Kennedy half dollars are a collector’s favorite—they are affordable, plentiful, and hold immense historical and sentimental value, and the 1990 half dollar is no different. Whether selling or buying, our guide will help you understand the 1900 half dollar value.
We’ll walk you through the history of the Kennedy half dollar, explore the features of the 1990 issue, and teach you how to authenticate and grade your coin. We’ll also reveal some high-value minting errors that can significantly add to the value of a regular Kennedy half.
So, how much is a 1990 half dollar? Read on to find out!
1990 Half Dollar Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1990-P Half Dollar Value | $0.55 | $0.55 | $0.55 | $275 |
| 1990-D Half Dollar Value | $0.55 | $0.55 | $0.55 | $750 |
| 1990-S Proof Half Dollar Value | – | – | – | $30 |
History of the 1990 Half Dollar
The regular issue of the 1990 half dollar was struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, while proof half dollars were minted in San Francisco. All mints recorded fairly high mintages, and examples are common even in Mint State, making these half dollars an easy addition to any collection.
The Kennedy half dollar was issued just a few months after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the coins commemorate the late president’s legacy. Within hours of the tragic event, Mint Director Eva Adams consulted with the Mint’s Chief Engraver, Gilroy Roberts, about the possibility of producing a coin in memory of J.F. Kennedy. Eventually, it was agreed that the new Kennedy coinage would replace the Benjamin Franklin half dollar.
As there was little time to create new coin designs, Roberts and his assistant Frank Gasparro used the designs they had previously created for the Kennedy Presidential Series. For the presidential medal, Roberts had designed the obverse, featuring Kennedy’s portrait, while Gasparro had designed the reverse featuring the heraldic eagle as inspired by the presidential seal.
As Congressional approval was required to change a coin’s design that was less than 25 years old, Democrat Representative Henry Gonzalez introduced a bill that would authorize the new Kennedy half dollar. The bill was passed in December 1963, paving the way for production in January 1964. Proof coins were struck first, followed by business strike issues, which were initially produced at the Denver Mint and then soon after at the Philadelphia Mint.
The Mint released the first batch of Kennedy half dollars in March 1964 to massive public demand. The released coins were all sold before the end of the day, and the relentless demand for the Kennedy half dollar did not decline even in the months to come. Year after year, the Mint increased production, but due to widespread hoarding, the new half dollar hardly ever circulated. In 1970, the Mint eliminated any silver content from the half dollar, but this move did little to nothing to boost the coin’s circulation.
While the 1980s saw a sharp rise in the population of Kennedy half dollars, the mintages began a general decline in the 1990s. That said, the 1990 half dollar has a high enough mintage to meet collector demand. Although Mint State examples are plentiful, Gems in MS67 and higher are extremely rare and command a significant premium.
Also read: 13 Most Valuable Franklin Half Dollars Worth Money
Features of the 1990 Half Dollar
Now, let’s explore the standout features of the 1990 Kennedy half dollar, which can help you with authenticating and accurately grading your coins. Knowing these features is also essential to identifying high-value Kennedy half dollars that are worth collecting.
Here’s what to look out for:
Obverse of the 1990 Half Dollar
The “heads” features a simple design showing Kennedy’s left-facing profile. The word LIBERTY appears above the profile along the rim, while the date, 1990, is etched at the bottom just below his profile.
The national motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, is inscribed horizontally just underneath the portrait’s truncation. In the same area, you will notice the initials, GR, which stand for Gilroy Robert’s the design’s creator.
The mintmark P, D, or S appears just above the first 9 in the date, although the position might change slightly where the mintmark appears between the two nines.
Reverse of the 1990 Half Dollar
The “tail” features a more intricate design of the heraldic eagle. The shield on its breast represents non-aggression but also self-defense and strength in the unity between the federal and state governments.
The eagle also clutches a flag in its beak inscribed with the Latin phrase, E PLURIBUS UNUM, which means, “Out of Many, One.”
Rays of light emerging from behind the eagle and crowned by a billow of clouds are symbolic of hope and a new dawn. The eagle also clutches an olive branch in its right talon, representing peace, while the arrows in its left talon are symbolic of victory.
The initials FG can be seen just underneath the left leg and at the top of the tail feather. These stand for Frank Gasparro, the design’s creator. The entire eagle’s portrait is surrounded by stars representing the states.
The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are inscribed in an arc at the top and along the rim, while the denomination, HALF DOLLAR, is etched at the lower section. The two inscriptions are separated by a period to the left and the other to the right.
Other Features of the 1990 Half Dollar
Additional features of the half dollar worth noting are:
- Diameter: 30.61 millimeters
- Weight: 30 grams
- Edge: 150 Reeds
- Metal Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel on a pure Copper core
Also read: 13 Most Valuable Kennedy Half Dollar Worth Money
1990 Half Dollar Value Guides
Next, let’s find out: How much is the 1990 Kennedy half dollar worth? Factors such as the condition, mintmark, mintage, and rarity will affect the coin’s value.
We’ll look at the value of the three types of 1990 half dollars. These are:
- 1990-P Half Dollar
- 1990-D Half Dollar
- 1990-S Proof Half Dollar
Let’s find out how much each is worth:
1990-P Half Dollar
The Philadelphia Mint struck about 22,278,000 Kennedy halves in 1990, the highest mintage that year. Like most in the series, survivors are well-struck and common across all grades, although Gems can be hard to come by.
Here’s a breakdown of the value of a 1990-P half dollar:
- Circulated Examples: These are common and affordable in all grades. From Good (G) to Extremely Fine (XF), 1990 Kennedy halves are worth more or less their face value of about $0.55. The prices rise slightly in About Uncirculated (AU) to sell for as much as $0.65.
