Finding a coin that you don’t already have in your collection is always exhilarating. It may be worth next to nothing, but if you are lucky it may be worth thousands of dollars!
Continue reading to learn about the 1968 half dollar value, history, grading, errors, and more. If you have one or more of these shiny coins it’s possible that you have a small fortune in your collection, depending on their condition and some other factors.
Let’s dive in!
1968 Half Dollar Value Details
- Category – Kennedy half dollars
- Mint – Denver and San Francisco
- Mintage – around 250 000 000
- Obverse designer – Gilroy Roberts
- Reverse designer – Frank Gasparro
- Composition – 60% copper and 40% silver
- Weight – 11.5 grams (0.4 ounces)
- Diameter – 30.6 millimeters (1.2 inches)
- Thickness – 2.1 millimeters (0.08 inches)
Half-dollar coins from 1968 belong to the category of Kennedy half dollars because of the design on the obverse of the coins.
The half dollars were produced in two mints in 1968 – Denver and San Francisco. This means that each half dollar you find from this year should have either a D or an S mint mark, respectively.
Denver and San Francisco minted around 250 million half dollars in 1968, making these coins relatively common and easy to find on the market.
In 1968 the US mint still used silver to make half-dollar coins, so this coin is made of 40% silver while the remaining 60% is copper. One coin weighs more than 11 grams and is over 30 millimeters in diameter.
1968 Half Dollar Value Chart
| Condition | 1968 D Mint Mark Half Dollar Value | 1968 S Mint Mark Half Dollar Value |
| Poor | $3 | $3 – $5 |
| Fair | $3 – $4 | $5 – $6 |
| About good | $4 – $5 | $6 – $8 |
| Good | $5 – $6 | $8 – $10 |
| Fine | $6 – $7 | $10 – $12 |
| Very fine | $7 – $8 | $12 – $14 |
| Extremely fine | $8 – $10 | $14 – $16 |
| About Uncirculated | $10 – $30 | $16 – $50 |
| Mint state (60-64) | $30 – $50 | $50 – $100 |
| Mint state (65-67) | $50 – $100 | $100 – $500 |
| Mint state (68-70) | $100 – $500 + | $500 – $1 000 + |
The value of a 1968 half-dollar coin depends on several factors, such as condition and uniqueness. The price of a coin is largely determined by its rarity, and there were a lot of half dollars minted in 1968 so they are not very rare.
However, these coins were made of 40% silver so the price of one is around $3 minimum according to the current melt value of this precious metal.
The price increases when the coin is in better condition, so if you have a half dollar that is in uncirculated condition you can get $30 to $100 if you sell it. The coins in the mint state can reach the price of several hundred and even several thousand dollars.
The coins minted in San Francisco are slightly more valuable than those produced in Denver. Denver made a lot more of these coins in 1968 which is why they are less pricey.
Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Kennedy Half Dollar Worth Money
1968 Half Dollar Value & Varieties Guide
Since 1968 half dollar was produced in two different locations, and there are two varieties of this coin. Let’s learn more about each of them.
1968 D Mint Mark Half Dollar Value
- Type – Kennedy half dollar
- Edge – reeded
- Mint mark – D mint mark
- Place of minting – Denver
- Year of minting – 1968
- Face value – half dollar
- Price – $3 – $500 +
- Quantity produced – around 247 000 000
- Designer – Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro
- Composition – 60% copper and 40% silver
- Mass – 11.5 grams (0.4 ounces)
- Diameter – 30.6 millimeters (1.2 inches)
The US Mint produced around 247 million half-dollar coins in Denver in 1968. You can recognize these coins by the D mint mark found on the obverse.
The price of a 1968-D half dollar depends on several factors. If you have a coin in poor condition you can expect to get around $3 which is six times the coin’s face value. Not bad, but you cannot expect to get rich fast.
If your half dollar from 1968 from Denver is in mint state with a grade over 67 then you can look forward to selling it. You will most probably be able to get at least several hundred dollars.
If the coin is unique in some other ways as well, like if it has a unique error, you can sell it for more than a thousand dollars.
1968 S Mint Mark Half Dollar Value
San Francisco minted around 3 million half dollars in 1968. These were the proof coins which are normally more valuable than the regular ones.
The starting price of a proof half dollar from 1968 is around $3. The price can rise to more than a thousand if your coin is in mint state with a near-perfect or a perfect grade.
You can check if your 1968 half dollar was minted in San Francisco by checking the mint mark on the front of the coin. If there is an S engraved, your half dollar is a proof coin.
San Francisco produced significantly fewer half dollars in 1968 than the Denver mint, which is why they are a bit more valuable. Their rarity is what makes them slightly more expensive.
