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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;19Lyds, post: 1612203, member: 15929&quot;]The &quot;reason&quot; for the 40% Silver coins was that the price of silver, at the time, was too high for a 90% Silver coin so an alternative had to be produced which still allowed the Kennedy to be produced in silver &quot;at the time&quot;. It had nothing to do with being cheap or any of the other suggestions which have been offered. It had to do with basic economics.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back in 1964-1970, folks gotta remember that the Treasury Department (and others) blamed massive coin shortages on collectors and hoarders. Its one on the reasons for the SMS Sets and the lack of mintmarks on 1965-1967 coins. Make them less desireable. Mek them less collectible.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also, 1965 ushered in the CnClad coinage era as silver was no longer supposed to be used for circulating coinage however to honor Kennedy&#039;s memory, silver was still the alloy of choice for the Kennedy Half Dollar.</p><p><br /></p><p>It wasn&#039;t until the early 80&#039;s that the Treasury Department and the US Mint began exploring the collecting community as a source of revenue which today, amounts to the US Mint paying all of its operating expenses, via coin sales to collectors, and at the same time, adding millions to the general fund.</p><p><br /></p><p>Yes, proof and uncirculated sets were still sold but that revenue is nothing compared to what occurs today.</p><p><br /></p><p>As for the Eisenhower Dollars, 40% silver was still the alloy of choice as they could have probably chosen 90% Silver, but then they had already invested in the technology fo the 40% Silver so why not continue using it? I&#039;m kinda glad they did this as a 90% Silver IKE would have really impacted the attrition rate during the silver build up in 1980. </p><p><br /></p><p>Of course, something else to consider is that striking am 80% Silver/20% copper coin is much easier than striking the much harder CnClad coins regardless of whether they are halfs or dollars. The quality of the strike is much more collectible.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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