October 10, 2023
If you are a coin collector or a silver enthusiast, you might be interested in knowing when did half dollars stop being 90% silver. The answer is not as simple as you might think, because there were different types of half dollars with different silver content over the years.
The first half dollar coins issued by the United States Mint had 90% silver content from 1794 to 1838. These included the Flowing Hair, Draped Bust and Capped Bust designs. Starting in 1839, the Mint reduced the silver content to 89.24% for the Seated Liberty design, which lasted until 1891.
The next design, the Barber half dollar, had a slightly higher silver content of 90.00%, and was minted from 1892 to 1915. The same silver content was used for the following designs: the Walking Liberty (1916-1947), the Franklin (1948-1963) and the Kennedy (1964 only).
In 1965, the Mint drastically reduced the silver content of half dollars to 40%, in response to the rising price of silver and the coin shortages caused by hoarding. This change affected only the Kennedy design, which was introduced in 1964 to honor the assassinated president. The 40% silver Kennedy half dollars were minted from 1965 to 1970.
From 1971 onwards, the Mint eliminated the silver content of half dollars completely, and switched to a copper-nickel clad composition that is still used today. The only exceptions are some special commemorative and proof issues that have 90% or 40% silver content.
So, depending on what type of half dollar you have, it might have stopped being 90% silver in 1838, 1964 or never. You can check the date and the design of your coin to determine its silver content and value. You can also use online calculators or websites that provide information on U.S. silver coins .
You can also buy or sell 90% silver half dollars from various online dealers or platforms that offer competitive prices and fast shipping . Half dollars are a popular way to invest in silver or to diversify your coin collection.