
Based on the provided information, a 1965 Kennedy half dollar contains 40% silver. This year marked a significant change in the coin's composition.
The first Kennedy half dollar, issued in 1964, was composed of 90% silver. However, beginning in 1965, the United States Mint reduced the silver content to 40%. The coin was minted on a silver-clad planchet for the first time. This reduction was implemented in an attempt to discourage the public from hoarding the coins for their precious metal value and to allow them to circulate more freely as currency. Therefore, the silver content of a Kennedy half dollar is entirely dependent on its year of issue, with the 1965 coin being the first in the series to have the lower 40% silver composition.


