Walking Liberty Half Dollars 1916-1947

About This Series

Widely regarded as the most beautiful design in American coinage history, Adolph Weinman's Walking Liberty half dollar depicts Liberty striding confidently toward the rising sun, draped in an American flag with her arm outstretched holding olive branches of peace — a masterwork of numismatic art that transcends its denomination to achieve the status of a national symbol. The reverse features a bald eagle perched on a rocky crag with wings half-raised, one of the most naturalistic eagle renderings on any American coin. The 1916-S and 1917-S obverse mintmark are early key dates, but the series' greatest challenge is the 1921 and 1921-S pair — low-mintage issues that are genuinely rare in all grades above Good. The design was so admired that it was revived in 1986 for the American Silver Eagle bullion program, introducing Weinman's masterpiece to a new generation. Struck in 90% silver at 12.50 grams on a 30.6mm planchet, Walking Liberty halves span the interwar period, the Depression, and World War II, with mintage figures reflecting economic conditions — the 1938-D saw just 491,600 produced. The "short set" approach (1941-1947) offers an affordable entry point, while pursuing a complete date-and-mintmark set in gem grades represents one of the most challenging and rewarding pursuits in 20th-century American numismatics.

Series Information