1935 Half Dollar Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

The 1935 half dollar is particularly noteworthy to collectors because of its historical significance, exquisite design, and varying degrees of scarcity across the three mints.

With a combined mintage of only approximately 16 million pieces, finding well-preserved examples is challenging. Values range dramatically by mint and condition—while circulated examples start around $19, mint state coins command premium prices, with the 1935-S reaching $1,561.67 in top condition.

The intricate Walking Liberty design that makes these coins striking also presents production challenges, resulting in poor casting quality and rapid die wear. Understanding the 1935 half dollar market requires knowledge of mint mark variations, grading standards, and current dynamics.

 

1935 Half Dollar Value By Variety

The 1935 half dollar series includes several varieties, with values varying significantly based on mint mark and coin condition.

If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Kennedy Half Dollar Worth Money (1964 – Present)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1935 Half Dollar Worth Money

This chart reveals the dramatic price stratification among 1935 half dollars in premium grades, with the 1935-S MS-67 commanding the highest recorded auction price at $67,563.

The data shows that the 1935-D and 1935-S are evenly distributed, each occupying four of the ten positions. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Mint coin, despite having the highest original mintage, only appears twice, demonstrating that scarcity dominates the coin collecting market.

The price gap between coins of different grades is huge. From MS-66 to MS-67, the price of both Denver and San Francisco coins has increased by more than several times.

Looking at the chart, we also see that the 1935 MS-68 Philadelphia coin sold for $11,750, yet it sold for less than several MS-66 coins, highlighting that in some cases, the scarcity of the mintmark can be more important than the grade premium. The Denver and San Francisco coins’ performance in this value ranking reflects their scarcity in fine condition.

 

History Of The 1935 Half Dollar

The 1935 half dollar emerged during a pivotal moment in American history. Minted at the height of the Great Depression when unemployment remained above 20%, these coins carried Adolph Weinman’s iconic Walking Liberty design into its nineteenth year of production. The design, featuring Liberty striding toward the sunrise draped in the American flag, embodied hope and progress during an era of widespread economic hardship.

Production challenges that had plagued the series since 1916 continued in 1935, with all three mints struggling with Weinman’s intricate design details. The complex relief caused rapid die wear and frequent weak strikes, particularly affecting Liberty’s hand and the eagle’s breast feathers.

This technical difficulty would eventually contribute to the design’s replacement by the Franklin half dollar in 1948, despite widespread public admiration.The year 1935 marked the final year of exclusively regular strike production before the U.S. Mint began additionally issuing proof coins in 1936, making these pieces the last coins produced before the introduction of the proof series.

Regional differences in collector awareness during the Depression meant varying survival rates, with West Coast coins experiencing heavier circulation while Eastern specimens were more frequently preserved, patterns that continue to influence modern valuations.

Also Read: Top 35 Most Valuable Franklin Half Dollar Worth Money (1948 – 1963)

 

Is Your 1935 Half Dollar Rare?

Use our CoinValueChecker App to explore detailed rarity assessments and current market valuations for these and other Walking Liberty Half Dollars.

 

Key Features Of The 1935 Half Dollar

Adolph Weinman was a talented engraver and sculptor and the one who created the most beautiful American coin, the Walking Liberty half-dollar. The US Mint started issuing these rich-in-symbol coins in 1916. The last pieces were released in 1947.

The Obverse Of The 1935 Half Dollar

The 1935 half-dollars are high-quality coins with an attractive and striking design. They belong to the beautiful coin series that encouraged Americans to start collecting coins.

A.A. Weinman created both sides of these coins. The obverse included Lady Liberty walking toward the rising sun while its rays spread in front of her path. The image also depicts the American flag covering her shoulders while she holds branches of olive and oak with her left hand.

Under the path is the minting year, 1935 this time, while the IN GOD – WE TRUST is behind her outstretched leg. The word LIBERTY is written in the background of the central design.

The Reverse Of The 1935 Half Dollar

Weinman paid particular attention to the reverse look and did something entirely different than anyone before him. He placed an oversized eagle prepared for a flight in the center and used modest font for inscriptions surrounding it.

You can read E PLURIBUS UNUM (a saying in Latin), UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (the State’s full name), and HALF DOLLAR (the face value).

Besides, there is a mountain crag, serving the eagle as a stable ground, and a branch of mountain pine growing on the left. The final details are stylish initials with overlapped letters AW on all coins and the mint mark added to two of three types of coins.

Other Features Of The 1935 Half Dollar

These fifty-cent coins were made of 90% silver, which was 11.25 g (0.36169 troy ounces) of a total coin weight of 12.5 g (0.40188 troy ounces). Each piece with a reeded edge had a diameter of 30.00 mm (1.2059 inches) and a thickness of 1.8 mm (0,07086 inches).

Also Read: Top 60+ Most Valuable Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916 -1947)

 

1935 Half Dollar Mintage & Survival Data

The Philadelphia mint dominated production with 9.162 million coins, representing approximately 57% of total mintage. The Denver and San Francisco mints produced more modest quantities at 3 million and 3.854 million respectively. This production imbalance reflects the Philadelphia mint’s role as the primary coinage facility during the Depression era.

Survival data indicate that the original mintage varied widely, but the survival rates of the three versions are very similar, hovering around 5%, possibly due to similar circulation patterns and the melting of silver coins during periods of high precious metal prices.

The survival distribution pie chart illustrates that Philadelphia comprise approximately 57% of surviving examples, with D and S variants representing about 19% and 24% respectively. This proportional preservation mirrors the original mintage distribution, indicating that collector preferences and survival factors affected all variants equally.

