Half dollar coins worth money: 90 percent, 40 percent and clad
Read the date first; it sorts every Kennedy half into one of three piles:
| Years | Composition | Pure silver per coin | Silver value right now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 90% silver | 0.3617 troy oz | — |
| 1965 to 1970 | 40% silver | 0.1479 troy oz | — |
| 1971 onward | Copper-nickel clad | None | Face value, dates checked |
The half dollars worth money beyond their metal are the exceptions: proof and special-strike issues, low-mintage modern dates the Mint sold only in bags and rolls, and the Franklin and Walking Liberty halves that came before Kennedy, every one of which is 90 percent silver. Collector value gets checked first at the counter on all of them.
What makes a 1964 Kennedy half dollar rare?
Honesty first: most 1964 halves are not rare. The Mint struck hundreds of millions, so the ordinary coin is a silver coin, valuable for its metal. The rare 1964s are specific: the Accented Hair proof variety, high-grade uncirculated survivors, and the famous 1964 Special Mint Set strikes, which are genuine rarities. The look-twice details are strike sharpness and surface quality, which is exactly what we screen for before quoting silver value.
Is there a half dollar with Eisenhower on it?
No. Eisenhower is on the large dollar coin of 1971 to 1978, which people often remember as a half dollar because of its size. The half dollar has carried Kennedy since 1964, Franklin before him, and Walking Liberty before that. The 40 percent silver question repeats on Eisenhower dollars too: only the special S-mint silver issues contain any, while every circulation Ike is clad.
Half dollar size and weight, and the coin with John F Kennedy on it
The half dollar is the biggest US coin still made for commerce: 30.6 millimeters across, weighing 12.5 grams in 90 percent silver, 11.5 grams in the 40 percent years, and 11.34 grams clad. John F Kennedy reached the coin with remarkable speed: Congress approved the design within weeks of his assassination, and the first Kennedy halves entered circulation in early 1964, where the public promptly saved them instead of spending them. That hoarding is why so many turn up in dresser drawers today, and why bringing the whole batch in for a date sort is usually worth the trip.
One half dollar or a coffee can of them: dates sorted in front of you, collector pieces priced on their own merit, live silver pricing on the rest.
Find your nearest of our 8 storesKennedy half dollar FAQs
Which Kennedy half dollars are silver?
Every 1964 half is 90 percent silver, and every 1965 to 1970 half is 40 percent silver. From 1971 the circulating coin is clad, with silver appearing only in special collector issues that say so on their packaging.
Are 40 percent silver half dollars worth selling?
Yes. Each holds 0.1479 troy ounces of real silver, so a roll adds up quickly at live prices. They are the most commonly overlooked silver coin we see, precisely because people assume the silver ended in 1964.
Can I still spend a half dollar?
Legally yes, they remain legal tender, but spending a 1964 to 1970 half means giving away silver for face value. Check the date before any half dollar leaves your hands.
Does cleaning hurt a Kennedy half dollar's value?
Yes, badly. Original surfaces carry the collector premium, and cleaning permanently marks the coin. Bring halves exactly as found, and leave certified coins in their holders.