Which Kennedy won 2014?

In a market battle between gold coins and clads, which side wins?

Where the many different United States Mint 2014 Kennedy half dollar issues are concerned, the long-term winners are the clads.

Two sets and a gold proof were released in 2014 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy half dollar coin.

Over a year from release, most 2014-W Kennedy gold proof half dollars sell for less than the Mint’s initial price of $1,240. However, coins certified as Proof-70 (PF-70) and released at the Chicago ANA show are doing better, but still down by half from the peak.

In a buy it now sale completed on Sept. 14, a PCGS Chicago First Strike (FS) PF-70 Kennedy gold proof sold for $1,696. Another coin with the same certification sold on Sept. 2 for $1,569. An NGC PF-70 Chicago Kennedy gold proof was also purchased on Sept. 2 for $1,300.

For PF-70 Kennedy gold proof listings without the Chicago designation, prices range from $1,155 on Sept. 20 for a PCGS PF-70 Deep Cameo coin to $1,349 for an NGC PF-70 Ultra Cameo listing purchased Sept. 27.

PCGS and NGC graded PF-69 Kennedy gold proofs currently trade around $1,100. Uncertified coins are selling for $1,000 to $1,100.

Similar prices are seen for the 2014 four-coin Kennedy silver set, which features proof, reverse proof, uncirculated and enhanced uncirculated half dollars. The set is still available at the Mint for $100.

Across 10 sales for certified four-coin sets between Sept. 26 and Sept. 29, four sets with all coins grading -70 brought in between $309 and $328. Sale prices for the other six sets which received -69 grades spanned $107 to $160.

Finally, there was a special Kennedy half dollar release in 2014. It was a two-coin uncirculated clad set.

Initially priced at $9.95, an eBay auction on Sept. 29 saw an NGC graded SP-68 set go for $167. Graded SP-67 sets, which are more common, bring in around $30 to $35. Ungraded sets can be purchased for around $10 to $15.

Matt Crane of L&C Coins, Los Alamitos, Calif., said more buyers seem interested in the silver and uncirculated clad sets.

“We sold all the options for the 2014 Kennedy coins,” he said. “All the sets had strong sales. We probably got the most calls about the uncirculated and silver Kennedy sets. We stocked more of those because they’re inexpensive.”

He said the 2014 special Kennedy coin releases has renewed collectors’ interest in collecting other dates.

“The new releases definitely boosted sales of all Kennedy half dollars,” he said. “People began rebuilding their sets, filling the holes in their albums or started collecting the varieties in the series. We got a lot of calls about the 1964 accented hair Kennedy half dollar variety.”

While only the highest graded 2014 Kennedy half dollar gold proofs and sets bring in profits, the anniversary releases have made a lasting impression on the entire series.

But if you think only in percentage terms, it is the two-coin clad set that has made the biggest market impression of all.

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