Ah, the classic 1976 Bicentennial Kennedy half dollar! A coin that celebrated 200 years of American independence and now sits in your pocket, making you wonder if it's your ticket to early retirement. Let's manage those expectations, shall we?
The value of your 1776-1976 dated fifty-cent piece really depends on which party it decided to attend. Most of these coins were the standard copper-nickel clad versions made for everyday circulation. If your coin has no mint mark or a "D" for the Denver mint, it likely mingled with the masses, saw the inside of a vending machine, and is now worth its face value: a cool 50 cents. It's a fun piece of history, but it won't be buying you a new car.
However, some of these coins were the fancy collector's editions. As one of your sources hints, there's a special silver version to look for. If you spot a little "S" on your coin, that means it was struck at the San Francisco mint and is made of 40% silver. This is the VIP of the 1976 half dollars. Its value is tied to the current price of silver, so it's worth at least a few dollars. It's not "quit your job" money, but it's definitely "buy a nice lunch" money, which is a significant upgrade from 50 cents.
Of course, if your coin is in absolutely pristine, uncirculated condition, it could be worth a bit more to a collector. But for the vast majority of these patriotic pieces, the story ends at either face value or its silver melt value. So, check for that "S" mint mark; it's the difference between having two quarters and having a few bucks.
