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What years were half dollars real silver?

Published in Silver Half Dollars 1 min read

Half dollars contained real silver primarily from 1892 through 1964.

Throughout much of their history, specific issues of U.S. half dollars were minted with a significant silver content, making them highly sought after by collectors and precious metal enthusiasts. These coins typically contained 90% silver, defining them as "real silver" currency from their respective eras.

Types of Silver Half Dollars

The following table details the half dollar series that were struck with a 90% silver composition:

Half Dollar Type Years Minted Silver Composition
Barber 1892-1915 90% Silver
Walking Liberty 1916-1947 90% Silver
Franklin 1948-1963 90% Silver
Kennedy 1964 90% Silver

These specific years and coin types represent the period when half dollars were consistently produced with a substantial silver content, distinguishing them from later issues that either had a reduced silver percentage or were made entirely of base metals.