1979 Half Dollar Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1979 Half Dollar value ranges from $0.50 face value to $5,750. That record was set by a Grade 68 example sold on eBay in February 2023. Upload a photo of yours below and you’ll get a quick value range based on your coin’s condition. Scroll down too to check recent eBay sales and see what collectors are actually paying right now.

 

1979 Half Dollar Value By Variety

1979 Half Dollar Value History and Background

By 1979, the Kennedy half dollar had been fully clad — no silver whatsoever — for nine straight years. The days of 90% silver (1964) and 40% silver (1965–1970) were long gone. What you got in 1979 was a copper core sandwiched between cupronickel layers. Looks like silver. Contains none.

The Mint ditched silver because rising bullion prices made earlier coins worth more melted down than spent. But even after silver disappeared, half dollars barely circulated. People kept hoarding them out of habit, and 1979 coins piled up in Federal Reserve vaults just like the ones before them.

Here’s a fun detail: 1979 was the year the Susan B. Anthony Dollar debuted on July 2. Congress hoped this smaller coin would replace the clunky Eisenhower Dollar. Instead, people kept confusing it with the quarter. The SBA dollar flopped so badly it grabbed all the headlines, while the Kennedy half dollar quietly rolled off the presses by the millions with almost no fanfare.

That same year, the U.S. Mint launched an Industrial Hygiene program and started reducing noise levels on the production floor. It didn’t change how the coins looked, but it’s a neat footnote about what was happening inside the building while these halves were being struck.

Also Read: Top 35 Most Valuable Franklin Half Dollar Worth Money (1948 – 1963)

 

Is Your 1979 Half Dollar Rare?

In worn grades, these are everywhere. You could fill a bucket with circulated 1979 halves without trying. But at the top of the grading scale? Completely different story.

As of April 2025, only 2 coins have been certified PCGS MS68 and just 4 coins hold the NGC MS68 designation for the Philadelphia issue — and nothing grades higher than MS68. Even MS67 is tough, with roughly 100 examples known across both services. The Denver MS68 that sold for $5,750 proves just how thin the supply gets at the peak. If your coin looks absolutely pristine — no bag marks, full luster, sharp hair detail — it’s worth a closer look.

To quickly check the rarity and market position of any Kennedy Half Dollar variety, you can use our Coin Value Checker APP for instant access to updated rankings and valuation data.

 

Key Features of the 1979 Half Dollar

The 1979 Kennedy Half Dollar is a clad coin — copper core with cupronickel outer layers. It looks like silver but has zero precious metal content.

The Obverse of the 1979 Half Dollar

Flip it to the front and you’ll see JFK’s portrait, designed by Mint engraver Gilroy Roberts. Roberts originally created this image for a presidential medal that Kennedy himself approved before his assassination on November 22, 1963. When the coin was rushed into production, Roberts made one subtle change — Kennedy appears with a slight smile instead of the neutral expression on the original medal.

“LIBERTY” arcs along the upper edge, the date appears at the lower edge, and “IN GOD WE TRUST” sits horizontally above the date. Roberts placed his initials on the truncation below the portrait. Coins struck at Denver or San Francisco carry a “D” or “S” mint mark just above the date; Philadelphia coins have no mint mark — and 1979 was the last year they ever would.

The Reverse of the 1979 Half Dollar

Now flip it over. Frank Gasparro designed the reverse — the same guy behind the Lincoln Memorial cent reverse, the Eisenhower Dollar, and the Susan B. Anthony Dollar that debuted the same year.

Look for the eagle in the center clutching an olive branch in one talon and arrows in the other — peace and military readiness. A presidential shield sits on the eagle’s chest, and surrounding stars represent the states. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” arcs above the eagle, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” runs along the top, and “HALF DOLLAR” sits at the bottom edge. Gasparro’s initials are tucked below the eagle’s leg.

Other Features of the 1979 Half Dollar

Philadelphia and Denver struck half dollars for circulation in 1979. San Francisco made proofs only. All three have reeded (ridged) edges, measure 30.61 millimeters across, and weigh 11.34 grams.

The clad composition makes these lighter than their silver predecessors — 1.2 grams less than the 90% silver 1964 coins, and 0.2 grams less than the 40% silver 1965–1970 issues. If you put a 1979 half dollar on a scale and it reads 11.34 grams, you’ve got a genuine clad coin.

Also Read: Top 60+ Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916 -1947)

Philadelphia cranked out 68,312,000 half dollars in 1979. Denver made just 15,815,422 — less than a quarter of Philly’s output. To put that Denver number in perspective, that’s roughly one coin for every 14 Americans alive at the time. Despite Philadelphia’s massive run, only about 20% of survivors remain in collectible shape. The rest got beat up in circulation, tossed in jars, or stored badly.

