Kennedy half {dollars} dated 1964 and earlier are composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. This interprets to 0.36169 troy ounces of pure silver per coin. These cash weigh 11.5 grams.
The silver content material of those cash represents a major historic shift in U.S. coinage. Previous to 1965, circulating half {dollars} had maintained a excessive silver composition for many years. The Coinage Act of 1965, pushed by rising silver costs and rising demand for the steel in industrial functions, led to the discount and eventual elimination of silver from circulating denominations. This modification made the 1964 half greenback, and people minted earlier, a key date for collectors and traders involved in silver. The intrinsic silver worth typically exceeds the face worth of those cash, making them a well-liked goal for these looking for a tangible asset.