Have you ever looked at a half dollar and wondered if it was more than just fifty cents? It's a common thought, and for good reason! Before 1971, half dollars were made with 40% silver, offering a glimpse into a time when coinage held precious metal. While most circulated 1971 half dollars are made of a copper-nickel clad, there's always a chance you could stumble upon a rare exception.
Knowing how to identify a silver 1971 half dollar could mean the difference between pocket change and discovering a coin worth significantly more than its face value. Whether you're a seasoned coin collector, a curious history buff, or simply sorting through spare change, being able to distinguish a silver half dollar from its clad counterpart is a valuable skill. There are a few key indicators that can help you determine if that Kennedy half dollar is packing some precious metal.
How can I identify a silver 1971 half dollar?
What's the easiest way to check a 1971 half dollar for silver?
The easiest way to check a 1971 half dollar for silver is to check the edge of the coin. If the edge shows a copper-colored stripe, it's not silver. 1971 half dollars were no longer made with silver, except for some special collector coins, and thus will show that copper stripe.
The reason this method works is due to the coin's composition. Silver half dollars (those minted in 1964 and earlier, and some between 1965 and 1970) were made of 90% silver and 10% copper. The later clad coins, like most 1971 half dollars, consist of an outer layer of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a core of pure copper. This construction results in a distinctly visible copper stripe along the edge.
While very rare, it's important to note that a few 40% silver half dollars were produced between 1965 and 1970. These coins lack the prominent copper stripe of the clad versions. However, no regular-issue 1971 half dollars are silver. Therefore, if you see a copper stripe on the edge of a 1971 half dollar, you can be nearly certain that it isn't silver.
Does a 1971 half dollar's edge reveal whether it's silver?
Yes, examining the edge of a 1971 half dollar is the easiest way to determine if it contains silver. A silver half dollar will display a distinct silver-colored edge, while a clad (non-silver) half dollar will have a visible copper stripe running along its edge.
The reason the edge is so telling lies in the coin's composition. From 1965 to 1970, half dollars were made with 40% silver. This meant that the outer layers of the coin contained silver bonded to an inner core of copper. When you look at the edge of a 40% silver half dollar from those years, you'll see a silvery color, though often with some copper tint if worn. However, beginning in 1971, half dollars were made of a clad composition of outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a core of pure copper. This gives the edge a very distinct copper stripe sandwiched between two layers of the copper-nickel alloy. Therefore, you can quickly differentiate between the two types of coins simply by observing the edge. If you see a solid silver color, it's likely a 40% silver coin from 1965-1970. If you see a copper stripe, you know it's a clad coin minted in 1971 or later (excluding the rare silver proofs).Is there a specific weight that indicates a silver 1971 half dollar?
No, there isn't a specific weight that definitively indicates a 1971 half dollar is silver. 1971 Kennedy half dollars were made of a copper-nickel clad composition, meaning they contain no silver intended by the mint. Because they are not silver, weight cannot determine silver content.
The key factor in determining silver content of Kennedy half dollars lies in the year of minting. Half dollars minted in 1964 are 90% silver. Those minted from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver. Coins from 1971 onwards are composed of a copper-nickel clad alloy, which means they are not silver. So even if a 1971 half dollar weighed slightly more or less than other clad coins due to minor variations in the minting process, that difference would not be due to silver content.
Trying to assess silver content based solely on weight is unreliable for clad coins. Wear, damage, or even slight manufacturing variations can influence weight. A more accurate method involves examining the coin's edge. Silver coins (1964, and 1965-1970) will exhibit a silver-colored edge all the way around, whereas a clad coin will show a copper stripe through the middle of the edge. Again, 1971 coins will have a copper stripe.
How does the sound a 1971 half dollar makes tell you if it is silver?
The "ring test" relies on the resonant qualities of silver. A silver half dollar, when dropped gently onto a hard surface or flicked with a fingernail, will produce a clear, sustained ringing sound with a longer duration compared to a clad (copper-nickel) half dollar. Clad coins, being made of less resonant metals, produce a duller, shorter thud or clunk.
