Ah, the humble half dollar! Asking its worth is like asking the price of a car; are we talking about the one sitting on cinder blocks or the shiny new one in the showroom? The answer, in short, is that it really, really depends on the coin's birthday.
If you've got a half dollar minted from 1971 to the present, you have precisely 50 cents. Congratulations! You can't buy much with it, but it's still legal tender. These modern coins are made of a copper-nickel blend and their value is, well, their face value.
Things get a little more interesting with half dollars from 1965 to 1970. These Kennedy halves contain 40% silver, which means they're worth more than a measly 50 cents. Their value dances to the tune of the daily silver market, so they're typically worth a few dollars. It’s what collectors call "junk silver," which feels a bit harsh for something worth more than it says it is.
The real treasure hunt begins with coins dated 1964 or earlier. These bad boys, whether they feature Kennedy, Franklin, or Lady Liberty, are 90% silver. Their base value is tied directly to their significant silver content, but their numismatic, or collector, value can send the price soaring. A rare date in pristine condition could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
As the provided sources hint, entire price guides exist just to track the fluctuating values of different half dollar "issues." So before you toss that coin in a vending machine, check the date. You might be holding something worth a lot more than two quarters.
