1991 Half Dollar Coin Value (Errors List, “P”, “S” & “D” Mint Mark Worth)

The 1991 half dollar emerged during a transformative period in American history. This year witnessed the end of the Cold War and significant global changes. The U.S. Mint continued limited half dollar production for collectors and commerce.

Regular business strikes remain highly accessible to today’s collectors. Both Philadelphia and Denver issues average $0.97 in Good condition. The substantial production numbers keep circulated examples affordable across all grades.

MS specimens show modest appreciation with notable mint mark differences. Philadelphia examples average $42.43 in top condition. Denver specimens average $11.17 in similar MS grades. The San Francisco proof DCAM variety averages $4.78 in top condition.

These modern Kennedy half dollars capture America’s transition into the post-Cold War era.

 

1991 Half Dollar Value By Variety

The 1991 Kennedy half dollar was minted at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco facilities, creating distinct varieties with different values based on mintage figures and collector demand.

If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Kennedy Half Dollar Worth Money (1964 – Present)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1991 Half Dollar Worth Money

The most valuable 1991 Kennedy half dollars demonstrate clear grade-dependent pricing patterns across all three mint varieties.

The premium leader remains a 1991-P MS64 specimen that achieved $1,093 at auction, reflecting exceptional rarity for this specific grade. High-grade business strikes from both Philadelphia and Denver command substantial premiums, with MS67 examples reaching $900-920 depending on mint mark.

Proof coins show different value dynamics, with the 1991-S PR70 Deep Cameo specimen topping out at $690. Lower proof grades like PR68-69 settle into more modest $18-24 ranges. The significant value gaps between adjacent grades highlight how condition sensitivity affects Kennedy half dollar pricing.

These 1991 values represent just a fraction of the Kennedy series’ premium potential. Certain earlier dates and varieties command exponentially higher prices due to silver content, lower mintages, or famous error varieties.

 

History Of The 1991 Half Dollar

The Kennedy half dollar originated from national tragedy in November 1963. President Kennedy’s assassination prompted Congress to honor him on America’s half dollar. The first Kennedy half dollar replaced the Franklin design in early 1964.

Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts designed the obverse portrait. Frank Gasparro created the reverse featuring the presidential seal. Americans immediately embraced these coins as precious memorials of their fallen leader. This widespread hoarding quickly removed half dollars from everyday circulation.

By the early 1980s, the denomination had virtually vanished from commerce. Most Americans rarely encountered half dollars in daily transactions. The coins survived primarily in collector hands and institutional storage.

The year 1991 proved historically significant beyond numismatics. The Cold War concluded with the Soviet Union’s dissolution. These momentous events coincided with three decades of Kennedy memorial coinage.

Three facilities produced 1991 half dollars using copper-nickel composition. Philadelphia minted 14.87 million business strikes without mint marks. Denver created 15.05 million pieces bearing the “D” designation. San Francisco struck 2.87 million proof specimens for collectors.

The 1991 Kennedy half dollar represents the final decade of substantial production. After 2001, mintage figures would decline dramatically. These coins became among the last widely circulated examples before the denomination’s practical disappearance from American commerce.

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

 

Is Your 1991 Half Dollar Rare?

The CoinValueChecker App provides detailed rarity assessments to help collectors understand these market positions.

 

Key Features Of The 1991 Half Dollar

The 1991 Kennedy half dollar exhibits classic design elements established in 1964. Key identifying features include presidential imagery, symbolic reverse elements, and distinctive physical specifications that define this copper-nickel composition coin.

The Obverse Of The 1991 Half Dollar

The obverse displays President Kennedy’s left-facing profile, designed by Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts. “LIBERTY” curves around the upper rim in bold lettering. “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears split on either side of Kennedy’s portrait. The date “1991” sits prominently at the bottom center.

Mint marks, when present, appear below the truncation of Kennedy’s neck on the right side. “D” stands for the Denver Mint, and “P” stands for the Philadelphia Mint.

The Reverse Of The 1991 Half Dollar

Frank Gasparro’s reverse design features the presidential seal’s heraldic eagle as the centerpiece. The eagle grasps thirteen arrows in its left talon representing military strength. Its right talon holds an olive branch symbolizing peace. A circle of fifty stars surrounds the eagle, representing all states.

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” forms the upper rim inscription. “HALF DOLLAR” appears at the bottom, separated by decorative stars from the country’s name.

