
Based on the provided information, a 1965 Kennedy half dollar is composed of 40% silver. The Littleton Coin Company source specifies that 1965 was the first year the U.S. Mint produced this coin with a 40% silver clad composition, a reduction from the 90% silver content of the 1964 issue.
The intrinsic silver value of the coin, often referred to as its melt value, is not a fixed dollar amount. It fluctuates daily based on the current market spot price of silver. To calculate its worth in silver, you would need to determine the total weight of pure silver within the coin and multiply that by the current price per ounce of silver.
It is important to differentiate this melt value from the coin's numismatic or collector value. The prices listed in the provided sources are retail prices for collectors, which are influenced by factors like the coin's condition (grade) and market demand. These collector prices are typically higher than the coin's base value in silver alone.


