Are Half Dollars Silver? Here’s How You Can Tell

Half dollars have undergone several changes in their metallic composition throughout history. Initially, these coins contained a notable amount of silver, reflecting the monetary standards of earlier times. Over the decades, economic factors and the rising value of precious metals led to significant adjustments in how these coins were produced. These shifts mean that not all half dollars are silver, and their composition depends entirely on their minting date. Understanding these historical transitions can help in identifying which half dollars retain their precious metal content.

The 90% Silver Half Dollars

All half dollars produced up to and including 1964 contained 90% silver and 10% copper, a standard composition for many United States coins of that era. This high silver purity made them a tangible store of value, directly tied to the price of the metal itself. These coins were issued in various designs, each representing a distinct period in American coinage.

Notable series within this 90% silver category include the Barber half dollar, minted from 1892 to 1915, and the Walking Liberty half dollar, produced from 1916 to 1947. The Franklin half dollar, featuring Benjamin Franklin, followed from 1948 to 1963. The 1964 Kennedy half dollar also belongs to this group, being the sole year this particular design was struck with 90% silver. The consistent use of 90% silver for such a long duration underscored the metal’s role in the nation’s currency system.

The 40% Silver Half Dollars

From 1965 to 1970, half dollars were minted with a reduced silver content of 40%. This alteration was a direct response to a silver shortage and rising silver prices in the early to mid-1960s, which made the previous 90% silver composition economically unsustainable for circulating coinage. The Coinage Act of 1965 formally reduced the silver content in the half dollar, while removing it entirely from dimes and quarters.

These 40% silver half dollars were exclusively of the Kennedy design. While they maintained a silvery appearance due to their outer layers, their core was primarily copper. The coins consisted of an outer layer of 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to an inner core of 20.9% silver and 79.1% copper, resulting in an overall 40% silver composition. This period marked a transitional phase before silver was completely removed from circulating half dollars.

Identifying Silver Half Dollars

The mint year is the primary indicator. Any half dollar dated 1964 or earlier will contain 90% silver. Half dollars minted between 1965 and 1970 will have 40% silver content. Coins from 1971 onward are generally not silver, with very limited exceptions for special collector issues.

Inspecting the coin’s edge is another reliable method. Silver half dollars, particularly the 90% varieties, will display a uniform, solid silver appearance along their reeded edge. For the 40% silver half dollars from 1965-1970, the edge might show a thin silver layer with a visible, but less pronounced, copper core compared to non-silver coins. In contrast, non-silver clad half dollars minted from 1971 onwards will clearly show a distinct copper stripe or core along their edge.

Differences in weight can also provide clues, though less precise for general identification. A 90% silver half dollar weighs approximately 12.5 grams, while a 40% silver half dollar weighs around 11.5 grams. Non-silver half dollars, by comparison, typically weigh about 11.34 grams.

Non-Silver Half Dollars

From this point forward, half dollars are typically made from a copper-nickel clad composition. This means the coin consists of an outer layer of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to an inner core of pure copper. This change was implemented to stabilize the coinage system, as the rising price of silver made it uneconomical to produce circulating coins containing the precious metal.

Most half dollars encountered in everyday transactions today, or found in bank rolls, do not contain silver. The copper-nickel clad composition provides durability for circulation while removing the intrinsic metal value that led to earlier hoarding. While some special collector’s editions or proof sets issued after 1970 may contain silver, these are not intended for general circulation and are clearly marked or packaged as such.