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Hold a piece honoring a unique era of American history. The special edition 1966 Kennedy half dollar commemorates the life of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. Kennedy was the youngest man elected to the office but was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in 1963. Kennedy became the youngest president to die while in office. The 1966 Kennedy half dollar silver coin was released three years after JFK’s tragic assassination. The 1966 Kennedy half dollar would complete any American coin collection. While this Kennedy Half Dollar was minted in 1966, Congress authorized the coin just a month after the President’s death. The Kennedy half dollar was released as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy. The coin was first minted in January 1964, soon after the approval and only two months after Kennedy’s assassination. The Kennedy half dollar was quickly produced in part because of its use of existing works by U.S. Mint sculptors Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro. Because of this, the Mint’s dies were able to be prepared quickly. The Kennedy half dollar’s obverse features a left-facing bust of the late John F. Kennedy and was designed by Gilroy Roberts. The coin’s reverse features a modified presidential seal designed by Frank Gasparro. The seal features the American bald eagle holding an olive branch, symbolizing peace, as well as arrows, symbolizing strength. The thirteen stripes on the back of the coin represent the 13 original colonies that were the backbone of today’s America. The horizontal bar across the top represents Congress forming one government from many governments. Fifty stars encircle the eagle, each representing one of the 50 states that make up the U.S. The Kennedy half dollar has a reeded edge. The Kennedy half dollar is comprised of 40 percent silver and 60 percent copper. Initially, the coins had a higher percentage of silver until the price of silver resulted in people hoarding the coins and melting them down for their silver. The half dollar weighs 11.5 grams. The coin is 30.6mm in diameter and has a thickness of 2.15mm.