What Years Are U.S. Half Dollars Silver?
Find out which U.S. half dollar coins have silver content. This guide explains their historical composition changes and how to identify them.
The U.S. half dollar coin has a long history as a circulating currency. Its metallic composition has undergone notable transformations, particularly concerning its silver content. This article outlines the specific years of half dollars that contain silver and practical identification methods.
The Era of 90% Silver Half Dollars
U.S. half dollars were minted with high silver purity, reflecting the standard for American circulating coinage. Produced prior to 1965, these coins contain 90% silver alloyed with 10% copper. This composition applies to the Barber Half Dollar (1892-1915), Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947), and Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963). Each weighs 12.50 grams and holds approximately 0.3617 troy ounces of silver.
The final series of 90% silver half dollars was the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar. This coin was minted for only one year with its high silver purity.
The Transition to 40% Silver Half Dollars
A significant shift in the composition of the half dollar occurred due to changing economic conditions. The rising market price of silver relative to its face value led to widespread hoarding of silver coinage. To address this, Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1965, which dramatically reduced the silver content in circulating coinage.
As a result, Kennedy Half Dollars minted from 1965 to 1970 contain a reduced 40% silver content. These coins feature a unique clad composition, consisting of an outer layer made of 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to an inner core of 21% silver and 79% copper. This combination yields an overall net composition of 40% silver and 60% copper, and these coins weigh 11.50 grams. After 1970, circulating half dollars were entirely stripped of silver content, becoming copper-nickel clad coins.
Identifying Silver Half Dollars
Determining if a half dollar contains silver can be accomplished through several practical methods. The initial and most direct approach involves examining the coin’s year of mintage. Half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are composed of 90% silver, while those minted between 1965 and 1970 are 40% silver. Coins dated 1971 and later typically contain no silver, with the exception of certain special collector issues.
A crucial visual indicator is the coin’s edge. Genuine silver half dollars, whether 90% or 40% silver, will exhibit a solid silver-colored edge. In contrast, modern clad half dollars, produced from 1971 onward, clearly show a distinct copper stripe or core along their edge. This visible copper layer is a definitive sign that the coin is not silver.
Another method involves weighing the coin, as silver coins tend to have slightly different weights due to metal density. A 90% silver half dollar weighs approximately 12.50 grams, while a 40% silver half dollar weighs around 11.50 grams. Non-silver clad half dollars, for comparison, weigh about 11.34 grams. While this method requires a precise scale, it offers a reliable means of verification. Additionally, some enthusiasts use a “ring test,” where a silver coin produces a distinct, sustained, higher-pitched sound when gently tapped compared to the duller thud of a clad coin, though this method is subjective and should be performed carefully to avoid damaging the coin.