The 1968 silver Kennedy half dollars are worth much more than their face value.
So, the big question comes down to just how much are these old silver half dollars really worth?
The good news about old Kennedy half dollars is that not only do they contain silver, but you can even still find them while searching through rolls of half dollars!
In this article, I will cover:
- How much silver is inside each 1968 Kennedy half dollar
- How much 1968 Kennedy half dollars are worth today
- Which 1968 silver half dollar error coins are the most valuable
- Where you can find valuable silver half dollars for face value
How Much Silver Is In A 1968 Kennedy Half Dollar?
Before we talk about how much silver is in 1968-D and 1968-S half dollars, let’s first cover some important facts about what was going on at the United States Mint in the 1960s…
Silver prices started rising during the early part of the decade. By 1964, 90% silver coins like dimes, quarters, and half dollars were worth more for their silver content than their denominational face values.
So, in 1965, United States Congress, along with officials from the U.S. Treasury and U.S. Mint began planning for ways to address the silver situation. The problem became so bad that a major coin shortage started occurring, as bullion hoarders plucked silver coins from circulation.
After much debate, and even input from then-President Lyndon B. Johnson, it was decided that the U.S. Mint should replace the 90% silver content in dimes and quarters with a much cheaper copper-nickel clad composition. Meanwhile, the 90% silver half dollar would also be debased.
In 1965, the U.S. Mint began striking Kennedy half dollars with a 40% silver alloy. This same arrangement continued with 1968 coins, as the U.S. Mint struck dimes and quarters in copper-nickel clad and 1968 half dollars in 40% silver.
1968 Kennedy Half Dollar Values
Given their silver content, 1968 Kennedy half dollars are worth much more than their face value. But determining the EXACT value of a 1968 half dollar comes down to the following factors:
- Current silver prices
- The grade of the individual half dollar
- The presence of any errors, varieties, or other aberrations
A Quick Note: 1968-D Kennedy half dollars were struck for circulation at the Denver Mint. The 1968-S Kennedy half dollars were struck only as proofs for coin collectors — these were made at the San Francisco Mint.
#1 – How to find current silver prices & values
When it comes to knowing what silver coins are worth, you really need to know the current silver price. Ultimately, common, well-worn silver coins (like most 1968 Kennedy half dollars) are worth only their current silver melt value.
There are many places you can look up current silver values online, including the silver coin melt calculator on Coinflation.
#2 – How to determine the grade of your 1968 half dollar
The grade plays a huge role in determining if your 1968 Kennedy half dollar is worth its silver melt value — or much more.
For example, while a circulated 1968 half dollar is worth its spot price, Mint State examples are worth a notable premium above that.
In this video, I show you how to determine coin grades yourself:
It’s worth the effort to grade your 1968 half dollars. Want to know why? Check out these auction prices that have been realized for some of the most valuable 1968 Kennedy half dollars in top grades:
- 1968-D Kennedy half dollar (Mint State-67+) — Sold for $7,500 in August 2019
- 1968-S Kennedy half dollar (Proof-70 Deep Cameo) — Sold for $24,000 in June 2023
#3 – How to know if you have a 1968 half dollar error
There are some really cool errors and varieties you can find among 1968 Kennedy half dollars worth big money. Check these out:
- 1968 Doubled Die Half Dollar — There are some minor doubled dies known to exist among 1968-D and 1968-S Kennedy half dollars, which can sell for $25 and more.
- 1968 No FG Half Dollar — No major sources currently list known 1968 No FG Kennedy half dollars, but this variety (created by overzealous die polishing that inadvertently removed the “FG” initials for designer Frank Gasparro) can occur for any date. Values for No FG Kennedy half dollars are all over the board depending on date and rarity and usually start around $50.
In this video, I show you how to identify legit errors on coins yourself:
Where To Find Silver Kennedy Half Dollars
While you now know that all 1968 Kennedy half dollars are worth more than their face value, it’s still possible to pick up these old silver half dollars for just 50 cents each — face value.
How, you ask?
Start looking for old valuable silver half dollars in bank rolls! You can buy rolls of half dollars (and other denominations) from your bank, credit union, or other financial institution for their face value.
NOTE: 20 half dollars come in each half dollar roll, therefore a roll of half dollars should cost you $10.
Many people search for half dollars by looking through half dollar rolls. In fact, roll searching for old and rare coins is so popular that there are tons of roll searching videos online.
Here’s a video I made to help newbies get started roll searching:
