Yes, there is a silver content in half dollars made before 1971. Half dollars minted after 1971 have a copper-nickel composition, but those minted prior to that date contain varying percentages of silver. Specifically, half dollars minted from 1965 to 1970 are composed of 40% silver, while those from earlier periods (1873 to 1964) contain 90% silver. Please note that the term "silver half dollar" usually refers to coins with significant silver content, so half dollars minted after 1970 are generally not considered to be silver coins in the traditional sense.