Coin Pinger
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Silver coin guide
Kennedy Half Dollar (1964) — ping test & specs
Only the 1964 Kennedy half is 90% silver (12.5 g / 30.6 mm — the classic half planchet). The 1965–1970 issues are 11.5 g 40% silver-clad and 1971+ are copper-nickel; all share the diameter, so weight and the ring are the discriminators.
Opens the free tester with this coin preselected — audio never leaves your device.
Official specifications
| Weight | 12.5 g |
| Diameter | 30.6 mm |
| Thickness | 2.15 mm |
| Composition | .900 silver (90%) |
Source: United States Mint. Coin Pinger checks measured weight and diameter against these values.
Expected resonance range
High confidence*| Mode | Expected ring | Recommended variance |
|---|---|---|
| c0d2 | 4.33–5.42 kHz | ±11.1% |
| c0d3 | 10.06–12.46 kHz | ±10.7% |
| c0d4 | 17.57–21.77 kHz | ±10.7% |
A genuine Kennedy Half Dollar (1964) rings within these ranges at its c0d2/c0d3/c0d4 vibration modes, fixed by its size and metal. The recommended variance is how far a genuine specimen's ring can sit from each center — built up in quadrature from real manufacturing tolerance and temperature (under 1%), phone-mic capture reproducibility (≈4%), an extra allowance on the fundamental for minting-asymmetry splitting, and a per-metal model-uncertainty term (largest for .9999 gold, whose modulus is least certain). This coin's band is widened further because circulated 90%-silver classics lose mass and edge crispness with wear, spreading their ring. The higher modes also carry a small thick-plate centre correction, since a real coin is not infinitely thin. The high-confidence tag reflects how well-established this metal's constants are: Computed from well-established silver elastic constants and cross-checked against same-size sibling coins. These are guidance bands, not exact values — see the methodology for the exact formula, or calibrate your own coin in the app for a specimen-exact reference and tighten each peak per coin.
* These are computed guidance ranges. Certain your Kennedy Half Dollar (1964) is genuine but it won't match? Send us its ring — we'll dig in and improve the reference.
🎙 Submit sample pingsHow to ping test a Kennedy Half Dollar (1964)
- Hold — grip the coin by its center (a nodal point) in a coin ping-test holder so the rim rings freely; a fingertip at the center is a last resort.
- Tap — strike the edge with a striker near the microphone.
- Read the verdict — MATCH or NO MATCH against the peaks above, plus weight and size checks.
Kennedy Half Dollar (1964) — frequently asked
How much does a Kennedy Half Dollar (1964) weigh?
The official specification is 12.5 g in .900 silver (90%) (source: United States Mint). Coin Pinger's weight check allows ±0.3 g by default. Circulated specimens lose a little mass to wear, so weigh toward the low side of that window.
What size is a Kennedy Half Dollar (1964)?
30.6 mm in diameter and 2.15 mm thick at the rim, per United States Mint. Note the average disc thickness is less than the rim caliper reading — the raised rim and relief concentrate metal at the edge.
What frequency does a genuine Kennedy Half Dollar (1964) ring at?
Its fundamental (c0d2) vibration mode is computed to ring in the 4.33–5.42 kHz range, with higher modes near 10.06–12.46 kHz and 17.57–21.77 kHz. These are first-principles physics computations from the coin's published mass, diameter, and metal — not measurements of sample coins.
Why does my genuine Kennedy Half Dollar (1964) ring slightly off the listed frequencies?
Wear is the biggest factor for the Kennedy Half Dollar (1964): circulated 90%-silver classics lose mass and edge crispness, which spreads the ring across specimens. On top of that, phone-mic capture moves a genuine peak a few percent tap-to-tap (strike point, how you hold it, the mic itself). That's why this reference band is wider than a modern bullion coin's.
Does ping testing damage a Kennedy Half Dollar (1964)?
No — the test needs only a light tap on the edge with a non-marring striker (a wooden pencil or plastic stylus works well), far gentler than normal handling. Hold the coin at its center so the rim can ring freely.