Silver Quarter Years
The 'silver series' of Washington quarters spans from 1932 to 1964; during many years in the series it will appear that certain mints did not mint Washington quarters for that year. No known examples of quarters were made in 1933, San Francisco abstained in 1934 and 1949, and stopped after 1955, until it resumed in 1968 by way of making proofs. Silver Clad Quarters. This coin is worth at least its weight in silver. The silver melt value for this coin is $1.99 as of February 06, 2021. This melt value is calculated from the current silver spot price of $26.89 per ounce. The 1776-1976 S silver quarter is worth around $4 in uncirculated condition with a grade of MS 63. Come see Silver Price charts and data over the last 100 years and beyond. Learn and see US dollar Silver Price charts during the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s here at SD Bullion. Quarters minted in the U.S. During the years 1964 or earlier are all made from 90% pure silver. This is also known as.900 fine silver. Shop For Silver Quarters Image source: USA Coinbook. These coins were Half Dollars, Quarters and Dimes as well as Silver Dollars until 1935. A Silver Dollar issued from 1935 or before contains.7735 troy oz. Of actual silver content, while a half dollar contains.3617 oz. Of silver, a quarter has.1808 oz.
The simple answer is most half dollars are only worth their face value: 50 cents.
Older half dollars—any made prior to 1965—were minted from 90% silver. Their intrinsic value, or melt value, is greater than their 50¢ face value. These are the more valuable coins you should be looking for, or holding onto, when you buy silver.
Silver Quarter Years 1973
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What Half Dollars Are Silver?
Refer to the following list of U.S. half dollars that are made of silver (Ag), including the date ranges they were minted:
Silver Quarter Years 1974
- Walking Liberty half dollar (1916–1947): 90% silver
- Franklin half dollar (1948–1963): 90% silver
- Kennedy half dollar (1964): 90% silver
- Kennedy half (1965–1970): 40% silver
- Kennedy half (1971–date): 0% silver, with the exception of 40% silver for 1976 mint set
Anything older than 1965 will always be 90% silver, although these half dollars also possess quite a lot of collectible appeal (and were minted in rather low numbers).
You can check out a list of half dollar designs—ranging all the way from 1794 to date!
Kennedy half dollar Image via USA Coin Book
How Much Is My Half Dollar Worth?
In terms of actual silver weight (often abbreviated 'ASW'), the 90% silver halves each contain 0.36169 troy ounce of pure silver. That's roughly 11.25 grams of silver content.
The 40% silver half dollars logically have less silver than their predecessors, totaling 0.1479 troy oz per coin, equal to about 4.6 grams ASW.
To figure out how much a given half dollar is worth, follow these simple steps:
- Check the date on the coin. 1964 or earlier means it's 90% silver. 1965 to 1970 means it's 40% silver. (If it's newer than 1970, you're out of luck.)
- Refer to the weights provided above for 90% and 40% silver varieties.
- Multiply the ASW by the current spot price of silver.
How Half Dollars Were Used
Modern half dollars made from a cheaper copper-nickel 'clad' alloy are still produced periodically but rarely, if ever, actually circulate as money (i.e., are ever spent).
Half dollar coins were once commonly seen in casinos but are less popular now that most slot machines aren't coin-operated.
Quarters meanwhile became the most convenient and widespread denomination favored by manufacturers of vending machines, arcade chassis, and washers and dryers at laundromats in the late 20th century. This dampened commercial demand for half dollars as a result.
1945-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar (obverse). Image via Wikimedia Commons
Collector interest in today's clad half dollar coins is also minimal. Uncirculated rolls of halves can be requested (or ordered) from any local bank branch in exchange for their face value.
Fun Facts About Half Dollar Coins
- The half dollar denomination was among the first coins ever struck by the United States Mint back in the 1790s.
- Half dollars have long appealed to the public thanks to their relatively large size. All halves minted since 1839 measure precisely 30.6 mm in diameter.
- The John F. Kennedy design created by Gilroy Roberts to commemorate the late president's assassination was so beloved, it has remained the half dollar design for over 50 years. This was similar to the George Washington design on the quarter, which was created by sculptor John Flanagan in 1932 for Washington's 200th birthday but subsequently became a permanent fixture.
- Coin and bullion dealers will typically sell bags of old 90% silver half dollars by face value.
- The artistic merit of Adolph Weinman's Walking Liberty half dollar design is so undeniable that the U.S. Mint repurposed it for the modern American Silver Eagle coins (1986–date).
