US Half Dollars Values & Mintages

The half dollar as a bank coin

The half dollar was struck from 1794 and quickly became the most important US silver coin. Silver dollars were not coined between 1804 and 1836, so banks used half dollars as their main reserve of hard money. Large quantities were shipped between banks in bags and kegs rather than spent, which is why many Capped Bust halves survive in better condition than other coins of the period.

The coin's lettered edge on the early issues read FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR, which helped prevent clipping and showed the value at a time when the coin itself did not always state it clearly.

How weight and size changed

The first halves weighed 13.48 grams and measured about 32.5 millimeters. Steam-powered presses and the close collar arrived in 1836, producing a smaller coin of about 30 millimeters with a reeded edge. After a small reduction to 13.36 grams in 1837, the weight fell to 12.44 grams in 1853 to stop melting, then rose to 12.50 grams in 1873, where it stayed for 90% silver halves through 1964.

From 1965 to 1970 the half dollar was 40% silver clad and weighed 11.5 grams. From 1971 it became copper-nickel clad at 11.34 grams, with a diameter of 30.61 millimeters and 150 reeds on the edge.

Designs of the twentieth century

Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty half of 1916 showed Liberty striding toward the sunrise wrapped in a flag. Its full sun and flowing drapery made it a favorite. The design was revived for the American Silver Eagle bullion coin in 1986. John R. Sinnock's Franklin half followed in 1948, completed by Gilroy Roberts after Sinnock's death.

After President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, Congress authorized a new half dollar the following month. Roberts sculpted the portrait and Frank Gasparro the presidential seal reverse. The 1964 Kennedy half was hoarded as a keepsake almost as soon as it appeared. For the Bicentennial, Seth G. Huntington's view of Independence Hall replaced the seal on halves dated 1776-1976.

Why you rarely see half dollars in change

Hoarding of the 1964 Kennedy halves, followed by the silver content of the 1965 to 1970 issues, pulled the coin out of daily use. Vending machines and cash registers were built around smaller coins, so the half dollar never came back. The 1970-D was struck only for mint sets and in 2002 the Mint stopped making half dollars for general circulation, producing them instead for collectors.

How to start collecting half dollars

The Franklin half is a complete set of 35 coins with no great rarities, which makes it a good first silver set. For Walking Liberty halves, many collectors start with the short set from 1941 to 1947, which avoids the expensive early dates. Kennedy halves can be collected by date and mint. A set of the 40% silver years from 1965 to 1970 makes a neat sideline.

Large silver coins show contact marks easily, so look closely at the cheek and the open fields. On Franklins, check the bell lines for the Full Bell Lines designation. For older halves, wear on the knee and the hand of Liberty is the first sign of circulation on a Walking Liberty coin.

Mint mark locations on half dollars

The 1838-O and 1839-O Capped Bust halves have the mint mark above the date. Seated Liberty and Barber halves place it below the eagle. Walking Liberty halves began with the mark on the obverse below IN GOD WE TRUST, then moved it to the reverse near the rim at lower left during 1917, so both the 1917-D and 1917-S exist in obverse and reverse mint mark versions. Franklin halves show it above the beam of the bell. Kennedy halves carried it on the reverse in 1964 and on the obverse from 1968.

Frequently asked questions