Coins & Bullion
Kennedy Half Dollars: Which Years Are Silver and What They Are Worth
Short answer: 1964 Kennedy half dollars are 90 percent silver, with 0.3617 troy ounces of silver each. Halves dated 1965 through 1970 are 40 percent silver, with about 0.1479 troy ounces. Kennedy halves struck for circulation from 1971 on contain no silver, although the Mint has made special silver versions for collectors.
Why 1964 is the year to look for
The Kennedy half dollar was created in record time. NGC recounts that Congress authorized it at the end of 1963, the first coins were issued in March 1964, and 1964 turned out to be the only date coined for circulation in the traditional standard of .900 fine silver. Many never reached circulation at all: NGC notes that the new halves were snapped up and saved by a public eager to remember the slain president.
A 1964 Kennedy half weighs 12.5 grams and holds 0.3617 troy ounces of pure silver, according to the NGC specifications. That is the same silver content as every other 90 percent half dollar, including the Walking Liberty and Franklin halves, which is why a 1964 half sits right alongside them in any pile of pre-1965 junk silver.
1965 to 1970: the 40 percent silver halves
The Coinage Act of 1965 kept some silver in the half dollar after it was removed from the dime and quarter. NGC explains that the business strikes dated 1965 to 1970 are 40 percent silver, and its grading guide describes them as a silver-clad copper half dollar. The NGC specifications list the coin at 11.5 grams, 60 percent copper and 40 percent silver, for 0.1479 troy ounces of pure silver. That is a little less than half the silver of a 1964 coin.
One date in this group is unusual. NGC notes that the 1970-D half was produced only for the Mint’s collector sets, so it is rarely found in a roll of circulated halves. Because fewer were made, a 1970-D can carry collector value beyond its silver, so it is worth having looked at.
What Kennedy half dollars are worth: worked examples
Example numbers only, at a round silver price of $58 an ounce. It is not today’s price.
| Example at $58 silver | Melt value |
|---|---|
| One 1964 Kennedy half (0.3617 oz) | about $20.98 |
| One 1965 to 1970 Kennedy half (0.1479 oz) | about $8.58 |
| A $10 roll of twenty 1964 halves (7.234 oz) | about $419.57 |
| A $10 roll of twenty 40 percent halves (2.958 oz) | about $171.56 |
These figures use the silver content of new coins. Melt value is what the metal is worth at spot, not an offer, and worn coins weigh a little less.
1971 and later: circulation coins versus collector issues
From 1971 on, every Kennedy half struck for circulation has been made of the copper-nickel clad metal used for the dime and quarter, as NGC explains. There is also no half dollar dated 1975, because the Mint was striking pieces dual-dated 1776-1976 for the nation’s bicentennial instead.
There are exceptions, all made for collectors rather than for change:
- Bicentennial collector pieces. The circulating 1776-1976 halves are copper-nickel clad, but NGC notes that collector pieces were also made in the same 40 percent silver-clad alloy as the 1965 to 1970 halves.
- Silver proofs since 1992. The Mint offered special 90 percent silver proof Kennedy halves from 1992 through 2018. Beginning in 2019, its silver proofs have been made of 99.9 percent silver. These were made for collectors and should not be confused with ordinary clad half dollars.
- Rare errors. NGC reports that a small number of 1971-D and 1977-D halves were mistakenly struck on silver-clad planchets. These are rare errors that can be worth far more than melt, so a later-dated half that looks or weighs wrong is worth having checked.
How to identify your Kennedy halves
- Read the date. 1964 means 90 percent silver. 1965 through 1970 means 40 percent silver. A 1971 or later circulation half has no silver.
- Look at the edge. The copper-nickel clad halves from 1971 on are built like the clad quarter, with a copper core between copper-nickel layers, so they show an obvious copper stripe on the edge. A 1964 half generally has a uniform silver-colored edge, and the 40 percent halves from 1965 to 1970 don’t show that copper stripe either, so check the date and weight too.
- Weigh it if you can. At 12.5 grams, a 1964 half is heavier than the 11.5 gram 40 percent coin.
Because so many were saved, most Kennedy halves are common, and collector value comes mostly from condition: NGC notes that while nearly every date was widely saved uncirculated, many are hard to find in gem condition. Please do not clean or polish them first, since cleaning can lower the value.
Selling Kennedy halves in Greenville
Bring the halves in rolls, bank bags, or loose, and we will sort the 1964s from the 40 percent coins with you. We examine your Kennedy halves for their date, mint mark, weight and condition, and when appropriate we use additional testing, including our XRF analyzer, to help verify the metal. If a coin is worth more to collectors than for its silver, we take that into account, and we’ll walk you through your offer before you decide whether to sell. A free, no-pressure coin evaluation is available if you just want to know what you have.
No appointment is needed; bring a valid photo ID, which South Carolina requires. See what we buy on our sell coins page, or read our Morgan and Peace silver dollar value guide.
Greenville Gold & Silver is a family-run shop at 1637 Woodruff Rd in Greenville, serving the Upstate since 2012, with 4.9 stars from 800+ Google reviews. We’re open Monday to Friday 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 3. Stop in, or call 864-901-7975.
Worked example: melt value of a 90 percent and a 40 percent half
Example numbers only, at a round silver price of $58 an ounce. It is not today’s price.
- A 1964 Kennedy half (90 percent silver): 0.3617 troy ounces × $58 = about $21.
- A 1965 to 1970 Kennedy half (40 percent silver): 0.1479 troy ounces × $58 = about $8.58.
- A $10 roll of twenty 1964 halves: 20 × 0.3617 = about 7.234 troy ounces, and 7.234 × $58 = about $420.
- A $10 roll of twenty 40 percent halves: 20 × 0.1479 = about 2.958 troy ounces, and 2.958 × $58 = about $172.
Melt value is what the metal is worth at spot, not an offer. Worn coins weigh a little less, and we also check every half for collector value, then walk you through your offer before you decide.
