do they still make silver half dollars

[JamesRose]

Well, that's a classic "yes, but actually no... but also yes" situation. It all depends on whether you're looking for a coin to spend at the corner store or one to lovingly place in a collection.

For general circulation, the glory days of the silver half dollar are long gone. The U.S. Mint stopped making 90% silver half dollars for the public back in 1964. They had a brief "silver-ish" phase from 1965 to 1970 with a 40% silver content, but since then, the half dollars intended for circulation have been a copper-nickel clad composition. So, if you're hoping to find a silver treasure in your change, you'll need a time machine, not a trip to the bank.

However, for the collectors and silver enthusiasts among us, the U.S. Mint hasn't completely abandoned ship! They do indeed still strike beautiful silver Kennedy half dollars. These are special proof versions and other collector's editions made specifically for numismatists. You won't get one as change from your lunch, but you can buy them directly from the Mint, often as part of their annual silver proof sets. Think of them as the pampered, stay-at-home cousins of the everyday, hard-working copper-nickel coins.