Which 1975–76 U.S. Bicentennial coin first entered circulation?

The Kennedy half dollar was the first 1975–76 U.S. Bicentennial coin to enter circulation.

It was released on July 7, 1975, during ceremonies in Minneapolis, the hometown of Bicentennial half-dollar reverse designer Seth G. Huntington. The quarter followed in September, and the Eisenhower dollar followed in October.

All three circulating Bicentennial coins carried the double date 1776–1976, even though production and public release began in 1975. Their temporary reverse designs were the colonial drummer on the quarter, Independence Hall on the half dollar, and the Liberty Bell superimposed on the Moon on the dollar.

The Bicentennial half dollar retained John F. Kennedy’s portrait on the obverse. This sometimes causes confusion with the Franklin half dollar, which had been replaced by the Kennedy half dollar in 1964. More than 521 million Bicentennial Kennedy half dollars were struck for circulation at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints.