1965 Half Dollar Patterns

About This Coin

Documenting a consequential composition change, the 1965 Half Dollar Patterns from the Modern Patterns (1943 to Date) series — 5th of 15 years — tested designs and alloys for the half dollar as it transitioned from 90% silver to a reduced 40% silver-clad composition. Unlike the quarter and dime, which lost silver entirely in 1965, the half dollar retained some silver through 1970, making these patterns particularly interesting as they explored a middle path. The obverse and reverse feature various experimental designs evaluating how different compositions affected striking characteristics, surface appearance, and the distinctive ring of silver coins Americans had long associated with genuine money. Designed by various U.S. Mint designers, these patterns addressed the nationwide coin shortage that prompted President Johnson to sign the Coinage Act of 1965. The half dollar occupied a special position because the Kennedy design's enormous popularity had already led to mass hoarding following President Kennedy's 1963 assassination. For researchers, the 1965 Half Dollar Patterns provide evidence of the Mint's deliberative process balancing technical requirements, public sentiment, and economic reality.