Ah, the 1974 Kennedy half dollar! Let's see if that coin rattling around in your pocket is a hidden treasure or just enough to buy half a gumball. While the provided search results were about as helpful as a screen door on a submarine—offering tantalizing titles but no actual data—I can certainly shed some light on this for you.
For the vast majority of 1974 half dollars you might find, the value is, drumroll please... exactly fifty cents. I know, it's a tough pill to swallow. These coins were minted in huge numbers and contain no silver, being made of a copper-nickel clad. So, if yours looks like it has seen a few vending machines in its day, it's worth its face value.
However, don't give up hope just yet! If your coin looks brand new, as if it just rolled out of the U.S. Mint and into your hands, it might be worth a small premium to a collector. A standard uncirculated 1974 or 1974-D (from the Denver mint) might fetch you a dollar or two. A 1974-S proof coin, which has a shinier, mirror-like finish, is also in that few-dollar range.
Now, here's the lottery ticket you're looking for. Some 1974-D half dollars were struck with a "Doubled Die Obverse" error. You'll need a magnifying glass for this, but if you see significant doubling on the letters of "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "LIBERTY," you've hit the jackpot. Depending on its condition, this rare error variety can be worth anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars. So, before you spend it, give that coin a closer look. It's probably just fifty cents, but you never know when you might be holding a valuable mistake
