Walking Liberty Halves: America's Most Beautiful Coin?

Ask a room of collectors to name the most beautiful U.S. coin and the Walking Liberty half dollar wins more votes than any other. Designed by Adolph Weinman — the same artist behind the Mercury dime, in a remarkable year for one sculptor — and struck from 1916 to 1947, it shows Liberty striding toward the dawn, draped in the flag, with the sun rising before her. The reverse eagle, perched on a crag, is just as fine. It is a large silver canvas for one of the great American designs.

The early dates are the challenge

The series splits naturally into two halves. The early dates (1916 through the early 1920s) include the genuine rarities and semi-keys, and several are tough in any grade. The later dates (1934–1947) are common, beautifully struck, and inexpensive — which is why collectors invented a clever way to enjoy the design without chasing the keys.

• 1916 and 1916-S — first year; the 'S' has the mint mark on the obverse.
• 1917-D and 1917-S — obverse vs. reverse mint mark varieties.
• 1921, 1921-D, 1921-S — the classic key dates of the series.
• 1938-D — a low-mintage later semi-key.

The 'short set'

Because the late dates are so affordable and well-made, a hugely popular goal is the 'short set' — every date and mint from 1941 to 1947, twenty common coins that can be bought in lustrous mint state for a modest sum. It captures the full beauty of Weinman's design in gem condition without the early-date keys, and it makes an ideal first U.S. silver set. Many collectors build the short set first, then graduate to the early dates over time.

Grading and the living design

On a Walking Liberty half, check Liberty's head, the lines of her gown across the body, and her left (forward) leg for wear and strike completeness — the centre of the design is the first to soften on a weak strike, so eye-appeal varies even within a grade. The design's story did not end in 1947: in 1986 the U.S. Mint chose Weinman's striding Liberty for the obverse of the American Silver Eagle bullion coin, where it appears to this day. Buy a Walker and you own a design still in production after more than a century.