These include the 1971 half dollar with no mint mark, the 1971 D half dollar, 1971 S half dollar, and other varieties with errors. The 1971 half dollar comes with varieties. If the edge comes with a reddish-brown stripe, then it can be made of copper. A silver coin would have a silver stripe. If the mark made by the sharp object leaves a silver color, then it is most likely to be made of silver.Īnother way to determine whether your Kennedy half dollar is made of silver or not is to check its edge. If it is okay with you, you can grab a sharp object and scratch it against the coin. If the magnet attracts your coin and the coin sticks to the magnet, then it is not made of silver. You can test whether your coin is made of silver or not using a magnet. If you have the 1971 Kennedy half dollar, it is most likely to be made of copper and not silver. Coins made in 1965, 1966, and 1967 still have silver in them but not as much as those minted in 1964. This means that if your coin shows the year, “1964,” then your coin is made of silver. Remember that the first Kennedy half-dollar coins were the ones made of 90% silver. There are different ways you can determine whether your Kennedy half dollar has silver or not. How Can You Tell If Your 1971 Kennedy Half Dollar Has Silver? However, the weight decreased a little bit - from 11.5 to 11.3 grams. Throughout its production, the Kennedy half-dollar didn’t see any change in its design and size. The same metallic composition was also used for the dime in 1965. In 1971, the Kennedy half-dollar was made of 75% copper and 25% nickel, which was later called “copper-nickel clad.” This was the first time the metallic combination was used for the half dollar. The change was signed and approved by President Richard M. Because of this, silver was completely removed from the half dollar and a one-dollar coin was made to honor Dwight D. The Kennedy half-dollar once again went through some changes after the Coinage Act of 1969 was ratified. On the reverse side, Frank Gasparro designed the heraldic eagle. On the obverse side, Gilroy Robert designed the bust of Kennedy. There were two designers of the Kennedy half-dollar. However, this was changed in 1965 when it was transformed into what they call “silver-clad,” which means, 40% silver and 60% copper. The half-dollar was used to be made of 90% silver and 10% copper. Sinnock, the former Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. The Franklin half dollar has been circulated since 1948 and it was designed by John R. Prior to this, the half dollar was graced by Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. As a way to honor his death, a new half-dollar coin was introduced in 1964 which featured the president. Nearly 2 million 2012-D Kennedy half dollars were struck, so why did this one sell for $1,116.25? : Lest one think that four-figure Kennedy half dollars are only early issues struck prior to the popularity of third-party grading, this 2012-D half dollar recently sold for a high price.What Is A 1971 Kennedy Half Dollar Made Of? Why a recently sold Kennedy half dollar is a registry collector’s dream coin : Kennedy copper-nickel clad half dollars occasionally show gorgeous multicolored toning that one would expect on 90 percent silver or 40 percent silver issues. Keep reading this Kennedy half dollar Market Analysis: 13 graded PCGS About Uncirculated 58 sold for $1,292.50. Most examples found are in lightly circulated condition and another example offered by Heritage on Sept. One offered as part of Heritage’s September Long Beach auctions graded Mint State 63 by PCGS brought $2,485.13. Kennedy, is still remembered on the annually produced half dollar struck in his honor since 1964. Kennedy half dollar : The shot heard around the world in 1963, a bullet from an assassin's weapon that ended the life of U.S. Stanton and Bill Fivaz’s current edition of the Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins.

Though the variety was discovered in the 1980s, relatively few have surfaced. The design element is likely missing because the dies were ground down at the U.S. On some 1972-D half dollars, these initials are missing. The FG refers to the initials of designer Frank Gasparro, normally found on the reverse below the right leg of the eagle. The 1972-D Kennedy half dollar “No FG” reverse variety has grown in popularity in recent years and examples can still be cherrypicked by sharp-eyed collectors.

Valuable kennedy half dollars