Rare Coins Daily Rare coin guides and inquiries

WALKING LIBERTY HALF

1916–1947
90% SILVER • OBVERSE / REVERSE MINTMARKS • 1921 KEYS • 1938-D • STRIKE DIAGNOSTICS
SORTING LEGEND
P1Pull Immediately / Authenticate
P2Check Carefully / Better Date
P3Common / Condition Pull
Ag90% silver
OMMObverse mintmark
RMMReverse mintmark
FHndFull hand/thumb detail
AUTHAuthenticate
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
Microscope
or 10x loupe
0.01g
Scale
Good
Lighting
Reference
Guide
1P1 MONEY COINS
Date / IssuePri.What To Check
1916-S Obv. MintmarkP1S under IN GOD WE TRUST on obverse
1919-DP1Key early Denver date
1919-SP1Key San Francisco date
1921P1Low-mintage Philadelphia key
1921-DP1Key Denver issue
1921-SP1Key San Francisco issue
1938-DP1Late-series key date

1916-S Obv MM

1916-S Walking Liberty half dollar placeholder

Early obverse mintmark location.

1921-D

1921-D Walking Liberty half dollar placeholder

Key Denver issue.

1938-D

1938-D Walking Liberty half dollar placeholder

Late-series key date.

Series Type

Walking Liberty half dollar obverse placeholder

Check date, mintmark, and hand detail.

2TYPE GUIDE & SILVER
Type / EraYearsDiagnostic
Obverse Mintmark Era1916 + early 1917 D/SD or S appears below IN GOD WE TRUST
Reverse Mintmark Era1917–1947D or S appears on lower-left reverse near rim
90% Silver1916–194712.50g, reeded edge, 0.36169 oz silver
Common Later Dates1941–1947Usually bullion/condition pulls unless high grade
Walking Liberty half dollar obverse placeholder OBVERSE
Walking Liberty half dollar reverse placeholder REVERSE
Silver Edge
Clad Edge
All Walking Liberty halves are 90% silver. Separate them from modern clad halves immediately.
3KEY DATES & MINTMARKS
DatePri.Notes
1916P2First year; Philadelphia no mintmark
1916-DP2Obverse mintmark
1916-SP1Obverse mintmark key
1917-D / S Obv.P2Early 1917 obverse mintmarks
1919-D / 1919-SP1Key branch mint dates
1921 / 1921-D / 1921-SP1Three major key dates
1938-DP1Low-mintage late-series key
Mintmark change: 1916 and part of 1917 used an obverse mintmark under the motto; later issues place mintmarks on the lower-left reverse.
4STRIKE & CONDITION DIAGNOSTICS
Walking Liberty half dollar hand detail placeholder HAND / THUMB
Walking Liberty half dollar eagle detail placeholder EAGLE DETAIL
FeaturePull If
Branch HandThumb and hand detail visible
Liberty HeadStrong head and cap detail
Skirt LinesSharp, separated lines on Liberty’s skirt
EagleStrong breast, trailing leg, and wing feathers
LusterOriginal cartwheel / satin luster, no harsh cleaning
Strike note: Walking Liberty halves are often weak at Liberty’s hand and head and on the eagle’s leg/breast. Sharp examples deserve attention.
5VARIETIES & ERROR COINS
Variety / ErrorPri.What To Look For
Mintmark VarietiesP2Check 1916/1917 obverse vs reverse mintmark positions
RPMsP2Scope D/S mintmarks on better dates
Doubled DiesP2Check date, LIBERTY, motto, and reverse lettering
Wrong PlanchetP1Wrong weight/metal/diameter
Major Off-CenterP2Visible date preferred
Major Die Break / CudP2Large raised break at rim/design
Walking Liberty obverse mintmark placeholder OBVERSE MINTMARK
Walking Liberty reverse mintmark placeholder REVERSE MINTMARK
Authenticate: 1916-S, 1919-D, 1919-S, 1921 issues, 1938-D, and expensive high-grade examples before sale.
6QUICK SORT CHECKLIST

CHECK FIRST

  1. All 1916 halves
  2. 1916-S obverse mintmark
  3. 1917 obverse mintmarks
  4. 1919-D
  5. 1919-S
  6. 1921
  7. 1921-D
  8. 1921-S
  9. 1938-D
  10. Sharp strike examples
Fast workflow: separate silver halves → read date → check mintmark location → pull 1916/1917 obverse-mintmark coins → pull 1919/1921/1938-D → inspect strike/luster/errors.
Condition rule: Sharp early branch-mint Walkers with original surfaces can be very desirable even when not a top key date.
Notice Updated