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U.S. Mint coin reference

1916-1947 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

Walking Liberty Half Dollar Popular 90% silver half dollar series.

Years made: 1916-1947

Country: United States

Denomination: Half dollar

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper

Silver fineness: 90%

Silver weight: 0.3617 oz ASW

Weight: 12.50 g

Diameter: 30.6 mm

Thickness: 2.15 mm

Edge: Reeded

Designer: Adolph A. Weinman

The obverse is identified by the full-length figure of Liberty walking toward the sunrise, her right arm extended and branches held in her left arm. The folds of the U.S. flag form the background behind her. The reverse shows an eagle standing on a rocky ledge with a mountain pine branch. On well-struck coins, collectors often examine Liberty’s hand and central skirt lines on the obverse and the eagle’s breast and leg feathers on the reverse for strike detail.

Walking Liberty Half Dollar history

The Walking Liberty half dollar was introduced in 1916 and is widely regarded as one of the most artistic U.S. circulating coin designs. Adolph A. Weinman portrayed Liberty striding toward the rising sun while carrying branches of laurel and oak, with the American flag flowing around her. The reverse features an eagle perched on a rocky outcrop beside a pine branch. The design remained in production through 1947 and later inspired the obverse of the American Silver Eagle bullion coin.