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Walking Liberty half dollars, minted between 1916 and 1947, are the second most beloved silver coins produced by the U.S. Mint, the Morgan Silver Dollars being number one. During his presidency, President Theodore Roosevelt sought to beautify the U.S. coinage. He discontinued coins designed by Charles Barber or “Barber Coinage” and incorporated more classical and artistic elements that captured the American spirit. From this “American Coinage Renaissance” came the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. This new coin symbolized American resilience, providing hope to citizens as they waged through turbulent times like the Great Depression and WWII.
| QUANTITY | 100 | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90% Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars | $27.61 | $27.61 | $27.61 | $27.61 | $27.61 |
Adolph A. Weinman, a prominent sculptor of the American Coin Renaissance, designed the Walking Liberty and is also known for designing the Winged Liberty Dime. The obverse features Lady Liberty gracefully walking toward the sunrise with the American flag flowing around her, carrying olive branches that symbolize peace. The phrases “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” are inscribed on the coin as a reminder of the values that have been etched into the fabric of our nation’s history.
The coin’s reverse depicts the emblematic bald eagle boldly perched on a rock. His wings are majestically raised defiantly, a symbolic tribute to our founding father’s relentless pursuit of freedom. A mountain pine sapling springs from a rock, symbolizing the rise of America with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “HALF DOLLAR”. Owning a Walking Liberty Half Dollar is holding a small piece of American history in your hand.
The elegant design of the Walking Liberty inspired another beloved coin: the American Silver Eagle, featuring the same Lady Liberty on the obverse side of the coin.
Walking Liberty Half Dollars remains a popular choice for both collectors and investors. As part of junk silver investing, they have intrinsic value and can usually be bought at lower premiums. Because fewer Walking Liberty Half Dollars, they tend to be favored over Franklin half-dollars and Kennedy half-dollars. Despite approximately 477 million Walking Liberty halves being minted, they are relatively scarce today. Franklin and Kennedy half-dollars are generally always available for purchase. However, bags of Walking Liberty halves are not always available.
Although Walking Liberty half dollars show considerable wear, they still have visible dates. Coins without visible dates are sent to a refinery and smelted into pure silver for other uses.
Like all U.S. Mint silver coins, the Walking Liberty half dollar comprises 90% silver and 10% copper.
Similar to the Franklin half dollars and the 1964 Kennedy half dollars, Walking Liberty half dollars contained 0.36169 ounces of pure silver each when they were minted. A bag of 2,000 half dollars (with a face value of $1,000) contained 723.38 ounces of silver at the time of minting. However, due to wear over time, a bag of circulated half dollars typically yields between 718 and 720 ounces of silver when smelted.
For comparison, a bag of pre-1965 90% silver dimes or quarters will yield approximately 715 ounces of silver when smelted. Additionally, a $1,000 face value bag of circulated pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver dimes or quarters weighs around 54.5 pounds on a bathroom scale, while a bag of half dollars weighs just over 55 pounds.
For several reasons, all half-dollars minted before 1965 (including Walking Liberty, Franklin, and Kennedy designs) tend to have higher premiums than dimes and quarters. Half dollars usually experienced less wear than dimes and quarters, yielding a slightly higher weight in silver when melted down. When silver prices are low, this extra weight may not matter much. However, as silver prices increase, those additional ounces become increasingly significant.
Half dollars typically sell at a higher premium than dimes and quarters for a few key reasons. First, they are more popular among silver investors, and the Mint produced significantly fewer half dollars compared to dimes and quarters. Second, managing a $1,000 face value in half dollars is more convenient than dealing with the same amount in dimes or quarters. Lastly, the size of half dollars is similar to that of the highly sought-after American silver dollars, which may also contribute to their popularity.
CMI Gold & Silver, with extensive experience in selling Walking Liberty half dollars since 1974, provides investors with a high level of expertise and confidence. We typically have Walking Liberty half dollars available at all times. Shipments are usually made within one to two days of receiving cleared funds. When you purchase from CMI Gold & Silver, you can be confident in the authenticity and delivery of your Walking Liberty half dollars, providing you with a sense of security. We are backed by over 50 years of experience providing quality products to investors nationwide.
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