Obverse: The obverse shows a portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the youngest-ever-elected president. United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Gilroy Roberts based this profile on a portrait prepared for Kennedy's presidential medal. Roberts created this design immediately after Kennedy's assassination.
Reverse: The design on the back of Kennedy half-dollar, by United States Mint Scupltor-Engraver Frank Gasparro, is based on the presidential seal. It consists of a heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast, holding a symbolic olive branch and a bundle of 13 arrows. A ring of 50 stars surrounds the design, which gives this coin the distinction of having more stars than any other circulating coin.
Mintage:
| Philadelphia | Denver | Proof | Silver Proof |
| 5,000,000 | 4,600,000 | 821,031 | 451,342 |