How Much Does a Silver Half Dollar Weigh in Ounces and Grams?

Ever picked up an old half dollar and wondered if it’s more than just pocket change? The subtle heft, or lack thereof, can instantly tell you a critical part of its story: whether it contains silver, and how much. Knowing precisely how much does a silver half dollar weigh is the first step in assessing its inherent value, moving beyond mere face value to discover its precious metal content. This isn't just about trivia; it's a practical skill that empowers you to differentiate between a common coin and a piece of history with tangible intrinsic worth.

At a Glance: Key Takeaways on Silver Half Dollar Weights

• Date is Key: Only half dollars dated 1970 and earlier contain silver.
• Two Silver Tiers: Pre-1965 half dollars are 90% silver; 1965-1970 Kennedy half dollars are 40% silver.
• Specific Weights Matter: 90% silver halves weigh 12.5 grams (with 11.25 grams of pure silver). 40% silver halves weigh 11.5 grams (with 4.6 grams of pure silver).
• Melt Value Driver: The pure silver content dictates a coin's "melt value," often significantly higher than its face value.
• Clad is Different: Half dollars from 1971 onwards are copper-nickel clad and contain no silver, weighing 11.34 grams.
• Practical Tools: A precise digital scale (to 0.01g) and a keen eye for dates and edges are your best friends.

The Tell-Tale Weight: Why Your Half Dollar's Heft Matters

For many, a half dollar is just a larger-than-average coin. But for collectors, investors, and savvy individuals, it's a potential treasure. The weight isn't just a physical attribute; it's a direct indicator of its metallic composition, specifically its silver content. This content, in turn, dictates a significant portion of its intrinsic worth, often referred to as its "melt value."
Understanding these weight differences is fundamental. It allows you to quickly sort through rolls of coins, spot potential silver, and avoid misidentifying valuable pieces. Without this knowledge, you might easily overlook a coin whose metal content alone is worth several times its 50-cent denomination.

Dissecting the Silver Half Dollar's Weight by Era

The history of the U.S. half dollar is a journey through changing metal compositions, primarily driven by the fluctuating price of silver. Each shift left a distinct mark on the coin's weight and, more importantly, its silver content.

The 90% Silver Powerhouses (1964 and Earlier)

This category includes some of America's most iconic coin designs, all rich in precious metal. These are the "heavy hitters" you're really hoping to find.

• Total Coin Weight: 12.5 grams (approximately 0.40188 troy ounces)
• Pure Silver Content: 11.25 grams (approximately 0.362 troy ounces)
• Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
  From the elegant Walking Liberty (1916-1947) to the dignified Franklin (1948-1963) and the inaugural Kennedy half dollar of 1964, these coins share a consistent silver composition. They are solid silver alloys, meaning the silver is distributed throughout the coin, not just as a plating. This makes their edges appear uniform in color, typically a dull silver-gray, without any visible copper stripe.
  Let's put that silver content into perspective: if pure silver were trading at $25 per troy ounce, a single 90% silver half dollar would have a melt value of approximately 0.362 troy ounces * $25/ounce = $9.05. That's a substantial premium over its 50-cent face value, highlighting why knowing its weight is so important.

The 40% Silver "Junk Silver" (1965-1970 Kennedy Half Dollars)

Following the Coinage Act of 1965, the U.S. Mint drastically reduced the silver content in half dollars due to rising silver prices. This created a unique, temporary class of silver coins.

• Total Coin Weight: 11.5 grams (approximately 0.370 troy ounces)
• Pure Silver Content: 4.6 grams (approximately 0.1479 troy ounces)
• Composition: 40% silver, 60% copper (clad construction)
  These 40% silver Kennedy half dollars are often referred to as "junk silver" by investors, a term that doesn't imply worthlessness but rather differentiates them from numismatically valuable coins. They contain less silver, but still enough to give them a melt value well above 50 cents.
  The key visual identifier for these coins is their clad construction. Unlike the solid 90% silver coins, the 40% silver halves have an outer layer of 80% silver/20% copper bonded to a core of 79% copper and 21% silver. This means if you look at the coin's edge, you'll often see a faint copper stripe sandwiched between the silver-colored outer layers, though it can sometimes be subtle. The 1964 Kennedy half dollar, in contrast, is 90% silver and has a solid silver-colored edge.

