1916-S 50C Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS64

Helpful PCGS MS64 Price Information:

Collector's Universe: $5,750.

Coin Dealer Newsletter: $3,600.

Relevant auction information is below this listing.

David Hall writes, “The 1916-S is the 4th lowest mintage of the Walking Liberty half dollar series. It is a tough coin in all grades. Even the lowest grade examples are relatively expensive. In Gem condition this issue, while rare, is not as rare as the mintage would suggest, probably because a number were saved as first year of issue.”

He continues, “Typical mint state examples are well struck (for an early Walker). In fact, this is one of the better struck of the early date (1916-1929) Walkers. Luster is usually soft white and somewhat satiny.”

PCGS has graded 305 as MS64 with 194 finer.

The San Francisco Mint, where this rare piece was struck in 1916. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Similar to the Denver Mint, San Francisco did not receive dies for the new 1916 half dollar until November 27, 1916. Therefore, it struck only 508,000 1916-S halves by the end of the year. This issue was released early during the following year. However, unlike its Philadelphia Mint cousin, the 1916-S half dollar was not saved widely in Mint State condition.

Writes NGC Coin Explorer, “Most coin collectors lived in the eastern third of the nation, and only those serious enough about completing their collections bothered to write the San Francisco Mint requesting examples (at that time current coins were obtainable at face value plus postage by writing to each mint).”

Gem state coins are available at the MS-65 level, however coins grading higher are very rare. All 1916-S half dollars bear a tiny mintmark, the same that was used that same year for cents, nickels, dimes and gold coins.

Relevant auction records (average $4,011): 

• 05/2024 HA @ $3,600.
• 03/2024 SB @ $3,840. 
• 12/2023 HA @ $3,600. 
• 08/2022 GC @ $4,933. 
• 06/2022 SB @ $4,080.

Previously appeared for sale in Heritage's 03/2008 auction and realized $2,875.