- Mint State Examples: Uncirculated examples are equally common up to grade MS65, although finding specimens graded MS66 can be slightly difficult. All in all, finding nice examples is not very hard. Uncirculated halves are affordable in all grades and can be an easy addition to any collection. For instance, in MS60, a piece can sell for as much as $0.75 and up to $3 in MS63. Prices rise to $7.50 in MS64 and as much as $15 in MS65. Gems graded MS67 and higher are scarce to rare and will typically command higher prices of as much as $275 or more.
- Auction Record: In a 2018 sale, Heritage Auctions sold an MS67 for an impressive $1,440, making this one of the most valuable 1990-P half dollars.
1990-D Half Dollar
The Denver Mint had the second-highest mintage, with 20,096,242 half dollars struck at the facility. The 1990-D half dollars are common in all grades but become scarce in Gem condition, despite recording one of the highest mintages in the entire Kennedy half dollar series.
Here’s what to expect when collecting the 1990-D Kennedy halves:
- Circulated Examples: These are common in all grades and easy to add to your collection. Examples are worth the equivalent of the face value of $0.55 from those graded Good (G) to those in Extremely Fine (XF) condition. About Uncirculated (AU58) examples are desirable and plentiful, although their prices are slightly higher at about $0.75.
- Mint State Examples: Pulling out 1990-D half dollars from Mint Sets and Uncirculated Rolls isn’t difficult. These specimens are plentiful up to MS65, but the population dwindles drastically in MS66 and higher. According to records by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), fewer than 500 half dollars have been certified and graded MS66 or higher. Only a few dozen are graded MS67, and examples graded higher are currently unknown.
- Auction Record: In 2022, David Lawrence RC auctioned an MS67 for a whopping $2,233.
1990-S Proof Dollar
With about 3,299,559 proof half dollars struck at the San Francisco Mint, enough pieces are available to meet collectors’ demand. These special coins are generally well-struck, and finding nice examples should not be a problem.
Proof half dollars graded MS65 are common, and so are higher-grade cameo examples. Deep or Ultra cameo pieces are scarce, although those graded PF69 and higher do exist and are relatively collectible.
Let’s take a look at the value of a 1990-S proof half dollar:
- Regular Proof: These are plentiful, well-struck, and affordable, making them an easy addition to your collection. In PF60, examples can sell for up to $1.25 and as much as $5 in PF65. Gems graded PF70 are worth up to $30.
- Cameo (CAM): Cameos are equally common and accessible to most collectors. In PF60, examples are worth as much as $1.50, but the prices rise to $6.50 in PF65. PF70 specimens can sell for as much as $40.
- Deep Cameo (DCAM): These are scarcer than their regular proof and cameo counterparts but are still collectible. Prices start from $1.75 in PF60 and increase to approximately $8.50 in PF65, and as high as $22.50 in PF68. Superior gems graded PF70 are pointedly rare, commanding prices of up to $70.
Also read: 11 Most Valuable Half Dollars In Circulation
1990 Half Dollar Grading
Grading the 1990 half dollar entails examining the extent of wear on high-contact points and evaluating the strike quality.
Assess areas such as the top of Kennedy’s hair, the hair above his ear, and his jawline. On the reverse, examine features of the eagle, including the shield, legs, talons, and feathers. Weak details on these contact points signal a lower grade, while higher grade coins will show stronger, crisper details, including the inscriptions and design elements.
Also, examine the surface quality for signs of damage such as dings, dents, and scratches, which are often seen on lower-grade coins. Higher grade half dollars will show original mint luster with little to no surface damage.
Check out this video for more tips on grading Kennedy Half Dollars.
Rare 1990 Half Dollar Errors List
The 1990 Kennedy half dollars were well struck, but some minting errors can still be found in this date. Let’s look at some that are worth significantly more than face value and therefore deserve a spot in your collection:
1. 1990 Half Dollar Clipped Planchet Error
A clipped planchet error occurs when the blank planchet is improperly cut from the metal strip, resulting in a missing portion of the coin’s rim. Larger clips will typically be more eye-catching and command higher prices. In 2020, a collector on eBay paid $50 for a 1990-D graded MS63 with a clipped planchet error.
2. 1990 Half Dollar Off-Center Strike Error
Another error that shows up in this date is the off-center strike, which happens when the die strikes the planchet away from the center and more toward the edge, causing the design to appear a bit offset. Generally, the greater the offset, the more valuable the coin, with this error adding between $20 and $100 to the value of your coin.
3. 1990 Half Dollar Doubled Die Error
A doubled die error occurs when the die strikes the planchet multiple times at slightly different angles, resulting in visible doubling on the inscriptions or design features. Doubling may be seen on Kennedy’s portrait, the heraldic eagle, and the inscriptions on either side of the coin. A doubled die error may be worth $20-$100, depending on the clarity of the doubling. For example, in 2021, a collector paid $50 for a 1990-P half dollar with an obverse doubled die error.
Where to Sell Your 1990 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 much is a 1990 half-dollar worth?
In circulated condition, a 1990 half dollar is worth more or less than its face value. The value of uncirculated examples can go as high as $750, depending on the coin’s condition, mintmark, and rarity.
What makes a 1990 Kennedy Half Dollar rare?
The 1990 Kennedy half dollar is generally common in all grades, including in Mint State. That said, examples with minting errors can be rare and worth significantly more than the face value. Gems graded MS66 and higher are also rare and will command premium prices.
Are 1990 half dollars silver?
No. 1990 Kennedy half dollars do not contain any silver content. The Mint eliminated all silver from Kennedy half dollars in the 1970s and began producing these coins in a Copper-Nickel clad composition. The Nickel is responsible for the silverish appearance of the half dollars.
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