The Modern Clad Half Dollars (1971-Present)

From 1971 onwards, silver was entirely removed from circulating U.S. half dollars. These coins are purely base metal, and while they remain legal tender, they hold no intrinsic precious metal value.

• Total Coin Weight: 11.34 grams (approximately 0.3646 troy ounces)
• Pure Silver Content: 0 grams
• Composition: Copper-nickel clad (75% copper, 25% nickel outer layers bonded to a pure copper core)
  These modern half dollars are easily identified by their dates (1971 and later) and a prominent copper stripe visible on their edges. Their weight is also slightly less than their silver predecessors, but without silver content, their value remains exactly 50 cents unless they are rare varieties or proof issues.

Historical Nuances: Earlier Silver Half Dollars (1794-1839)

While the 90% and 40% silver half dollars are the most common finds for their melt value, it's worth noting that silver half dollars predate the 1839 90% standard. These older issues, like the Flowing Hair (1794-1795), Draped Bust (1796-1807), and Capped Bust (1808-1839), also contained silver, albeit sometimes a slightly different percentage (e.g., 89.24% for some early issues).
These coins are significantly rarer and typically command high numismatic values far exceeding their melt value. While they do contain silver, weighing them solely for their silver content would be missing the forest for the trees. Their value is primarily driven by their historical significance, rarity, and condition, making melt value a secondary consideration. If you encounter one of these, a professional appraisal is in order, not just a scale.

Your Practical Playbook: How to Weigh and Verify Your Half Dollars

Identifying silver half dollars by weight is a straightforward process once you have the right tools and knowledge. Here's how to do it systematically.

Tools You'll Need

1. Digital Scale: This is non-negotiable. You need a scale that measures in grams and has a precision of at least 0.01 grams. Kitchen scales are generally not accurate enough. Look for jewelers' scales or reloading scales.
2. Magnifying Glass or Loupe: Essential for clearly reading dates and examining coin edges.
3. Coin Reference Guide (Optional but Recommended): A good guide can help confirm dates and varieties.

Step-by-Step Identification

1. Check the Date First: This is the quickest filter. Any half dollar dated 1971 or later is automatically a non-silver clad coin. Focus your efforts on dates 1970 and earlier.
2. Examine the Edge:

• Solid Silver-Gray Edge: This is characteristic of 90% silver half dollars (1964 and earlier). There should be no visible copper stripe.
• Faint Copper Stripe: If you see a subtle copper line, it indicates a 40% silver Kennedy half dollar (1965-1970).
• Prominent Copper Stripe: A thick, obvious copper line means it's a modern clad coin (1971-present).

3. Weigh the Coin:

• Place your half dollar carefully on the digital scale.
• Note the weight in grams.
• Compare it to the standard weights:
• 12.5 grams: Strong indicator of a 90% silver half dollar (1964 or earlier).
• 11.5 grams: Strong indicator of a 40% silver Kennedy half dollar (1965-1970).
• 11.34 grams: Strong indicator of a clad half dollar (1971 or later).

Quick Reference Table: Half Dollar Weights & Silver Content

What if the Weight is Off?

It's not uncommon for a coin's weight to vary slightly from the official standard. Here's why:

• Circulation Wear: Coins that have been heavily circulated will lose tiny amounts of metal over time, making them slightly lighter. A coin might be 0.1 or 0.2 grams lighter than standard due to wear.
• Minting Tolerances: Even at the Mint, there were slight allowable variations in coin weights.
• Environmental Factors: Dirt or residue can sometimes add a negligible amount of weight, though less common than wear.
• Counterfeits: Fakes might have incorrect weights or compositions. If a coin's weight is significantly off, and it otherwise looks suspicious, it's worth investigating further.
  If a coin's weight is very close to the standard (e.g., 12.4g instead of 12.5g for a 90% silver coin), it's highly likely to be legitimate silver, with the difference attributed to wear. However, a significant deviation (e.g., 11.8g for a supposed 90% silver half) should raise a red flag.

