Walking Liberty half dollars are widely considered one of the most beautiful silver coins the United States has ever produced. It’s therefore little surprise that these coins are also one of the most popular collectibles in numismatics. Many Walking Liberty half dollars are quite scarce, making them highly valuable to coin collectors.
Some of the most valuable Walking Liberty half dollars that crossed the auction block on eBay in May 2015 sold for hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. In fact, of the 25 most expensive Walking Liberty half dollars on the list below, 20 sold for $1,000 or more!
Here’s a look at the 25 most valuable Walking Liberty half dollars that were sold on eBay in May 2015:
#1 – 1937-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-67, $4,085.00
The 1937-D may be a fairly common Walking Liberty half dollar in terms of mintage, but when it comes to any Walker in a grade of MS-65 or higher, these coins are truly scarce. That’s the case with this high-quality 1937-D half dollar, certified and slabbed by the Professional Coin Grading Service.
#2 – 1936 Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS Proof-64, $2,299.99
Walking Liberty half dollar aficionados love proof specimens of their favorite coin. There’s just something glorious about proof Walking Liberty half dollars – especially gleaming beauties like this one.
#3 – 1919 Mint State Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,898.00
This key-date coin has a full head and gorgeous surfaces. Though it was sold as an unslabbed “raw” specimen, this pretty 1919 Walking Liberty half dollar didn’t need sonically sealed plastic to find an enthusiastic buyer.
#4 – 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-66 CAC Designated, $1,881.00
The 1938-D Walking Liberty half dollar is considered a semi-key coin, and with just 491,600 pieces made, it’s one of the lower mintage business-strike coins from the middle 20th century. The 1938-D Walking Liberty half dollar is especially scarce in the high grade of MS-66, and it also received a special designation from the Certified Acceptance Corporation, signifying this piece as one of the better-looking examples for its issue and grade.
#5 – 1946 Doubled Die Reverse Walking Liberty Half Dollar NGC MS-65, $1,600.00
The 1946 doubled die reverse Walking Liberty half dollar isn’t known to be a particularly scarce coin in the lower grades, but, like all older coins, is tougher in the better grades. This MS-65 specimen, graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, is one of the few dozen or so known to exist at the MS-65 threshold.
#6 – 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-62, $1,597.50
The 1916-S Walking Liberty half dollar is the scarcest regular-issue piece from the series’ first year of issue. While there are hundreds in better grades, there are thousands of coin collectors who want this coin, putting strong demand even on pieces representing the lower uncirculated grades. It’s particularly important to remember that all pre-1934 Walking Liberty half dollars are relatively scarce above Extremely Fine-40, making this semi-key coin even more attractive in its MS-62 grade.
#7 – 1939-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-67 CAC Designated, $1,567.01
The 1939-S Walking Liberty half dollar, like so many other “common-date” Walkers, is not necessarily scarce in any of the circulated grades, but in MS-67, such as this piece, the values skyrocket. Pieces like this one, which is CAC designated, are great coins for registry sets – not to mention, they are easy on the eyes.
#8 – 1919-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar, $1,495.00
This “raw” 1919-S Walking Liberty half dollar appears to have been lightly circulated, and the going price would suggest its buyer may have thought the same about the coin, too. It always makes any judicious buyer wonder why key-date coins like this one are ever sold “raw” these days, when a slab may help increase the final price by perhaps 10 percent or more. Ultimately, this deal may have worked in the buyer’s favor.
#9 – 1939 Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS Proof-67+, $1,429.00
This premium-quality cameo proof is a stunning specimen, and in Proof-67+ grade, it’s one of the better-looking proof Walking Liberty half dollars that money can buy. All proof Walking Liberty half dollars are scarce, and in 1939 only 8,808 such pieces were minted – certainly fewer survive today.
#10 – 1928-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar BU, $1,395.00
Rounding out the top 10 portion of this list of most valuable Walking Liberty half dollars is this “raw” 1928-S issue. Listed as a Brilliant Uncirculated coin, this piece secured a buy price closer to the MS-61 or MS-62 range, and it looks every bit MS-62, if not better.
11th Through 25th Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollars Sold on eBay in May 2015
The following 15 Walking Liberty half dollars represent a mix of key-date coins, semi-keys, and a few higher-end business-strikes and proofs. There are also a couple better “raw” coins that caught the eyes of gutsy buyers who didn’t mint spending $1,000 or more on unslabbed eBay coins. Surely, the word of wisdom that goes out to all coin buyers is to be careful when buying any “raw” coins, especially expensive ones on eBay, and make sure all pieces have decent return policies.
#11 – 1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS VF-35, $1,383.00
#12 – 1937 Walking Liberty Half Dollar NGC Proof-67, $1,380.75
#13 – 1938-D Liberty Walking Liberty Half Dollar NGC MS-65, $1,275.00
#14 – 1933-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-63, $1,200.00
#15 – 1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS VF-30, $1,127.87
#16 – 1917-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar Uncirculated, $1,126.00
#17 – 1937 Walking Liberty Half Dollar NGC MS-67, $1,050.00
#18 Tied – 1923-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS Cleaning AU Details, $1,000.00
#18 Tied – 1918-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar ANACS MS-63, $1,000.00
#18 Tied – 1933-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar “Raw,” $1,000.00
#21 – 1942-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-66, $999.95
#22 – 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar NGC AU Details, $990.45
#23 – 1917-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar Obverse Mintmark Choice AU+, $975.00
#24 – 1942-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-66, $936.25
#25 – 1938 Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS Proof-66, $929.00