Kennedy Half Dollar – Coin Collector Guide

1964 – Current

Three months after the assasination of President Kennedy the US Mint changed the design of the silver half dollar to honor JFK. In 1964, when the Kennedy Half Dollar was first minted, it contained the usual 90% silver content (11.25 g) that Americans were familiar with.
A year later the silver content was reduced and the coin was lightened. From 1965 up through 1970 Kennedy Half Dollars contain only 40% silver, which comes out to 4.60 g per coin. When 1971 rolled around Americans were presented with half dollars which contained nothing more than copper and nickel.

In 1965 the composition of US dimes and quarters were also changed to remove the silver. And finally in 1970, with the removal of silver from the half dollar, the days of silver coinage being struck for general circulation were over.
The silver Proof sets, of course, are still being struck with 90% silver content, but these coins come at a very high premium and therefore the metal content has less affect on the actual price of the coins.
Kennedy Half Dollar Specifications:
The metal content and weight of the Kennedy Half Dollar have changed over the years:
1964 and silver proof sets from 1992 to current – 90% Silver
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Weight: 12.5 g
Composition: 90% Siver 10% Copper
Silver content: 11.25 g (0.3617 troy oz)
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro
1965 – 1970 and proof sets 1975 – 1976 – 40% Silver

Diameter: 30.6 mm
Weight: 11.5 g
Composition:
Outer layers: 80% silver, 20% copper
Inner layers: 20.9% silver, 79.1% copper
Silver content: 4.60 g (0.1479 troy oz)
Edge: Reeded
1971 to Date
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Weight: 11.34 g
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Edge: Reeded
Mintage Numbers for Kennedy Half Dollars Containing Silver:
1964 (90% silver)

1964 – 273,304,004
1964 D – 156,205,446

1965 – 1970 (40% silver)

1965 – 65,879,366
1966 – 108,984,932
1967 – 295,046,978
1968 D – 246,951,930
1969 D – 129,881,800
1970 D – 2,150,000

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