Silver Content in 40% Kennedy Half Dollars: Complete Calculations

Key Takeaways

•Each 40% Kennedy half dollar contains 0.1479 troy ounces of silver

•A $1,000 FV bag (2,000 coins) contains approximately 295 troy ounces

•The 40% composition uses a clad sandwich construction

•Melt value equals spot price multiplied by actual silver weight

•Understanding silver content helps evaluate any junk silver purchase

Understanding 40% Silver Composition

Kennedy half dollars from 1965 through 1970 contain 40% silver using a unique clad construction. Unlike the solid 90% alloy of pre-1965 coins, these coins have distinct layers.

The outer cladding is 80% silver and 20% copper, providing the silvery appearance. The inner core is approximately 21% silver and 79% copper. Combined, the total silver content averages 40% of the coin's weight.

This composition was adopted through the Coinage Act of 1965 as a compromise: eliminating silver entirely from dimes and quarters while retaining reduced silver in half dollars for the newly introduced Kennedy design.

Calculating Silver Content Per Coin

Each 40% Kennedy half dollar weighs 11.50 grams. With 40% silver content, each coin contains 4.60 grams of silver.

Converting to troy ounces: 4.60 grams divided by 31.1035 grams per troy ounce equals 0.1479 troy ounces of actual silver weight (ASW) per coin.

You can verify these specifications through 40% silver coin specifications or official U.S. Mint documentation. The math is straightforward once you know the coin weight and silver percentage.

Per Bag Silver Content

A $1,000 face value bag contains 2,000 half dollars (since each half dollar is $0.50 face value).

Total silver: 2,000 coins multiplied by 0.1479 oz equals 295.8 troy ounces. This is typically rounded to 295 or 296 oz ASW for trading purposes.

Calculating Melt Value

Melt value is the intrinsic silver value of your coins, calculated as: Silver Spot Price multiplied by Actual Silver Weight.

For a $1,000 FV bag at $30/oz spot: $30 times 295 oz equals $8,850 melt value. This provides the baseline for evaluating any dealer quote.

Market prices may be above (at a premium) or below (at a discount) melt value depending on supply, demand, and dealer inventory positions. Always calculate melt value before accepting any quote.

Comparison to Other Silver Coins

Understanding silver content helps compare 40% Kennedy halves to alternatives:

90% silver half dollars (1964 and earlier): 0.3617 oz ASW per coin, about 2.4 times more silver than 40% halves. 90% quarters and dimes have proportionally less silver but the same 90% purity.

Government bullion coins (Silver Eagles, Maple Leafs): exactly 1.0000 troy oz of .999+ fine silver per coin. Much higher silver content but also higher premiums.

Questions & Answers

Common questions about 40% silver coin bags answered by our editorial team.

How do I calculate silver content in 40% halves?

Each coin weighs 11.50 grams with 40% silver content. Silver per coin: 11.50g x 0.40 = 4.60g = 0.1479 troy oz. Per $1,000 FV bag (2,000 coins): 2,000 x 0.1479 = 295.8 troy oz, typically rounded to 295 oz.

What is actual silver weight (ASW)?

Actual Silver Weight refers to the pure silver content in a coin, measured in troy ounces. For 40% Kennedy halves, ASW is 0.1479 oz per coin. This is what determines melt value, calculated as ASW multiplied by spot price.

Why is the composition called clad?

40% Kennedy halves use a clad (layered) construction: outer layers of 80% silver/20% copper bonded to a core of 21% silver/79% copper. This differs from pre-1965 coins which are a solid 90% silver alloy throughout.