$56.30 / troy oz
Spot as of Oct 22, 2026 12:15 AM · $1 move in silver changes this coin by $0.3617
What this coin is
1964 Kennedy half dollar, 90% silver, 12.50 g, 0.36169 oz ASW. One year of 90% for this design.
What is written on the coin
LIBERTY, KENNEDY, HALF DOLLAR, 1964. No copper stripe on the edge.
Metal content (the melt spec)
Mint specification: 12.5000 grams at 90% fine, which is 0.36170 troy oz of pure silver (ASW). Formula: grams × fineness ÷ 31.1034768. Date and mintmark do not change that number. Melt today is $20.36 per coin at $56.30 silver.
Mintage
Philadelphia and Denver 1964, both large. Usually near melt in circulated condition; 1964 proofs and SMS later are collector.
A little history
Authorized after President Kennedy’s assassination; replaced Franklin. 1965–1970 halves are 40% silver.
How to tell you have this type
1964 only for 90%. 1965–1970 = 40% page. 1971-on business = clad.
Date and mintmark do not change the metal on this page. Collector value is a different market — a shop looks at date, mint, and condition. Melt is the floor.
If you have mixed worn 90% dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars, shops usually buy by face value, not by counting each coin: $1.00 face = 0.715 oz of silver. Counting this type at mint weight is a little higher because bags in the trade are assumed worn.
Same look, different composition: Kennedy half (40%). Use the page that matches what you actually have — karat and weight change the melt.
Year that changed the metal: 1964 Kennedy half — 90% silver
Shop-counter notes (not a second melt formula): Kennedy halves: 90% / 40% / clad.
Melt / coin$20.36
Silver spot$56.30
ASW0.36170 oz
Gross weight12.500 g
Fineness90%
Gross troy oz0.4019
Face$0.50
Coins / oz2.76
If you want to sell Find a shop near you
A local coin shop can make an offer. Melt is the metal floor, not a quote. Many shops buy generic gold and silver as a percent of that number.
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. A shop looks at date, mint, and condition. We list 437 types and ~11,000 melt values.
Quick amounts
Using $56.30 silver. Face rows use the 0.715 oz worn-bag convention.
| You have | Pure oz | Melt |
|---|---|---|
| 1 coin | 0.3617 | $20.36 |
| 10 coins | 3.6170 | $203.64 |
| 1 roll (20 coins) | 7.2340 | $407.27 |
| $1.00 face (worn 90%) | 0.7150 | $40.25 |
| $10.00 face (worn 90%) | 7.1500 | $402.55 |
| $100 face (worn 90%) | 71.5000 | $4,025.45 |
| $1,000 face (worn 90%) | 715.0000 | $40,254.50 |
Silver chart
Where silver has been.
Melt alert
Email me if this coin’s melt crosses a number I set.
Related types
Same metal, nearby coins.
Kennedy half (40%)
1965–1970 · 0.14792 ASW
$8.33
Barber half dollar
1892–1915 · 0.36170 ASW
$20.36
Walking Liberty half
1916–1947 · 0.36170 ASW
$20.36
Franklin half dollar
1948–1963 · 0.36170 ASW
$20.36
Seated Liberty half
1839–1891 · 0.38658 ASW
$21.76
US commemorative half dollar (classic)
1892–1954 · 0.36170 ASW
$20.36
Flowing Hair half dollar
1794–1795 · 0.38676 ASW
$21.77
Draped Bust half dollar
1796–1807 · 0.38676 ASW
$21.77
Questions people ask
How much pure silver is in a Kennedy half (90%)?
Mint spec is 12.500 grams at 90% fine, which is 0.36170 troy oz of pure silver (ASW). Date and mintmark do not change that.
What is a Kennedy half (90%) worth in melt today?
At silver spot of $56.30 per troy oz, one coin’s melt is $20.36. Multiply by how many you have. A rare date or a nice grade can sell for more than melt.
How many Kennedy half (90%)s equal one ounce of silver?
About 2.76 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 (90%) 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.
Can I figure a bag by face value instead of counting coins?
Yes. Worn US 90% dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars are commonly counted as 0.715 troy oz of silver per $1.00 face. Counting coins at mint weight is a little higher because bags are usually worn.
Does every coin that looks like this have the same melt?
No. See also the Kennedy half (40%) — same look, different composition (karat, plating, or a later weight cut). Melt only applies to the spec on this page.
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