U.S. MINT SPECIFICATIONS
Value 50 cents (0.50 United States dollars)
Mass 12.50 g
Diameter 30.6 mm
Thickness 1.8 mm
Edge reeded
Composition 90 % Ag
10 % Cu
Years of minting 1916–1947
Mint marks D, S. Located for 1916 and some 1917 pieces on obverse to right of Liberty just under the letters "Tr" in "In God We Trust", later issues on reverse at lower left, under the tree.
Interesting Fact About Walking Liberty Half Dollar
The mint marks had initially been placed on the obverse, the first time that had been done for a regular issue US coin since 1839. On February 14, 1917, von Engelken
ordered that the mint mark be moved from the obverse to the reverse, stating that the obverse placement had the appearance of a die defect. In April, Joyce asked von
Engelken's successor as Mint Director, Raymond T. Baker for written confirmation, and after Baker obliged, the mint mark was duly moved. The majority of the 1917 half
dollars struck at Denver (1917-D) and San Francisco (1917-S) bear the mint mark on the reverse.
Throughout the time in which the Mint struck the Walking Liberty half dollar, it had difficulty bringing out the design fully. According to Breen, Mint authorities
knew well that the Weinman design, despite its great artistic merit, no matter how thorough Barber's original attempt to reduce relief, was technically unsatisfactory.
Areas of highest relief still opposed relief areas on the other side.
The San Francisco Mint especially had difficulty with the coins; many pieces struck there are noticeably weak. In 1918 Morgan, who had succeeded Barber as Engraver
after the latter's death the previous year, modified the design, incising some of the details at Liberty's neck. According to Breen, "The attempt was a failure."
Morgan's successor, John R. Sinnock made additional attempts in 1937 and 1938, with little better results. Breen suggests that the difficulties in striking the piece
contributed to the willingness to replace it after World War II.
No Walking Liberty half dollar is particularly rare, but many dates are scarce in Mint State condition, including the 1921 and 1921-D. The Mint struck proof coins in
1916–1917 and 1936–1942, all at Philadelphia. The 1916 pieces were struck in very small numbers—Breen stated that he had seen only four—and only three 1917 proof coins
are confirmed, most likely struck for VIPs at a time when proof coins were not sold to the public. A number of the later proof coins lack Weinman's monogram, apparently
lost through overpolishing of dies. This is most common with the 1941 proof pieces—much of the year's production lacks the monogram—but is known for other years.
A total of 74,400 proof coins were struck for the series.
There are few varieties in the series, and they are relatively minor. They principally involve the mint mark: several repunchings, one overpunching of a D over an S
in 1942, and some changes in size. One oddity is the 1943/1942, which is not a true overdate but was formed by a working die struck once from a 1942-dated master die,
and once from one dated 1943. Some 1946 half dollars show a doubled die on the reverse.
The 1941 proof coin lacks Weinman's monogram, normally placed near the rim of the coin at the lower right.
*Content source from Wikipedia.
