Spot as of Sep 6, 2026 10:00 PM · $1 move in silver changes this coin by $0.15
What this coin is
The Kennedy half (40%) is a silver coin of the United States struck 1965–1970. This page is for the type × composition — every date and mint of this issue has the same metal if the weight and fineness match the spec below. Melt is that metal times today’s spot, not a collector or dealer bid.
What is written on the coin
Read the denomination, the date, and the country name on the coin. People often search the words actually stamped on the piece (for example DOS PESOS or VEINTE PESOS on Mexican gold). Those words are indexed on this site.
Metal content (the melt spec)
Mint specification: 11.5000 grams at 40% fine, which is 0.14792 troy oz of pure silver (ASW). Formula: grams × fineness ÷ 31.1034768. Date and mintmark do not change that number. Melt today is $9.76 per coin at $66.01 silver.
Mintage
Mintage varies by date. We do not publish a year-by-year mintage table here because melt is the same for this composition. A scarce date or a high grade can be worth more than melt; a common worn piece is often near melt.
A little history
This type belongs to the 1965–1970 period in the United States. Use the date on the coin to confirm you have this composition, not a later clad or debased issue of the same design.
How to tell you have this type
Match denomination, metal color, and date range. If two compositions share a design (for example 90% vs clad), the date or the edge (solid silver vs copper stripe) decides which page to use.
Date and mintmark do not change the metal on this page. Collector value is a different market — see Sold Comps for sold prices.
Same design, different metal: Kennedy half (90%). Use the page that matches what you actually have.
Before you sell
Usually near melt
Weigh or count by face for a bag. Pull anything that looks proof, uncirculated, or an odd date before selling the rest as 90% silver.
Melt is the metal floor. For auction and eBay solds on the same type, see Sold Comps. We list 355 melt values; collector premiums are a different market.
Quick amounts
Using $66.01 silver.
| You have | Pure oz | Melt |
|---|---|---|
| 1 coin | 0.1479 | $9.76 |
| 10 coins | 1.4792 | $97.64 |
| 1 roll (20 coins) | 2.9584 | $195.28 |
Silver chart
Where silver has been.
Melt alert
Email me if this coin’s melt crosses a number I set.
Questions people ask
How much pure silver is in a Kennedy half (40%)?
Mint spec is 11.500 grams at 40% fine, which is 0.14792 troy oz of pure silver (ASW). Date and mintmark do not change that.
What is a Kennedy half (40%) worth in melt today?
At silver spot of $66.01 per troy oz, one coin’s melt is $9.76. Multiply by how many you have. A rare date or a nice grade can sell for more than melt.
How many Kennedy half (40%)s equal one ounce of silver?
About 6.76 coins equal 1.00 troy oz of pure silver at mint weight.
Does mintmark change the melt value?
No. A Philadelphia, Denver, or San Francisco coin of this type has the same metal. Melt is type × composition, not date or mintmark.
Is melt what I should sell this Kennedy half (40%) for?
Common circulated pieces of this type are typically bought and sold close to silver. Exceptional condition or a scarce date can still bring more. Weigh or count by face for a bag. Pull anything that looks proof, uncirculated, or an odd date before selling the rest as 90% silver.
Is every half dollar silver?
No. See also the Kennedy half (90%) — same look, different metal. Melt only applies to the composition on this page.
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