Looking for a valuable and rewarding hobby that is both fun and profitable? Collecting US silver half dollars is just such a hobby. Read on to get an overview of collecting these silver half dollars.
Even though the US mint has produced silver half dollars since 1794, those most often targeted by average collectors were minted between 1892 and 1970. Those minted prior to 1892 are much less common and much more expensive, putting them out of reach for many collectors.
There have been 4 different types of silver half dollars minted since 1892. These are the Barber Half Dollar (1892-1915), the Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1647), the Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963) and the Kennedy Half Dollar, which contained silver from 1964 to 1970. Up to and including the 1964 Kennedy Half, these coins contained 90% silver. From 1965 to 1970 Kennedy Halves contained 40% silver.
The 1970 Kennedy Half Dollar was not minted for circulation and only showed up in mint or proof sets. If you find one in circulation it is likely that it was broken out of a stolen mint or proof set. From 1971 on to the present, their is no silver content in any circulation strike US half dollars.
All silver half dollars minted between 1892 and 1964 contain .3617 ounces of pure silver. The ones minted from 1965 to 1970 contain .1479 ounces of silver. This is important from a collecting standpoint because these coins will always be worth at least their weight in silver.
That is why owning silver half dollars is a great hedge against inflation. The demand for silver is almost always greater than the supply, giving it price support on the low end, and increased government spending like we currently have drives the price up. You can be sure that silver prices will never drop to zero like some other investments. You can often buy circulated silver half dollars at silver's spot price because many have no value beyond their silver content. - 31899
Even though the US mint has produced silver half dollars since 1794, those most often targeted by average collectors were minted between 1892 and 1970. Those minted prior to 1892 are much less common and much more expensive, putting them out of reach for many collectors.
There have been 4 different types of silver half dollars minted since 1892. These are the Barber Half Dollar (1892-1915), the Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1647), the Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963) and the Kennedy Half Dollar, which contained silver from 1964 to 1970. Up to and including the 1964 Kennedy Half, these coins contained 90% silver. From 1965 to 1970 Kennedy Halves contained 40% silver.
The 1970 Kennedy Half Dollar was not minted for circulation and only showed up in mint or proof sets. If you find one in circulation it is likely that it was broken out of a stolen mint or proof set. From 1971 on to the present, their is no silver content in any circulation strike US half dollars.
All silver half dollars minted between 1892 and 1964 contain .3617 ounces of pure silver. The ones minted from 1965 to 1970 contain .1479 ounces of silver. This is important from a collecting standpoint because these coins will always be worth at least their weight in silver.
That is why owning silver half dollars is a great hedge against inflation. The demand for silver is almost always greater than the supply, giving it price support on the low end, and increased government spending like we currently have drives the price up. You can be sure that silver prices will never drop to zero like some other investments. You can often buy circulated silver half dollars at silver's spot price because many have no value beyond their silver content. - 31899
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You now have an overview to collecting US silver half dollars. Visit http://silverhalfdollars.net for more detailed information on collecting these coins.
