Kennedy half dollar values by year

The Kennedy half is really three different coins wearing one design. Sort any accumulation of them into the three eras first — values follow the metal, with a short list of exceptions.

Era 1: 1964 — 90% silver

The first-year half is 12.50 grams of 90% silver: 0.3617 troy ounces actual silver weight. It was hoarded enormously, so it remains common in all grades and its value is essentially melt plus a small premium. At $30/ozt spot, melt alone is around $10.85; dealer bids for common 1964 halves follow the "junk silver" bag market.

Era 2: 1965–1970 — 40% silver

Silver-clad halves followed the 1965 composition change: 11.50 grams of 40% silver, 0.1479 troy ounces actual silver weight. These trade well below the 90% era at melt — roughly 41% of the silver of a 1964 half — but they still carry meaningful metal value when silver runs high.

Era 3: 1971 on — clad

From 1971 the half is copper-nickel clad with no precious metal. Circulation-quality clad halves are worth face value to face value plus pennies — the exceptions are below.

The exceptions collectors actually pay for

• 1970-D: struck only for mint sets, never released to circulation — the key clad half.
• 1987 (P and D): mint-set-only issue again; both carry premiums.
• 1994-P and 1998-S matte finishes: low-mintage collector strike.
• Any 1964 accented-finger or error variety in high grade — always verify at NGC or PCGS before paying.

Proof and silver proof sets have their own market; a silver proof 1992-S onward contains 90% silver and trades on a mix of silver and set demand.