3 Ways to Find Silver Half Dollars - wikiHow (2024)

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1Spotting Authentic Silver Half Dollars

2Buying Coin Rolls

3Searching for Circulated Coins

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Co-authored bywikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 26, 2024References

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Depending on when the coins were minted, silver half dollars can be a valuable investment. If you're a coin collector interested in finding the right half dollars, you may not know where to look and what coins are valuable. You can find silver half dollars at your local bank, in antique shops or flea markets, or via professional coin dealers. Recognizing the markers of silver half dollars and where you're likely to find them will help you find more rare coins when expanding your collection.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Spotting Authentic Silver Half Dollars

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  1. 1

    Look for half dollars minted during 1969 or earlier. Prior to 1965, half dollars contained 90% silver. In 1965, the U.S. Mint removed silver from all dimes and quarters. They also reduced the silver content in half dollars from 90% to 40%, which is the silver content for all half dollars minted for general circulation in the years 1965-1970. Most coins minted after 1970 are not made of silver but are most likely nickel-clad half dollars.[1]

    • Kennedy 1964 half dollars are the last 90% silver coins minted by the Federal Reserve for regular circulation.
    • When you have find a half dollar, make sure its date matches the symbol minted during that period. For example, a Kennedy half dollar with a date before 1965 is a potential counterfeit, but only the most rare dates are actually counterfeited.[2]
  2. 2

    Use a magnet. Silver exhibits weak magnetic effects. If your coins stick to a magnet, they are most likely not silver.[3] Your half dollar is more likely nickel-clad if it's strongly magnetic.

    • Remember that some metals (like aluminum or titanium) can look like silver. When in doubt, bring your coin to a dealer who can determine its authenticity.

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  3. 3

    Try the ice test. Silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any common metal or alloy. If you place a piece of ice directly on the silver and it melts immediately (as if it has been placed on a hot object), your coin is most likely silver.

    • Avoid performing this test outdoors. The ice test will be most accurate in a room temperature area.
  4. 4

    Do the ring test. Flick your coin in the air and listen to the sound it makes as it hits the ground. Authentic silver will make a high-pitched ringing sound, like a bell. If it does not make this sound, the coin is likely a counterfeit.

    • Be careful to only do this test if you are certain that the coin you are dropping isn't a rare date/mint mark combination. The ring test is likely to make a dent on the coin if it falls from a high place, and even seemingly minor damage can severely hurt a rare coin's value.
  5. 5

    Check for damage on the coin. If the area is marred or looks like it's been tampered with, a counterfeiter may have altered the date or mint mark. Don't trust a coin with lots of strange markings or scratches, especially if they're around the mint mark or date. You may be dealing with a counterfeit coin.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Buying Coin Rolls

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  1. 1

    Choose a large corporate bank. To find silver half dollars, you'll want to find a bank with circulated coins rather than freshly-minted coins. The best banks for circulated half-dollars are big-name banks with businessmen patrons. Corporate banks deal with large amounts of circulated coins and will have more on hand.

    • Banks that specialize in merchant business will often sell coin rolls to non-account holders. Smaller banks may be more reluctant.
  2. 2

    Avoid rolls with coins returned in bulk. If your bank says that one person returned a large sum of half-dollars, they have probably been searched. Ask for rolls that have come from a variety of sources. These are more likely to have older coins.

  3. 3

    Look for banks that have hand-rolled half dollars as opposed to machine-rolled coins. The latter are usually from the Federal Reserve and were recently minted. New half dollar coins are useless to you, as any half dollar minted after 1970 will not have silver. Ask your bank teller if these coins were newly-minted before you exchange cash for them.

  4. 4

    Trade in cash for coin rolls at the bank. After you've contacted local banks, visit them and trade your money for half dollar rolls. If this is not your personal bank, bring paper cash to trade for the coin rolls. Keep track of the rolls so you can trade them back in after you've searched them.

    • Ask the bank tellers to give you the rolls that appear to have been sitting there the longest or are at the bottom of their stacks. You'll be more likely to find older coins.
  5. 5

    Search your rolls for rare half dollars. Remember key markers of a rare half dollar to find coins minted when the Federal Reserve used silver. Take care to search all your coins carefully and thoroughly. If you're unable to focus, consider searching the rolls at another time.

