The Walking Liberty half dollar is renowned for its beauty and worth, making it one of the most exquisite US coins ever produced. This 50-cent coin, which was minted from 1915 to 1947, helped America weather the Great Depression and two World Wars. In addition to being a symbol of American currency, it may also be extremely valuable if you own one.
Need to Know
The intricacy of the design of this coin, which features Lady Liberty in flowing robes gliding toward a rising sun, made it especially difficult to mint. Perfect specimens are rare.
Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollars
Although many Walking Liberty examples are worth considerably more, every half dollar is worth at least its face value. Since 90% of these coins are made of silver, their melt values are already greater than 50 cents. The majority of these coins should be worth at least $10 if they are in good condition. There are, however, a few extremely valuable examples that you may want to watch out for.
1919-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar
The 1919 edition from the Denver Mint is extremely precious and is regarded by collectors as the rarest Walking Liberty half dollar to find in Gem condition. Few of the 1.1 million of these coins minted in Denver have the detail necessary to be considered gems. Since many of these coins were in use in the years immediately following World War I, even fewer have survived. One of these Gem condition 1919-D half dollars sold for $270,250 when it was put up for sale in 2004.
1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar
The 1919-S actually had fewer coins minted, but the 1919-D is the rarest in gem form. Many of them were circulated, but only 548,000 were minted at the San Francisco Mint in 1921. Many people in this era made fifty cents an hour, and as the economy began to falter, few could afford to preserve half a dollar in coin collections. In 2016, a mint state sample brought $188,000.
1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar
The 1921-D is another Walking Liberty half dollar that is extremely uncommon in mint condition. It’s rare to locate these in great condition because the Denver Mint issue also saw a lot of circulation. The value rises significantly when a top-notch strike is added. In 2018, one 1921-D brought $168,000.
1917-S Obverse Mintmark Walking Liberty Half Dollar
During the initial years of the Walking Liberty silver half dollar’s production, the coin’s obverse (or heads) had the mintmark. In 1917, the mint shifted the mintmark to the reverse after growing worried that it appeared to be a mistake or flaw in the coin’s die. There are very few 1917 coins that have the mark on the obverse. In good condition, they are much more uncommon. In 2015, one sold for $152,750.
1944 Walking Liberty Half Dollar
It’s quite impossible to locate a 1944 Walking Liberty 50-cent coin with good, strong features and little circulation wear, even though there were more than 28 million of these produced. This coin, even when in mint condition, isn’t always as well detailed to highlight Lady Liberty’s robe folds. In 2010, a high-grade one sold for $109,250.
Quick Tip
Because so many business strike coins were produced during the war years, the 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1944 are generally not among the most valuable. On the other hand, proof coins from the war years and mint state coins that were never used can be worth a lot of money. Additionally, there is a 1942/1943 overstrike and a repunched mintmark (D over S) due to a mint error.
What to Look for in a Walking Liberty Half Dollar
While most Walking Liberty silver half dollars are worth a few dollars or more, there are a few qualities to look for in high-value coins. Here are some pointers to assist you select which coins are the most valuable or add to your collection.
- Early years – The coin’s early years often have the highest value, although mid-range years, like the 1937 Walking Liberty half dollar, are always valuable.
- Errors – Minting errors like a double mintmark or overdate can be worth more because they tend to be rare.
- Quality strike – It’s actually very uncommon to find a coin with the best details and in good condition because it was particularly difficult to strike correctly.
- Condition – Walking Liberty Uncirculated The value of 50-cent items is higher than that of heavily worn and altered items.
One of the Most Collectible American Coins
The Walking Liberty half dollar is a symbol of American coinage since it covers the years between the First World War, the Great Depression, and the Second World War. It should come as no surprise that this is one of the most collectible coins given its intrinsic worth due to its silver content and its exquisite (and challenging to mint) design.
