Story: Did a favor for a lady that manages a bank, tore off their old patio roof and mowed their lawn while they were out of town. now I wasnt expecting anything, just being a nice guy, well she got me $40 worth of halves cause she knows im starting to collect coins. now I figured that any of the silvers wouldnt have any copper around the clad. am I correct? or on some of the 40%'s is there a copper clad? thanks guys!
Kennedy Halves are not necessarily my area of focus, but here's what I do know: 1964 and earlier is 90% silver / 10% copper. 1965 - 1970 circulated is 40% silver / 60% copper. (Not sure about proofs) Later dates for 1971+ are nickel/copper clad except proofs.
cool, thanks, I looked on the wiki but it got confusing with all the dates. I didnt get anything older then 71 and I doubt any proofs. they would be s mint yes?
Nope, they are all non silver except for '76, when you can get 40% silver proof coins (Ike, half and quarter). The best way to tell is look on the side for copper. If you still can't tell, drop it and a non-silver coin on a table. If it is silver, it will sound very different. Good luck
I roll search for halves regularly. I look at every date. I have been fooled by looking at the sides for the copper band. I have found some beat up silver halves and some that were dirty. It takes longer but date searching is the safest.
Agreed. I'm talking about when there are multiple versions, such as the '76 or the silver proof sets.
Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 were clad silver. The composition breaks down to the inner layer 20.9% silver 79.1% copper, the outer layer is 80% silver, and 20% copper. The total percentage of silver in the clad halves is 40%. Silver proof sets, the Kennedys contained 90% silver, and 10% copper.
You have been given some good information and some bad information within this thread, but overall the information will help you. The below is correct for JFK halves- 1964: 90% silver 1965-1970: 40% silver 1976-S: Some of these are 40% silver, the majority are clad 1992-S-Present: Some of the proof coins are 90% silver, the majority are clad All other JFK halves are clad (no silver).
With the exceptions of 1964 & 1965-1970, all Kennedy's thereafter will be either copper/nickel clad or 90% silver. Silver coins are the easiest to spot by looking at the edge. After 1970, all of the 90% silver Kennedy's will be proof coins with one lone exception and that is the 3-pc. Bicentennial issues that were made both in proof and uncirculated 90% silver. Only clad proofs were produced from 1971-1991, and since 1992, both clad and silver proofs are produced. If you are searching rolls, proof coins, no matter whether they are silver or clad will stand out like a sore thumb because of the sharpness of the reeding (even on circulated proofs). In searching circulated rolls, the toughest coins to find will be the 70-D (40% silver) and the 87 P&D (clad) since these were only issued in the Uncirculated Mint Sets. The Bicentennial issues produced for circulation will be the most common, and since 2001, no Kennedy halves have been produced for circulation and were only sold in bags and rolls by the U.S. Mint. Chris PS. There is one other exception but you will probably never find one in circulation, and that is the 1998-S Matte Finish. It was produced specially for the 2-pc RFK Commemorative Set.
? Bicentennial Halves were nonsilver or 40% (in proof or business strike). Is 90% a typo, or were there some released?