    • Don't search all the rolls at once. Take breaks in-between rolls to avoid carelessly missing a silver half dollar.
    • Store unwrapped coins in a specific place so you can return them to the bank later. Losing track of coins can add up over time, and you do not want to make coin collecting an overly-expensive hobby.
  6. 6

    Develop a good relationship with local bank tellers. Frequent the same banks when trading your money for coin rolls. Over time, get to know the tellers and let them know what half dollars you're searching for. Ask them if they'll contact you when new half dollar rolls arrive.

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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Searching for Circulated Coins

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  1. 1

    Check local stores. Antique stores are an excellent place to find vintage silver coins. Ask your local shop owners if they collect or sell "junk silver," the antique term for old coins in good condition.[4] If so, inspect their coin collection for silver half dollars. Thrift shops may also carry vintage coins, depending on their policies.

    • Ask friends who work in retail to put aside half dollars for you. You can come into their store and trade your paper money for their half dollars, which you can then inspect.
  2. 2

    Visit flea markets. Search in your local classifieds for flea market listings. When you arrive, move from booth to booth and look for vendors selling coins. If you find a silver half dollar, ask your vendor questions about where they obtained it and whether they have a certificate of authenticity for the coin.[5]

    • If you want to get up early on the weekends, check garage and estate sales. Someone nearby may be selling their personal coin collections. Yard sales aren't a guaranteed place to find silver coins, but you never know.
  3. 3

    Purchase half dollars from coin dealers. Look for reputable coin dealers in your area and ask if they have silver half dollars for sale. Dealers often work with a variety of coins, and you're likely to find at least one who sells half dollars.

    • Find a dealer who is an Authorized Purchaser working with the U.S. Mint. This guarantees that your coin dealer is professional and safe. Most Authorized Purchasers have been in the business for over five years and have a strong client base.
  4. 4

    Use a metal detector. Buy or build a metal detector and go searching in local areas. The best spots to look for coins are urban areas, like beaches, ski resorts, or campsites.[6] Metal detecting will help you find a variety of old coins: you never know whether you'll get lucky and find a silver half dollar.

    • Heavily-trafficked areas are best for finding coins. While you can metal detect in the countryside or forests, you are unlikely to find what you're looking for.
    • For older coins, visit old areas. A building constructed in the last ten years might not have older coins, but a building fifty or more years old might have vintage coins.[7]
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  • Question

    Couldn't I just go to the bank?

    3 Ways to Find Silver Half Dollars - wikiHow (21)

    Donagan

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    Banks really aren't in the business of trading coins. It's not likely they'd want to take the time with you to search through their stock of coins. The other options mentioned above are more likely to be useful, particularly local coin dealers.

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  • Question

    Can I trade paper money for silver half dollars?

    Yes, that's usually how people acquire coins.

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  • Question

    How do I make a metal detector?

    3 Ways to Find Silver Half Dollars - wikiHow (23)

    Community Answer

    This wikiHow article on building your own metal detector should have all the information you need.

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    Thank you for your feedback.
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      Tips

      • Ask older friends or relatives for help. Many people have a coin jar where they store loose change. Let them know that you are looking for rare half dollars and promise to split profits with them if they let you inspect their coins.

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      • Look into smaller towns as opposed to major metropolitan areas. Smaller cities are less likely to have been picked over by coin collectors.

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      Warnings

      • In some areas, metal detecting is illegal. Check your city laws before detecting in urban areas.

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      • Take care when obtaining large quantities of rolls of half-dollars that the rolls are not short. It is not unheard of to be short a half-dollar per roll. If you're buying multiple rolls, your loss can add up over time.

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      • Be mindful of your safety and security if you are carrying large amounts of cash or coins. Consider investing in a safe to deter theft.

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      About This Article

      3 Ways to Find Silver Half Dollars - wikiHow (38)

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      wikiHow Staff

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      This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 242,850 times.

      118 votes - 85%

      Co-authors: 19

      Updated: April 26, 2024

      Views:242,850

      Categories: Featured Articles | Coins

      Article SummaryX

      The easiest way to find silver half dollars is to go to a large corporate bank and trade in cash for a roll of them. To increase your chances of finding older, more valuable coins, ask for hand-rolled half dollars or rolls from a variety of sources, which are less likely to have already been searched. Alternatively, you could call local antique stores to ask if they sell "junk silver," which refers to old coins in good condition. If you're hoping to find old coins with a metal detector, keep your focus on heavily trafficked areas and older buildings. For more advice, like how to spot an authentic silver half dollar, read on!

