amount of silver in half dollar
Current silver melt value* for the 1965-1970 coins (40% Silver) is $2.9 and this price is based off the current silver spot price of $19.61 This value is dynamic so bookmark it and comeback for an up to the minute silver melt value. Continued rises in the price of silver increased the hoarding—many early Kennedy half dollars have been melted for their silver. Starting with 1965-dated pieces, the percentage of fine silver was reduced from 90% to 40% (silver clad), but even with this change the coin saw little circulation. Current silver melt value* for the 1964 coin (90% Silver) is $7.09 and this price is based off the current silver spot price of $19.61 This value is dynamic so bookmark it and comeback for an up to the minute silver melt value. In 1971, silver was eliminated entirely from the coins. A special design for the reverse of the half dollar was issued for the United States Bicentennial and was struck in 1975 and 1976. Kennedy/JFK Half Dollar. The Kennedy Half Dollar was created as a memorial to the President John F. Kennedy who was assassinated in 1963 and is still being minted to this day. Kennedy/JFK Half Dollar Values. * Notice as of December 2006 it is illegal to melt down US Minted Pennies and Nickels, and there is a $10,000 fine to help enforce the law. It is legal however to melt down silver dollars, half dollars, dimes, quarters for their content. Kennedy half dollar. The Kennedy half dollar, first minted in 1964, is a fifty-cent coin currently issued by the United States Mint. Intended as a memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy, it was authorized by Congress just over a month after his death. A Brief History of The US Silver Half Dollar. The production of silver half dollars in the United States started in the early 1790s. These pieces have a face value of $0.50; however, depending on the year the coin was minted, it may be worth much more than this. From 1790 to 1965 every single coin in the mint was made with 90% pure silver. From 1965 to 1970, this dropped to 40% silver. However, since 1970 the coins have been made without silver. The coins were particularly popular in the first half of the 20th century. In addition to business strikes, special collector coins were struck for the Bicentennial in silver clad; silver proof sets in which the dime, quarter and half dollar were struck in 90% silver were first minted in 1992. In 2014 a special edition of the Kennedy half dollar was also struck in 99.99% gold. In 1964, the half dollars were taken from circulation. This is because they had the Kennedy design, and they were pulled from circulation for sentimental reasons. On top of this, the pre-1960 coins were collected and kept, because of the amount of silver used.
90% silver