The series of golden colored $1 coins honoring the former Presidents reached its thirty-fifth release with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Dollar (Buy on eBay). This release generated significant interest from both coin collectors and the general public due to the popularity of the former President.
John F. Kennedy, or “JFK,” served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and his heroism earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Purple Heart. He served six years in the House of Representatives and seven years in the U.S. Senate before being elected President of the United States. Notable events during his presidency included the Bay of Pigs Invasion—which led to the creation of the Peace Corps—the Cuban Missile Crisis and the launch of the first American manned spacecraft. He was tragically assassinated in November 1963, sending shock waves of grief around the world.
His assassination led to the introduction of the Kennedy Half Dollar, which has been issued from 1964 to present. Although the coins are no longer issued for general circulation, the series is highly popular with collectors. In 2014, the 50th anniversary of the series was commemorated with the issuance of a three-quarter ounce gold version of the coin, as well as other special products with coins featuring a restored version of the original portrait design.
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Dollar features an obverse portrait designed and engraved by Don Everhart. The President’s downward pose is intended to be reminiscent of his official White House portrait. Inscriptions read “JOHN F. KENNEDY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “35th PRESIDENT,” and “1961-1963.” The reverse, which was also designed and engraved by Don Everhart, features a rendition of the Statue of Liberty with inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “$1.” The edge of the coin includes the date, mint mark, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Starting on June 18, 2015, the United States Mint offered circulating quality versions of the John F. Kennedy Dollar within numismatic bags and rolls. The products included 25-coin rolls, 100-coin bags, and 250-coin boxes with coins from either the Philadelphia or Denver Mint facilities. Proof and Uncirculated versions of the coin were incorporated into various other numismatic products.
On September 16, the U.S. Mint offered the 2015 John F. Kennedy Coin and Chronicles Set. Each set contained one 2015 Kennedy Presidential Dollar struck with a Reverse Proof finish, one Kennedy Presidential Medal struck in 99.9% silver, and one postage stamp issued by the United States Postal Service. The Reverse Proof coin was unique to the set, providing strong incentive for collectors. The sets were limited to 50,000 units and priced at $57.95 each.
The mintage level for the circulation strike Kennedy Presidential Dollars marked the highest level for the series in several years. The Philadelphia Mint struck 6,160,000 pieces and the Denver Mint struck 5,180,000 for a combined total of 11,340,000.
Coin Specifications:
- Denomination: $1.00
- Composition: 88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese, 2% nickel
- Diameter: 26.5 mm
- Weight: 8.1g
- Thickness: 2.0 mm
- Edge: lettered
Coin Mintages:
- Philadelphia: 6,160,000
- Denver: 5,180,000
- San Francisco (Proof): 1,272,232
Other 2015 Presidential Dollars:
< Dwight D. Eisenhower | Lyndon B. Johnson >
