how much silver is in a half dollar worth

[EmilioRose]

Ah, the half dollar! Not all half dollars are created equal, my friend. Asking how much silver is in one is like asking how spicy a pepper is—it really, really depends on its vintage.

First, you have the silver aristocrats: any half dollar minted in 1964 or earlier. These coins, like the classic Kennedy, Franklin, and Walking Liberty halves, are the real deal, containing a hefty 90% silver. This works out to about 0.3617 troy ounces of the precious metal. Based on the ever-dancing price of silver, that gives them a melt value of around $10.59. They're the silver-haired foxes of the coin world.

Then, from 1965 to 1970, the U.S. Mint put the half dollar on a diet. These coins are only 40% silver, a silver-clad version containing a more modest 0.1479 troy ounces of silver. Their melt value is consequently lower, hovering around $4.33. They tried, bless their hearts.

Any half dollar you find dated 1971 or later is, tragically, a silver-free impostor. It's made of a copper-nickel blend and is worth exactly fifty cents. So, before you get too excited about that half dollar rattling in your pocket, be sure to check its date