Are you building your Kennedy half dollar collection and wonder about the 1982 half dollar value? If you are curious whether this coin is worth adding to your collection, you’ve come to the right place!
The 1982 Kennedy half dollar, like others in this series, is a fascinating coin due to its historical and sentimental significance. When the 1982 five-cent was produced, collectors continued with the widespread hoarding that was witnessed since 1964 when the Kennedy half-dollar was first struck. As such, Mint State examples are plentiful, making them an easy addition to any collection.
So, just how much is the 1982 half dollar worth? Read on to learn more!
1982 Half Dollar Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1982-P Half Dollar Value | $0.60 | $0.60 | $0.60 | $2,000 |
| 1982-D Half Dollar Value | $0.60 | $0.60 | $0.60 | $1,500 |
| 1982-S Proof Half Dollar Value | – | – | – | $30 |
History of the 1982 Half Dollar
The 1982 half dollar is part of the Kennedy Half Dollar series, which the United States Mint has produced since 1964 in commemoration of assassinated President John F. Kenndy. This was actually the first fifty-cent coin the Mint issued.
Hours after the assassination of the 35th president of the United States on November 22, 1963, Mint Director, Eva Adams led efforts to create a silver coin that would memorialize the late president. She engaged Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts and his assistant, Frank Gasparro, to help design the new coin in the shortest time possible.
As there wasn’t enough time to produce an entirely new design, for the obverse design, Roberts made a few changes to an existing bust of President Kennedy he had made for the Presidential series. On the other hand, Gasparro also modified the reverse design he had created for the same series.
Because Congress needed to approve any coin design within 25 years, in early December a bill was introduced for Kennedy’s portrait to appear on the five-cent coin. By December 20, 1963, President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill into law, paving way for the production of the Kennedy half dollars starting January 1964.
The Treasury Department released the new five-cent coins for circulation to the public in March 1964. The initial 70,000 coins released were sold out in a matter of hours. After that, the Mint increased the production of the new Kennedy half dollars but these coins were hoarded extensively and for years, only a few were ever seen in circulation.
Hoping to end speculation around the Kennedy half dollar, in June 1965, President Johnson announced that the Mint would reduce the use of silver in half dollars from 90% to 40% but still, the half dollar did not circulate much. By December 1970, President Nixon signed a bill authorizing the Mint to completely eliminate the remaining silver from half dollars, essentially changing the metal composition to copper-nickel clad.
Because of its relatively high mintage, the 1982 half dollar is not considered a key date but it is still worth collecting. Mint State examples can be worth premium prices, making them an excellent addition to any Kennedy half dollar collection.
Also read: 13 Most Valuable Franklin Half Dollars Worth Money
Features of the 1982 Half Dollar
We’ll now explore the physical characteristics of the 1982 Kennedy half dollar. Knowing these features will help with grading and identifying high-value Kennedy halves worth adding to your collection.
Here’s what to look out for:
Obverse of the 1982 Half Dollar
The heads side features Kennedy’s left-facing portrait in which he wears a slight smile.
The word LIBERTY is etched in an arch at the top along the rim while the date, 1982, is arched on the opposite side at the bottom.
The national motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, is inscribed across the coin at the bottom of the portrait’s truncation. You will also notice the initials “GR” for Gilroy Roberts.
The mintmark, P, D or S also appear close to the truncation, typically between the numbers 9 and 8 in the date, 1987.
Reverse of the 1982 Half Dollar
The reverse displays a heraldic eagle clutching an olive branch in its left talon and arrows in the right, representing peace and victory respectively. Just underneath the right talon are the initials “FG” for Frank Gasparro.
The eagle also clenches in its beak a flag with the Latin phrase, E PLURIBUS UNUM, meaning “Out of Many, One.” There’s a prominent shield on the eagle’s breast symbolic of the country’s independence and sovereignty.
Sun rays appear to emerge from behind the eagle, crowned by a billow of clouds, perhaps representative of hope and a new dawn.
The entire portrait of the heraldic eagle is encircled by a ring of stars, representing the states. Meanwhile, the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are inscribed in an arch at the top along the rim while the denomination, HALF DOLLAR, is displayed at the bottom.
Other Features of the 1982 Half Dollar
Additional features worth noting include:
- Diameter: 61 millimeters
- Weight: 30 grams
- Edge: 150 Reeds
- Metal Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel over a Copper core
Also read: 13 Most Valuable Kennedy Half Dollar Worth Money
1982 Half Dollar Grading
Strike quality, wear, and overall condition are the most important factors to pay attention to when grading 1982 Kennedy half dollars.
In particular, you should assess the high contact points as these will give you an indication of the extent of wear. The high contact points on the obverse include Kennedy’s features such as his hair, eye, ear, nose and chin. These features show smoothing and weakness in lower grade coins and clarity and sharp detail in higher grade half dollars.
On the reverse, examine the extent of wear on the eagle, including the wings, talons, shield, and the flag in its beak. In addition, pay attention to the inscriptions, especially the denomination, HALF DOLLAR. All these details should be clear and strongly visible on uncirculated pieces but will be weak and flat on worn examples.
Want to learn more about grading Kennedy half dollars? Check out this helpful video.
1982 Half Dollar Value Guides
Now that you know about the history and stand out features, let’s find out: How much is the 1982 half dollar worth?
The 1982 half dollar value depends on factors such as the coin’s condition, mintage, mintmark, and rarity. There are three varieties of the 1982 Kennedy halves:
- 1982-P Kennedy Half Dollar
- 1982-D Kennedy Half Dollar
- 1982-S Proof Kennedy Half Dollar
Let’s discover how much each is worth.
