And after 1971, all half dollars were clad coins in base metal, though they made a 90% silver in 1992 and a 99.9% gold version in 2014. People hoarded those 1964 Kennedy half dollars, both for their melt value and historical merit.Īs we mentioned, by 1965, half dollars were down to 40% silver. The coin was intended to honor the beloved president and was 90% silver. Before that, half dollars featured Benjamin Franklin on the front. JFK first appeared on the half dollar a month after his assassination. You won’t find any half dollars marked 1975 though. You can still find his initials, SGH, on bicentennial half dollars minted in 19. Huntington and featured Independence Hall. The reverse of this collectible half dollar was designed by Seth G. But let’s focus on the bicentennial half dollar.

The sandwich contained 75% of copper and 25% of nickel around a core of 100% pure copper.įrom 2002 to 2020, half dollars were only minted for collectors, but starting 2021, the mint restarted business strikes. It was nicknamed the Johnson Sandwich after Lyndon B. Between 19, that amount reduced to 40%, and after 1971, half dollars adopted the same copper-nickel clad used in quarters and dollars. The obverse of the coins retained their existing device, which in the case of the half dollar was the 35 th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy – JFK. All three coins were redesigned in a contest that had a cash prize of $5,000, and artists were tasked to revamp the reverse of the coins.

The other two coins were a quarter and a dollar. It was one of three coins minted to celebrate our 200 years of freedom from the British Empire, so these bicentennial coins are a big deal. But the 1776 to 1976 half dollar isn’t just any old coin. They’re just the right size and weight for slot machines. While most people prefer dollar bills or credit cards, half dollars and dollar coins have always been popular at casinos. How much is a 1776 to 1976 half dollar worth? In mint state, the coin can net $5,000, but a typical coin is closer to its face value of 50c.

The US Mint stopped producing half dollars for circulation in 2002 due to disuse, but they resumed in 2021. Our preferred coin of choice is the quarter or 25c. $1 coins have never been popular in the US because they’re bulky.

1972 to 1976 silver dollar value