1916 50C Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS64

Helpful PCGS MS64 Price Information:

Collector's Universe: $1,850.

Coin Dealer Newsletter: $1,100.

For relevant auction information, please see below this listing.

1916 was the first-year issue for the ever-popular Walking Liberty half dollar series. As was the case with numerous first year of issue coins, countless examples were pulled out of circulation and saved. However, the 1916 half dollar—with its original mintage of 608,000—was relatively small for the era, and a half dollar was certainly a significant amount of money. Therefore, not as many were saved as the 1913 Buffalo nickel or 1916 Mercury dime. Coins that were saved at the time were typically pulled out of circulation, and would grade as AU (Almost Uncirculated) today.

PCGS has graded 576 as MS64 with 452 finer.

A bas-relief of Adolph Weinman, who crafted the design of this beautiful coin. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

David Hall writes, “The 1916 half dollar is scarce in circulated grades and, like all early (1916-1929) Walkers, sells for much more than the later dates in circulated grades. This issue, along with the 1916-D and 1917, is one of the more available of the 1916-1928 dates in mint state condition. Gem MS65 or better examples are available, but are certainly not common. In Gem condition, this issue is slightly easier to find than the 1916-D and is rarer than the 1917. Most examples are well struck for an early date Walker. Luster is typically satiny and white luster Gems are not unusual. An important beginning for this great coin series.”

Relevant auction records (average $1,374): 

• 10/2023 GC @ $1,250 (toned)
• 07/2023 HA @ $1,140 (toned) 
• 05/2023 GC @ $1,406 
• 04/2023 GC @ $1,388 (toned)
• 01/2023 GC @ $1,688