1968 Half Dollar Value: D Circulation Coins, S Proofs and Silver

In this article

Quick answer

A normal 1968 Kennedy half dollar is either a D-mint circulation strike or an S-mint Proof, and both standard issues contain 40% silver. The nominal weight is 11.50 grams, with approximately 0.1479 troy ounce of fine silver. Unlike 1965–1967, 1968 uses mint marks.

The PCGS guide checked October 21, 2026 lists the regular 1968-D at $11 in Very Fine 20, $16 in Mint State 63 and $20 in Mint State 65. These retail estimates do not price an S Proof or guarantee a dealer offer. A coin with an unclear or apparently missing letter should be examined, not automatically advertised as a rare no-mint-mark issue.

Coin photos

1968-D obverse: the small D is above the date and below Kennedy’s neck.

Same coin reverse: compare eagle detail, contact marks and original luster.

Basics & coin story

In 1968 mint marks returned after the 1965–1967 omission period, and annual Proof production resumed at San Francisco. Those changes explain why a 1968 half dollar should not be sorted using the no-mark rule of the previous three years.

The silver-clad composition continued: the regular half did not become a 90% silver coin merely because Proofs returned. Denver produced 246,951,930 regular halves. The design remained Gilroy Roberts’s Kennedy portrait paired with Frank Gasparro’s presidential-seal reverse. For the transition immediately before it, see 1966 regular versus SMS issues and 1967 half-dollar identification.

Identification at a glance
Feature	What to check
Regular issue	1968-D, Denver
Proof issue	1968-S, San Francisco
Composition	40% silver, 60% copper overall
Nominal weight / diameter	11.50 g / 30.61 mm
Fine silver	Approximately 0.1479 troy ounce
Mint mark location	Obverse, above the date below the neck
Edge	Reeded

Identification

Check the obverse for D or S

Inspect the small space between Kennedy’s neck and the date. A D identifies the normal circulation issue. An S identifies the Proof issue. Dirt, lighting, wear or alteration can obscure a tiny letter, so an uncertain photograph does not establish a missing-mark variety.

Proof is a manufacturing category

A Proof was made as a collector issue, not simply a particularly shiny circulation coin. Cameo or Deep Cameo contrast is a further distinction, not automatic for all S coins. A damaged Proof may retain its manufacturing identity while losing collector appeal; a polished D coin remains a circulation strike.

Use the correct silver years

Do not describe this as the 90% silver 1964 composition or the base-metal circulating composition used from 1971. Edge appearance can support a first pass, but cannot replace proper issue identification or measurement. The Kennedy silver-year overview is useful when sorting mixed dates.

Condition & value

Amounts are in U.S. dollars. PCGS retail-guide examples were checked October 21, 2026 and apply only to the stated issue, grade and designation. They are not guaranteed purchase offers; current market conditions and selling costs can change the amount received.

Value comparisons: match the issue before using a price
Issue	Grade / condition	Value or reference	Basis	Important condition
1968-D regular	VF20	$11	PCGS retail guide	Problem-free circulated example
1968-D regular	XF40	$12	PCGS retail guide	Not a live metal quote
1968-D regular	MS63	$16	PCGS retail guide	Uncirculated ordinary strike
1968-D regular	MS65	$20	PCGS retail guide	Correct mint and grade required
1968-S Proof / contrast designation	Exact Proof grade	Use Proof entry	Separate collector issue	Do not transfer D prices

The contained-silver reference is approximately 0.1479 times the silver price per troy ounce. A dealer’s buying quote may differ because of spreads, transaction costs and the way a lot is sold. A grade-specific retail guide can lag a changing metal market, so use current evidence at the point of sale.

For an uncirculated D coin, look for luster breaks on high points and contact marks across the cheek and fields. For an S Proof, examine hairlines, haze and the actual contrast designation. PCGS also lists a recognized 1968-D tripled-die obverse entry; apparent doubling needs exact attribution rather than a premium based on a blurry edge. Compare grade definitions before assigning a number.

Summary

Find D or S above the date, separate regular strike from Proof, and use the 40% silver specification. The normal 1968 issues have mint marks. Keep uncertain letters and alleged varieties uncleaned for examination, and use matching grade and finish evidence instead of a universal 1968 price.

FAQ

Does a 1968 half dollar have silver?

Yes. Standard 1968-D regular strikes and 1968-S Proofs contain 40% silver overall, approximately 0.1479 troy ounce.

Where is the mint mark on a 1968 half dollar?

It is on the obverse above the date, below Kennedy’s neck. D is the normal circulation issue and S is the Proof issue.

Is a 1968 half dollar with no mint mark normal?

Unlike 1965–1967, the standard 1968 issues use mint marks. An unclear or apparently absent mark needs examination; it is not automatically a valuable error.

Can I use 1968-D prices for a 1968-S coin?

No. The S coin is a separate Proof issue. Compare the same Proof grade and any Cameo or Deep Cameo designation.

References

References and further reading

Sources and quoted guide evidence checked October 21, 2026. Guide estimates, historical sales, face value and metal-content calculations are identified separately.