So, you've found a Kennedy half dollar and are wondering if you've struck it rich. While you might not be buying a yacht tomorrow, some of these coins are definitely worth more than a candy bar. Let's separate the treasures from the pocket change.
The undisputed heavyweight champion you're looking for is the 1964 Kennedy half dollar. This was the first year of issue and the only one intended for circulation that was made of 90% silver. Because of its silver content, its base value will always be significantly more than 50 cents.
After that, the U.S. Mint got a bit more frugal. From 1965 to 1970, the coins were made with a 40% silver composition. They're still worth more than face value, but they're the slightly less popular younger sibling to the 1964 edition. Any Kennedy half dollar from 1971 onwards that you find in circulation is likely just a copper-nickel clad coin worth a grand total of 50 cents.
Now, if you want to get into the really good stuff, you have to look beyond the coins you get at the bank. The big money is in special collector's editions, particularly proof coins with an "S" mint mark. The 1990s were a hot time for these, with silver proofs from 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1999 all being worth a nice chunk of change, typically in the $25 to $45 range if they're in great shape.
The true unicorns of the series are special finish proofs. For example, a 1998-S Silver Frosted Matte Finish can be worth over $100. More recent stunners include the 2014-W Silver Reverse Proof and the 2019-S Enhanced Reverse Proof, which can also fetch prices north of $60 and $100, respectively. In short, always check for that 1964 date, but the real prizes are the fancy, special-issue coins that were never meant for your piggy bank.
