1917-D 50C Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Obverse Mintmark PCGS MS64

Helpful PCGS MS64 Price Information:

Collector's Universe: $3,000.

Coin Dealer Newsletter: $1,600.

Relevant auction records can be found below this listing.

Here’s an attractive and desirable early-date Walking Liberty half to add to your collection. David Hall writes, “Technically a variety, but long collected as part of the main set, the 1917-D on Obverse Walking Liberty half dollar is a low mintage semi-key date that's relatively scarce in circulated grades. Mint state examples are … scarce and Gems are rare.” The mintage of the 1917-D Obverse was 765,400. PCGS has graded 271 as MS64 with 412 finer.

The Denver Mint, where this piece was struck in 1917. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The manufacture of half dollars at the Denver Mint in 1917 was divided into two types. The first continued the obverse mintmark of 1916, however it was changed fairly early in the year. Mint Director F. J. H. von Engelken baulked at its prominent positioning, so new dies were created with the mintmark moved to the reverse near the rim. The majority of the 1917-D Obverse half dollars show the new D mintmark adopted that year and used through 1934. Some, however, carry the same tiny one seen on the 1916-D half dollars.

Relevant auction records (average $2,390): 

• 12/2022 HA @ $2,100.
• 11/2022 SB @ $2,640. 
• 10/2022 GC @ $2,531. 
• 10/2022 HA @ $2,040. 
• 08/2022 SB @ $2,640.

Previously appeared for sale in Heritage's 03/2008 auction and realized $2,070.