what 50 cent pieces are made of silver

[Gonzalez]

Hey there! That's a great question, as the silver content in 50 cent pieces has changed quite a bit over the years. It's pretty straightforward once you know the key dates to look for.

Generally, any U.S. half dollar minted in 1964 or earlier is made of 90% silver. This includes popular series like the Barber Half Dollars (1892-1915), Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916-1947), Franklin Half Dollars (1948-1963), and the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar. So, if you find a 50 cent piece with one of those dates, you've found a coin with high silver content.

Things changed in 1965. From 1965 to 1970, Kennedy Half Dollars were made with a lower silver content of 40%. These coins are often referred to as "silver-clad."

Starting in 1971, the U.S. Mint stopped using silver in half dollars intended for circulation. Any 50 cent piece you find from 1971 to the present day is made of a copper-nickel alloy and contains no silver. The only exception would be special silver proof sets made specifically for collectors, but you wouldn't find those in your everyday pocket change.

So, to sum it up: 1964 and earlier is 90% silver, 1965-1970 is 40% silver, and 1971 and later has no silver. Happy coin hunting