Other Features Of The 1991 Half Dollar

The 1991 half dollar measures 30.6 millimeters in diameter with a reeded edge containing 150 ridges. It weighs 11.34 grams and measures 2.15 millimeters thick.

The coin features copper-nickel clad composition with outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel over a pure copper core. This clad structure replaced the 40% silver content used from 1965-1970. The coin’s copper-nickel construction gives it a distinctive appearance and non-magnetic properties different from earlier silver issues.

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

 

1991 Half Dollar Mintage & Survival Data

The numbers behind 1991 Kennedy half dollars tell an interesting story. Both Philadelphia and Denver minted about 15 million coins each. Meanwhile, San Francisco produced only 2.87 million proof coins for collectors.

Fast forward to today, and only half of those Philadelphia and Denver coins survive. That leaves roughly 7.4 million examples from each mint still around. The other half? Gone through decades of pocket change, lost coins, and various mishaps.

Proof coins fared much better. San Francisco’s special collector coins have an 85.5% survival rate. Nearly 2.45 million remain in collections worldwide. Collectors clearly took better care of these premium pieces.

This survival gap explains why proof coins often trade differently than regular strikes. Fewer losses mean more examples available today. Yet condition still matters enormously for final values.

Also Read: What Half Dollars Are Worth Money?

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1991 Half Dollar Value

Identifying your 1991 half dollar’s value is straightforward with the right approach. First, locate the mint mark (P or D) and assess the coin’s condition—look for wear, luster, and any striking errors. Most circulated 1991 half dollars are worth 50 cents, but uncirculated pieces can range from $3-$12 depending on quality. Coins with full strikes and original luster command premium prices.

For a quick and precise evaluation of your 1991 half dollar’s current market value and condition grade, download our CoinValueChecker App now.

 

1991 Half Dollar Value Guides

• 1991-P Kennedy Half Dollar– Philadelphia mint production with 14,874,000 mintage – no mint mark – business strike for circulation – common in grades up to MS65 but increasingly difficult in MS66 and above
• 1991-D Kennedy Half Dollar– Denver mint production with 15,054,678 mintage – “D” mint mark – business strike for circulation – readily available in lower mint states but scarce in MS67 condition
• 1991-S DCAM Kennedy Half Dollar– San Francisco mint production with 2,867,787 mintage – “S” mint mark – Deep Cameo proof coins for collectors – auction record of $690 for PR70 specimen

The 1991 Kennedy half dollar series encompasses three distinct varieties serving different market purposes.

Philadelphia and Denver facilities produced business strikes totaling nearly 30 million coins for everyday circulation. These copper-nickel pieces shared identical specifications but bore different mint marks.

San Francisco exclusively created proof specimens featuring deep cameo contrast between frosted devices and mirror fields. Proof production remained substantially lower at under 3 million pieces.

Each variety appeals to different collector segments, from casual accumulators seeking affordable business strikes to serious numismatists pursuing perfect proof specimens. Condition remains the primary value determinant across all three types.

 

1991-P Half Dollar Value

The 1991-P Kennedy half dollar carries no mint mark and represents Philadelphia’s production of 14.87 million coins. This mintage figure places it among the lower totals within the Kennedy series. The coin marked a transitional period before dramatic production cuts in later years.

Within the Kennedy half dollar series, the 1991-P issue demonstrates clear scarcity patterns by grade level. Examples remain easily obtainable through MS65 condition. MS66 specimens require more searching but stay accessible to collectors. MS67 grades become genuinely difficult, while anything higher qualifies as extremely rare.

Market performance reflects these scarcity patterns through auction results. The highest recorded sale reached $1,093 for a MS64 example sold by Heritage Auctions in 2009. This premium demonstrates collector demand for quality 1991-P specimens despite the issue’s relatively recent vintage.

Auction records demonstrate significant price variations over different time periods and grade levels.

Market activity shows fluctuating collector interest with periodic peaks throughout the tracking period.

 

1991-D Half Dollar Value

The 1991-D Kennedy half dollar bears Denver’s distinctive “D” mint mark below Kennedy’s neck truncation. This copper-nickel issue represents the final era of substantial half dollar production before dramatic output reductions.

Grade distribution follows predictable scarcity patterns for this copper-nickel issue. Lower mint state grades through MS65 remain readily available to collectors. MS66 examples require more effort to locate but stay within reach. MS67 specimens become genuinely scarce and command substantial premiums from serious collectors.

