1965 90% Kennedy Half?

i've read that in 1965 they lowered the amount of silver content from 90% to 40% in the kennedy halves. when in 1965 did they do this? were there any 90% silver kennedy halves produced in 1965? the reason i'm asking is because i've got a 1965 and looking around the ring i don't see the usual two tone coloration. any input would be appeciated. thanks.

 

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40% halves don't have two tone coloration. I can say with certain it is 40% silver and not 90%.

 

I'd tend to agree with this statement. Though, on the far outside chance a silver planchet from '64 was 'stuck' in a bin, it could be a biggie.....but the odds of it being 90% are more than extremely high.

 

Weigh it if you can-- 90% halves weigh 12.5 grams, and 40% halves weigh 11.5 grams.

 

I have found lots of 40% half dollars that have two tone coloration. They are 40% because they are silver clad not 90% all the way through. I have almost missed some because of the two tone look.

 

I agree... almost all my 40% halves show a distinct two-tone on the edge. Not as pronounced as regular clad coinage, but it's there and quite noticeable.

 

You won't find the two tone rim on a silver or silver clad coin. There were no known 90% halves released in 65, if any were produced at all.

 

Most of my 40% halves have a two-tone rim. I do have some that look solid though. I'd weigh the coin, I'm sure it is possible a '64 planchet went through in '65

 

So all you experts on what 40%ers look like, can you tell me which ones are 40%, 90%, and CuNi clad?

 

I am not an expert but I will take a guess . The first one on the far left is 90%, the middle one is 40%, and the last one on the right is 40%.

 

I agree with this.

 

Some 40% halves show the clad and some don't.

 

I'd check the far left, the middle and the far right. I don't think the middle is 40% but I check any that could be so I don't miss any. One on the left looks like a walker actually. My guess would be Walker/Ben on the left, 40% on the right, middle is an older NiCu coin.

 

while qualifying this with, it's hard to tell from the edges alone, I'll hazard a guess.

#1 is a 90%, 2,3,4, and 5 are CuNi, 6 may be 40% but discolored, 7 and 8 are CuNi, and #9 is 40%

 

I didn't read any further before I replied, but I think we both agree.

 

the end coins are doubtless silver. left end 90%, right end 40%, and the one in the middle may well be just discolored.

 

Am I right??


I changed to the top one because the red is easy to see, sorry about the attached one....

 

Time for the results Merc

I did find a 1966 that looked like the one on the left today, so not always accurate. But 40% is two-tone most of the time for me.

 

I agree that there is typically a line on the rim of a 40% silver half...but that is not always the case. It cannot be used as a diagnostic for the metal content. I have even seen many clad half dollars (and quarters and dimes) that do not show anything on the rim either. It's less common, but it is not rare.

 

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