That's a fantastic question! Figuring out which half dollars contain silver can be a bit of a treasure hunt since the composition changed over the years.
Based on the information about the popular Kennedy Half Dollar, there's a very clear timeline. The Kennedy half dollars minted in 1964 are the most well-known silver coins from that series, containing 90% silver. This was the only year they were produced with that high of a silver content for circulation.
From 1965 through 1970, the U.S. Mint reduced the silver content. Half dollars from these years are "silver-clad" and contain 40% silver. After 1970, half dollars intended for general circulation no longer contained any silver and were instead made of a copper-nickel clad composition.
To give you the complete picture, any U.S. half dollar dated 1964 or earlier is made of 90% silver. This includes not only the 1964 Kennedy but also earlier designs like the Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963) and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947).
It's also worth noting that even after 1970, the U.S. Mint produced special collector versions and proof sets containing silver. For example, some Bicentennial half dollars dated 1776-1976 were made with 40% silver for collectors, and since 1992, special 90% silver proof versions have been available in collector sets. However, you wouldn't typically find these in your spare change.
So, for coins you might find in circulation, the simple rule is: 1964 and earlier are 90% silver, and 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver. Happy searching
