sought-after issues.
Key Features of the 2001 Half Dollar
The 2001 Kennedy Half Dollar continued the established design and specifications that had defined the series since 1971. Production occurred across all three active mint facilities.
The Obverse of the 2001 Half Dollar
The obverse maintains Gilroy Roberts’ presidential portrait, displaying Kennedy’s left-facing profile that has remained largely unchanged since 1964. “LIBERTY” appears along the upper rim, while “2001” is positioned at the bottom.
The national motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” spans horizontally across the middle field, with Kennedy’s truncated neck dividing the phrase. Roberts’ initials “GR” are placed on the truncation line below Kennedy’s bust, while mint marks appear on the obverse beneath the neck truncation, near the date.
The Reverse of the 2001 Half Dollar
Frank Gasparro’s Presidential Seal design appears on the reverse, featuring a heraldic eagle grasping an olive branch and thirteen arrows in its talons. The eagle’s chest displays a shield, while the Latin motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears on a banner held in its beak. Thirteen stars are arranged above the eagle.
The inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” follows the upper rim, with “HALF DOLLAR” marking the denomination at the bottom. Gasparro’s initials “FG” are positioned beneath the eagle’s left leg (right side from the viewer’s perspective).
Other Features of the 2001 Half Dollar
The 2001 Kennedy Half Dollar maintains standard specifications of 11.30 grams weight and 30.61 millimeters diameter, with 150 reeds along the edge.
Circulation strikes from Philadelphia and Denver use copper-nickel clad composition with 75% copper and 25% nickel outer layers bonded to a pure copper core.
San Francisco produced two proof varieties: the 2001-S DCAM proof using the same copper-nickel composition, and the 2001-S Silver DCAM Proof containing 90% silver and 10% copper.
2001 Half Dollar Mintage & Survival Data
2001 Half Dollar Mintage & Survival Chart
Survival Distribution
| Type | Mintage | Survival | Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | 21,200,000 | 16,960,000 | 80% |
| D | 19,504,000 | 15,603,200 | 80% |
| S DCAM | 2,294,909 | 2,248,162 | 97.963% |
| S Silver DCAM | 889,697 | 871,903 | 98% |
The 2001 Kennedy Half Dollar mintage and survival data reveals distinct production volumes and survival rates across the four varieties.
Circulation strikes dominated production, with Philadelphia leading at 21.2 million pieces and Denver contributing 19.5 million coins, both achieving identical 80% survival rates.
The proof varieties show dramatically different scales, with the standard S DCAM proof totaling approximately 2.3 million coins and maintaining an exceptional 97.963% survival rate due to collector-focused preservation.
The premium S Silver DCAM proof represents the smallest segment with 889,697 pieces minted, yet achieves the highest survival rate at 98%, reflecting its specialized collector appeal and careful handling.
These survival patterns show how production purpose affects preservation outcomes, with collector-oriented issues consistently outperforming circulation strikes in preservation rates.
Understanding these preservation differences makes the Kennedy Half Dollar Survival Ranking (Top 100) essential for analyzing scarcity patterns across the entire series.
2001 Half Dollar Grading
The 2001 Kennedy Half Dollar follows professional grading standards that examine strike quality, surface preservation, and luster characteristics. Graders assess the sharpness of Kennedy’s hair details and the eagle’s feathers while identifying contact marks, scratches, or handling damage that affect grade assignments.
Circulation strikes require full cartwheel luster for higher mint state grades, while proof versions need pristine mirror fields and sharp device contrast for Deep Cameo designation.
Eye appeal considerations include overall visual impact and any distracting marks or toning patterns. Rim integrity and design element clarity, particularly lettering sharpness and facial feature definition, directly influence final grades.
For immediate assistance, the CoinValueChecker App offers instant grade assessment through photo-based analysis tools.
Comprehensive guides like How to Grade Kennedy Half Dollar provide invaluable resources for collectors seeking to master professional evaluation techniques.
2001 Half Dollar Value Guides
The 2001 Kennedy Half Dollar series encompasses four distinct varieties produced across three mint facilities.
- 2001-P Half Dollar
- 2001-D Half Dollar
- 2001-S DCAM Half Dollar
- 2001-S Silver DCAM Half Dollar
Philadelphia and Denver created standard circulation strikes using copper-nickel clad composition, while San Francisco focused exclusively on proof production.
The San Francisco mint offered collectors two options: standard clad proofs matching the circulation strike composition, and premium silver proofs containing 90% silver content.
2001-P Half Dollar Value
The 2001-P Kennedy Half Dollar experienced a notable distribution delay that affected collector accessibility. Of the 21.2 million coins produced at the Philadelphia Mint, none were initially released by the Federal Reserve into circulation, while the Denver mint saw partial circulation release of its production.
The entire Philadelphia production remained in U.S. Mint vaults until late 2003. The U.S. Mint later offered these 2001-dated half dollars as numismatic products beginning in April 2004, selling them in two-roll sets and bags at premiums above face value.
Higher grade examples have performed well at auction, with an MS68 specimen reaching $900 in March 2018, reflecting the coin’s scarcity in premium conditions.
2001-P Half Dollar Price/Grade Chart
Price by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
