Walking Liberty half dollar values showcase one of the most beloved designs in American numismatics, ranging from as little as $10 for heavily worn common dates to over $1.6 million for the finest known specimens.
Designed by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman and minted from 1916 to 1947, these 90% silver coins feature Lady Liberty striding confidently toward the sun, wrapped in the American flag and carrying branches of laurel and oak. With a minimum value of approximately $22 based on silver content alone, even the most common Walking Liberty half dollars offer collectors tangible precious metal value.
However, it’s the combination of artistic beauty, historical significance, and condition rarity that transforms certain dates into numismatic treasures—particularly the inaugural 1916 issues, the scarce 1921 coins from all three mints, and virtually any pre-1934 date in higher grades.
Widely considered one of the most beautiful coins ever struck by the United States Mint, the Walking Liberty design proved so enduring that it was resurrected for the modern American Silver Eagle program in 1986.
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value Chart (1916-1919)
Year | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1916 | $62.00 | $240.00 | $445.00 | $2633.33 | — |
1916-D | $72.80 | $213.33 | $510.00 | $2018.33 | — |
1916-S | $127.60 | $670.00 | $1885.00 | $11040.00 | — |
1917 | $25.20 | $52.50 | $125.00 | $1121.67 | — |
1917-D Obverse | $52.20 | $238.33 | $730.00 | $2956.00 | — |
1917-D Reverse | $42.00 | $238.33 | $815.00 | $4084.00 | — |
1917-S Obverse | $63.00 | $613.33 | $2760.00 | $17118.33 | — |
1917-S Reverse | $39.20 | $138.67 | $570.00 | $10883.33 | — |
1918 | $31.80 | $129.67 | $420.00 | $2068.00 | — |
1918-D | $36.00 | $205.00 | $850.00 | $9430.00 | — |
1918-S | $36.40 | $93.00 | $465.00 | $15021.67 | — |
1919 | $58.20 | $456.67 | $1955.00 | $7475.00 | — |
1919-D | $63.20 | $776.67 | $3795.00 | $45160.00 | — |
1919-S | $43.80 | $683.33 | $4025.00 | $18400.00 | — |
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value Chart (1920-1929)
Year | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1920 | $36.40 | $107.83 | $410.00 | $1588.00 | — |
1920-D | $37.80 | $490.00 | $2185.00 | $11408.00 | — |
1920-S | $36.40 | $208.33 | $960.00 | $6734.00 | — |
1921 | $148.40 | $1596.67 | $4600.00 | $13876.00 | — |
1921-D | $276.00 | $2338.33 | $8165.00 | $22980.00 | — |
1921-S | $100.00 | $2113.33 | $16100.00 | $61640.00 | — |
1923-S | $43.00 | $545.00 | $2760.00 | $13863.33 | — |
1928-S | $36.40 | $210.33 | $1150.00 | $4212.00 | — |
1928-S | $36.40 | $213.67 | $1470.00 | $4508.00 | — |
1929-D | $31.80 | $90.17 | $375.00 | $2140.00 | — |
1929-S | $31.80 | $114.33 | $400.00 | $2341.67 | — |
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value Chart (1930-1939)
Year | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1933-S | $27.51 | $77.83 | $440.00 | $2796.67 | — |
1934 | $20.00 | $31.00 | $52.50 | $442.86 | — |
1934-D | $20.00 | $35.67 | $120.00 | $968.33 | — |
1934-S | $27.51 | $62.50 | $175.00 | $1811.67 | — |
1935 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $575.86 | — |
1935-D | $20.00 | $33.50 | $120.00 | $906.67 | — |
1935-S | $20.00 | $46.00 | $195.00 | $1561.67 | — |
1936 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $205.17 | — |
1936-D | $19.63 | $31.33 | $68.50 | $363.33 | — |
1936-S | $20.00 | $35.00 | $101.00 | $601.67 | — |
1936 PR | $67.17 | $230.00 | $640.00 | $3491.43 | — |
1937 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $195.67 | — |
1937-D | $19.63 | $39.83 | $145.00 | $832.86 | — |
1937-S | $19.63 | $33.50 | $101.00 | $436.67 | — |
1937 PR | $31.65 | $108.38 | $277.50 | $907.14 | — |
1938 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $59.50 | $530.00 | — |
1938-D | $55.80 | $123.67 | $310.00 | $1208.33 | — |
1938 PR | $36.51 | $125.00 | $280.00 | $840.00 | — |
1938 CAM | $118.97 | $407.38 | $1043.10 | $5651.33 | — |
1939 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $50.50 | $324.29 | — |
1939-D | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $203.33 | — |
1939-S | $19.63 | $31.33 | $101.00 | $550.00 | — |
1939 PR | $18.99 | $65.03 | $166.50 | $698.57 | — |
1939 CAM | $118.97 | $407.38 | $1043.10 | $2382.00 | — |
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value Chart (1940-1947)
Year | GOOD | FINE | AU | MS | PR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1940 | $20.00 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $133.00 | — |
1940-S | $19.63 | $31.00 | $54.50 | $184.80 | — |
1940 PR | $22.11 | $75.69 | $193.81 | $514.29 | — |
1941 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
1941-D | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $123.00 | — |
1941-S | $19.63 | $31.00 | $50.50 | $184.00 | — |
1941 PR | $20.44 | $70.00 | $170.00 | $1390.00 | — |
1942 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
1942-D | $20.00 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $133.83 | — |
1942-S | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $128.60 | — |
1942 PR | $20.44 | $70.00 | $170.00 | $1016.25 | — |
1942 CAM | $47.91 | $164.06 | $420.08 | $4924.92 | — |
1943 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
1943-D | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $126.33 | — |
1943-S | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $180.50 | — |
1944 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
1944-D | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
1944-S | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $131.40 | — |
1945 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
1945-D | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
1945-S | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $133.00 | — |
1946 | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
1946 DDR | $46.47 | $97.00 | $215.00 | $1675.00 | — |
1946-D | $20.00 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
1946-S | $20.00 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $149.67 | — |
1947 | $20.00 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $599.00 | — |
1947-D | $19.63 | $31.00 | $48.00 | $118.00 | — |
Summary: Walking Liberty half dollar value
Walking Liberty half dollar values depend heavily on date, mint mark, and condition, with most 1940s common dates trading near their silver melt value of around $22.
The series contains no impossibly rare dates, but several issues command significant premiums: all 1916 coins regardless of mint, the 1917-D and 1917-S with obverse mint marks, 1919-D, all 1921 issues from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, and the low-mintage 1938-D. Pre-1934 dates become increasingly valuable in grades of XF40 or better, with MS65 examples being genuinely rare.
The transition of mint mark placement from obverse to reverse in 1917 creates an interesting collecting variation. Proof coins were struck in minuscule numbers in 1916-1917 (fewer than 10 known combined) and more regularly from 1936-1942, with total proof production of just 74,400 coins.
While later dates from the 1940s were saved in large quantities and remain readily available, the earlier strikes offer the best value appreciation potential. Whether collected as a complete set, by type, or simply accumulated for their silver content, Walking Liberty half dollars continue to captivate collectors with their artistic merit and investment potential, proving that great coin design transcends generations.
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