U.S. Mint coin reference

1965–1970: Kennedy Half Dollar (40% Silver-Clad Composition Type)

Kennedy 40% Silver 1965-1970 reduced-silver Kennedy half dollars.

View mintage profile

1965-1970 Kennedy Half Dollar 40% Silver image

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1965-1970

Country: United States

Denomination: Half dollar

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: Outer: 80% silver, 20% copper; core: 20.9% silver, 79.1% copper; overall 40% silver

Silver fineness: 40%

Silver weight: 0.1479 oz ASW

Weight: 11.50 g

Diameter: 30.6 mm

Thickness: 2.15 mm

Edge: Reeded

Designer: Gilroy Roberts / Frank Gasparro

Design identification

Obverse: John F. Kennedy portrait.

Reverse: Presidential seal eagle design on the regular half dollar reverse.

1965–1970: Kennedy Half Dollar (40% Silver-Clad Composition Type) history

Rising silver prices led Congress to reduce the Kennedy half dollar to a layered composition containing 40% silver overall. The reduced-silver format ran from 1965 through 1970.

No mintmarks appeared on 1965-1967 coinage, and the 1970-D was made for Mint Sets rather than normal circulation release. The visible edge and weight help separate these halves from later copper-nickel clad pieces.