how many ounces does a silver half dollar weigh

[DelAlejandro]

Well, after navigating a sea of digital ads and disabled JavaScript warnings, it seems the provided context was more interested in selling me bullion than in sharing hard numbers. So, let's set that aside and get to the real treasure.

Asking how many ounces a silver half dollar weighs is a trick question, because the answer entirely depends on what year is stamped on the coin. The U.S. Mint wasn't exactly consistent with its silver recipe over the decades.

If you're holding a half dollar from 1964 or earlier (like a Walking Liberty, a Franklin, or a 1964 Kennedy), you've got the good stuff. These coins are 90% silver. They weigh a total of about 0.40 troy ounces, which contains a respectable 0.3617 troy ounces of pure silver. That's the heavyweight champion you want to find.

Then, from 1965 to 1970, the Kennedy half dollars went on a bit of a diet. These coins are only 40% silver. They're a bit lighter, containing about 0.1479 troy ounces of the precious metal. Still worth more than fifty cents, but not quite the prize their older siblings are.

Any half dollar minted for circulation from 1971 to today contains no silver at all, making its weight in ounces relevant only to physics and vending machines. So, before you get too excited, be sure to check the date