Half Dollar · 1979
1979 Half Dollar Value
A 1979 half dollar is worth $0.52 to $1.97 in circulated condition, depending on its mint mark and wear.
Prices updated:
About the 1979 half dollar
The 1979 half dollar is a regular circulation issue, struck in copper-nickel clad copper (91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel), weighing 11.34 g, 30.61 mm across, from a design by Gilroy Roberts. It was struck at Philadelphia, Denver — 84,127,422 coins in all, which is why an ordinary example is worth close to face value however well it has been kept.
Denver made the fewest at 15,815,422, against 68,312,000 from Philadelphia — a 4-to-1 difference, and the one number on this page most likely to matter if the date is ever collected seriously.
This is a recent coin, so there is no meaningful spread yet: circulated examples run from $0.52 to $1.97, and the grading data that separates ordinary coins from exceptional ones has not built up.
Legends on this design — obverse: “LIBERTY · IN GOD WE TRUST”. Reverse: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA · E PLURIBUS UNUM · HALF DOLLAR”.
Value chart by grade
| Mint mark | Mintage | G | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No mint mark | 68,312,00068.3M | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.74 | $0.81 | $0.98 | $1.97 |
| D | 15,815,42215.8M | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.54 | $0.68 | $1.05 | $1.77 |
What the grades mean
Grades run G to UNC, then MS60–MS70, where most value sits. How coin grading works →
How to identify your 1979 half dollar
What if it has already been cleaned?
Still identifies the same — you lose the premium. Don't try to fix it.
Where is the mint mark
It sits on the obverse below Kennedy's neck (1968 onward); on the reverse below the eagle for earlier issues. No letter means Philadelphia — normal, not rare. What the letter means →
Proof and collector versions
Alongside the coins made for circulation, the Mint sold 2 collector versions of the 1979 1979 half dollar — proofs and special finishes struck at San Francisco and sold directly in sets. These never entered circulation, so if your coin came out of a till or a jar it is not one of them. They carry an S mint mark and a mirror or satin finish that is obvious next to an ordinary coin. The scarcest was struck in 3,677,175.
| Format | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1; Proof; see comments | S | 3,677,1753.7M | $2.70 |
| Type 2; Proof; see comments | S | —— | $12.11 |
What to do with your 1979 half dollar
Don't clean it
Leave the surface alone — see the warning above.
Is it worth grading?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. Against a mintage of 84,127,422 and a best circulated value of $1.97, the fee is more than the coin returns. Keep it raw unless it is exceptional or you suspect a variety.
Where to sell
Dealer: fastest, pays least. Auction: best for coins worth $100+. eBay: most buyers, most fees.
Specifications
½ Dollar "Kennedy Half Dollar"
- Composition
- Copper-nickel clad copper (91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel)
- Weight
- 11.34 g
- Diameter
- 30.61 mm
- Thickness
- 2.15 mm
- Edge
- Reeded
- Designer
- Gilroy Roberts
- Mints
- United States Mint of Philadelphia, United States Mint of Denver, United States Mint of San Francisco (collector issues only)
FAQ
How much is a 1979 half dollar worth?
A circulated 1979 half dollar is worth $0.52 to $1.97 depending on condition and mint mark. It is a recent coin in everyday circulation, so condition is the only thing that moves the price.
How many 1979 half dollars were made?
About 84,127,422 in total — Philadelphia 68,312,000, Denver 15,815,422. That is a large mintage, which is why circulated examples stay inexpensive.
Where is the mint mark on a 1979 half dollar?
See “Where is the mint mark” above.
Are there rare 1979 half dollar varieties?
No major varieties are catalogued for this date. That does not rule out minting errors on individual coins — off-centre strikes, clipped planchets and doubled dies turn up in any year — but there is no known variety that makes the date itself scarce.
What is the S half dollar from 1979?
An S mint mark on a 1979 half dollar means a collector coin from San Francisco — 2 proof and special-finish versions were sold in sets rather than released into circulation. The scarcest was struck in 3,677,175. They are not found in change.
Should I get my 1979 half dollar graded?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. For this date the best circulated examples guide at $1.97, from a mintage of 84,127,422 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.
More on half dollars
1972 Half Dollar1973 Half Dollar1974 Half Dollar1976 Half Dollar1977 Half Dollar1986 Half Dollar