How to value coins might be one of the most asked questions when it comes to coin and silver dollar collecting and it is not always easy to understand what makes a valuable coin and what does not. I found this article that I think explains how the melt value of a coin is calculated. It is harder to arrive at values for other coins, for example silver dollars that are valued after their market value.

How Is A 1963 Half Dollar Coin Valued

Between 1948 and 1963 the silver half dollar was known as the Franklin Half Dollar and on one side could be seen a picture of Benjamin Franklin and on the reverse side was the Liberty Bell with a small eagle.

At the time of it first being minted this coin was required to have a small eagle to the right of the Liberty Bell by law. But what is ironic is that Benjamin Franklin actually opposed the use of the eagle as the USA’s national symbol and would have preferred that the turkey (a more noble bird) was used instead. Then in 1963 the coin was changed upon the death of John F Kennedy, the president at that time.

But what is the 1963 half dollar coin value and how is it calculated?

photo credit: Smabs SputzerThe value of this coin changed because the value of silver had risen between 1962 and 1963 and this coin contains such a high amount of silver compared to those that were minted in 1964 and onwards. In the beginning the 1963 half dollar coin was being hoarded by many people for sentimental reasons (as a reminder of a US President who was truly loved) and also because they were the only precious metal US coin that remained in circulation at the time.

At present the 1963 half dollar coin is worth around $4.8142 and this relates to its rounded silver value. In order to reach this value a coin dealer will use the following equation. First they will need to get hold of the latest metal prices which at present are $13.31 an ounce for silver and $3.13 an ounce for copper. They will then take the weight of the coin (12.5g) and convert the weight of the silver and copper within the coin in ounces. They then multiply the weight of the silver in the coin by the price of silver and then multiply this by the weight of the coin and then multiply this finally by the percentage of silver that is contained within the coin and this will give you the final rounded value of the coin.

In order to arrive at the 1963 half dollar coin value if the half dollar were melted down, they need to use the same calculations shown above for the copper contained within the coin. Once you have the value of the copper held within the coin you then add this to the value of the silver and this provides the coin dealer with the 1963 half dollar coin melt value.
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For more information on how to value coins using a coin value guide visit http://www.find-coins.com where will find useful tips, articles and resources to help you find old coins.

More information:

Coin values are dictated primarily by four criteria: popularity, grade, rarity and quality. For investors, of course of instruction, a fifth measure of value comes into play: cost. Ideally, coin prices are a function of the other four criteria of its value, but not always. Unfortunately, many coin dealers charge prices that far surpass the value of the coins they sell. (http://www.amergold.com/library/value.shtml)