What a Kennedy Half Dollar 1965–1970 (40% silver) is worth in silver at today's spot price, how much silver it contains, and the official specs behind the number.
Melt value now
$8.52 per coin
Silver spot $57.64/troy oz as of Oct 19, 2026, 1:06 AM PT × 0.1479 troy oz of fine silver. Spot fetched when this page was built.
| Quantity | Fine silver | Melt |
|---|---|---|
| 1 coin | 0.1479 oz | $8.52 |
| roll of 20 (20 coins) | 2.9579 oz | $170 |
| $1 face value (2 coins) | 0.2958 oz | $17.05 |
Melt is the metal only. It ignores collector (numismatic) value, which can be far higher for scarce dates, high grades or certified coins. It's also not what you'll be paid: dealers usually buy below melt to cover refining and their margin, and sell above it. Use melt as a floor-of-metal reference, not a price.
Different weight or a partial lot? Use the melt calculator.
Specs
| Years | 1965–1970 |
|---|---|
| Face value | 50¢ |
| Composition | Silver-clad: outer layers 80% silver, core silver-copper; 40% silver overall |
| Fineness | .400 |
| Gross weight | 11.500 g (0.3697 troy oz) |
| Fine silver content | 0.1479 troy oz (4.600 g) |
The Coinage Act of 1965 cut the half dollar to 40% silver: 11.5 g with 4.6 g of silver. Silver was dropped entirely in 1971.
Sources:
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None of our current picks is a Kennedy Half Dollar 1965–1970 (40% silver). State unclaimed-property sales often include coins like this. See every sale open now or get an alert when a new sale opens.
FAQ
0.1479 troy ounces of pure silver (4.600 g), in a coin that weighs 11.500 g in total. That figure comes from the official specification cited on this page, not from weighing a coin.
Multiply its fine silver content (0.1479 troy oz) by the silver spot price per troy ounce. At $57.64/oz that comes to $8.52 per coin. For several coins, multiply by the count.
Usually not quite. Dealers typically pay somewhat below melt for common bullion and junk silver to cover refining, shipping and their margin. Coins with collector value can sell well above melt, so check a coin's date, mint mark and condition before selling it as metal.
Circulated silver coins lose a little metal to wear, so a worn coin can hold slightly less than the mint specification. That's one reason circulated silver coins are often quoted per $1 of face value rather than per coin.
Keep reading
Morgan Silver Dollar · Peace Silver Dollar · Barber Dime · Mercury Dime (Winged Liberty) · Roosevelt Dime (1946–1964, 90% silver) · Barber Quarter · Washington Quarter (1932–1964, 90% silver) · Barber Half Dollar
All coin melt values and the calculator · How we estimate melt
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