Half Dollar Values: What Are Your Half Dollars Worth?
Kennedy, Walking Liberty, Franklin, and Barber half dollars. Pre-1965 halves contain 90% silver. 1965–1970 Kennedys contain 40% silver.
Half dollars are the largest circulating silver coins the United States ever produced. A 90% silver half dollar contains 0.3617 troy ounces of silver — five times the silver in a dime, more than double a quarter. That metal content gives every pre-1965 half dollar a floor value of over $20, with many dates worth considerably more based on rarity and condition. From the Walking Liberty series to the Kennedy memorial issue, half dollars have been at the center of American coin collecting for over a century.
This guide from our Coin Values series breaks down every major half dollar series by date, mint mark, and grade so you can determine what your coins are worth. Whether you found a jar of 1964 Kennedy halves in an estate, inherited a set of Walking Liberty halves, or are sorting through a bag of mixed dates, the tables and notes below will help you identify the coins that deserve a closer look — and which ones are common enough to sell by weight.
Kennedy Half Dollar Values (1964–Present)
Full dedicated guide to Kennedy Half Dollar values →
The Kennedy half dollar was rushed into production in early 1964, just weeks after President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963. The public response was overwhelming — people hoarded them as memorials. The Philadelphia Mint struck over 273 million and Denver produced 156 million, yet they rarely appeared in circulation. Families tucked rolls into drawers and safe deposit boxes, where many remain today. That is why 1964 Kennedy halves are so common in uncirculated condition and why their value is driven almost entirely by silver content.
A 1964 Kennedy half dollar contains 90% silver (0.3617 troy ounces) and is worth over $20 depending on silver spot prices and condition. The 1964 Accented Hair variety — an early die version with sharper detail in Kennedy's hair — sells for significant premiums. From 1965 to 1970, Kennedy halves were struck in 40% silver, reducing the silver content to 0.1479 troy ounces and worth several times face value. The 1970-D was produced only for mint sets and trades for multiples of face value in uncirculated condition.
In 1971, Kennedy halves switched to copper-nickel clad — the same composition used today. A 1971 Kennedy half dollar is worth $0.50 to $1 in circulated condition. This applies to virtually all clad Kennedy halves from 1971 through the present. Uncirculated examples from rolls bring $1 to $3. The 1974-D doubled die obverse, with visible doubling in "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST," is worth $20 to $200+. The 1976-S Bicentennial silver issue (40% silver, produced for collectors) trades for $5 to $15. Beyond these varieties, clad Kennedy halves are worth face value. The silver content breakdown for half dollars follows the same timeline as silver quarters from the same era.
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Values (1916–1947)
Full dedicated guide to Walking Liberty Half Dollar values →
The Walking Liberty half dollar is considered by many numismatists to be the most beautiful coin ever produced by the United States Mint. Designed by Adolph A. Weinman — the same sculptor behind the Mercury dime — it shows Lady Liberty striding toward the sunrise with an American flag draped over her shoulders. The design was so admired that the US Mint revived it in 1986 for the obverse of the American Silver Eagle, which remains in production today.
All Walking Liberty half dollars are 90% silver, containing 0.3617 troy ounces. Common dates from the 1940s sell for $10 to $20 in circulated condition — modestly above melt value. But the series contains several significant key dates. The 1921 and 1921-D are the rarest circulation strikes, with mintages of just 246,000 and 208,000 respectively. Circulated examples bring $100 to $400+, and uncirculated pieces reach $1,000 to $5,000 or more. The 1916-S, 1917-S with obverse mint mark, and 1919-D are also scarce dates that trade well above melt.
Walking Liberty halves are popular with collectors even in well-worn condition. The design is iconic, and assembling a complete date-and-mint-mark set is a challenge that draws serious collectors willing to pay premiums for mid-grade examples. Even common dates in Fine to Very Fine condition sell for $12 to $20 — a few dollars above pure silver melt value. If you have Walking Liberty halves alongside Morgan or Peace silver dollars, you likely have a collection worth evaluating as a group rather than selling by weight alone.
Franklin Half Dollar Values (1948–1963)
Full dedicated guide to Franklin Half Dollar values →
The Franklin half dollar replaced the Walking Liberty design in 1948, featuring Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse. It was the first US coin to honor a Founding Father who was never president. The series ran until 1963, when it was replaced by the Kennedy half dollar. All Franklin halves are 90% silver, containing the same 0.3617 troy ounces as their Walking Liberty predecessors.
