Walking Liberty half dollar

Walking Liberty half dollar. The Walking Liberty half dollar is a silver coin of the United States minted from 1916 to 1947. Designed by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman, it is widely considered one of the most beautiful American coins ever produced. Its iconic imagery made it the basis for the modern American Silver Eagle bullion coin.

Design and specifications

The obverse features a full-length figure of Liberty striding confidently toward the dawn, draped in the American flag, with her right hand extended and branches of laurel and oak in her left. The reverse depicts a majestic bald eagle perched on a rock beside a mountain pine sapling, with the Sun rising behind mountains. Adolph A. Weinman, a student of the famed Augustus Saint-Gaudens, won the design competition held by the United States Mint under the auspices of the United States Commission of Fine Arts. The coin's specifications followed the standard for silver coinage set by the Mint Act of 1792 and later the Pittman Act, with a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper, a diameter of 30.6 millimeters, and a mass of 12.5 grams. The mint mark, either D for Denver or S for San Francisco, is located on the reverse.

History and production

The coin was introduced in 1916 following a public and critical dissatisfaction with the preceding Barber design by Charles E. Barber. Its release was part of a broader renaissance in United States coinage that also saw the debut of the Mercury dime by Weinman and the Standing Liberty quarter by Hermon Atkins MacNeil. Initial production at the Philadelphia Mint began in late 1916, but significant mintages were achieved in the following years. Production was interrupted during World War I and was heavily impacted by the Great Depression, with very low mintages in the early 1930s. The silver coinage was dramatically affected by the Silver Purchase Act of 1934 and the subsequent Treasury silver purchases. Minting surged in the late 1930s and during World War II, when the coin's silver content became part of the nation's war effort, with notable production at the San Francisco Mint and Denver Mint. The series was discontinued in 1947, replaced by the Franklin half dollar, due to ongoing difficulties in striking Weinman's high-relief design fully.

Key dates and varieties

Several issues are notable for their rarity and value to numismatists. The 1916 issue from the Philadelphia Mint is a first-year key coin, though not the rarest. The 1921 D and P mint marks, along with the 1938 D, are among the most famous key dates due to extremely low mintages. The 1919 S, 1921 S, and 1923 S are also significant semi-key dates. Important varieties include the 1936 "Doubled Die Obverse," where details of Liberty's head and the inscriptions show noticeable doubling. Another notable variety is the 1942 over 1, where a 1942-dated die was repunched over a 1941-dated die, visible under magnification. The 1946 S "Micro S" variety, featuring a much smaller mint mark than usual, is also sought after by specialists.

Collecting and value

The Walking Liberty half dollar is a cornerstone series for collectors of 20th-century U.S. coins. Values range widely based on date, mint mark, condition (or grade), and overall rarity. Common dates from the 1940s in circulated condition are relatively affordable, while fully struck examples in Mint State grades, particularly those with attractive, frosty luster and original surfaces, command substantial premiums. Gem-quality examples of key dates like the 1921 D can reach into the tens of thousands of dollars at major auction houses like Heritage Auctions or Stack's Bowers Galleries. The series is popular for assembling complete sets by date and mint mark, as well as for type collecting, where a single high-grade example represents the design. Its enduring aesthetic appeal and historical significance, spanning both World Wars and the Great Depression, ensure its continued prominence in the hobby of numismatics. Category:Coins of the United States Category:1916 introductions Category:1947 disestablishments