2002 Half Dollar Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & “P” Mint Mark Worth)

The 2002 the U.S. Mint ceased producing these coins for general circulation, transitioning to collector-only distribution. Production dropped dramatically from 40.7 million pieces in 2001 to just 5.6 million in 2002—an 86% reduction, making these “Not Intended for Circulation” (NIFC) coins relatively scarce compared to earlier issues. Understanding the value of these 2002 Half Dollars requires examining their mint marks, compositions, and market dynamics.

 

2002 Half Dollar Value By Variety

History of the 2002 Half Dollar

The 2002 Kennedy Half Dollar represents a watershed moment in American numismatic history, marking the end of an era that began nearly four decades earlier. In 2002, the U.S. Mint made the landmark decision to cease production of Kennedy Half Dollars for general circulation, recognizing that the coin had evolved primarily into a collector’s item rather than a circulating medium of exchange.

This pivotal change came after years of declining demand and reduced usage in commerce. Large Federal Reserve inventories of pre-2002 coins had accumulated, primarily due to lack of demand and large quantity returns from casinos that had switched to using “coin-less” slot machines. Beginning with the 2002 Kennedy Half Dollar, the Mint offered these coins exclusively through direct sales to collectors in specially wrapped rolls and bags, with two-roll sets priced at $35.50 and 200-coin bags at $135.00.

The 2002 transition represented the culmination of decades of gradual withdrawal from circulation, as Kennedy Half Dollars had been rarely seen in everyday commerce since the 1970s despite continued production. This collector-only status would persist until 2021, when the Mint briefly resumed limited circulation production, making the 2002-2020 Kennedy Half Dollars a unique “Not Intended for Circulation” (NIFC) chapter in the series’ ongoing legacy.

Also Read: 10 Most Historic Years of Kennedy Half Dollar (1964-2025)

 

Is your 2002 Half Dollar Rare?

All four 2002 varieties are classified as “Common” despite being the inaugural year of collector-only production, which reflects the relatively robust mintages and high survival rates typical of modern NIFC (Not Intended for Circulation) issues.

The 2002-D ranks most favorably at 85th position within the Kennedy series, suggesting it may have had the lowest production numbers or poorest survival rates among the business strike varieties. The 2002-P and 2002-S Silver DCAM occupy middle positions (168th and 89th respectively), with their rankings influenced by different factors: the Philadelphia issue by its higher mintage, and the silver proof by collector preservation despite precious metal content.

These rankings underscore that even within the same year, mint facility, composition, and finish quality create distinct rarity profiles that collectors and investors should consider when evaluating long-term potential within the Kennedy Half Dollar series.

For collectors seeking to understand how these 2002 varieties compare to the most elusive Kennedy Half Dollars, consulting the comprehensive Kennedy Half Dollar Rarity Ranking (Top 100) reveals the true gems of the series.

To quickly assess the rarity and current market positioning of any Kennedy Half Dollar in your collection, use our CoinValueChecker APP for instant rarity analysis and value estimates.

 

Key Features of the 2002 Half Dollar

While maintaining the classic Kennedy design elements established in 1964, the 2002 issues introduced a new era of limited distribution that fundamentally changed how collectors and the public interact with half dollar coinage.

The Obverse of the 2002 Half Dollar

The 2002 half dollar preserves Gilroy Roberts’ iconic Kennedy portrait, featuring the 35th President in left-facing profile with carefully sculpted hair detail flowing naturally across the coin’s surface. The word LIBERTY arcs gracefully along the upper periphery, with Kennedy’s distinctive hairline creating an elegant intersection with the lettering.

Below Kennedy’s truncated bust, the national motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears in two segments, separated by the portrait’s base. The year “2002” is positioned at the bottom, accompanied by the mint mark—either “P” for Philadelphia or “D” for Denver on business strikes, with San Francisco proof coins bearing the “S” designation.

The Reverse of the 2002 Half Dollar

Frank Gasparro’s interpretation of the Presidential Seal dominates the reverse, centered on a majestic bald eagle with outstretched wings. The eagle’s talons grasp symbols of America’s dual nature: olive branch representing peace, and a bundle of 13 arrows symbolizing military readiness.

The heraldic shield adorning the eagle’s chest displays the union of states, while a banner inscribed with E PLURIBUS UNUM flows from its beak. Above the eagle, 13 stars honor the original colonies, surrounded by an outer ring of 50 stars representing the complete United States. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOLLAR frame the design along the upper and lower borders.

Other Features of the 2002 Half Dollar

The 2002 Kennedy Half Dollar maintains the copper-nickel clad composition introduced in 1971, consisting of 75% copper and 25% nickel in an 8.33% nickel-copper outer layer bonded to a pure copper core. This creates the coin’s distinctive silvery appearance while eliminating precious metal content from circulation strikes.

