Walking Liberty Half Dollar Guide-Pictures

WALKING LIBERTY HALF DOLLARS (1916-1947)

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1916

1916-D

1916-S

1917

1917-D (Obv.)

1917-D (Rev.)

1917-S (Obv.)

1917-S (Rev.)

1918

1918-D

1918-S

1919

1919-D

1919-S

1920

1920-D

1920-S

1921

1921-D

1921-S

1923-S

1927-S

1928-S

1929-D

1929-S

1933-S

1934

1934-D

1934-S

1935

1935-D

1935-S

1936

1936-D

1936-S

1937

1937-D

1937-S

1938

1938-D

1939

1939-D

1939-S

1940

1940-S

1941

1941-D

1941-S

1942

1942-D

1942-S

1943

1943-D

1943-S

1944

1944-D

1944-S

1945

1945-D

1945-S

1946

1946-D

1946-S

1947

1947-D

Facts:

For the obverse of his design, Weinman chose a full-length figure of Liberty striding toward the dawn of a new day, clad in the Stars and Stripes and carrying branches of laurel and oak symbolizing civil and military glory. The reverse depicts a majestic eagle perched on a mountain crag, wings unfolded in a pose suggesting power, with a sapling of mountain pine-symbolic of America-springing from a rift in the rock. These strongly patriotic themes resonated perfectly across a nation then preparing to enter World War I, ironically against the land of Weinman's birth. Weinman placed his initials (AW) directly under the eagle's tailfeathers.

First-year coins from the branch mints in Denver and San Francisco carry the "D" or "S" mint mark on the obverse, below IN GOD WE TRUST, as do some pieces minted the following year. Partway through production in 1917, the mint marks' location was moved to the lower left of the reverse, just below the sapling, and that's where it remained until the series ended in 1947.

Over 485 million Walking Liberty halves were made between 1916 and 1947, but they were issued only sporadically during the 1920s and early '30s, none being minted in 1922, 1924-26 and 1930-32.

Mintages were particularly low in 1921, and the P, D and S half dollars from that year all rank among the major keys of the series. Other scarce issues include the 1916, 1916-S, 1917-D and S (with the mint marks on the obverse) and 1938-D. Brilliant proofs were minted from 1936 to 1942, totaling 74,400 pieces, and a very few satin-finish proofs were struck in 1916 and '17.

Coin Information Provided Courtesy NGC.

Date/Mint Mark	Grade	Value
1916	G4	$60
1916-D	G4	$60
1916-S	G4	$135
1917	G4	$12
1917-D Obverse mint mark	G4	$30
1917-D Reverse mint mark	G4	$14
1917-S Obverse mint mark	G4	$35
1917-S Reverse mint mark	G4	$12
1918	G4	$12
1918-D	G4	$12
1919	G4	$35
1919-D	G4	$27
1919-S	G4	$12
1920	G4	$12
1920-D	G4	$14
1920-S	G4	$12
1921	G4	$225
1921-D	G4	$400
1921-S	G4	$55
1923-S	G4	$14
1927-S	G4	$12
1928-S	G4	$12
1929-D	G4	$12
1929-S	G4	$12
1933-S	G4	$11
1934	G4	$11
1934-D	G4	$11
1934-S	G4	$11
1935	G4	$11
1935-D	G4	$11
1935-S	G4	$11
1936	G4	$11
1936-D	G4	$11
1936-S	G4	$11
1937	G4	$11
1937-D	G4	$11
1937-S	G4	$11
1938	G4	$11
1938-D	G4	$135
1939	G4	$11
1939-D	G4	$11
1939-S	G4	$11
1940	G4	$11
1940-S	G4	$11
1941	G4	$11
1941 No AW (designer initials)	PF64	$800
1941-D	G4	$11
1941-S	G4	$11
1942	G4	$11
1942 Double die reverse	MS66	$1,300
1942-D	G4	$11
1942-S	G4	$11
1943	G4	$11
1943-D	G4	$11
1943-S	G4	$11
1944	G4	$11
1944-D	G4	$11
1944-S	G4	$11
1945	G4	$11
1945-D	G4	$11
1945-S	G4	$11
1946	G4	$11
1946 Double die reverse	EF40	$300
1946-D	G4	$11
1946-S	G4	$11
1947	G4	$11
1947-D	G4	$11

The listed values are for the grade G4, except the proofs and varieties, because Walking Liberty Halves are commonly found in this condition. Coins that are damaged, scratched or cleaned in any way will be less then values listed in price guides. Also, the below values are just examples of what the date has sold for, and not what a dealer would pay for the same date, mint or grade.