eBay's Top 25 Walking Liberty Half Dollar Sales from September 2014
The Top 25 most expensive Walking Liberty half dollars sold on eBay during September 2014 include a few super-grade pieces, some circulated early dates, and other goodies. Surprsingly, there's one date that does not show up anywhere on this Top 25 list, and that's any 1921 Walking Liberty half dollar, counted as key issues for the series. Surely, several lower-grade 1921 Walking Liberty half dollars sold on eBay in September, but none was pricey enough to make it to this list, with the lowest-priced piece coming in at just over $900 last month.
Designed by Adolph A. Weinman, the Walking Liberty half dollar is a classic silver coin that many consider to be among the nation’s most beautiful silver coins. This gorgeous series not only makes a great addition to any coin collection, but it’s also challenging to build. In fact, if you’re attempting to complete a set of Walking Liberty half dollars in the higher grades, be prepared to open up your pocketbook and spend some serious cash.
Here are the 25 most expensive Walking Liberty half dollars sold on eBay during the month of September 2014:
#1 1919 PCGS MS 64 $4,450 – The 1919 is a tough date, and in MS 64, it’s truly scarce. Only 962,000 pieces were minted, and most survive under a grade of Very Fine.
#2 1928-S NGC MS 64 $3,800 – Interestingly, the summary for this eBay listing did not indicate whether this was a small “S” or large “S” variety. Either way, this 1928-S Walking Liberty half dollar is exceedingly scarce in the middle mint state grades. 1,940,000 1928-S Walking Liberty half-dollars were made in total.
#3 1916-S PCGS MS 64 $3,795 – This scarce first-year type half dollar is a true beauty in the middle mint state grades. Just 508,000 Walking Liberty half dollars were made at the San Francisco mint in 1916, and
#4 1940 NGC PR 68 $2,835 – Here’s a "super" proof coin in every respect. One really can’t find a Walking Liberty proof half dollar finer than this one. 11,279 proof half dollars were made in 1940, and few could qualify for a PF 68 grade today.
#5 1938-D PCGS MS 66+ $2,750 – The 1938-D is a latter-date semi-key for the series. Only 491,600 Walking Liberty half dollars were made at the Denver mint in 1938, and few survive in grades above MS 63.
#6 1929-S NGC MS 65 $2,350 – A better date in the series, the 1929-S Walking Liberty half dollar was struck to the tune of 1,902,200 coins. Mint state 1929-S halves of this caliber are rare.
#7 1919-S NGC AU 53 $2,250 – 1,552,000 half dollars were made at the San Francisco mint in 1919, and few of these pieces were saved. In fact, this issue is considered scarce in any grade above Fine 12, so an AU 53 specimen is truly desirable.
#8 1945 MS 64 missing designer’s initials $2,226 – This interesting variety arose when die polishing at the U.S. Mint caused the accidental removal of Weinman’s “AW” initials under the eagle’s tail feathers. Making this piece even more desirable is its choice grade.
#9 1919-D Choice AU $2,150 – This raw 1919-D half dollar is about as scarce in this grade as its 1919-S cousin in the #7 position above. Generally, all mintmarked teen dates in this series are scarce anywhere better than Fine 12.
#10 1938 NGC PR 67 $2,100 – Rounding out the Top 10 portion of this list is the 1938 proof Walking Liberty half dollar. Proof Walking Liberty half dollars are scarce in any condition, and are particularly difficult in these upper proof grades. Only 8,152 proof Walking Liberty half dollars were struck in 1938, and but a fraction grade above PF 65.
11th - 20th Most Expensive Walking Liberty Half Dollars on Ebay in September 2014
The remaining 15 issues on this Top 25 list of most expensive Walking Liberty half dollars sold on eBay in September 2014 includes several uncirculated and proof specimens. There are also a few earlier mintmarked issues in the About Unciruculated range, which really underscores the scarcity of better-grade pre-1934 dates in the series.
#11 1919-S PCGS AU 53 $1,999.95
#12 1916-S Gem BU $1,995 “raw”
#13 1938-D NGC MS 64 toned $1,570
#14 1941 NGCPF 67+ no “AW” CAC certified $1,495
#15 1919-S AU $1,376 “raw”
#16 1939 NGC MS 67 CAC $1,254.75
#17 1916 PCGS MS 64 $1,225
#18 1942 ANACS PF 67 GEM $1,125
#19 1939 PCGS PR 67 CAC Verified $1,100
#20 1917-S Obverse Choice AU $1,”raw”
#21 1916-D PCGS MS 64 Light gold patina $995.95
#22 1916 NGC MS 64 Great luster $995
#23 1942 PCGS PR 67 $965
#24 1939-S NGC MS 67 Blast white $930
#25 1923-S AU/BU $920 “raw”