The 1979 Uncirculated Coin Set — which includes one Philly and one Denver half dollar along with $3.82 in face value — sells for $10–$14 today. Not a bad way to grab a potentially high-grade example on a budget.

I think the 1979-D is the sleeper here. Every single Denver coin went straight into circulation — none were held back for mint sets. That means gem survivors are genuinely scarce. If you’re building a registry set, the Denver issue is where to put your money.

Also Read: What Half Dollars Are Worth Money?

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1979 Half Dollar Value

For business strikes from Philadelphia and Denver, you want to check three things: luster (that shiny “cartwheel” effect when you tilt the coin under a light), surface marks, and strike sharpness in Kennedy’s hair. Denver coins sometimes show slightly weaker strikes than Philly pieces, so pay close attention to how cleanly the hair strands are defined.

For San Francisco proofs, the money designation is DCAM — Deep Cameo. A DCAM proof has thick, frosty white devices (the raised design) contrasting hard against mirror-like fields (the flat background). That dramatic two-tone look is what collectors pay up for. Even minor scuffs or light cabinet friction from storage can drop a coin from MS65 to MS63 and cut the value significantly.

For accurate grade verification and current market values, collectors can use our Coin Value Checker APP‘s professional assessment tools.

 

1979 Half Dollar Value Guides

There are four distinct 1979 Kennedy Half Dollar varieties:

• 1979 (No Mint Mark) — Philadelphia Mint circulation issue; highest mintage of all four types and the last Philadelphia half dollar ever struck without a “P” mint mark
• 1979-D — Denver Mint circulation coin; lower mintage than Philadelphia and scarcer in high grades
• 1979-S Type 1 (Filled S) — San Francisco Mint proof only; features a filled, blob-like “S” mint mark; the more common of the two proof varieties
• 1979-S Type 2 (Clear S) — San Francisco Mint proof only; features a sharp, well-defined “S” mint mark; significantly rarer and more valuable

The big thing to know is the “S” mint mark difference. Type 1 has a clogged, filled-in “S” that looks like a solid blob or the number “8.” Type 2 has a crisp, open “S” with two clear holes visible. The Mint switched to better die polishing partway through 1979, producing the Type 2. Only about 11% of all 1979-S Kennedy half dollars — roughly 400,000 to 500,000 coins — are Type 2.

 

1979 No Mint Mark Half Dollar Value

Here’s something most people don’t realize: this is the last half dollar Philadelphia ever struck without a “P” mint mark. Starting in 1980, Mint Director Stella B. Hackel ordered the “P” on all Philadelphia coins except the Lincoln cent. That makes every 1979 no-mint-mark half dollar the end of an era.

Philadelphia produced 68,312,000 pieces, with 2,526,000 reserved for Uncirculated Coin Sets. Over 13 million examples survive in collectible condition, so finding a circulated one is easy. The real money is at the top.

As of April 2025, only 2 coins are certified PCGS MS68 and just 4 are certified NGC MS68, with nothing graded higher. The auction record is $3,487.50, paid for a PCGS MS68 at GreatCollections on September 1, 2024. At MS67, Heritage Auctions results include $552 in July 2020 and $660 in November 2019 — steady demand for top-grade survivors.

High-grade specimens command impressive prices at major auctions.

Collectors are actively chasing this final “no P” Philadelphia half dollar.

 

1979-D Half Dollar Value

Think about this: every single 1979-D half dollar went straight into circulation. Not one was set aside for a mint set. With a mintage of just 15,815,422 — less than a quarter of Philadelphia’s output — gem survivors are genuinely hard to come by.

MS67 examples have brought $552–$660 at Heritage Auctions in recent years. Step up to MS67+ and you’re looking at $2,703 or more. The top sale? That $5,750 MS68 on eBay in February 2023. For a clad half dollar, that’s serious money.

Circulated pieces and lower uncirculated grades are still cheap — great entry-level coins. But if you’re building a registry set, the 1979-D is the one to chase. Low mintage plus zero mint set reserves equals a completely different kind of rare at the top grades.

The $5,750 MS68 result shows what collectors will pay for an exceptional Denver piece.

Bidding activity keeps climbing through 2025 as more collectors recognize the Denver issue’s scarcity.

 

1979-S Type 1 DCAM Half Dollar Value

Got a 1979-S proof? Grab a loupe and look at the “S” mint mark above the date. If it looks blurry, clogged, or like a little blob — almost like the number “8” with the loops filled in — you’ve got a Type 1. The serifs of the “S” touch the interior surfaces, giving it that filled-in appearance.

Total mintage was 3,677,175 pieces, all proof strikes from San Francisco. None were made for circulation. The DCAM (Deep Cameo) designation means you get that gorgeous frosted-over-mirror contrast. At PR69, a Type 1 DCAM runs about $3.54 — making it the budget-friendly proof option.