1982-P Kennedy Half Dollar Value
The Philadelphia Mint struck about 10,819,000 Kennedy half dollars in 1982. Circulated examples of the 1982-P half dollars are plentiful but Mint State pieces are scarce especially in higher grades.
Let’s take a look at the actual values:
- Circulated Examples: These are common across all grades and accessible to most collectors. Survivors are generally well-struck and in good condition. Examples graded Good (G) to Extremely Fine (F) are affordable, selling for about $0.60. Prices increase slightly for the About Uncirculated (AU58) examples, which sell for as much as $0.75.
- Mint State Examples: Uncirculated examples are equally plentiful and affordable in lower grades up until MS65, after which the population of Mint State pieces starts to decline. At MS60, examples are worth at least $1 and about $4 at MS62. Gems graded MS65 will fetch up to $50 and any pieces graded MS66 and higher are genuinely rare, commanding significantly high prices ranging from $235 to at least $2,000.
- Auction Record: In 2014, Heritage Auctions sold an MS67 for a record-breaking $2,585, making this the most valuable 1982-P half dollar to date.
1982-D Half Dollar Value
Next, we’ll look at the 1982-D half dollar, which was struck at the Denver Mint. With a mintage of 13,140,102, the 1982-half dollar is considered a common date in circulated condition.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect regarding the 1982-D half dollar value:
- Circulated Example: Worn examples are plentiful and very affordable, making them an easy addition to any collection. Examples graded Good (G) to Extremely Fine (XF) sell for as much as $0.60 with prices only increasing slightly for examples graded About Uncirculated (AU58), which can sell for up to $0.75.
- Mint State Example: Uncirculated pieces are equally abundant and accessible to most collectors. At grade MS60, a piece will fetch as much as $1 while an MS63 will sell for up to $7.50. Gems are quite rare in this series with only a few dozen graded MS66 and higher known to exist. An example graded MS66 will sell for up to $175 while an MS67 can fetch as much as $1,500. The upside is that Mint State examples are well-struck with exemplary detail and flawless surfaces, making them valuable additions to your collection.
- Auction Record: In a record-shattering auction, Heritage Auctions sold an MS67+ for an impressive $3,600, making this the most valuable 1982-D half dollar so far.
1982-S Proof Half Dollar
The San Francisco Mint struck only proof coins—flawless specimens with full-strike, sharp details, and a brilliant surface, made specially for collectors. About 3,857,479 1982-S proof half dollars were minted, a significant amount compared to the production in previous years.
So, how much is a 1982-S proof half dollar?
- Regular Proofs: These are plentiful and affordable across all grades. An PF60, for example is worth about $1.15 while an PF65 will sell for as much as $5. Higher up the grade, a highly sought-after PF70 will sell for as much as $30.
- Cameo: The Cameo population is much smaller but lower-grade examples are still quite affordable. While an PF60 will sell for as much as $1.50, an PF65 will bring in up to $4. Meanwhile, a higher grade PF68 can fetch up to $17.50 and PF70 will command as much as $65.
- Deep Cameo: Also known as Ultra Cameos, these beautiful coins boast frosted devices and satin surfaces with superior details and are any collector’s dream coin. Although prices are affordable at lower grades, higher-grade Deep Cameo half dollars are worth much more with examples graded PF70 commanding at least $120.
Also read: 11 Most Valuable Half Dollars In Circulation
Rare 1982 Half Dollar Errors List
Minting errors are inevitable in the coin-making process and some of these errors can be worth good money. There are some minting errors in the 1982 Kennedy half dollar series that are worth adding to your collection and can significantly add to the regular value of Kennedy halves.
Here’s what to look out for:
1. 1982 Half Dollar Doubled Die Error
A doubled die error occurs when the die strikes the planchet at slightly different angles multiple times. This can happen due to small misalignments between the die and planchet, resulting in visible doubling on the inscriptions or design elements.
On the Kennedy halves, you might notice doubling on the date, or the inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST, on the obverse. Kennedy’s facial features such as the nose and chin might also show some doubling.
An eBay collector paid $55 for a circulated 1982 half dollar with an obverse doubled die error.
2. 1982 Half Dollar Misaligned Die Error
Another error that comes up in the series is the misaligned die error, which occurs due to an offset between the obverse and reverse dies.
The misalignment can cause one or both dies to strike the coin design at a rotated angle e.g. Kennedy’s portrait may appear shifted at an angle in relation to the reverse design.
The greater the misalignment or rotation, the more eye-catching and valuable the error tends to be. For example, a 20-degree misalignment will generally be more valuable than a 5-degree misalignment.
In 2014, a collector paid an impressive $110 for a 1982 half dollar with a 25-degree misalignment.
Where to Sell Your 1982 Kennedy Half Dollar?
Now that you know the value of your coins, do you know where to sell those coins online easily? Don’t worry, I’ve compiled a list of these sites, including their introduction, pros, and cons.
Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)
FAQs
How do you know if a 1982 Kennedy Half Dollar is valuable?
You can identify a high-value Kennedy half dollar by assessing the strike quality. Higher-grade Mint State half-dollars have a strong strike quality and eye-appeal and will be more valuable. Also, if the coin has a notable minting error, it could be more valuable than a regular Kennedy half dollar.
Are 1982 Kennedy half-dollars worth anything?
Generally, circulated 1982 Kennedy half dollars are only worth their face value. But, Mint State examples, especially those graded MS65 and higher are worth more and are a worthwhile addition to any collection.
Are 1982 Kennedy half dollars rare?
No. 1982 Kennedy half dollars are abundant in circulated condition and in lower Mint State. The Philadelphia and Denver Mints struck millions of these coins and survivors are plentiful today, partially due to extensive hoarding. That said, Gems are rare and starting from grade MS65 and higher but are still collectible.
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