Half Dollar · 1986
1986 Half Dollar Value
A 1986 half dollar is worth $0.46 to $2.11 in circulated condition, depending on its mint mark and wear.
Prices updated:
About the 1986 half dollar
The 1986 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 Denver, Philadelphia — 28,443,778 coins in all, which is why an ordinary example is worth close to face value however well it has been kept.
Philadelphia made the fewest at 13,107,633, against 15,336,145 from Denver. The mints are within the same order of magnitude, so on this date the mint mark does far less to the price than condition does.
This is a recent coin, so there is no meaningful spread yet: circulated examples run from $0.46 to $2.11, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 15,336,14515.3M | — | $0.46 | $0.51 | $0.56 | $0.56 | $0.56 | $2.09 |
| No mint mark | 13,107,63313.1M | $0.49 | $0.49 | $0.50 | $0.70 | $0.70 | $0.70 | $2.11 |
What the grades mean
Grades run G to UNC, then MS60–MS70, where most value sits. How coin grading works →
How to identify your 1986 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 1 collector version of the 1986 1986 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 2,411,180.
| Format | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | S | 2,411,1802.4M | $4.33 |
What to do with your 1986 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 28,443,778 and a best circulated value of $2.11, 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 1986 half dollar worth?
A circulated 1986 half dollar is worth $0.46 to $2.11 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 1986 half dollars were made?
About 28,443,778 in total — Denver 15,336,145, Philadelphia 13,107,633. That is a modest mintage for a modern issue.
Where is the mint mark on a 1986 half dollar?
See “Where is the mint mark” above.
Are there rare 1986 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 1986?
An S mint mark on a 1986 half dollar means a collector coin from San Francisco — 1 proof and special-finish versions were sold in sets rather than released into circulation. The scarcest was struck in 2,411,180. They are not found in change.
Should I get my 1986 half dollar graded?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. For this date the best circulated examples guide at $2.11, from a mintage of 28,443,778 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.
More on half dollars
1976 Half Dollar1977 Half Dollar1979 Half Dollar1990 Half Dollar1996 Half Dollar1997 Half Dollar