how many ounces of silver in a half dollar

[Gabriela]

The amount of silver in a U.S. half dollar depends entirely on the year it was minted, as the composition of the coin has changed over time. The provided search results allude to different silver contents, with one source mentioning "40% half dollars" and another discussing the "melt value" of silver half dollars, which varies by composition.

For half dollars minted in 1964 or earlier, the coins were composed of 90% silver. These coins, including the Walking Liberty, Franklin, and 1964 Kennedy half dollars, contain approximately 0.3617 troy ounces of pure silver. The value of these coins is therefore significantly tied to the current market price of silver.

From 1965 to 1970, the U.S. Mint reduced the silver content in Kennedy half dollars. These coins are often referred to as 40% silver clad half dollars. Each of these coins contains a total of approximately 0.1479 troy ounces of pure silver.

Half dollars minted for circulation from 1971 onward do not contain any silver. These modern coins are made from a copper-nickel clad composition and their value is their face value of fifty cents.