Design and Specifications of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar

The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was introduced as part of a movement to beautify American coinage. It replaced the Barber Half Dollar and is considered one of the most beautiful U.S. coin designs. Its obverse design was later adapted for use on the American Silver Eagle bullion coin.
Weight 12.5 grams
Diameter 30.61 mm
Mint Marks D (Denver), S (San Francisco), P (Philadelphia, no mint mark)
Composition 90% silver, 10% copper
Obverse Design Lady Liberty walking towards the rising sun, draped in the American flag, carrying branches of laurel and oak
Reverse Design An eagle perched on a mountain crag, wings unfolded
Obverse Designer Adolph A. Weinman
Reverse Designer Adolph A. Weinman
Years of Minting 1916-1947

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Walking Liberty Half Dollars significantly impacts their value, with uncirculated specimens commanding high premiums. Some issues, like the 1917-S with the mint mark on the obverse, are valuable due to their short production run. The 1942 ‘Proof’ issue is highly sought after by collectors.
1921 246,000 minted; lowest mintage of the series
1916-S 508,000 minted; one of the key dates in the series
1921-D 208,000 minted; another key date
1938-D 491,600 minted; scarce in higher grades

Explore Walking Liberty Half Dollar Values by Year

1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1923 1927 1928 1929 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947

Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollar

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1943 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1944 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1942 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1945 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1943-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1917 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $18.00 – $250.00 –
1941 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1937 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $75.00 –
1936 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $60.00 –
1939 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $75.00 –
1918 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $900.00 –
1946 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1921 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $8,250.00 –
1940 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $50.00 –
1934 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $105.00 –
1916 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,000.00 –
1935 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $60.00 –
1938-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $700.00 –
1919 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $3,250.00 –
1947 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $50.00 –
1944-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1941-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1942-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1942-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1919-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $8,000.00 –
1945-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1923-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $4,500.00 –
1920 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $700.00 –
1938 Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $100.00 –
1945-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1941-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $90.00 –
1921-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $125.00 – $12,000.00 –
1933-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $875.00 –
1921-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $26,500.00 –
1940-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $80.00 –
1936 Half Dollar (Proof) $500.00 – $1,000.00 –
1943-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1944-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $55.00 –
1917-S Half Dollar Obverse (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $4,750.00 –
1916-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $800.00 –
1937-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $185.00 –
1934-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $425.00 –
1929-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $23.00 – $725.00 –
1935-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $225.00 –
1917-S Half Dollar Reverse (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $1,050.00 –
1916-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $75.00 – $2,875.00 –
1939-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $95.00 –
1935-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $500.00 –
1920-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $1,800.00 –
1918-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $825.00 –
1917-D Half Dollar Obverse (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $1,075.00 –
1946-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $50.00 –
1928-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $2,350.00 –
1937 Half Dollar (Proof) $335.00 – $440.00 –
1946 Half Dollar Doubled Die Reverse (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $450.00 –
1939 Half Dollar (Proof) $205.00 – $250.00 –
1927-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $2,300.00 –
1939-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $160.00 –
1946-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1919-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $7,350.00 –
1936-S Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $225.00 –
1918-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $1,825.00 –
1934-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $185.00 –
1936-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $110.00 –
1920-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $3,600.00 –
1947-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $50.00 –
1941-S/S Half Dollar RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $150.00 –
1942 Half Dollar (Proof) $155.00 – $250.00 –
1941-D/D Half Dollar RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $110.00 –
1941 Half Dollar (Proof) $155.00 – $250.00 –
1944-D Half Dollar FS-901 Hand Engraved Initials (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $85.00 –
1917-D Half Dollar Reverse (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $1,850.00 –
1929-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $19.00 – $750.00 –
1937-D Half Dollar (Regular Strike) $17.00 – $225.00 –
1946 Half Dollar DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $450.00 –
1940 Half Dollar (Proof) – $325.00 – $28,500.00
1936-D Half Dollar DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) $19.00 – $150.00 –
1939-D Half Dollar DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $135.00 –
1939-D/D Half Dollar RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $275.00 –
1942 Half Dollar, CAM (Proof) – $750.00 – $27,500.00
1944-S/S Half Dollar RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $310.00 –
1938 Half Dollar (Proof) $275.00 – $375.00 –
1941-S Half Dollar FS-901 Missing Wing Feathers (Regular Strike) $175.00 – $185.00 –
1936 Half Dollar DDO FS-102 (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $235.00 –
1916-D Half Dollar RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike) $125.00 – $850.00 –
1941-S Half Dollar, PL (Regular Strike) – $800.00 – $1,750.00
1944-S/S Half Dollar RPM FS-502 (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $110.00 –
1944-S Half Dollar Inv Mintmark FS-511 (Regular Strike) $26.00 – $68.00 –
1945 Half Dollar FS-901, Missing Initials (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $275.00 –
1936 Half Dollar DDO FS-101 (008.4) (Regular Strike) $17,500.00 –
1946 Half Dollar DDR FS-801 (011) (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $450.00 –
1938 Half Dollar, CAM (Proof) – $2,250.00 – $25,000.00
1939 Half Dollar, CAM (Proof) – $2,500.00 – $4,800.00
1942 Half Dollar DDR FS-801 (009) (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $200.00 –

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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