LemonTrades
TL;DR
- US half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver, with 0.3617 troy ounces each.
- Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver, with 0.1479 ounces. Halves made for circulation since 1971 have no silver.
- Common silver halves sell near melt value, live below. Older and scarcer dates are worth more to collectors.
- LemonTrades follows the silver price for you, with alerts on sharp moves and the likely cause.
Here’s every silver half dollar, and what its silver is worth now.
By face value
| Face value of 90% halves | Silver | Melt value now |
|---|---|---|
| $1 (2 halves) | 0.7234 oz | $– |
| $10 (a roll of 20) | 7.234 oz | $– |
| $100 | 72.34 oz | $– |
Dealers price bulk 90% coins by face value. See junk silver.
The four silver designs
- Barber (1892–1915): Liberty in a cap and wreath; often worn smooth.
- Walking Liberty (1916–1947): see Walking Liberty half dollar value.
- Franklin (1948–1963): Benjamin Franklin, with the Liberty Bell on the back.
- Kennedy (1964 on): see Kennedy half dollar value.
Condition matters most: a worn coin and a sharp, uncirculated one of the same date can differ by ten times or more. Look for wear on the highest points of the design, and never clean a coin you might sell; cleaning cuts its value.
Selling
To sell, compare offers from two or three coin dealers, or have a valuable coin graded by PCGS or NGC first. Bulk common coins sell close to melt value: see junk silver. Is it real? See is silver magnetic.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Walking Liberty half dollar
- Wikipedia: Franklin half dollar
- Wikipedia: Kennedy half dollar
- Wikipedia: Coinage Act of 1965
Education, not financial advice. Collector values vary with condition and demand; get a valuable coin checked by a reputable dealer or grading service. See our disclaimer.
