The half dollar has been used in the United States since the late 18th century, with the first half dollars being struck in 1794. Early half dollars were made of silver and depicted Lady Liberty on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse. One early design was the Draped Bust half dollar, minted from 1796 to 1807 and featuring a draped bust of Liberty wearing a cap.
In 1839, the Seated Liberty half dollar was introduced, designed by Christian Gobrecht. This new design showed Liberty seated on a rock and featured stars around the edge. Several variations of the Seated Liberty design were issued over the next 50 years. One rare 1855 variation even printed the denomination as “Half Dol.” rather than the usual “Half D.”
The Barber half dollar succeeded the Seated Liberty series in 1892, featuring a stylized depiction of Liberty designed by Charles E. Barber. Adolph A. Weinman’s iconic Walking Liberty half dollar replaced the Barber in 1916. This design showed Lady Liberty gracefully walking toward the sunrise with the American flag billowing behind her.
Production of half dollars was interrupted during WWII from 1942-1947. In 1964, the Kennedy half dollar was introduced just months after the president’s assassination. The obverse depicts Kennedy while the reverse depicts the presidential seal.
For the US Bicentennial in 1976, a special design featuring Independence Hall was struck. The Kennedy design resumed in 1977 and still circulates today. Despite decreases in usage over the years, the half dollar endures as an iconic remnant of early American coinage. The substantial silver coins remind Americans of the value once carried by currency backed by precious metals.
Maximize your half dollar collection’s value with this all-encompassing digital guide. Expertly researched, it covers every U.S. half dollar series with vivid imagery, detailed grading insights, and accurate pricing data. From early Flowing Hair to modern commemoratives, this indispensable PDF resource empowers you to identify, grade, and value your prized half dollars with precision. Whether vintage or modern, this portable reference provides authoritative numismatic knowledge.
(All the contents of this book are free on Coin Value Checker, The aim of this book is for those who use it offline.)
Unveil the true worth of your Franklin Half Dollar treasures with this comprehensive digital resource. Richly illustrated with high-resolution imagery, it provides expert grading standards, key variety identification, and updated fair market pricing. Whether you’re building a date/mintmark set or seeking premium condition rarities, this meticulously researched PDF guide equips you with authoritative numismatic knowledge to accurately assess, attribute, and optimize the value of your prized holdings.
(All the contents of this book are free on Coin Value Checker, The aim of this book is for those who use it offline.)
Precisely evaluate your Kennedy Half Dollar collection with this essential digital resource. Featuring detailed grading criteria, high-resolution imagery, and up-to-date pricing data, this meticulously researched PDF guide empowers you to accurately identify value-adding varieties and condition rarities. Whether assembling a complete date/mintmark set or cherrypicking premium pieces, this portable reference provides the numismatic expertise to maximize your investment. A must-have for Kennedy specialists.
(All the contents of this book are free on Coin Value Checker, The aim of this book is for those who use it offline.)
Unlock the full potential of your Walking Liberty Half Dollar collection with this authoritative digital guide. Richly illustrated with high-resolution imagery, it provides detailed grading standards, key date identification, and updated fair market values. Whether a seasoned numismatist or new collector, this comprehensive PDF resource equips you with expert knowledge to accurately assess condition, pinpoint valuable varieties, and maximize your prized holdings’ worth. Portable numismatic mastery.
(All the contents of this book are free on Coin Value Checker, The aim of this book is for those who use it offline.)