This difference in sound stems from the differing densities and metallic structures. Silver is a more sonorous metal than copper or nickel. When struck, the vibrations travel more freely and for a longer period within a silver coin, producing the distinct ringing tone. Clad coins, composed of layers of different metals, dampen these vibrations more quickly, leading to the less resonant sound.
However, relying solely on the ring test can be unreliable. The surface you drop the coin on, how hard you strike it, and even ambient noise can affect the sound produced. Also, it is possible for non-silver coins to mimic the sound of silver if dropped in a certain way. It's best used in conjunction with other tests like weight and edge examination for a more accurate determination.
Can a magnet be used to determine if a 1971 half dollar contains silver?
No, a standard magnet cannot be reliably used to determine if a 1971 half dollar contains silver. Silver is not ferromagnetic and does not strongly interact with magnets. While a very strong magnet *might* show a very slight attraction due to diamagnetism, this effect is far too weak to be a practical test, especially when compared to the other metals present in non-silver half dollars.
The composition of 1971 half dollars is key to understanding why a magnet test fails. Half dollars minted from 1965 to 1970 were made of a clad composition of outer layers of 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to a core of 20.9% silver and 79.1% copper, resulting in an overall silver content of 40%. However, in 1971, the composition changed entirely to a copper-nickel clad (75% copper, 25% nickel bonded to a core of pure copper). Neither copper nor nickel are strongly magnetic materials. Since 1971 half dollars are not silver and use non-magnetic metals, they won't stick to a magnet. Therefore, relying solely on a magnet to test for silver in a 1971 half dollar is unreliable. Other methods, such as checking the mint year, examining the edge for copper color (indicating a clad coin), or weighing the coin, are more accurate for determining silver content. A silver 1964 or earlier half dollar will have a different weight than the later copper-nickel clad coins.Does the mint mark affect whether a 1971 half dollar is silver?
No, the mint mark on a 1971 half dollar does not determine whether it contains silver. All 1971 Kennedy half dollars were made of a copper-nickel clad composition, regardless of whether they were minted in Philadelphia (no mint mark or "P"), Denver ("D"), or San Francisco ("S").
While the presence or absence of a mint mark won't tell you if a 1971 half dollar is silver, it's important to understand the composition of Kennedy half dollars throughout their history. Coins minted in 1964 were 90% silver. From 1965 to 1970, the Kennedy half dollars were reduced to 40% silver. By 1971, however, the silver content was entirely removed in favor of a copper-nickel clad composition. Therefore, the method to determine if a 1971 Kennedy half dollar is silver does not involve looking at the mint mark. It involves testing the coin or checking its weight and dimensions, but because all 1971 half dollars were clad, they contain no silver.What are the markings to look for to confirm a silver 1971 half dollar?
Unfortunately, a 1971 half dollar will not be silver. Kennedy half dollars minted from 1965-1970 were 40% silver, but in 1971 the composition changed to a clad metal of copper and nickel. Therefore, there are no specific markings to look for that would indicate a silver 1971 half dollar, as they simply do not exist.
The key to identifying silver Kennedy half dollars lies in the years 1965-1970. These coins contain 40% silver and will appear slightly different than their later clad counterparts. While there's no distinct mint mark to identify silver content, the overall appearance of a circulated 40% silver half dollar will show subtle toning and wear that exposes the underlying silver alloy. Clad coins, on the other hand, reveal a copper core when worn.
Instead of searching for markings on a 1971 coin, focus on verifying its date and composition. A 1971 half dollar should have a copper-nickel clad layer visible on its edge. If the edge appears solid silver-colored, it could be plated, counterfeit, or simply mistaken for a coin from an earlier date (1965-1970), which would then necessitate further examination to confirm its silver content.
Hopefully, this helps you determine if that 1971 half dollar in your possession is a treasure or just another piece of pocket change! Thanks for reading, and good luck with your coin hunt! Be sure to stop by again soon for more numismatic tips and tricks.