What to Look for in Half Dollar Rolls: Silver Kennedys, Franklin Halves, and Walking Liberties

The Best Denomination for Silver Hunting

Half dollar rolls ($10.00 per roll, 20 coins) are widely considered the most productive denomination for finding silver. Unlike dimes and quarters, where silver has been largely picked out of circulation, half dollars circulate less frequently, meaning silver examples persist longer in the supply chain. A single 1964 Kennedy half contains 0.3617 troy ounces of silver — approximately $24.23 at $67/oz.

Silver Kennedy Half Dollars

Kennedy half dollars come in three silver compositions:

Years	Composition	Silver Content	Melt Value @ $67/oz
1964	90% silver	0.3617 oz	~$24.23
1965-1970	40% silver (clad)	0.1479 oz	~$9.91
1971-present	Copper-nickel clad	0 oz	$0.50 face

How to identify 40% silver halves (1965-1970):

These are the coins most commonly missed by casual searchers. The edge of a 40% silver Kennedy shows a mostly silver band with a thin copper line — less pronounced than a standard clad coin. Compare it to a known 1971+ clad half: the clad coin has a much wider, more visible copper stripe.

Franklin Half Dollars (1948-1963)

All Franklin halves are 90% silver. Finding one in a half dollar roll is a significant find — both for silver content ($24.23 melt) and collector value. Key things to note:

Full Bell Lines (FBL) — The lower set of horizontal lines on the Liberty Bell should be complete and unbroken. FBL specimens command significant premiums.
1953-S, 1955, and 1949-S are lower-mintage dates worth premiums above melt.
Any Franklin in AU or better condition is worth more than melt to collectors.

Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916-1947)

Increasingly rare in rolls but still found occasionally, particularly from bank vaults or estate deposits. All are 90% silver. Key dates:

1916-S, 1917-S (obverse mintmark) — Worth $50+ in Good.
1921 and 1921-D — Lowest mintages in the series. Worth $100+ in Good.
1938-D — Worth $50+ in Good.
Even common dates in average circulated condition are worth $25+ for silver content plus a collector premium.

Barber Half Dollars (1892-1915)

Extremely rare in rolls. Any Barber half is a significant find — worth $25+ minimum for silver content, and most are worth $30-50+ to collectors regardless of condition.

CRH Tips for Half Dollar Rolls

Request half dollar rolls specifically. Many banks don't keep halves in the coin drawers — you may need to ask the teller to check the vault.
Half dollar boxes ($500, 50 rolls) are the serious CRH approach. Order through your bank from the Federal Reserve.
Don't overlook 1965-1970 dates. These 40% silver coins are frequently missed because they look similar to clad. Check the edge on every Kennedy dated 1970 or earlier.
NIFC (Not Intended For Circulation) halves: Kennedy halves from 2002-present were only made for collectors, not for circulation. Finding a 2002+ Kennedy in a roll means someone deposited coins from a Mint set.

Explore Kennedy Half Dollars, Franklin Half Dollars, and Walking Liberty Half Dollars in the NumisDex catalog.