The PCGS auction record is $1,208, realized at Heritage Auctions on February 1, 2003 for a PR70 — the perfect grade. Unless you’re chasing perfection, these are very affordable.

Auction results show steady collector interest across the major platforms.

Trading activity for this variety has been picking up through 2025.

Use our Coin Identifier and Value App to help identify potential doubled die varieties through its error detection features.

 

1979-S Type 2 DCAM Half Dollar Value

A PR69 Type 1 runs about $3.54. A PR69 Type 2? Around $30. That price gap tells you everything about relative scarcity.

Same specs as the Type 1 — 11.34 grams, 30.61 mm diameter — but the “S” mint mark is sharp and clean. Under magnification, you’ll see two distinct open loops inside the letter, with serifs that don’t touch the interior walls. Crisp and well-formed, not clogged.

The Mint switched to improved die polishing mid-year in 1979, creating this variety. Only about 11% of the 3,677,175 San Francisco proof half dollars are Type 2 — roughly 400,000 to 500,000 coins. The PCGS auction record is $3,738, set at Heritage Auctions in March 2007 for a PCGS PR70DCAM.

The Type 2 consistently outperforms its Type 1 counterpart at auction.

Collector demand for the “Clear S” variety keeps growing across platforms.

1979-S Type 2 FS-501 DCAM Half Dollar Value

This is deep-dive territory. The FS-501 is a specific die variety within the already scarce Type 2 series, formally recognized in the Cherrypickers’ Guide by Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton. It carries an official PCGS variety number.

The population numbers tell the story. Only 1 example certified PCGS PR67, 2 in PR68, and just 3 in PR69. That’s it. A PR69 example sold for $10 on the EA platform — a thin market for a hyper-specialized coin. If you’re a cherrypicker who loves hunting die varieties, this is your white whale.

This coin achieved a notable sale record of $10 on the EA platform with a professional grade of 69.

Trading interest stays steady among variety specialists.

Also Read: Rare Half Dollar Coins to Look For

 

Rare 1979 Half Dollar Error List

Error coins left the Mint with unintended manufacturing mistakes — different from varieties, which come from die differences. Here are the documented 1979 half dollar errors worth knowing about.

1. 1979 Half Dollar, Double Struck (Mated Pair)

This one’s wild. Two 1979 Philadelphia half dollars got tangled up in the same minting mishap. The first coin wasn’t ejected after striking, stuck to the die, and then imprinted a blurred mirror image onto the next blank that entered the press. You end up with two coins that tell the same story — collectors call this a “mated pair.”

Both were graded MS64 by PCGS. Sold together as a matched set, the pair brought over $4,000. Finding one half of a mated pair is rare enough. Finding both? That’s what drives the premium.

2. 1979 Half Dollar, Struck Off-Center

When the blank doesn’t land squarely between the dies, you get an off-center strike — part of the design is missing, replaced by a blank crescent-shaped area. One 1979 Philadelphia half dollar came out about 10% off center. Noticeable, but not as dramatic as some off-center errors you’ll see.

NGC certified it MS61 — technically uncirculated despite the mistake — and it sold for $560. The general rule: the bigger the misalignment, the more it’s worth, as long as the date is still visible.

3. 1979 Half Dollar Struck on Susan B. Anthony Dollar Planchet

This is one of the coolest errors in the whole 1979 Kennedy series. Someone at the Mint fed an SBA dollar blank into the half dollar press. The SBA planchet weighs only 8.1 grams versus the half dollar’s normal 11.34 grams, and it’s smaller in diameter. The result? Kennedy’s design gets clipped off at the edges where the undersized blank runs out of metal.

A PCGS MS65 example sold for over $900. A separate NGC AU58 from the David J. Greene Collection brought $1,725 at Heritage Auctions — the named provenance and historical significance pushed it higher. PCGS notes this is one of the rarest wrong-planchet combos in Kennedy collecting, since SBA dollars were only struck for three years (1979, 1980, and 1999).

4. 1979 Half Dollar, First-Strike Brockage (Double-Headed)

Brockage errors are among the rarest mint mistakes you’ll encounter. A struck coin sticks to the die instead of ejecting. The next blank gets struck against that stuck coin, producing a piece with Kennedy’s portrait on both sides — one normal, one mirror-image and incuse (pressed into the surface).

A 1979 Kennedy half dollar with this First Strike Brockage error was certified PCGS XF-45 and sold through GreatCollections (auction item #689015). Visually dramatic. Brockage errors in higher grades can bring $200 to $1,000 or more depending on how sharp the impressed image looks.

5. 1979 Half Dollar, Missing Clad Layer

Since the 1979 half dollar is a sandwich coin — copper core with cupronickel outer layers — sometimes one of those outer layers doesn’t bond properly before striking. The finished coin shows raw copper color on one side instead of the expected silver-grey.

