A United States Kennedy half dollar minted in 1964 contains 90% silver and 10% copper. The total weight of the coin is 12.5 grams. Therefore, the actual silver content in a 1964 Kennedy half dollar is 11.25 grams, which is approximately 0.3617 troy ounces of pure silver.
This high silver content makes these coins a desirable commodity for collectors and investors. Their intrinsic value fluctuates with the current market price of silver, often exceeding their face value significantly. The 1964 Kennedy half dollars represent a tangible link to a time when circulating coinage in the United States contained a substantial amount of precious metal, a practice that was discontinued for subsequent years due to rising silver prices.