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$23.45
Half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. The 1964 Kennedy is the last of them — 1965 to 1970 Kennedys are a reduced 40% silver, and 1971 onwards contain none.
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Early Walking Liberty halves — particularly 1916-S, 1921, 1921-D and 1921-S — carry substantial collector premiums over their silver content.
| Total weight | 12.5 g |
|---|---|
| Fineness | .900 (90%) |
| Pure silver content | 11.250 g (0.3617 ozt) |
| Years struck | 1916–1947 (Walking Liberty), 1948–1963 (Franklin), 1964 (Kennedy) |
| Country | United States |
| Face value | 50¢ |
The half dollar is the denomination where the date matters most, because there are three separate compositions in seven years. 1964 and earlier is 90% silver; 1965–1970 is 40%; 1971 and later is copper-nickel clad and worth face value. Two 90% halves make one dollar of face value.
Its melt value is about $23.45, based on 0.3617 troy ounces (11.250 g) of pure silver at a spot price of $64.83 per troy ounce. That is the metal content only — the coin may be worth considerably more to a collector.
The coin weighs 12.5 g in total and is 90% fine (.900), so it contains 11.250 g of pure silver — 0.3617 troy ounces.
Not exactly. Melt value is the raw metal content at spot. Scrap buyers and refiners typically pay 80–95% of melt to cover refining and margin, while recognised bullion coins and collectable dates usually sell for more than melt, not less. Melt is best treated as the floor under a coin’s price.
Counting a mixed jar? Use the junk silver calculator.