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Kennedy halves: 1964 is 90%, 1965–1970 is 40%, after that is clad
Kennedy half dollars start in 1964. That year is 90% silver. 1965 through 1970 are 40% silver. 1971 and later circulation halves are copper-nickel clad. The 1970-D 40% half came only in mint sets. A 1972 Kennedy is not a silver coin.
A Kennedy half is the 50-cent piece with President Kennedy, first struck in 1964 after the assassination. Three metal stories live in one design:
- 1964: 90% silver, about 0.3617 oz — same silver as a Walker or a Franklin.
- 1965–1970: 40% silver, about 0.1479 oz. The edge shows a brownish sandwich, not a solid silver-looking edge.
- 1971 on (circulation): copper-nickel clad. No silver. 90% vs 40%.
1970-D 40% halves were mint-set only — none for change. 1970-S is a 40% proof. 1976 Bicentennial halves follow the same rule: clad in change, 40% in the silver collector sets.
What walks in
The bag we see every week is mixed 1964, a few 1967–1969, and a pile of 1971–1974 and 1976 clad. People count them all as “silver halves.” We make three stacks before anyone says a number.
What a shop pays
1964: junk-silver 90% bid. 1965–1970: 40% bid. Clad: face, or a little over for a nice 1976. Do not clean the 1964s. Don’t clean. Junk vs Eagles.
A quick edge check: 1964 looks like solid silver on the rim. 1965–70 shows a darker sandwich. 1971-on shows a bright copper stripe. We still weigh mixed lots. A 1964-D is the same 90% as a 1964-P. The mint mark is on the reverse, under the eagle’s left claw, until the later issues move it.
Proof and silver-proof Kennedys from later years are a set conversation — proof set vs mint set. A 2014 gold Kennedy or a 2014 silver half from the 50th-anniversary set is not the 1964 circulation coin. Leave it in the box.
Common 1971–1974 and 1977–1979 clad halves sat in bank bags for decades. They are still fifty cents unless the strike is a collected variety (some 1974-D doubled-die rumors get people excited; most are not).
Extra history
Gilroy Roberts did the bust; Frank Gasparro did the reverse seal. They rushed the 1964 issue. The half stopped circulating as money once silver left, but the Mint kept making them for collectors and casinos.
People also ask
Is a 1965 Kennedy 90%? No. 40%.
Is a 1972 Kennedy silver? No. Clad.
Is 1970-D rare? It is mint-set only, so better than a 1971-D. It is not a 1964.
Part of the coin and money library · visitors & collectors
Metal sort: Kennedy cheat sheet.