- Type – Kennedy half dollar
- Edge – reeded
- Mint mark – S mint mark
- Place of minting – San Francisco
- Year of minting – 1968
- Face value – half dollar
- Price – $3 – $1 000 +
- Quantity produced – around 3 000 000
- Designer – Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro
- Composition – 60% copper and 40% silver
- Mass – 11.5 grams (0.4 ounces)
- Diameter – 30.6 millimeters (1.2 inches)
1968 Half Dollar History
The history of the US half dollar starts in 1794. Up until 1947, this coin depicted Lady Liberty on the front and an eagle on the back.
The design featured Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and Liberty Bell on the reverse of the coin up until 1964. This is when the US mint changed the design to commemorate the life of John Kennedy.
President John F. Kennedy, also known as JFK, is one of the most important figures in the history of the US. He was the 35th president of this country and while he was in this position for only two years, he remains one of the most significant people who ruled the US.
JFK was killed in 1963 which prompted the US mint to start featuring him on a half-dollar coin starting in 1964. This design is still in circulation.
In fact, the design of a half dollar changed only in 1975 and 1976 when the US was celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. During these two years, the coins featured the Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
The composition of the half dollar contained silver up until 1971. During this time, the price of silver started increasing so people started hoarding and melting the coins. The US mint decided to change the material to copper and nickel.
1968 Half Dollar Appearance
The 1968 half dollar was designed by Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro. They designed the obverse and the reverse of this coin, respectively.
The front side of the 1968 half dollar features the left-side profile of John F. Kennedy at the center of the coin.
On top of the coin is the word LIBERTY. To the ex-president’s left side are the words IN GOD and to his right side WE TRUST, which is one of the mottos of the US.
The year 1968 is inscribed at the bottom of the coin, below the portrait. Right above the year is the mint mark.
The reverse of the coin is quite interesting too. It features an eagle that holds 13 arrows, a shield, and an olive branch. These symbolize war, strength, and peace.
Right above the eagle are the words ET PLURIBUS UNUM, meaning “out of many, one”, indicating the unity of the US states. Speaking of the states, there are also 50 stars around the design that represent them.
On top of the reverse side of the coin are the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and on the bottom is the denomination, HALF DOLLAR.
1968 Half Dollar Grading
Properly grading a 1968 half dollar can be difficult for a layman. If you are not experienced, please consider taking a coin to a professional so you are sure to get an accurate grade. Sometimes you may miss an important feature that can increase the price of your coin.
Normally, 1968 half dollars are graded on a scale that starts with 1 for the coins in bad condition and ends with grade 70, indicating the coins that look like they just exited the factory.
List of 1968 Half-Dollar Errors
The half dollars from 1968 are highly valuable if they are in a mint state. However, even the coins that have clear signs of damage can be sold for a lot of money if they are unique.
Mint errors don’t happen often and the mints don’t like to put coins with mistakes in circulation. This is why, when you find an errored coin, you can consider yourself lucky. They are rare and therefore more valuable than the regular ones.
Let’s see what are some of the errors that you can find on 1968 half dollar coins.
1. 1968-S Half Dollar Inverted S Error
This is probably the rarest error you will find on 1968 half dollar coins. It was discovered decades after the coins were minted because it is barely recognizable at first.
The error is an inverted mint mark. It is difficult to identify because when S is turned upside-down it looks almost exactly the same as the regular letter.
However, if you take a magnifying glass and inspect it more closely, you will see that the bigger part of the S is on the upper part of the letter instead of the lower.
These coins are known to have been sold for a few hundred dollars. If you are interested in getting one for your collection, the current price is $10 000 for the errored coin.
2. 1968 Half Dollar Repunched Mint Mark
Another relatively rare error in half dollars from 1968 is the repunched mint mark. This happens when the mint mark, either D or S in this case, is accidentally engraved twice.
These coins usually sell for around or more than $100. It’s important that they are in good condition so the error can be seen clearly.
3. 1968 Half Dollar Double Die
The double die error happens when the dies that engrave the coins strike twice instead of just once. This can happen both on the obverse and the reverse side of a coin.
This mistake is sometimes not very clear, so you will need a keen eye to notice it. It is usually most recognizable on the edges of the coin.
If you have one such coin, you can expect to sell it for a hundred dollars and more, provided that it is in good condition.
1968 Half Dollar FAQ
What makes a 1968 half dollar rare?
Half dollars from 1968 are not that rare since the US mint produced around 250 million of those. However, if you have a half dollar from 1968 that is in extremely good condition or has a rare error, you can rest assured that you have a valuable coin in your collection.
Is a 1968 50-cent piece silver?
Half dollars from 1968 are made of 40% silver. The remaining 60% is copper.
Where is the mint mark on a 1968 Kennedy half-dollar?
The mint mark on a 1968 half dollar is on the obverse side of the coin, right above the year, and on the right side of the ex-president’s portrait. Half dollars were minted in Denver and San Francisco in 1968, so they are engraved with either D or S mint marks.
How much are 1968 coins worth?
The 1968 half dollar coins are worth around $3 to $1 000 and more, depending on their rarity, condition, and place of minting. Half dollars minted in San Francisco are proof, making them a bit more valuable than those produced in Denver.
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