The Walking Liberty Half Dollar series was designed by Adolph W. Weinman, who also designed the Mercury Dime. The coins were first struck in 1916, replacing the Barber Half Dollar, and were minted through 1947. The obverse design is so iconic that it was also used on the American Silver Eagle bullion coin.
The obverse depicts a standing Miss Liberty wrapped in an American Flag motif gown, walking to the left towards a rising sun. The reverse depicts an American Bald Eagle, on a large rock, walking.
To learn more about the backstory of this coin and its design, read our article covering the Walking Liberty Half Dollar’s history.
Key Dates and Varieties
In 1916, the mintmarks for the Denver “D” and San Francisco “S” coins were positioned on the obverse of the coins, on the lower right side under the “IN GOD WE TRUST,” motto. In 1917, these two same mintmarks were again first struck on the obverse and then, later in the same year, it was moved to the reverse to the left of the Eagle.
1916-P Walking Liberty Half Dollar
With a mintage of just 608,000 coins, the 1916-P Walking Liberty is a scarce coin in all grades.
1916-D Walking Liberty, Obverse
This coin had a mintage of 1,014,000 coins struck. It is also as scarce as its “P” mint variation in all grades.
1916-S Walking Liberty, Obverse
At 508,000 coins struck, this coin has one of the lowest mintages of any circulation strike Walking Liberty Half Dollar. It is at least twice as scarce and as valuable as the other 1916 coins with obverse mintmarks.
1921 Walking Liberty Half Dollar
With a huge coinage surplus after World War I, coinage numbers were lower in the early 1920s. From more than 6 million coins struck in Philadelphia in 1920, the Philadelphia Mint only struck 246,000 coins in 1921. The bags of uncirculated 1920 Walking Liberty Half Dollar coins that were being stored at the Treasury Department due to a lack of demand, had an immediate impact on the production of 1921-dated coins. Today, well-worn Good-3 condition specimens are over $100.00!
1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Like its Philadelphia and San Francisco variations, the 1921-dated coins struck at the Denver Mint only saw 208,000 coins struck – the lowest mintage of all Walking Liberty Half Dollars throughout their history.
1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar
The 1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar had 548,000 coins struck – more than all the coins struck that year in Philadelphia and Denver combined. But while not as scarce as the 1921-D (scarcest) or the 1921 (scarce) variation – it is still a sought-after coin in all grades.
1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar
The 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar saw only 491,600 coins struck. In Good-4 condition it is worth more than three times a common coin, and in Choice Uncirculated condition it is worth ten times a common coin.
1946 Walking Liberty, Doubled Die Reverse
The 1946 Walking Liberty Half Dollar has a variety called the Doubled Die Reverse. The doubling is most prominent in the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and in the eagles’ wings. There also is a Doubled Die Obverse, but it is exceedingly rare and difficult to encounter in any grade.
Walking Liberty Half Dollars are usually collected by date and mintmark. A complete set comprises 65 coins. In high Uncirculated grades the set is fairly expensive. A modified set comprises 34 coins and is complete between 1934 through 1947. Variety coins are additional and not included in these numbers.
Values
| Date MM | Mintage | Very Fine | Abt Unc | Ch Unc |
| 1916 | 608,000 | $225 | $650 | $1,150 |
| 1916-D Obv | 1,014,400 | $225 | $550 | $1,075 |
| 1916-S Obv | 508,000 | $800 | $2,650 | $4,500 |
| 1921 | 246,000 | $2,000 | $7,750 | $11,250 |
| 1921-D | 208,000 | $3,250 | $9,500 | $13,250 |
| 1921-S | 548,000 | $3,750 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 1938-D | 491,600 | $150 | $650 | $950 |
| 1946 Dbl Die Obverse | Unknown | $125 | $325 | $950 |
| Common Dates | — | $15 | $30 | $65 |
