Kennedy Half Dollar (1965–1970, 40% Silver)

When the 1965 Coinage Act stripped silver from the dime and quarter, the half dollar kept a reduced 40% — a political concession that lasted six years. The public hoarded these too. Because they look identical to clad halves at a glance, 40-percenters are the most commonly missed silver in inherited accumulations and bank-roll hunts — check every 1965-1970 half twice.

Roll-hunters call halves 'the forgotten denomination' — banks still occasionally pay out 40% and even 90% silver halves at face.

Check these before treating any coin as melt. Think you have one? Check recent auction records before selling, and read the grading basics first.