Top 25 Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollars Sold on eBay in August 2015

Walking Liberty half dollars are widely considered one of the most beautiful silver coins the United States has ever produced. Designed by Adolph A. Weinman, they were struck from 1916 through 1947 and saw circulation for several years after the last was issue was made.

Today, Walking Liberty half dollars are popular collectibles in both circulated and uncirculated grades. There are also several scarce issues, particularly from the early years of the series. It’s important for coin collectors to remember that in addition to the key dates, including all 1921-dated half dollars and the 1938-D half dollar, that all pre-1934 Walking Liberty halves, particularly mintmarked specimens, are scarce in grades of XF-40 or better.

Here’s a rundown of the top 25 most valuable Walking Liberty half dollars sold on eBay in August 2015:

#1 – 1921 NGC MS-64 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $9,100.00

The 1921 Walking Liberty half dollar is the second-lowest mintage issue in the series, with only 246,000 pieces minted. It’s no surprise that this piece sold for more than $9,000 – quite a princely sum for any 20th-century U.S. coin. NGC reports only 76 have been certified at this grade with 35 higher up to MS-66.

#2 – 1919-D “Raw” Gem Brilliant Uncirculated Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $4,600.00

Another scarce Walking Liberty half dollar is the 1919-D, which had an original mintage of 1,165,000 pieces and is quite difficult to locate in Mint State grades. This piece is “raw” and ungraded, which is frankly unusual given the nature of this rarity. Numismatists should exercise extreme caution when buying raw, uncertified coins such as this online.

#3 – 1919 NGC MS-64 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $4,100.00

This gem is graded by NGC and exhibits crisp, white surfaces. Only 962,000 1919 Walking Liberty half dollars were minted, and they are very scarce in the Mint States grades. NGC has graded 85 at this grading level, which is a relatively small number of coins as compared to the demand for this scarce issue.

#4 – 1936 PCGS Proof-66 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $3,999.99

1936 marks the first year of modern proof coinage for the United States Mint, and this gorgeous issue displays tremendous surfaces and great overall color. Only 3,901 proof specimens of this coin were made, and relatively few exists at this grading point.

#5 – 1916-S NGC MS-64 Walking Liberty Half Dollar CAC Designated, $3,995.00

The 1916-S is a scarce first-year issue for the Walking Liberty half dollar, as only 508,000 were made and relatively few remain in gem uncirculated condition. This piece has also been approved by the Certified Acceptance Corporation, meaning it’s specially beautiful for its grade.

#6 – 1921 NGC AU-55 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $3,800.00

This high-end circulated 1921 Walking Liberty half dollar is a true beauty. As earlier mentioned, all pre-1934 Walking Liberty half dollars are scarce in grades of XF-40 and above, and this piece is the ultra scarce 1921 Philadelphia half – a key date for the series.

#7 – 1938-D PCGS MS-66+ Walking Liberty Half Dollar CAC Designated, $3,199.00

The second half of the Walking Liberty half dollar series, which generally encompasses pieces made from 1934 through 1947, is generally looked at for its cheap junk silver opportunities or plentiful MS-65 options. But some coin collectors forget that the 1938-D Walking Liberty half is a worthy semi-key coin in any grade, with only 491,600 struck. This piece is especially desirable in the high grade of MS-66+ and a CAC designation to boot!

#8 – 1941 NGC Proof-68 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $2,900.00

In terms of Walking Liberty half dollars, they really don’t come any more flawless than this piece. This 1941 Proof-68 half graded by NGC shows exquisite surfaces and amazing eye appeal. At less than $3,000, it’s a costly (but worth-the-price) example of Walking Liberty half dollars at their finest.

#9 – 1936 NGC Proof-65 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $2,700.00

Up in grabs in August 2015 was this Proof-65 Walking Liberty half dollar from 1936, the second first-year modern proof Walker to appear on this list. This 1936 proof Walking Liberty half dollars has decent surfaces and nice overall eye appeal, making it a great acquisition for any high-end half dollar aficionado.

#10 – 1936-D PCGS MS-66+ Walking Liberty Half Dollar CAC Designated, $2,495.00

While 1936-D Walking Liberty half dollars are generally considered common in the lower grades, they are quite desirable in the Mint State grades. This piece grades MS-66+ and has CAC designation, which makes it especially scarce. According to PCGS, 405 have been graded as MS-66, which, of course, does not speak for the fact that this piece has the plus grade and the coveted CAC sticker.

The last 15 Walking Liberty half dollars on this list of the top 25 most valuable sold on eBay in August 2015 includes several key date issues, some beautiful gem-quality Mint States issues, and another proof example. With even the least-expensive Walking Liberty half dollar on this list selling for more than $1,000, it’s quite clear that collectors have no trouble dropping huge amounts of cash on trophies from this perennial popular half dollar series.

#11 – 1918 NGC MS-65 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $2,391.00

#12 – 1916-S PCGS MS-63 Walking Liberty Half Dollar CAC Designated, $2,200.00

#13 – 1920-D “Raw” Brilliant Uncirculated Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,995.00

#14 – 1916 PCGS MS-65 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,800.00

#15 – 1921 “Raw” XF+ Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,779.99

#16 – 1938-D PCGS MS-65 Walking Liberty Half Dollar CAC Designated, $1,425.00

#17 – 1916-S “Raw” Choice Brilliant Uncirculated Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,400.00

#18 – 1916-S “Raw” Brilliant Uncirculated Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,350.00

#19 – 1938-D PCGS MS-65 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,323.00

#20 – 1919 “Raw” Ungraded Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,300.00

#21 – 1921-D PCGS VF-20 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,299.00

#22 – 1944 NGC MS-66 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,250.00

#23 – 1919-S PCGS XF-40 Walking Liberty Half Dollar CAC Designated, $1,195.00

#24 – 1938-D PCGS MS-65 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,180.00

#25 – 1938 PCGS Proof-66 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,100.00