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Walking Liberty Half Dollars 1916-1947
This was the latter part of an era of significant changes taking place in United States coinage. Six different new designs on U.S. coins just after the turn of the century, replacing the conservative 19th-century portraits. In 1916, there were to be three more replacements; the Barber silver coins, including the half-dollar.
The U.S. Mint was pleased with the six new designs for the previous changes that had been created by artists outside of the Mint's staff. Because of that experience, the US Mint decided to go with outside atists again, choosing Adolph A. Weinman – a student of the famed Augustus Saint-Gaudens – to design the new silver 50-cent piece as well as the new dime. These two coins, the Mercury dime and the Walking Liberty half-dollar, are considered to be some of the best silver coins produced by the United States Mint, or any other mint for that matter. The Walking Liberty half dollar is truly a work of art.
Walking Liberty: Design
The front of the is a full-length figure of Lady Liberty as she walks toward the dawn of a new day. Liberty proudly wears the Stars and Stripes, while carrying branches of oak and laurel trees. These represent military might and civil peace in America, still just only a little over a century old. The back of the Walking Liberty $.50 piece features an eagle majestically perched on a mountainside cliff. The eagle's spread wings symbolize America's power, while the young pine tree relates to the relatively young new country, the United States of America. The designer's initials, A.W., are located right under the tailfeathers of the eagle.
For a country on the brink of entering World War I, the patriotism reflected in the images on the Liberty Walking half dollar were a great success, even though the Barber half dollar hadn't been produced in 1916 and the Walking Liberty half dollar was not relased until late 1917. It drew immediate praise from major metropolitan newspapers in New York, Boston, etc., who characterized the new silver coin as energetic and futuristic. In 1986 the Weinman design was revived for the front of the American Eagle 1-ounce silver bullion coin, which is still produced annually by the U.S. Mint.
Walking Liberty: Minting
The 1916 and some 1917 issues of the Walking Liberty half-dollar show the Denver (D) and San Francisco (S) mintmarks underneath the IN GOD WE TRUST phrase on the front. Later in 1917, the Mint had the mintmark moved the back of the silver coin, just under the small pine tree, where it remained for the duration of this coin's mintage through 1947.
From 1916 through 1947, 485 million were minted, although none in 1922, 1924-26 and 1930-32. A complete set has 65 coins and many collectors are able to complete it as they were not commonly hoarded, especially during the Depression. Years of low mintage, and therefore higher value, include:
- 1921 P, 246,000; S, 548,000; D, 208,000.
- 1916, 1916-S
- 1917-D and S (with the mintmarks on the obverse)
- 1938-D
Walking Liberty: GRADING
Only about 74,000 Walking Liberty ½-dollar proof coins were minted, all from 1936 to 1942, and a few matte-finish proofs in 1916 and 1917. Well-struck coins have higher values as many Walkers display weak striking. Some minor revisions were made to improve the striking and design but were not dramatically successful. Later issues of Walkers also have striking problems. For grading purposes, typical areas of wear should be looked for around the eagle's leading leg and wing, and Liberty's left hand and leg, head and skirt lines.
Walking Liberty: SPECIFICATIONS
Diameter: 30.6 millimeters Weight: 12.50 grams Composition: .900 silver, .100 copper Edge: Reeded Net Weight: .36169 ounce pure silver
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