I am hoping someone can help me with this question. With the pre-1971 half dollars how is the silver content figured out. I know that 64 on back is 90% and 65-70 is 40%. I am curious to know what the weight is on the total weight on the halves and then the silver weight. Also, where can I find this info? Next, does the appearance of the coin affect what it is worth? (as far as silver value)? I say no, but I am not sure. Any help is certainly appreciated. thanks JD
Here's a few sites that outline the silver content in kennedy halves. As for silver melt value of the coins, the condition has little bearing, unless the coins has a hole or is missing weight from some other damage, etc. http://www.coinresource.com/guide/photograde/pg_50cKennedy.htm http://www.oldcoinshop.com/coinhistory/50c-1964-.htm
A little clarification on the effects of wear on the value of the coin... Most dealers, when purchasing 90% or 40% U.S. silver coinage in smaller quantities, will offer a buy price per dollar of face value. For instance, a dealer may offer $4.80 per $1 of face value - or $4.80 for every two 90% silver Kennedy half dollars. Some dealers however, and companies specializing in the purchasing of valuable metals, will not purchase by face value. Instead they will purchase based on the actual amount of silver. In other words, they will weigh the lot of coins being purchased and then using the known percentage of silver, determine the amount of silver present in the lot. When coins are purchased in this weigh wear on the coins most certainly effects the value over large lots. $1,000 worth of not so worn Roosevelt Dimes would bring more than $1,000 worth of heavily worn Mercury dimes. Just thought I would point this out to clarify slightly.
The silver content of pre 1971 1/2 dollars (1965-1970) is .1479 oz of silver per coin. So .1479 oz is equal to 4.19297 g The metric system says that 1 oz is ~ 28.35 grams. Now multiply the number of 1/2 dollars you have by 4.19297 to get total grams then divide by 28.35 to get ounces. An example would be 20 Kennedy 1/2 dollars at 4.19297 g silver/coin will equal 83.8594g/28.35g= 2.958 oz or 2.96 oz silver.. If you have 20 of these that is $10.00 face value..silver is ~ 7.00 0z so 2.96 x 7= $20.72 Silver value before any dealer charges/comissions or what ever tag you would place on them...so do not spend them at face!! Hope this helps..
That sentiment is absolutely correct, however the calculations are somewhat off because of confusion about weights and measures. Converting troy ounces to grams in order to value precious metals is unnecessary, since all standard price quotes are in troy ounces, in which silver, like other precious metals, is weighed. Troy ounces are significantly heavier than the ordinary ounce used for most measurements, equalling about 31.06g. Lately the bullion price of silver has been bouncing around the $7 level. All 90% silver halves (1964 and earlier) contain .36169 troy ounces of pure silver (11.23g), and at $7 per ounce have a bullion value of $2.53+. The pure silver content of the 40% halves (1965-70) is indeed .1479 troy ounces (4.59g), and at $7 per ounce their bullion value is $1.04. BTW, although large quantities of precious metals are usually described as so many thousand ounces, technically there is a troy pound, which is only 12 ounces (5,760 grains), while the av. pound of 16 smaller ounces is still larger overall (7,000 grains). >>Click here<< for a handy place to compare troy, av. and gram weights.