Professional grading service auction records highlight the coin’s premium potential in top grades. The highest recorded sale reached $920 for a PCGS MS67 example sold through Heritage Auctions in September 2008.

This result demonstrates strong collector demand for exceptional 1991-D specimens despite the issue’s relatively recent vintage.

Auction records reveal considerable price volatility across different time periods and auction platforms.

Market activity demonstrates seasonal variations with notable fluctuations throughout the monitoring period.

 

1991-S DCAM Half Dollar Value

The 1991-S DCAM Kennedy half dollar represents San Francisco’s exclusive proof production featuring deep cameo contrast.

These collector-focused coins showcase frosted devices against mirror-like fields, creating distinctive visual appeal that separates them from regular business strikes.The specialized production process and careful handling result in higher survival rates than circulation strikes.

Professional auction records highlight strong collector demand for this variety. The highest recorded sale reached $690 for an NGC PR70 Deep Cameo example sold through Heritage Auctions in March 2010. This premium reflects the variety’s position as the most desirable 1991 Kennedy half dollar format among serious numismatists.

Recent sale prices reflect typical grade-based premiums with occasional outliers in the marketplace.

Trading volume exhibits cyclical patterns with heightened collector engagement at intervals.

Also Read: Rare Half Dollar Coins to Look For

 

Rare 1991 Half Dollar Errors List

The 1991 Kennedy half dollar production shows limited documented major error varieties, with most significant minting anomalies being quite scarce compared to other years in the series.

However, the Kennedy half dollar series as a whole has produced various manufacturing irregularities throughout its five-decade history. These production errors include doubled die varieties, missing designer initials, striking mishaps, and die collision effects that create collectible anomalies.

1. Doubled Die Errors (DDO/DDR)

Doubled die varieties result from improper hubbing procedures during working die preparation, creating duplicated design elements visible on all coins struck from affected dies. These manufacturing flaws typically manifest as doubled lettering in inscriptions like “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” or date numerals, along with doubled details in Kennedy’s portrait or the reverse eagle design, making them highly sought by variety collectors.

2. No “FG” Varieties

Designer initial omissions occur when excessive die polishing removes Frank Gasparro’s “FG” initials from the working die surface during clash mark removal procedures. Key examples include the scarce 1966 SMS, 1972-D, and 1982-P no-initials varieties, with market values reaching substantial premiums based on rarity and preservation quality.

3. Off-Center and Broadstrike Errors

Misaligned planchet feeding creates off-center strikes featuring partial blank areas where design elements are absent. Broadstrike errors develop when restraining collars malfunction, allowing metal expansion beyond normal boundaries. Specimens displaying 30-70% design displacement typically command noteworthy collector premiums when authenticated by professional services.

4. Clashed Die Errors

Die collision mishaps occur when striking dies impact each other without intervening planchets, transferring reverse design impressions onto obverse dies and vice versa. These production accidents create subtle secondary design transfers on subsequent coins, producing intriguing phantom images that appeal to error variety specialists.

  

Where to Sell Your 1991 Half Dollar?

Ready to turn your 1991 Kennedy half dollar into cash? Multiple selling channels offer different advantages – some prioritize speed, others maximize profits, while certain platforms cater to specific collector markets. Choosing the right venue depends on your coin’s condition, your timeline, and desired selling experience.

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

 

1991 Half Dollar Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About The 1991 Half Dollar

1. Are 1991 half dollars worth anything?

Most 1991 Kennedy half dollars in circulated condition are worth around 76 cents, close to face value. However, uncirculated examples can range from $5-30 depending on grade. High-grade specimens command significant premiums, with the record sale reaching $1,093 for an MS64 example.

Proof coins typically trade for $12 or more, with perfect PR70 Deep Cameo specimens reaching $690 at auction.

2. How can I identify which mint produced my 1991 half dollar?

Check below Kennedy’s neck truncation on the obverse for the mint mark. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark, Denver coins display a “D,” and San Francisco proof coins show an “S.”

Philadelphia and Denver produced business strikes for circulation totaling nearly 30 million coins, while San Francisco created 2.87 million proof specimens exclusively for collectors with distinctive mirror-like fields.

3. What makes some 1991 half dollars more valuable than others?

Condition is the primary value factor for 1991 half dollars. Business strikes are common through MS65 but become scarce in MS66 and extremely rare above MS67. Proof coins with Deep Cameo contrast command higher premiums than regular proofs. The significant value gaps between adjacent grades highlight how preservation quality directly impacts market pricing for these copper-nickel commemorative coins.