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      3 Ways to Find Silver Half Dollars - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      3 Ways to Find Silver Half Dollars - wikiHow? ›

      If you're a coin collector

      coin collector
      Coin collecting is the collecting of coins or other forms of minted legal tender. Coins of interest to collectors include beautiful, rare, and historically significant pieces.
      https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Coin_collecting
      interested in finding the right half dollars, you may not know where to look and what coins are valuable. You can find silver half dollars at your local bank, in antique shops or flea markets, or via professional coin dealers.

      What is the easiest way to find silver coins? ›

      Mint rolls. The best opportunity to find silver coins are from hand-rolled coins, as these rolls generally haven't been searched. Rolls from coin processors also provide an opportunity to find silver coins, but we've heard in the past that these companies allow employees to swap out face value coins for silver coins.

      How to tell if a half dollar coin is silver? ›

      The best way to determine if your coins are silver is to view the edge of the coin. If the coin has a solid silver stripe, then you can feel confident that it's silver. If you can see a copper stripe, then the coin is clad. A more subdued silver stripe with faint traces of copper could mean that the coin is 40% silver.

      Can I get 50 cent pieces at the bank? ›

      Modern-date half dollars can be purchased in proof sets, mint sets, rolls, and bags from the U.S. Mint, and existing inventory circulation pieces can be obtained or ordered through most U.S. banks and credit unions.

      Will banks give you silver dollars? ›

      While some banks sell silver and gold coins and bars, many do not. Others may offer the option to order silver bullion.

      How to find silver half dollars? ›

      To find silver half dollars, you'll want to find a bank with circulated coins rather than freshly-minted coins. The best banks for circulated half-dollars are big-name banks with businessmen patrons. Corporate banks deal with large amounts of circulated coins and will have more on hand.

      What year half dollars are mostly silver? ›

      Which Half Dollars Are Silver?
      Years MintedHalf DollarSilver Composition
      1916-1947Walking Liberty90%
      1948-1963Franklin90%
      1964Kennedy90%
      1965-1970Kennedy40%
      5 more rows
      Sep 26, 2023

      How much is a 1964 half dollar worth with no mint mark? ›

      1964 Kennedy Half Dollar Value

      According to the NGC Price Guide, as of September 2024, a Kennedy Half Dollar from 1964 in circulated condition is worth between $10.25 and $11. However, on the open market 1964 Half Dollars in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $5200.

      How to tell if 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar is valuable? ›

      Although the standard coin itself can hold value, you can identify rarer versions of this coin by looking at the design. Coins with known and documented errors, like changes in the former president's hair, can be worth even more.

      Why is it illegal to own a 1964 Peace dollar? ›

      The Treasury Department claims every one was accounted for and melted. None have publicly surfaced in the 45 years since. If an original 1964 Peace silver dollar were to turn up, it would be subject to immediate confiscation since it would be assumed to be stolen government property.

      Where to cash in half dollar coins? ›

      Your local bank branch is a good place to exchange coins.

      Where can I get silver dollars at a bank? ›

      Banks rarely, if ever, will have silver dollars for sale. We are not referring to US Mint Silver Eagle coins with a face value of one dollar. However, even then you may not want to buy or sell at the bank. That is because they charge significantly more than bullion dealers do.

      Does a magnet pick up silver coins? ›

      Silver is not magnetic, not even with the strongest magnet. However, silver is diamagnetic. If you hold a silver coin at 45 degrees a suitable magnet will slide down it slowly. This is because the moving magnet sets up an 'electrical field'* that slows its fall.

      Where is the best place to buy junk silver coins? ›

      Where Is the Best Place to Buy Junk Silver? The best place to buy junk silver coins is from a professional bullion dealer or local coin shop.

      How to get top dollar for silver coins? ›

      You have several options, including local coin shops, online precious metals dealers, online marketplaces, and direct sales to collectors. Rare coins are best sold direct to collectors who may pay a healthy premium. If you need to sell a large quantity of silver coins, then a dealer is ideal.

      Where is the best place to find scrap silver? ›

      Pawn shops, jewelry makers, jewelry stores and trading posts dealing in silver often sell inventory when going out of business. Search for silver inventory listings online or in classified newspaper ads.

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