With a diameter of 30.61 millimeters (1.205 inches), the 2002 half dollar remains the largest circulating U.S. coin denomination. Its thickness measures 2.15 millimeters (0.085 inches), giving each piece substantial heft at 11.34 grams (0.400 ounces). The edge features 150 precisely cut reeds that provide both security and tactile identification.

Special 90% silver proof versions were also produced at San Francisco, weighing 12.5 grams (0.402 troy ounces) with 0.3617 troy ounces of actual silver content—a premium offering that appeals to both collectors and precious metal investors seeking modern silver coinage.

The data demonstrates a clear hierarchy in both production priorities and preservation outcomes that fundamentally shaped the long-term availability of these historic coins.

The mintage figures reflect the U.S. Mint’s strategic approach to launching the new collector-focused program. Philadelphia’s dominant production of 3.1 million pieces and Denver’s 2.5 million coin output created a foundation that would influence collector acquisition patterns for decades.

With San Francisco’s standard clad DCAM production reaching 2.32 million pieces—remarkably robust for a specialty finish that signals the Mint’s confidence in collector demand. The silver DCAM variant, limited to 892,229 pieces, represents the premium tier designed to satisfy both numismatic collectors and precious metal investors.

These survival patterns have profound implications for current and future market dynamics. While all varieties remain technically “common” within the broader Kennedy series, the differential preservation rates create subtle but important availability distinctions that sophisticated collectors recognize.

For comprehensive analysis of how these 2002 survival rates position within the complete Kennedy Half Dollar historical context, collectors should reference the detailed Kennedy Half Dollar Survival Ranking (Top 100), which provides essential comparative data for strategic collecting decisions across the entire series timeline.

 

2002 Half Dollar Grading

Professional grading services note that the 2002 Kennedy Half Dollar examples up to MS65 condition remain relatively common, while coins achieving MS66 and MS67 grades become increasingly scarce. In MS68 condition, these pieces become exceptionally difficult to locate, with very few examples certified at this premium level.

The proof varieties demonstrate more consistent quality outcomes, with most 2002-S examples grading around PR68-PR69 Deep Cameo condition due to their well-executed strikes. Perfect PR70 Deep Cameo specimens require dedicated searching through proof sets but remain attainable for persistent collectors.

Key grading factors for 2002 Kennedy Half Dollars include examining Kennedy’s cheek, jawbone, and hair details for any trace of contact marks, while the reverse requires attention to the eagle’s wing tips and central tail feathers. The copper-nickel clad composition typically maintains consistent luster patterns, though collectors should prioritize fully “white” examples over toned specimens for optimal market appeal.

For collectors seeking to maximize their understanding of condition assessment and market positioning, comprehensive guidance is available through resources explaining How to Grade Kennedy Half Dollar coins across all series years.

Additionally, modern technology tools like the CoinValueChecker APP provide instant grading assistance and current market valuations, helping collectors make informed decisions about their 2002 Kennedy Half Dollar holdings with professional-level accuracy and convenience.

 

2002 Half Dollar Value Guides

2002 Half Dollar Varieties:

• 2002-P Half Dollar – Philadelphia Mint business strike
• 2002-D Half Dollar – Denver Mint business strike
• 2002-S DCAM Half Dollar – San Francisco clad proof with Deep Cameo finish
• 2002-S Silver DCAM Half Dollar – San Francisco 90% silver proof with Deep Cameo finish

These four varieties represent the complete spectrum of 2002 Kennedy Half Dollar production, from standard collector-quality business strikes to premium silver proofs, providing options for every collecting preference and budget level.

 

2002-P Half Dollar Value

The 2002-P Kennedy Half Dollar stands out as the highest mintage variety of the inaugural collector-only year, with exactly 3,100,000 pieces struck at America’s first mint facility in Philadelphia.

Most remarkably, the 2002-P Kennedy Half Dollar holds the extraordinary distinction of being the only modern U.S. coin in numismatic history to exhibit a rotating collar break—a manufacturing anomaly where a collar chip systematically moves clockwise through a complete 360-degree rotation during production. This phenomenon was independently discovered by Gary W. Alt (Collectors’ Clearinghouse, Jan. 6, 2003) and William “Ed” Eubanks, who published his detailed analysis in the July/August 2003 issue of Errorscope.

Eubanks meticulously studied 261 specimens from five mint-sewn bags and documented the collar break’s precise movement through nine distinct die stages across three die pairings, with the collar chip appearing as a distinctive “nub” on approximately 300 of the original 500 coins (60% occurrence rate) that systematically changes position relative to Kennedy’s portrait, rotating from 6:00 to 10:30 positions across different die stages.

This unique rotating mechanism remains scientifically unexplained and has never been replicated on any other denomination, making 2002-P specimens with this error among the most technically fascinating modern mint errors in American coinage history.