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Junk Silver » 1916-1947 Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollar

1916-1947 Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollar

Junk Silver Value

Silver Content: 90%
Silver Weight: 0.36169 oz.
Junk Silver Price: $12.18

The Walking Liberty half dollar (sometimes called the "walker" among enthusiasts) was designed by A.A. Weinman, a German-born sculptor and student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

The obverse of the coin features the full-body image of Liberty walking forward into a sunrise, carrying laurel and oak branches. The branches are said to symbolize civil and military glory, respectively. On the reverse of the coin is an eagle perched on a mountain, next to a sapling of mountain pine, growing from a crack in the rock. A.A. Weinman's initials (AW) appear under the eagle's tail-feathers.

The design received rave reviews at the time of its release, and continues to be a favorite among collectors of American coins.

Like other silver coins of the era, these half dollars contain 90% silver. A junk silver bag of Walking Liberty half dollars typically consists of $1000 in face value, or 2000 coins, weighing about 55 pounds, and containing about 718-720 ounces of silver. These coins are popular among junk silver investors who prefer a larger coin, so as to have fewer to manage. Many dealers in junk silver charge premiums for half dollars, however, making the Silver Washington Quarter a good potential compromise for those looking to pay the smallest premium over melt value.

Despite the premium the Walking Liberty half sometimes carries, it has one major advantage, in that they were only ever minted in 90% silver, so if you receive a coin with the walking liberty design, you can be confident you are getting a 90% silver coin without having to verify the date. This is especially useful if the date has been rubbed down to the point of being illegible, a relatively common occurrence for heavily circulated coins.

As with other junk silver coins, Ebay is most often the best place to acquire circulated Walking Liberty Half Dollars for their silver value, especially in smaller quantities.