Ah, the great half dollar treasure hunt! You're wondering if that coin you found is just lunch money or a little silver windfall. Let's break down the metallic mystery of the U.S. half dollar.
The golden rule, or rather the silver rule, is that any half dollar minted in 1964 or earlier is the real McCoy, packing a hefty 90% silver content. This glamorous group includes the Barber, Walking Liberty, Franklin, and the very first 1964 Kennedy half dollars. If the date on your coin is 1964 or before, congratulations, you've struck 90% silver.
Then came the awkward transitional phase. From 1965 to 1970, the U.S. Mint wasn't quite ready to quit silver cold turkey. The Kennedy half dollars produced in these years have a 40% silver content. Think of them as "silver-lite" – not the full-flavored classic, but still valuable for their silver.
After 1970, the silver party for circulating coins was officially over. Any regular half dollar you get in your change with a date of 1971 or later is made of a copper-nickel blend and contains precisely zero silver. It's worth exactly 50 cents, so feel free to spend it on gumballs without regret.
However, there's a little secret for collectors. The U.S. Mint started producing special silver proof sets for collectors again in 1992, containing Kennedy halves made of 90% silver. So, while you won't find these in circulation, the Mint never fully gave up on making shiny silver half dollars for its biggest fans.
