Walking Liberty Dollar Design

The Liberty Walking came after the Barber, and it ran from 1916 to 1947. These coins were created by Adolph A. Weinman as a replacement for the Barber designs because the director of the U.S. Mint, Robert W. Woolley, thought that the 25-year minimum for a new coin design was actually a mandate to create a new coin when the time period was up.

Woolley and the Commission of Fine Arts worked together on the Silver coins including the dime, quarter and half dollar. Many were agitating for the replacement of the Barber coins as part of an ongoing refresh to make the coins more beautiful. Not all were pleased by this. Chief Engraver Barber, long an advocate for practicality over aesthetics, provided some roadblocks to the process though he eventually did put the designs through.

The original suggestion had been for the Mint to create new designs, and Barber had done so. The commission did not appreciate the sketches Barber submitted and recruited sculptors to create designs. Adolph Weinman, Hermon MacNeil and Albin Polasek were the three selected. Weinman’s designs were used in their entirety for the dime and the half dollar. MacNeil designed the quarter, and none of Polasek’s designs were selected.

The new coins were publicly announced on March 3, 1916. With these design refreshes, all American coins would have a new design. This was also the first time that there was a clearly different design between all different coins, as many of the older designs were used for multiple coins with minor modifications.

Weinman’s design shows Liberty walking and holding a bundle of branches with an American flag over her shoulder and the sun behind her. The reverse is an eagle on a mountaintop. The coins had a higher relief than many other coins of the time and striking was challenging. Barber and other proponents of practical coinage concerns over aesthetics were not fans of the new designs created by sculptors who were not necessarily familiar with the ins and outs of the striking process. There were issues with the dime and the half dollar when they were first struck, as the edge had a “fin” or raised lip that did not work well with vending machines. Barber created modified designs, but after intercession from others, the design was struck as-is with a slightly lower relief and some modifications to the strike.

Historical Significance

The Liberty Walking holds a special place in the American psyche due to its association with World Wars I and II. Adolph A. Weinman’s design for the obverse of the coin was so iconic it has been reused for other coins including the famous Eagle bullion coins. The redesign of the half dollar coincided with the redesign of the last few coins which had not had a refresh, and this was the time period where every coin first had a unique design.

Numismatic Value

Condition for these plays a key role in their value, as many were well circulated. In general, the older this coin is the more valuable it is. Branch mint versions are also more valuable than regular issues, particularly in high grades and early issues.

Expand your collection today and shop our assortment of Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916-1947)