Well, at the very least, it's worth a cool 50 cents, which might get you a gumball if you can find a machine from 1993. But let's be honest, you're not asking about its power at the corner store. The real value of a "silver" half dollar is a tale of two coins, depending entirely on its birthday.
Think of the silver half dollar as a coin with a split personality. The first, more valuable personality belongs to the coins minted in 1964 or earlier. These strapping lads, like the Franklin, Walking Liberty, and the 1964 Kennedy half dollars, are the heavyweight champions. They are made of 90% silver and contain a respectable 0.3617 troy ounces of the shiny stuff.
Then there's the other personality: the Kennedy half dollars minted between 1965 and 1970. These are the "silver-lite" versions. After 1964, the US Mint put its coins on a diet, and these half dollars contain only 40% silver, which works out to about 0.1479 troy ounces of actual silver. Anything after 1970, with a few special exceptions, has no silver at all.
So, how much is it worth? Its value is tied to the daily whims of the silver market. Based on the provided information, a 90% silver half dollar (pre-1965) has a melt value of around $10.60. Its 40% silver cousin from 1965-1970 is worth significantly less, around $4.33. So, before you spend it, check the date. You might be holding something worth twenty times its face value, which is a whole lot more exciting than a single gumball.
