Little off topic, but I have a question. Why are only 65-70 Halves 40%?

[silas1128]

Was wondering if there was a reason they chose to change the composition of a half dollar to 40% silver, but change all other denominations to copper-nickel clad. Why not all 40% or none at all?

 

[kfs]

Was wondering if there was a reason they chose to change the composition of a half dollar to 40% silver, but change all other denominations to copper-nickel clad. Why not all 40% or none at all?

Here is what I found atKennedy Half Dollar | Kennedy Half Dollars | NGC Coin Explorer
"The number of Kennedy halves produced during 1964 was enormous in comparison to previous half dollar mintages. Despite this, the coins continued to disappear as fast as they were issued. With the nationwide shortage of all coins showing no let-up, Congress enacted a law which permitted freezing the 1964 date on U. S. coins until such time as the crisis passed. This was done in an effort to discourage hoarding by collectors and speculators, but the real problem lay in methods of distribution and recirculation, rather than being caused by the insignificant actions of hobbyists.

When Congress opted to eliminate silver from the dime and quarter beginning in 1965, it reached a compromise with the half dollar: Its silver content, while greatly reduced overall, was placed almost entirely at the coin’s surface by bonding three strips of metal, the innermost one being primarily copper. These “silver-clad” pieces were coined from 1965 through 1970. Despite these various steps, Kennedy half dollars still failed to circulate to any great extent, and the question of eliminating its silver content altogether was eventually raised. After protracted debate during 1969-70, a bill was finally passed near the end of 1970 which called for the coining of half dollars in the same composition used since 1965 for the dime and quarter: two outer layers of copper and nickel bonded to an inner core of pure copper. From 1971 onward, the Kennedy half dollar would bear the red edge which had already become familiar to Americans who mourned the passing of silver from the nation’s coinage. Alas, even this concession was not enough to make half dollars reappear in circulation, and today they are known only to coin collectors.

 

[OtlFrutiger]

Some ancient genius in the land of Washington foretold that someday, there would be, the most awesome bunch of nerds ever, rifling through boxes upon boxes of coins in search of what they would call "real money." This genius also knew that those same nerds would need extra fuel to stoke their obsession once the new millenium was reached. Today, all of the nerds of the CRH Tribe are quite thankful for the wisdom of that ancient genius.

 

[OnARoll]

Great information!!

 

[50cent]

US coinage act of 1965, and besides 40% silver was still worth less than its face value yo during them years. It was the only silva coin worth minting still and looking at prices of silva of the time (.) period, you'd see why. plain'n'simple

 

[TimZim]

I know where a few are! Yea great info