Quick Tip: The "Ping Test"

While not as precise as weighing, the "ping test" can be a quick, informal way to get a general sense of a coin's metallic composition. Genuine silver coins tend to produce a distinct, high-pitched, sustained "ring" when gently tapped or dropped onto a hard surface (like a wooden table). Clad coins will sound duller or produce a "thud." This is best done with practice, comparing a known silver coin to a known clad coin.

Beyond Melt Value: When Weight Takes a Backseat

While understanding how much does a silver half dollar weigh is crucial for determining its melt value, it's vital to remember that not all valuable half dollars are primarily valued for their silver content. For many rare dates, mint marks, or high-grade specimens, the numismatic (collector) value far surpasses the intrinsic metal value.
Consider a 1794 Flowing Hair half dollar, one of the first U.S. half dollars ever minted. While it contains silver, its astronomical value (potentially over $2 million) is due to its extreme rarity and historical significance, not just the silver it holds. Similarly, a 1964 Kennedy half dollar in pristine, uncirculated condition might fetch a premium well above its melt value due to collector demand.
For a comprehensive guide on identifying truly valuable half dollars beyond their silver content, including rare dates and key collecting insights, check out What's your half dollar worth? This resource delves into factors like mintage figures, condition grading, and specific varieties that can turn a silver coin into a numismatic masterpiece.

Quick Answers: Your Half Dollar Weight FAQs

Q: Do all old half dollars contain silver?

A: No. Only half dollars minted in 1970 or earlier contain silver. From 1971 onwards, all circulating half dollars were made of a copper-nickel clad composition with no silver.

Q: Why are some half dollars lighter or heavier than expected?

A: Small variations are common due to circulation wear (coins become lighter over time), minute minting tolerances, or even environmental residues. Significant deviations could indicate a fake or a non-standard issue, though wear is the most frequent culprit for slight differences.

Q: Is it worth weighing every half dollar I find?

A: If the half dollar is dated 1970 or earlier, absolutely. For coins dated 1971 or later, weighing is generally unnecessary as they contain no silver, and their value is almost always face value.

Q: What's the difference between troy ounces and regular (avoirdupois) ounces?

A: This is an important distinction when dealing with precious metals. A troy ounce (used for gold, silver, platinum) is slightly heavier than a standard avoirdupois ounce (used for most other goods).

• 1 troy ounce = approximately 31.1035 grams
• 1 avoirdupois ounce = approximately 28.3495 grams
  Always use troy ounces when discussing precious metal weights and values to avoid miscalculations. The weights provided for pure silver content in this article are in troy ounces.

Q: Can I use a magnet to test for silver?

A: No, a magnet test is not reliable for identifying silver coins. Silver is not magnetic, but neither are many other metals (like copper or lead) that might be used in counterfeit coins. It can help rule out ferrous metals, but it won't confirm silver. Rely on date, edge, and especially weight.

Your Next Steps: Unlocking Your Half Dollar's True Value

Now that you understand how much a silver half dollar weighs and why those numbers are so critical, you're equipped to be a more informed collector or treasure hunter. Start by systematically checking any half dollars you encounter, using the date and edge as your initial filters. Invest in a good quality digital scale for precise measurements.
Remember, the goal isn't just to identify silver; it's to understand the amount of silver, which directly impacts its melt value. While melt value provides a floor, always keep an eye out for exceptional condition or rare varieties that could push a coin's worth far beyond its precious metal content. With practice, you'll develop an expert eye (and feel) for these fascinating pieces of American history.