SILVER COIN FIELD GUIDE
40% Kennedy Half
1965–1970 Kennedy halves contain 40% silver. Check 1970-D and specific Special Mint Set varieties separately.
The metal baseline
- Profile covers
- 1965–1970
- Composition
- 40% silver
- Standard gross weight
- 11.5 g
- Fine silver per coin
- 0.1479 troy oz
- Face value
- $0.50
Similar portraits can hide different metal totals
Sort mixed Kennedy halves before choosing a quantity. Combining 1964, 1965–1970, and ordinary later clad coins under this one profile would give the wrong metal estimate.
For a 1966 SMS No FG attribution, Special Mint Set status and completely absent initials both matter. Faint initials are not the same as missing initials.
Where to look. Match the date first: 1964 is 90% silver, while this 1965–1970 group is 40%. Special Mint Set status must be established before applying an SMS variety.
Dates and details worth a second look
This is a selected watch list, not every key date or variety in the series. Finding a matching date is a reason to inspect further—not proof of authenticity, grade, or a particular value.
What do these collector labels mean?
Better date. A date or issue that merits its own comparison, not an automatic high-value finding.
Variety. A specific attributed design or die difference, not every coin with that year.
- Better date
1970-D
Issued only in Mint Sets, rather than for ordinary circulation.
Check the attribution reference ↗ - Variety
1966 SMS No FG
The FG initials must be completely absent. Faint initials do not qualify.
Check the attribution reference ↗ - Variety
1966 SMS doubled die
A special-strike doubled-die obverse with recognized motto and profile diagnostics.
Check the attribution reference ↗
Two questions, not one price
What is the contained metal worth? This profile uses 0.1479 fine troy ounces of silver per coin. Multiply that by the number of matching coins and a current per-troy-ounce silver quote. The calculator shows the quote and its freshness when available.
What might a collector pay for this coin? That takes the exact issue, condition, surfaces, finish, and any authenticated variety. The checkpoints above explain why a collector sale may differ from the metal estimate. A calculated melt value is neither a guaranteed buying offer nor a complete appraisal.
The listed weights are standard reference specifications, with rounded published fine-metal values. They do not measure wear, damage, missing metal, or authenticity in your individual coin. Gross grams include the alloy; fine troy ounces describe the precious metal itself.
Use this profile in the calculator →Build a useful comparison
- Record the full date, mintmark, denomination, and finish. Photograph both sides and any diagnostic detail.
- Use the specific references above to check a suspected variety. Do not clean the coin to make a feature easier to see.
- Compare completed sales for the same issue and similar condition. Separate proof, special-strike, and attributed examples from ordinary coins.
- Record shipping and other costs separately. An asking price or one exceptional auction result is not a typical sold price.
References and further checking
Use these references to inspect the issue and attribution in more detail. Prices, populations, and market premiums can change.
- PCGS: Special Mint Set coins ↗
- 1970-D — reference ↗
- 1966 SMS No FG — reference ↗
- NGC silver melt-value reference ↗
Educational reference only; not individualized appraisal or investment advice. For a potentially valuable or questionable example, use a qualified numismatist or established authentication service.