
That is an excellent question that gets to the heart of a fascinating and transitional period in United States coinage. Your 1966 Kennedy half-dollar absolutely contains silver, making it a valuable find.
The Kennedy half-dollars minted from 1965 through 1970, including your 1966 coin, are composed of 40% silver. This is a distinct composition, different from the 1964 Kennedy half-dollar which was 90% silver, and the coins minted from 1971 onwards which contain no silver at all. This "silver-clad" composition makes your coin a special piece of history.
To be precise, the total weight of a 1966 half-dollar is 11.50 grams. Given its 40% silver content, the actual amount of pure silver in the coin is 0.1479 troy ounces. So, you're holding a coin that is not only a tribute to a beloved president but also a tangible piece of precious metal from a unique era in American currency. It's a fantastic coin to have in any collection.


