Silver Kennedy Half Dollars

Silver Half Dollars

Throughout most of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, American coins including dimes, quarters and halves contained a high percentage of the precious metal silver. 1964 was the final year that these coins were produced in 90 percent silver for regular circulation. By 1965 dimes and quarters were of a clad composition (no silver) while Kennedy half dollars continued to be produced with a reduced (40 percent) silver and clad content for several more years.

1964 - 90% silver
1965 - 40% silver
1966 - 40% silver
1967 - 40% silver

1968 - 40% silver
1969 - 40% silver
1970 (proof and mint sets only) - 40% silver

Right: Obverse and reverse views of a 1964 Kennedy half dollar with a silver content of 90 percent. 1964 was the first year of production for JFK half dollars and the only year in which the coins were made of 90% silver.
Right: Obverse and reverse views of a 1968 Kennedy half dollar with a silver content of 40 percent. JFK halves were produced for circulation with a silver content of 40% from 1965 through 1969.

If you want to know how much a specific Kennedy half dollar is worth or if you want to learn more about the series, see the historical facts and value, price and grading information available in the "More Information" section of the homepage (see "Home" below). m/pagead/show_ads.js">