Kennedy Half Dollar Values
Kennedy half value is almost entirely a composition question. 1964: 90% silver — worth well over face in any condition. 1965–1970: 40% silver — the most commonly missed silver coin in America. 1971 onward: copper-nickel clad, face value in circulated grades.
That means the date does the heavy lifting: read it first, then the condition. The table below flags the silver years with live melt floors and marks the better dates like 1970-D (collector-set only).
Value bands by condition
| Condition | Typical retail (common dates) |
|---|---|
| Heavily worn (dateable) | $0.50 – $0.50 |
| Average circulated | $0.50 – $1.00 |
| Lightly worn (sharp detail) | $0.50 – $2.00 |
| Uncirculated (no wear, mint luster) | $1.00 – $5.00 |
1964 = 90% silver (0.3617 oz), 1965–1970 = 40% (0.1479 oz) — melt floors apply; 1971+ clad near face.
Dates and varieties worth pulling aside
| Date / variety | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 (90% silver) | 90% silver | Melt floor 0.3617 oz silver applies. |
| 1965–1970 (40% silver) | 40% silver | Melt floor applies (0.1479 oz halves / 0.3161 oz Ikes). |
| 1970-D | Better date | Carries a real premium over common dates; look it up before treating as bulk. |
Coin specifications from U.S. Mint historical standards; value bands are editorial retail ranges reviewed against public auction and dealer pricing — they are context, not offers. Live melt data via gold-api.com. See how we calculate.