The composition of Kennedy half-dollar coins varied over time. Coins minted from 1964 contained 90% of a precious metal, while those produced from 1965 to 1970 consisted of 40% of the same precious metal bonded to outer layers of a different alloy. Coins issued after 1970 were made of base metals: primarily copper and nickel.
The presence of this precious metal significantly impacts the intrinsic value of those earlier issues, making them more than just their face value. Numismatists and collectors are interested in these coins due to their historical significance and the inherent worth of their metal content. This creates a secondary market driven by fluctuations in the precious metal’s spot price.