Common-date Franklin halves in circulated condition sell for $8 to $15 — roughly at or slightly above melt value. The series is shorter than the Walking Liberty run, making complete sets more achievable for collectors. The 1955 is the lowest-mintage date at just 2.49 million struck, and it trades for $20 to $200+ depending on grade. The 1949-S is another key date at $15 to $200+. Other semi-key dates include the 1949, 1950, and 1953 Philadelphia issues.
Full Bell Lines (FBL) is the critical grading designation for uncirculated Franklin half dollars. The bottom of the Liberty Bell on the reverse has horizontal lines that are often weakly struck. When these lines are complete and unbroken, PCGS and NGC designate the coin "Full Bell Lines," which can double or triple the value. The 1953-S and 1961-P are particularly difficult to find with FBL designation, making them worth significant premiums in that grade.
Barber Half Dollar Values (1892–1915)
Charles E. Barber's Liberty Head design appeared on the half dollar from 1892 to 1915, alongside matching designs on the dime and quarter. Barber half dollars are 90% silver and contain 0.3617 troy ounces, the same as every other silver half dollar. Common dates in circulated condition sell for $10 to $40 — well above melt value because the series is actively collected and finding examples in Good to Very Good condition takes effort.
Barber halves are less commonly encountered than Walking Liberty or Franklin halves simply because fewer survive in identifiable condition. The coins circulated heavily for decades, and most were eventually melted for their silver content. The 1892-O Micro O — a first-year variety with an unusually small mint mark — is a condition rarity that sells for $100 to $10,000+ depending on grade. The 1893-S, 1897-O, and 1904-S are recognized key dates selling for $30 to $5,000+ in circulated grades. Even common Barber halves with readable dates and mint marks hold a solid market among type collectors and series specialists.
Half Dollar Silver Content Guide
Silver content is the single most important factor for common-date half dollars. The table below shows exactly how much silver each type contains and what that silver is worth at approximate current spot prices. These melt values represent the floor — no silver half dollar should be sold for less than its metal content, and many are worth more based on date, condition, and collector demand.
The quickest way to check a half dollar for silver: look at the edge. A 90% silver half dollar shows a solid silver color on the edge with no visible layering. A 40% silver Kennedy (1965–1970) shows a thin copper stripe sandwiched between silver layers. A clad Kennedy (1971+) shows a distinct copper-orange band on the edge. This same edge test works for quarters and dimes from the same eras.
Melt values based on approximate silver spot prices of $25–$30 per troy ounce. Actual values fluctuate daily. Contact US Gold and Coin for a current quote based on today's spot price.
How to Tell If Your Half Dollar Is Valuable
Step 1: Check the Edge for Silver
Look at the edge of the coin. A solid silver edge means 90% silver (1964 and earlier). A thin copper stripe between silver layers means 40% silver (1965–1970 Kennedy). A prominent copper band means clad (1971+, no silver). This is the fastest way to sort valuable half dollars from common ones.
Step 2: Identify the Design and Date
Kennedy halves show JFK's portrait. Walking Liberty halves show Liberty striding forward. Franklin halves show Ben Franklin. Barber halves show a Liberty head with a cap and laurel wreath. Once you identify the design, check the date and mint mark. The mint mark appears on the reverse of most types (near the eagle or below the denomination). On Kennedy halves from 1968 onward, the mint mark is on the obverse below Kennedy's neck.
Step 3: Assess Condition and Key Date Status
Compare your coin's date and mint mark against the value tables above. If it matches a key date, condition becomes critical — a 1921 Walking Liberty in Good condition is worth $100, but the same coin in uncirculated condition is worth $1,000+. For Franklin halves, check the bell lines on the reverse. For all half dollars, coins with sharp detail, no cleaning, and original surfaces bring the strongest prices. Read our Selling Guide for more on how grading affects your return.
Have Half Dollars Worth Selling?
Whether you have a bag of 1964 Kennedy halves, a collection of Walking Liberty dates, or older half dollars you are unsure about, US Gold and Coin will evaluate them for free. We have purchased over $50 million in coins and precious metals since 2010 and pay the same day you accept our offer.
Visit us in Dallas, Austin, Tampa, Fort Worth, Waco, Kansas City, or Overland Park. We also accept insured mail-in submissions nationwide.