1916 - 1947 Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value (United States) U.S. MINT SPECIFICATIONS
Denomination: $0.50
Obverse Image: Lady Liberty walking and holding an olive branch.
Reverse Image: A perched bald eagle.
Metal Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Total Weight: 12.5 grams
Comments: The Walking Liberty half dollar obverse is considered (by many) the best designed silver coin in American coinage.
Year ........Mintage Numismatic Value Range
1916 ........ 608,000 $ 47.00 - $1900.00
1916 D .....1,014,400 $ 47.00 - $2000.00
1916 S .......508,000 $110.00 - $4000.00
1917 ......12,292,000 $ 12.00 - $1200.00
1918 .......6,634,000 $ 12.00 - $2200.00
1918 D .....3,853,000 $ 12.00 - $2000.00
1918 S ....10,282,000 $ 12.00 - $600.00
1919 .........962,000 $ 20.00 - $2400.00
1919 D .....1,165,000 $ 19.00 - $3500.00
1919 S .....1,552,000 $ 20.00 - $2800.00
1920 .......6,372,000 $ 12.00 - $400.00
1920 D .....1,551,000 $ 15.00 - $1200.00
1920 S .....4,624,000 $ 12.00 - $700.00
1921 .........246,000 $175.00 - $6000.00
1921 D .......208,000 $275.00 - $5000.00
1921 S .......548,000 $ 40.00 - $14000.00
1923 S .....2,178,000 $ 12.00 - $1650.00
1927 S .....2,392,000 $ 12.00 - $1200.00
1928 S .....1,940,000 $ 12.00 - $1800.00
1929 D .....1,001,200 $ 13.50 - $700.00
1929 S .....1,902,000 $ 12.00 - $500.00
1933 S .....1,786,000 $ 14.00 - $1200.00
1934 .......6,964,000 $ 12.00 - $100.00
1934 D .....2,361,000 $ 12.00 - $160.00
1934 S .....3,652,000 $ 12.00 - $190.00
1935 .......9,162,000 $ 12.00 - $300.00
1935 D .....3,003,000 $ 12.00 - $1300.00
1935 S .....3,854,000 $ 12.00 - $2200.00
1936 ......12,617,000 $ 12.00 - $300.00
1936 D .....4,252,000 $ 12.00 - $650.00
1936 S .....3,884,000 $ 12.00 - $975.00
1938 D .......491,600 $140.00 - $1700.00
These half dollars were commonly referred to as "Bennys". A small eagle to the right of the bell was necessitated by law; ironically, Franklin himself had opposed the selection of the eagle as the US national symbol, preferring the turkey as a "more noble bird".
Using the latest metal prices and the specifications above, these are the numbers required to calculate melt value:
$28.64 = silver price / ounce on Jun 15, 2012.
.90 = silver %
$3.4075 = copper price / pound on Jun 15, 2012.
.10 = copper %
12.5 = total weight in grams
.0321507466 = ounce/gram conversion factor
.00220462262 = pound/gram conversion factor (see note directly below)
The NYMEX uses pounds to price copper and that means we need to multiply the metal price by .00220462262 to make the conversion to grams. The silver price is based in troy ounces and that means we need to multiply the metal price by .0321507466 to make the conversion to grams.
1. Calculate 90% silver value :
(28.64 × .0321507466 × 12.5 × .90) = $10.3589705545
$10.3589 is the rounded silver value for the 1948-1963 silver Franklin half dollar on June 15, 2012. This is usually the value used by coin dealers when selling these coins at melt value. However, the total melt value is continued below.
2. Calculate 10% copper value :
(3.4075 × .00220462262 × 12.5 × .10) = $0.0093900
3. Add the two together :
$10.3589705545 + $0.0093900 = $10.3683605545
$10.3683605545 is the total melt value for the 1948-1963 silver Franklin half dollar on June 15, 2012.
All Franklin half dollars weigh 0.36169oz of pure silver, are 90% silver and are worth a minimum of 90% silver 10% copper bullion value for their weight. Today at $31oz each Franklin Half is worth about $11.30. All Franklin half dollars at minting weigh 12.5 grams. All prices listed below are offered through Heritage Auction House "buy now" program as of May 2012.