You can spot these instantly. One face looks copper/brownish-orange. It can happen on either the obverse or reverse. Missing clad layer Kennedy halves in collectible condition typically sell for $50–$200 depending on how much of the layer is gone and the coin’s grade.

 

Where to Sell Your 1979 Half Dollar

After determining what your coins are worth, you’re probably wondering about the best online selling options. We’ve researched and compiled a full guide to the top platforms, outlining their services, pros, and cons.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1979 Half Dollar Market Trend

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ about 1979 Half Dollar Value

1. How much is a circulated 1979 half dollar worth?

Between $0.97 and $1.00 — basically face value. The supply is huge and there’s no collector premium for worn examples. If you want real value, you need uncirculated coins graded MS65 or better.

2. Is a 1979 half dollar made of real silver?

No. Zero silver content. The silver-like color comes from the cupronickel outer layers. The last silver-bearing Kennedy halves for circulation were the 40% silver issues of 1965–1970. Starting in 1971, everything went fully clad. Some special collector proof sets since 1992 include silver Kennedy halves, and 99.9% silver proofs have been available since 2019, but those are entirely separate from the 1979 series.

3. What’s the difference between 1979-S Type 1 and Type 2 half dollars, and how can I tell them apart?

Look at the “S” mint mark above the date with at least 5x magnification. The Type 1 has a filled, blob-like “S” — the serifs touch the interior, making it look like a solid rectangle or the number “8” with the loops filled in. The Type 2 has a crisp, well-defined “S” with two clear open spaces you can see through. The Mint introduced improved dies mid-year, creating the Type 2. Only about 11% of all 1979-S proof half dollars are Type 2.

4. What is the most valuable 1979 half dollar?

For regular strikes, the 1979-D in MS68 at $5,750 on eBay in February 2023. For Philadelphia, $3,487.50 for a PCGS MS68 at GreatCollections in September 2024. Among proofs, the 1979-S Type 2 DCAM holds the record at $3,738 for a PCGS PR70DCAM at Heritage Auctions in March 2007. Error coins can beat all of these — a 1979 SBA planchet error in NGC AU58 sold for $1,725 at Heritage Auctions.

5. Is a 1979 half dollar with no mint mark rare?

In circulated condition? Not at all — over 13 million survive. But it’s historically significant as the final year any Philadelphia half dollar was struck without a “P” mint mark. Starting in 1980, Mint Director Stella B. Hackel required the “P” on all Philadelphia coins except the Lincoln cent. That “last of its kind” status adds collector appeal beyond the raw numbers.

6. What makes a 1979 half dollar worth grading professionally?

Professional grading costs $100–$150 or more per coin when you add up membership, fees, handling, and shipping. That only makes sense for coins likely worth $200+. For 1979 halves, that means uncirculated coins that look MS65 or better, confirmed rare errors or wrong-planchet pieces, Type 2 proofs that appear flawless, and registry set candidates at MS67 or above. We recommend screening with the free Coin Value Checker APP before spending on professional grading.

7. What 1979 half dollar errors should I look for?

Five documented errors to hunt: the double-struck mated pair (over $4,000 for the set), the off-center strike (MS61 sold for $560), the wrong-planchet error on a Susan B. Anthony dollar blank (MS65 sold for over $900; AU58 sold for $1,725 at Heritage Auctions), the First Strike Brockage double-headed error (PCGS XF-45 at GreatCollections), and missing clad layer coins ($50–$200 range). Get any of these authenticated by PCGS or NGC before buying or selling.

8. How does the 1979-D half dollar compare to the 1979 Philadelphia issue?

Denver’s mintage is about one-quarter of Philadelphia’s (15.8 million vs. 68.3 million). More importantly, no Denver coins were reserved for Uncirculated Coin Sets — every one went into circulation. Far fewer high-grade survivors exist. In MS67 and above, the 1979-D is the harder coin to find, and its MS68 auction record of $5,750 beats Philadelphia’s MS68 record of $3,487.50.

9. Why is 1979 historically significant for Kennedy half dollars?

Three reasons. First, it was the last year Philadelphia struck a half dollar without a “P” mint mark — that never happened again. Second, the Susan B. Anthony Dollar debuted on July 2, directly competing with the half dollar for attention. Third, the Mint launched its Industrial Hygiene program and noise-reduction efforts on the production floor — a worker-safety milestone affecting all coins struck that year.

10. Can I still find 1979 half dollars in circulation or at a bank?

Technically, yes. Banks are required to provide half dollars at face value, and some branches may have mixed-year Kennedy rolls that include 1979. In practice, many branches don’t stock half dollar rolls regularly, but you can ask a teller or order a box to search through. You probably won’t find anything above circulated condition this way, but it’s a face-value way to start. For higher-grade coins, check dealers, Heritage Auctions, GreatCollections, or Stack’s Bowers.