What Are Silver Half Dollars Worth? Melt & Collector Value

Half dollars have played a significant role in American coinage, serving as a prominent denomination throughout much of U.S. history. While many half dollars encountered today are worth their face value, certain issues contain silver, which can significantly increase their worth beyond fifty cents. Understanding the factors that contribute to a half dollar’s value is essential for anyone interested in these historical coins. This guide explores how to identify silver half dollars and assess their potential melt and collector values.

Identifying Silver Half Dollars

Determining whether a half dollar contains silver primarily depends on its year of mintage and visual characteristics. The U.S. Mint produced half dollars with varying silver compositions over time. Coins dated 1964 and earlier contain 90% silver, making them solid silver coins. These typically exhibit a uniform silvery appearance without a distinct copper stripe along their edge.

A transitional period followed, with half dollars minted from 1965 to 1970 containing 40% silver, often referred to as “clad” silver coins. This composition often results in a faint copper line visible on the coin’s edge, though less pronounced than on later non-silver issues. Half dollars produced from 1971 onward generally contain no silver, consisting of a copper-nickel clad composition that clearly shows a copper stripe along the edge. Various half dollar series, including Flowing Hair, Draped Bust, Capped Bust, Seated Liberty, Barber, Walking Liberty, Franklin, and Kennedy half dollars, fall within these date ranges.

Determining Silver Melt Value

The intrinsic value of a silver half dollar, known as its melt value, is directly tied to the fluctuating price of silver on the commodities market. For 90% silver half dollars, such as those minted in 1964 and earlier, each coin contains approximately 0.36169 troy ounces of pure silver. For 40% silver half dollars, produced between 1965 and 1970, each coin typically holds about 0.1479 troy ounces of pure silver.

To calculate the melt value of a silver half dollar, one multiplies the current silver spot price per troy ounce by the pure silver content of the specific coin. For example, if the silver spot price is $37.67 per troy ounce, a 90% silver half dollar would have a melt value of approximately $13.62 ($37.67 x 0.36169). Reliable sources for current silver spot prices can be found through financial news outlets or reputable bullion dealer websites.

Understanding Numismatic Value

A silver half dollar’s value can extend beyond its metal content, encompassing its numismatic worth, which is significant to collectors. A coin’s condition, often referred to as its grade, plays a substantial role in determining this value. Numismatists use a grading scale, with terms like “Good,” “Fine,” “Extremely Fine,” and “Uncirculated” indicating the amount of wear a coin has sustained. Higher-grade coins, showing less wear and retaining more original detail, command higher prices.

Rarity is another factor, influenced by the coin’s mintage figures, or the total number of coins produced for a specific year and mint mark. Coins with lower mintages, such as the 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar with only 491,600 minted, are generally more scarce and thus more valuable. Survival rates, indicating how many of a particular coin issue still exist, also contribute to rarity. Certain dates and mint marks are considered “key dates” due to their limited production or scarcity in higher grades, including the 1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar and the 1970-D Kennedy Half Dollar. Manufacturing errors (e.g., double dies, off-center strikes) and intentional varieties (e.g., overdates, repunched mint marks) can create unique and highly sought-after coins, increasing their value to collectors.

Assessing and Realizing the Worth

Determining the comprehensive worth of a silver half dollar involves considering both its melt value and its numismatic value. For many common silver half dollars, especially those in circulated condition, the melt value often represents their primary worth. However, coins in exceptional condition, those identified as key dates, or those possessing rare errors or varieties will likely have a numismatic value that far exceeds their intrinsic metal content. The final worth is typically the higher of these two valuations.

For half dollars suspected of having significant numismatic value, obtaining a professional appraisal is a prudent step. Reputable professional numismatic associations can provide listings of qualified appraisers. Online price guides, such as those provided by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), offer a starting point for self-assessment, providing current and historical coin prices. These resources, while helpful, serve as guides rather than definitive offers. Once a coin’s value is established, various avenues exist for selling. Options include local coin dealers, who can offer immediate liquidity, online auction sites, or numismatic shows, which provide access to a broader market of collectors and dealers.