PARRIS ISLAND COINS » 1944 Half Dollar Value: How Much is it Worth Today?

1944 Half Dollar Value: How Much is it Worth Today?

1944 half dollar value

A common question among newcomers to the world of coin collecting is the true value of certain coins that garner more attention than others.

As a result, today we will discuss the 1944 Half-Dollar Value and its significance as a currency. This is a well-known coin that claims to be one of the most beautiful coins ever produced in the United States.

In this article, we will debunk the 1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar and learn everything there is to know about its true value, who designed it, and its true significance in the world of coin collecting.

1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value Chart

Quality 1944 No Mint Mark Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value 1944 San Francisco (S) Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value 1944 Denver (D) Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value
Good $14 $14 $14
Very Good $16 $16 $16
Fine $17 $17 $17
Very Fine $19 $19 $19
Extremely Fine $20 $20 $20
Uncirculated $22 $27 $22
MS 60 $39 $60 $52
MS 63 $54 $68 $66
MS 64 $70 $100 $80
MS 65 $95 $345 $200
MS 66 $185 $1,150 $375
MS 67 $1,380 $5,750 $865

The Walking Liberty half-dollar coin was produced from 1916 to 1947. At the turn of the century, the American government and the mint set out to improve the artistic quality of American coins.

The designs of Charles E. Barber, who had been heavily criticized for simple designs with little artistic value and a strong resemblance in all of his designs, were still preserved.

There was a lot of pressure to get rid of the old Barber coins because people didn’t want coins that looked alike and had to double-check before using them in their daily lives.

The Roosevelt administration took steps to change the design of all coins that had been in circulation for more than 25 years.

That was how all the currencies, including the half dollar, were gradually changed. Before holding a public contest, as was done with other coins, the mint requested that internal engravers be allowed to submit sketches.

Charles E. Barber, despite his low popularity, was among the engravers who submitted designs again, but this time the commission did not approve his designs, and they decided to hire three artists to submit designs for different coins.

Adolph A. Weinman, a German-born American, drew attention to the 10-and-a-half-dollar coin’s design. This is how Weinman got started on the Mercury Dime and the Walking Liberty half dollars.

Weinman is thought to have modeled Lady Liberty after his neighbor Elsie Stevens, the wife of famed poet Wallace Stevens. The artist never confirmed this, instead claiming it was based on previous work. In other interviews, he claimed to have modeled himself after a neighbor, the identity of whom he never revealed.

However, other sources indicate that the Stevenses rented an apartment on the second floor owned by Weinman in the years in which he worked on the coin designs. So it is very likely that Elsie Stevens was the true model for Weinman’s coins.

The design of Lady Liberty Walking into the Horizon drew a lot of attention because it resembles “The Sower,” a French coin designed by Oscar Roty.

There are many similarities between the two coins, but experts say Weinman did an excellent and unique job. It may have been inspired, but it is far from a copy, as the American coin contains many of its own elements that contribute to the coin’s status as a work of art and one of the most beautiful coins in American history.

1944 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia) Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value

1944 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia) Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value
Image Credit: USA Coin Book

In 1944, 46,879,000 half-dollar coins were minted. This coin was struck at the mints of Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver.

The Philadelphia mint was the main headquarters and was usually in charge of producing the most coins. That year, 28,206,000 coins were minted, accounting for more than half of total production.

All Philadelphia-minted coins lack a mint mark. Don’t worry if you think your coin is missing an abbreviation or is a forgery; the lack of a mint mark automatically identifies it as a Philadelphia mint coin.

This coin’s composition is also unique in that it is 90% silver and 10% copper. These percentages changed over time due to a variety of factors, but it is worth noting that, despite the war and the country’s economic difficulties, they decided not to change the composition of the currency in 1944, when the war was already over but the economic consequences were still being felt strongly.

Adolph A. Weinman, who also designed the Mercury Dime, created the coin. These coins were never highly valued by the general public, but coin historians and numismatic art connoisseurs agree that Weinman’s designs are among the most beautiful in the history of US coins.

Obverse

1944 half dollar Obverse
Image Credit: APMEX

Adolph A. Weinman created the obverse and reverse designs after being chosen along with two other artists to submit sketches of various coins.

Lady Liberty in a Phrygian cap walks across an open field or plain on the obverse. Lady Liberty’s Phrygian cap is part of a European fashion or current that used the cap as a symbol of freedom or the desire for freedom.

The original Phrygian hat was very popular in Eastern Europe, particularly in the Balkans, Anatolia, Thrace, and Phrygia, from which the name derives. However, there is some confusion about this cap because it is thought to be the one worn by freedmen in the Roman Empire as a symbol of their liberty.

The truth is that all freedmen wore a plebeian cap. It is a hat that has been worn by freed slaves since Greek times in honor of Libertas, the goddess of liberty.

The figure of the slave cap was used during the French Revolution, but the design was modified to look more like a Phrygian cap, which is why we see the same symbol on the Adolph A. Weinman.

Lady Liberty walks with her hand outstretched, the American flag fluttering in the wind on her shoulders. Lady Liberty walks towards the sunrise, the sun’s rays illuminating her path.

