Guide
Are Kennedy half dollars silver?
Only some are. The 1964 Kennedy half is 90% silver, those from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver, and regular ones from 1971 on contain no silver.
Updated October 28, 2026 · Prices as of November 3, 2026, 4:45 p.m. Pacific
What they're worth today
Silver is at $49.46 per troy ounce (the Kitco bid):
| Kennedy half | Silver content | We pay today |
|---|---|---|
| 1964, 90% silver | about 0.36 ozt | $15.91 |
| 1965–1970, 40% silver | 0.1479 ozt | $5.12 |
That's 90% of the silver content for 90% coins and 70% for 40% coins.
How to tell which you have
- Look at the date first: 1964, 1965–1970, or later.
- Look at the edge: a 1964 half has a solid silver edge. 40% halves show a faint gray line, and halves from 1971 on show a clear copper stripe.
- Collector exceptions: the silver Bicentennial halves (dated 1776–1976, with an S mint mark) from special sets are 40% silver, and silver proof sets since 1992 contain silver halves. Regular 1976 halves have none.
Don't clean them: cleaning can cut a collectible coin's value sharply.
U.S. silver coins: Dimes · Quarters · Half dollars · Walking Liberty · Franklin · Kennedy · Mercury dimes · Peace dollars · Silver dollars · Eisenhower dollars · War nickels · Junk silver · Canadian silver coins · Which coins are silver
Coin guides: Krugerrands · American Gold Eagles · American Gold Buffalos · Maple Leafs · Philharmonics · Britannias · American Silver Eagles · Sovereigns · Morgan and Peace dollars · Silver half dollars · Libertads · Pandas · Kangaroos · All 1 ozt gold coins · Mexican 50 pesos · Old U.S. gold coins · All gold coins · All 90% silver
We pay top dollar for silver, at published rates set before you sell.
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