1981 U.S. Mint Kennedy Half Dollar
Unavailable
Description
1981 U.S. Mint Kennedy Half Dollar in Excellent Condition, Note Black Blemish on Head See Photos. The 1981 Kennedy Half Dollar marks a period where the series was firmly established as a copper-nickel clad issue, consisting of a pure copper core bonded to outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Struck at the Philadelphia (1981-P), Denver (1981-D), and San Francisco (1981-S) mints, these coins saw a combined production of over 60 million units. While circulated examples typically hold only face value, the year is highly regarded by collectors for its proof varieties. The 1981-S proof sets contain two distinct "S" mint mark styles: the common Type 1 "Filled S" and the much scarcer Type 2 "Clear S," which features a sharp, well-defined mint mark that can command significant premiums in high grades. In the current 2026 market, pristine "Superb Gem" business strikes (graded MS-67 or higher) are particularly elusive due to the era's typically weak strikes and heavy bag marks, with top-tier specimens frequently reaching four-figure sums at auction.