Year Mintage . . .PR values
1948 - 3,006,814
1948d - 4,028,600
1949 - 5,614,000
1949d - 4,120,600
1949s - 3,744,000
1950 - 7,742,123 - PR64 $440
1950d - 8,031,600
1951 - 16,802,102 - PR64 $360, NGC PF67 $730,
1951d - 9,475,200
1951s - 13,696,000 - MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS $345
1952 - 21,192,093 - PF65 $209,
1952d - 25,395,600
1952s - 5,526,000
1953 - 2,796,920 - PF67 $374
1953d - 20,900,400
1953s - 4,148,000
1954 - 13,188,203 - PR66 $129
1954d - 25,445,580
1954s - 4,993,400
1955 - 2,876,381 - PR64 value about $75 whereas a PR68 Ultra Cameo graded by NGC sold for $2,530 on Aug 11, 2011. This same coin is now for sale for $3,500
1955 Detached Nose often called the Bugs Bunny - unknown mintage
1956 - 4,032,000
1957 - 5,114,000
1957d - 19,996,850
1958 - 4,042,000
1958d - 23,962,412
1959 - 6,200,000
1959d - 13,053,750
1960 - 6,024,000
1960d - 18,215,812
1961 - 8,290,000
1961d - 20,276,442
1962 - 9,714,000
1962d - 35,473,281
1963 - 22,164,000
1963d - 67,069,292
The Kennedy half dollar, first minted in 1964, is a currently struck fifty cent coin issued by the United States Mint. Intended as a memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy, it was authorized by Congress just over a month after his death. Use of existing works by Mint sculptors Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro allowed dies to be prepared quickly, and striking of the new coins began in January 1964.
The coins vanished from circulation soon after their release in April 1964 due to collectors, hoarders, and those interested in a memento of the late president. Although the Mint greatly increased production, the denomination still failed to circulate. Continued rises in the price of silver increased the hoarding—many early Kennedy half dollars have been melted for their silver. Starting with 1965-dated pieces, the percentage of fine silver was reduced from 90% to 40% (silver clad), but even this change failed to restore significant public interest in the coins.
In 1971, silver was eliminated entirely from the coins. A special design for the reverse of the half dollar was issued for the United States Bicentennial and was struck in 1975 and 1976. In addition to business strikes, special collector coins were struck for the Bicentennial in silver clad; silver proof sets in which the dime, quarter and half dollar were struck in 90% silver were first minted in 1992. Even though ample supplies of half dollars are now available, their circulation is extremely limited. Since 2002, Kennedy half dollars have only been struck to satisfy the demand from collectors, and are available through the Mint.
In May 1969, the Treasury sought authorization to eliminate the half dollar's silver content, changing it to the same copper-nickel clad composition as the dime and quarter. The Treasury also sought approval to strike base-metal dollar coins, which would fill a need for gaming tokens in Western casinos. Former president Dwight Eisenhower had died recently, and there was discussion of placing Eisenhower's portrait on the dollar. The Treasury hoped that with the removal of the silver content, the coin would cease to be hoarded and again circulate.[21] Despite the support of President Richard Nixon, some Republicans in the House of Representatives initially scuttled the legislation,[22] disliking the idea of putting Eisenhower on a base metal coin. The dispute dragged on for over a year before Nixon signed a bill on December 31, 1970 which authorized the Eisenhower dollar and eliminated silver from the half dollar.[23] As a result of the delay, in 1970 half dollars were only made in Denver and released solely in mint sets. With a mintage of 2.1 million the 1970-D Kennedy is considered the "key" to the series, although enough were produced to keep prices modest. The Mint did not announce that 1970 half dollars would not be struck for circulation until after mint set ordering had closed.
1964 Silver Kennedy Half Dollar Value (United States) U.S. MINT SPECIFICATIONS
Denomination: $0.50
Obverse Image: John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States.
Reverse Image: Eagle holding an olive branch (peace) and arrows (strength). The thirteen stripes represent the 13 colonies. The horizontal bar across the top represents Congress forming one government from many. Fifty stars representing the fifty states encircle the eagle. [ ? ]
Metal Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Total Weight: 12.5 grams
Comments: Only two months after Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963, the first Kennedy Half Dollars were struck at the mint.
Year ...Mintage ....Numismatic Value Range
1964 .......273,304,004 $10.00 - $24.00
1964 D .....156,205,446 $10.00 - $46.00
I didn't post mintages of any dates after 1964 since I personally am only concerned with this blog on 90% silver and other gold coins.
