The 1964 half dollar contains 90% silver and 10% copper. This composition results in a total silver weight of 0.7234 troy ounces (approximately 22.5 grams) in each coin. Because of this high silver content, these coins are often sought after for their intrinsic metal value rather than just their face value.
The significant quantity of the precious metal makes these coins desirable as a tangible asset. They represent a piece of American history and a connection to a time when circulating coinage contained a substantial amount of silver. The presence of the precious metal distinguishes them from later half dollars with a clad composition.