Lady Liberty also carries oak and laurel branches, which represent a nation’s military and civil victories. On the upper edge of the coin is the word LIBERTY, and on the right side is the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST.

The obverse of the coin has many details that make the coin beautiful but also difficult to mint. That is why there is a big difference between the coins that are well preserved and without major wear and the coins that are still in circulation today.

Reverse

1944 half dollar Reverse

The reverse of the coin depicts the American eagle, which is a traditional symbol of the United States. The eagle, on the other hand, is very well done this time, and its feathers are one of the most striking features of the engraving.

Adolph A. Weinman was a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and the mastery of eagle feather design is said to come from Saint-Gaudens’ school. Saint-Gaudens also submitted designs for various American coins but died before completing the Lincoln penny.

The eagle is stretching and unfolding its wings in preparation for flight. It is supported by a rock from which a pine branch protrudes, a symbol of North America.

The top edge of the coin bears the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A point is used as a separator after each word.

The words ONE DOLLAR can be found on the lower edge of the coin, and the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM” can be found on the left side of the coin, just above the pine branch. This phrase means “one of many” in Latin. It is a motto found on the majority of American coins.

Philadelphia coins lack a mint mark, but for all other coins, look on the reverse, just below the rock on which the American eagle perches.

Value

This is due to the fact that coins that have been in circulation have a very low price, whereas coins that have not been in circulation skyrocket in price and become very appealing offers for experienced collectors.

In 1944, 28,206,000 coins were minted in Philadelphia, so you can easily find one of these copies in any online store. However, things become more interesting as you progress through the grades.

A coin in circulation will cost you between $15 and $20. The real jackpot, however, is the coins that have never been in circulation. A coin in grade MS 63 will cost you around $50, while a coin in grade MS 67 can be worth up to $1,500.

A coin graded MS 68 from the Philadelphia mint is valued at $42,000.

1944 San Francisco (S) Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value

1944 San Francisco (S) Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value

The San Francisco mint minted only 8,904,000 coins in 1944. This was the lowest number of coins when compared to the Denver and Philadelphia mints. That is why now coins from San Francisco often cost more than their counterparts.

Coins minted in San Francisco bear an “S” as the mint mark. You can find the letter S on the reverse of the coin, just below the rock where the American eagle rests.

Value

San Francisco coins will always be slightly more expensive in lower grades, but will rise and separate from Denver and Philadelphia coins as the condition improves.

The coins in circulation cost between $15 and $20 each. Uncirculated coins, on the other hand, range in price from $27 to $100.

However, coins graded MS 65 and above can cost up to $20,000 each. It is worth noting that a coin of this type has yet to be discovered in MS 68 quality, but if it is, it is estimated to be worth around $100,000.

1944 Denver (D) Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value

1944 Denver (D) Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Value

The Denver Mint minted 9,769,000 coins. It was the second mint to have the highest production, however, not many good-quality specimens have survived to this day.

The Denver coin is distinguished by having the letter “D” on the reverse of the coin. You should look just under the rock where the American eagle is resting.

Value

The value of this coin is very similar to the Philadelphia coins. You can find a copy in circulation between 15 and 20 dollars. For uncirculated coins, you must reserve from 22 to 100 dollars.

Highly circulated coins can cost around $100 each. An MS 67 coin costs about $800 in online stores, but it is believed that the price is below that indicated.

There are not many offers of this coin in very high qualities, in fact, there is still no record of the existence of one in MS68 quality.

1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Grading

The 1944 Half Dollar has a very important characteristic, and that is that it goes up very quickly in price as the degree of conservation increases. That is why it is important to know what all the degrees of conservation are, their value, and how to identify them.

For that, we leave you a video with useful information that you can review every time you need to consult things about the degree of conservation of this coin.

Rare 1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Error List

The half-dollar coins have a very elegant and artistic design, but at the same time very complicated to mint. The coin has so many details that you will hardly find one that preserves all of them.

This also leads to many errors in the production stage. Here we present the most common errors of this coin.

1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Hand Cut AW Variety

1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Hand Cut AW Variety
Image Credit: eBay

This error is found on coins made in Denver. And it is not an error in itself. The 1944 coin has the initials A and W on the reverse of the coin, just below the eagle. Most of the coins have the initials minted by machine, however, there are some copies that were made by hand.

One of these coins with the designer’s initials hand-cut can cost about $150 in its uncirculated version.

1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar w/o AW variety

1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar w/o AW variety

Some coins simply do not have the initials A and W on the reverse. These copies are very rare and you can buy one that has not been in circulation for 125 dollars.

1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar with Error Republished

This error comes from the San Francisco mint. It features a punch next to the “S” mintmark on the reverse of the coin. This coin in good condition can be worth up to 275 dollars.

1944 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar FAQ

What makes a 1944 half-dollar rare?

The 1944 half-dollar coins are classified depending on the mint they came from. Among all the coins, those that were minted in San Francisco are considered the rarest of all thanks to the limited number that was produced.

How much silver is in a 1944 Liberty Half Dollar?

This coin is one of the few that continued to be 90% silver and 10% copper. Most of the coins changed their composition in wartime since copper and silver were very expensive metals.

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