Walking Liberty Half Dollar Survival Ranking (Top 100)

Ever wondered how many of those stunning Walking Liberty Half Dollars actually survived nearly a century of circulation, melting, and the great silver melt of the 1980s? While millions were struck between 1916 and 1947, the survival story for these artistic masterpieces will absolutely blow your mind.

Consider this shocking reality: The 1919-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar has only FIFTEEN known survivors in MS65+ condition. That’s right—in the entire world, only fifteen people can own this date in gem condition. Meanwhile, some dates thought to be “common” actually have fewer than 100 examples left in top grades.

This Top 100 Survival Ranking reveals the brutal truth about Walking Liberty Half Dollar scarcity. From those ultra-rare survivors with just 15 examples to dates with 65,000+ examples still around, these numbers transform how you’ll view every Walking Liberty that passes through your hands. Even coins with “high” survival rates can command stunning premiums in MS65 and better.

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Whether you’re sorting through inherited collections or actively hunting at coin shows, survival numbers are your reality check. Our CoinValueChecker app helps identify what you’ve found, but knowing only 15 or 20 examples exist? That’s when coin collecting becomes treasure hunting. Ready to discover which Walking Liberty Half Dollars are truly one in a million—or one of fifteen?

**The Survival number is estimated by experts

Survival Insights That Will Change How You See Walking Liberties

After analyzing this survival data, several jaw-dropping patterns emerge that every Walking Liberty hunter needs to know:

The Elite Fifteen

The 1919-D claims the #1 spot with just FIFTEEN known survivors in MS65+! This Denver mint issue represents the absolute pinnacle of Walking Liberty rarity in gem condition. To put this in perspective, you have a better chance of finding a four-leaf clover than locating one of these coins.

The 1921 Phenomenon

The year 1921 tells a fascinating story across all mints:

• 1921-S: 20 survivors (#2)
• 1921-D: 60 survivors (#7)
• 1921 (Philadelphia): 95 survivors (#15)

Despite relatively high mintages, these coins saw heavy circulation during the Depression, making gem survivors incredibly scarce.

The Early Date Massacre

Notice how the first 20 positions are dominated by dates from 1916-1923:

• 1918-D and 1918-S: 50 survivors each
• 1917-S Obverse: 60 survivors
• 1920-S and 1920-D: 80 survivors each

These early dates suffered from heavy circulation, melting during both World Wars, and the massive silver melts of 1979-1980.

The Proof Premium

Starting with 1936, proof coins enter the survival rankings:

• 1936 Proof: 1,100 survivors (#31)
• 1937 Proof: 2,125 survivors (#33)
• 1938 Proof: 3,000 survivors (#35)

Even with their special handling and storage, early proof Walking Liberties remain scarce in high grades.

The DDR Discovery

The 1946 DDR (Doubled Die Reverse) ranks #5 with only 50 survivors! This variety wasn’t widely recognized until decades after minting, meaning countless examples were spent or melted before collectors knew to save them.

The Depression Era Survivors

Mid-1930s dates show interesting survival patterns:

• 1933-S: 750 survivors (#27)
• 1934-S: 875 survivors (#28)
• 1935-S and 1935-D: 1,000 survivors each (#29-30)

Despite being minted during the Depression when people couldn’t afford to save coins, these dates survived better than earlier issues.

What These Numbers Mean For Your Collection

If You Own These Survival Levels:

15-50 survivors: You’re holding numismatic royalty! Professional grading and proper storage are absolutely essential

50-100 survivors: Still elite territory—these coins deserve museum-quality care

100-1,000 survivors: Genuinely scarce—condition is everything at this level

1,000-10,000 survivors: Don’t dismiss these! In MS66+, they’re still major rarities

10,000+ survivors: Focus on exceptional quality—MS67 examples or special characteristics

The Hunt Strategy:

• Check every 1919-D carefully—with only 15 known in MS65+, even an AU example is significant
• Examine all 1921 dates meticulously—all three mints are scarce in high grades
• Don’t overlook the 1946 DDR—many remain unidentified in collections
• Early S-mint dates are gold—San Francisco coins from 1916-1923 are all scarce
• Consider the Obverse/Reverse varieties for 1917—they have different survival rates

Market Reality Check:

These survival estimates represent MS65+ condition coins. Lower grades exist in larger numbers, but the demand for gem examples drives incredible premiums. A 1919-D in MS65 can command $50,000+, while an MS64 might sell for $15,000—that single grade point represents a massive value jump when only 15 gems exist!

The Silver Melt Factor

Unlike Lincoln cents, Walking Liberty Half Dollars faced an additional survival challenge: their silver content. When silver hit $50 per ounce in 1980, millions of Walking Liberties went to the melting pot. Common dates in average grades were worth more as bullion than as collectibles, creating the scarcity we see today.

This means even “common” dates in the 1940s with 20,000-65,000 MS65+ survivors are actually scarce when you consider:

• Original mintages in the tens of millions
• Massive melting during the silver boom
• Natural attrition over 75-100 years
• The tiny percentage that survived in gem condition

Summary

Walking Liberty Half Dollar survival rankings transform these beautiful coins from old silver into a thrilling numismatic adventure. When you realize only FIFTEEN people on Earth can own a 1919-D in MS65+, or that finding any early S-mint date in gem condition is like winning the lottery, every Walking Liberty becomes a potential treasure.

The beauty of this data? It shows that true rarity exists across the entire series. Whether you’re chasing 15-survivor unicorns or building date sets in MS65, there’s a collecting challenge at every level. The key is knowing what you’re looking for—and understanding that condition is everything with these survival numbers.

These aren’t just statistics—they’re a roadmap to the most exciting finds in American numismatics. Every major Walking Liberty discovery started with someone taking a second look at an old half dollar. With survival numbers this low, your next coin show purchase or estate sale find could literally be one of a handful known.

Happy hunting, and may your Walking Liberties walk among the precious few survivors!

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