1987-D Kennedy Half Dollar Value: What Is Your Coin Worth?

The 1987-D Kennedy Half Dollar is worth anywhere from $3 in uncirculated condition to over $4,000 for high-grade specimens. While you won’t find this specific date in your grocery store change, discovering one in a collection often sparks excitement among hobbyists and everyday finders alike.

Condition / Grade	Estimated Value
About Uncirculated (AU58)	$2.50 – $4.00
Mint State (MS63)	$5.00 – $8.00
Choice Mint State (MS65)	$15.00 – $30.00
Superb Gem (MS67+)	$500 – $4,500+

Why the 1987-D Kennedy Half Dollar is Special

If you have a 1987-D Kennedy Half Dollar, you are holding a “not-intended-for-circulation” (NIFC) coin. This is the primary reason why casual collectors get confused about its value. During the mid-1980s, the Treasury realized they had a massive surplus of half dollars sitting in vaults. Consequently, for the year 1987, the U.S. Mint decided not to release any half dollars into general circulation.

To identify if your coin is the Denver mint variety, look for a small “D” located just above the date on the obverse. If you aren’t sure about the mint mark or the coin’s specific variety, using a top coin identifier app can help you zoom in on these tiny details instantly. Because these coins were only sold in Mint Sets to collectors, any 1987-D found in a “pocket change” state is usually someone’s spent collection piece.

Since they weren’t used for daily commerce, most surviving 1987 Denver halves are in relatively good shape. However, “good shape” is subjective in the world of numismatics. Professional collectors use the CoinKnow app to track market trends and ensure they aren’t overpaying for common grades. The 1987-D remains a key date for anyone trying to complete a full set of Kennedy Half Dollars.

Analyzing 1987-D Kennedy Half Dollar Value by Condition

When determining how much your coin is worth, the condition—or “grade”—is everything. A coin that has been rattled around in a jar will have scratches and dullness, which significantly lowers the price. Conversely, a coin that has been protected in its original plastic mint packaging can fetch a premium.

For most people, the typical 1987 half dollar value for a raw, uncertified coin stays under $10. These are usually found in broken-up mint sets. If you think your coin looks “perfect,” it might be worth sending to a grading service like PCGS or NGC. A grade of MS67 or higher can push the value into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The rarity of high-grade 1987-D coins stems from the fact that Denver minting processes that year often left contact marks on the coins. Finding one without a single nick or scratch is like finding a needle in a haystack. You can use CoinKnow to compare high-resolution photos of graded coins to see where yours stands before spending money on professional authentication.

Grade (Mint State)	1987-D Market Price	Population (Est.)
MS60 – MS62	$3 – $6	High
MS64	$12 – $18	Moderate
MS66	$45 – $80	Low
MS67	$400 – $750	Very Low

Comparison: 1987-D vs. 1987-P Values

Many Americans find it helpful to compare the Denver (D) strike with the Philadelphia (P) strike. Both mints produced about 2.8 million coins each for the 1987 sets. While the mintage numbers are almost identical, the market prices fluctuate based on the “survivor rate” of high-grade specimens.

While the “D” mint mark is often associated with slightly better strikes, the Philadelphia version has its own market demand. For a deeper look at the sister coin, check out the 1987-P Kennedy half dollar price data to see how it stacks up against the Denver variety. Generally, if you find one, you likely have the other, as they were sold together in pairs.

The value isn’t just about the date; it’s about the luster. A “D” mint coin with original “cartwheel” luster will always outshine a dull “P” mint coin. Collectors often look for “Full Bell Lines” or crisp details on the eagle’s feathers on the reverse. If those details are mushy, the value drops to the lower end of the spectrum.

Rare Errors to Look For on Your 1987-D Half Dollar

Errors are where the real money is made in coin collecting. Even though the 1987-D was a limited run, mistakes still happened at the mint. These errors can turn a $5 coin into a $500 treasure. Common errors for this era include “Double Dies,” “Off-Center Strikes,” and “Clad Layers Missing.”

A Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) occurs when the coin is struck by a die that has a misaligned image. You’ll see what looks like a shadow or a duplicate of the letters in “LIBERTY” or the numbers in the date. These are very rare for 1987 but highly sought after. Use CoinKnow’s magnifying feature to look closely at the “D” mint mark and the lettering.

Another interesting error is the “Clipped Planchet,” where the coin looks like a bite was taken out of the edge. Because these coins were supposedly inspected carefully for the Mint Sets, very few error coins made it into the hands of the public. If you find one, it is a significant numismatic discovery that should be professionally appraised immediately.

Error Type	Estimated Premium
Minor Doubled Die	+$20 – $50
5% Off-Center Strike	+$100 – $200
Blank Planchet	$15 – $30

Does the 1987-D Half Dollar Contain Silver?

This is one of the most common questions from everyday finders. Unfortunately, the 1987-D Kennedy Half Dollar does not contain any silver. The U.S. Mint stopped using 90% silver for circulation coins in 1964 and moved to 40% silver for half dollars between 1965 and 1970. By 1971, all half dollars intended for commerce were made of a copper-nickel clad composition.

The 1987-D is composed of a core of pure copper, bonded to outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel. If you see a silver-colored edge on the coin without any copper streak, it might be plated, which actually ruins the collector value. To find silver Kennedy halves, you typically have to look for dates earlier than 1971 or special “Silver Proof” sets which started again in 1992.

Even though it lacks silver, its low mintage of 2,890,758 makes it “rare” compared to the 1971-D, which saw over 300 million produced. In the world of coins, scarcity of the mint run often outperforms the raw melt value of the metal. Always check your dates and mint marks before assuming a coin is just worth fifty cents.

How to Sell Your 1987-D Kennedy Half Dollar

So, you’ve checked your coin, used an app, and determined it’s in great shape. How do you get paid? Selling a 1987-D requires finding the right buyer. Local coin shops are a good start, but because this coin is a modern NIFC, they may only offer you a few dollars unless it’s in a high-grade slab.

Online marketplaces like eBay are usually the best bet for “raw” (ungraded) 1987-D halves. You can see what others have actually paid by filtering for “Sold” listings. For high-value coins (MS67 and above), major auction houses like Heritage Auctions or GreatCollections are the preferred route. These venues attract serious collectors willing to pay thousands for that perfect specimen.

Before selling, make sure you don’t clean the coin! Everyday Americans often think a shiny coin is worth more, but using soap, polish, or even a soft cloth can create microscopic scratches that destroy the value. Keep it in a cardboard flip or a plastic holder to preserve the condition正如 it was when you found it.

FAQ

Q: Why can’t I find a 1987-D Half Dollar in circulation?

A: You won’t find them easily because the Mint never released them to banks. They were only sold in 1987 Mint Sets. Any 1987 half dollar you find in circulation was likely removed from a set and spent by someone.

Q: Is there a 1987-S Half Dollar?

A: Yes, the “S” mint mark stands for San Francisco. However, these were only produced as “Proof” coins with a mirror-like finish for collectors. They are generally worth $5 to $12 depending on the quality of the finish.

Q: What is the highest price ever paid for a 1987-D Kennedy Half?

A: The record for a 1987-D Kennedy Half Dollar is over $4,000 for a specimen graded MS68 by PCGS. This is exceptionally rare, as most coins from this year have too many “bag marks” to reach such a high grade.

Q: How many 1987-D half dollars were made?

A: Approximately 2,890,758 1987-D half dollars were minted. While this sounds like a lot, it is extremely low compared to other years in the Kennedy series which often see mintages in the tens of millions.