Also Read: What Half Dollars Are Worth Money?

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1935 Half Dollar Value

Determining what your 1935 half dollar is actually worth isn’t straightforward—values fluctuate based on silver content, numismatic premiums, recent auction results, and dealer demand that shifts weekly. A coin might be worth melt value one day, then command collector premiums the next based on market conditions.

The CoinValueChecker APP cuts through this complexity by synthesizing current precious metal prices, collector market data, and your coin’s specific attributes into one reliable figure. It’s like having a seasoned dealer in your pocket, providing the informed valuation you need without the guesswork.

 

1935 Half Dollar Value Guides

The 1935 half dollar series consists of three distinct varieties produced across different U.S. Mint facilities during the height of the Great Depression. Each variety can be identified by its mint mark location on the reverse, positioned below the eagle near the branch.

• 1935 No Mint Mark Half Dollar – Philadelphia Mint
• 1935-D Half Dollar – Denver Mint  
• 1935-S Half Dollar – San Francisco Mint

The Philadelphia mint variety bears no mint mark, following traditional practice, while the Denver and San Francisco issues display their respective “D” and “S” mint marks. Production numbers varied significantly between facilities, with Philadelphia leading total output, creating different levels of availability in today’s numismatic market.

 

1935 No Mint Mark Half Dollar Value

The 1935 no mint mark half dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the last year the United States Mint produced only “regular circulation coins.” The mintage was 9,162,000, while not a significant number, it was the highest production of the three mints. This reflects the Great Depression dampened demand for high-denomination coins in the early 1930s.

Due to Weinman’s complex design for this silver coin, production was challenging for minters and resulted in rapid wear of the dies. Many coins were struck with poor quality, resulting in increased wear during circulation and loss of detail.

This also contributes to the coin’s collector value. The fewer well-preserved coins there are, the higher their value. Collectors are willing to pay a premium for rare coins. In April 2021, a coin graded MS67+ sold for $12,338.

These historical backgrounds and scarcity factors directly influence the performance of the 1935 half dollar at auction, with high-quality specimens often achieving impressive prices.

The current market activity for the 1935 half dollar reflects collectors’ interest in this Depression-era coin.

 

1935-D Half Dollar Value

The 1935-D half dollar had the lowest mintage of the three versions, at just 3,003,800.The Denver version was produced using a different production process than the Philadelphia and San Francisco versions, resulting in unique minting flaws. While Walking Liberty pieces typically exhibit weaknesses in Lady Liberty’s hands, the 1935-D primarily blurring the details of Lady Liberty’s head

The combination of its low mintage and special production defects makes it the most difficult coin in the 1935 series to find in high-quality condition, and therefore holds considerable collector potential.

The Denver coins often command lower prices in lower grades, but become exponentially more valuable in premium condition. A 1935-D in MS-67 grade achieved $23,500 at auction in 2016, demonstrating the premium collectors place on quality examples.

These unique production characteristics and scarcity have contributed to the impressive auction results for the 1935-D half dollar, particularly for high-quality examples that have overcome minting flaws.

The current market activity for the 1935-D half dollar reflects collector interest in this issue.

 

1935-S Half Dollar Value

The 1935-S half dollar had a moderate mintage within the 1935 series. The San Francisco Mint struck 3,854,000 pieces, and after 90 years of circulation, finding a 1935-S half dollar in excellent condition is difficult.

During 1935, the San Francisco region’s economy was underdeveloped, resulting in a small number of collectors. Coins were primarily used for daily transactions, leading to an increase in circulation and a decrease in the number of well-preserved coins.

Due to poor strike quality and heavy surface wear, most surviving coins are in poor condition, resulting in a significant premium for a half dollar in excellent condition.

This regional economic disparity resulted in a situation where San Francisco produced more coins than Denver, but the survival rate was lower. In 2023, a 1935-S coin in MS-67 condition set an auction record of $67,563, nearly triple the Denver record.

The 1935-S half dollar has seen impressive price performance in the auction market, particularly for fine examples.

This active market reflects collector interest in this coin, which has an exceptional preservation background.

Also Read: Rare Half Dollar Coins to Look For

 

Rare 1935 Half Dollar Error List

A list of 1935 half-dollar errors is not particularly long, but they can be fascinating and unusual. Many collectors like imperfect pieces, and some even choose to collect only such specimens. Since they are rarer than regular coins, you can expect that most cost more than the price for standard half-dollars.

1. Rotated Die Error 

The rotated die error occurs when the obverse and reverse dies are improperly oriented during production, causing the two sides of the coin to be positioned at an angle relative to each other rather than in perfect alignment.

This manufacturing mistake happens when mint workers fail to properly seat the dies in the coin press, resulting in a misaligned relationship between the front and back designs. The severity of rotation can vary significantly, with some coins showing only slight misalignment while others display dramatic angular displacement of up to 180 degrees.

Collectors can identify this error by holding the coin upright and flipping it – a normal coin should maintain the same orientation on both sides, while a rotated die error will show the reverse design tilted at an angle.

These errors typically command modest premiums over regular coins, with values influenced primarily by the degree of rotation and the overall condition of the specimen.

2. Double Die Error

Double die errors manifest when a die strikes a coin more than once, with the coin shifting slightly between strikes, causing the die to create a second overlapping image.

This production anomaly occurs during the die preparation process when the master hub strikes the working die multiple times in slightly different positions, creating a die with doubled design elements. The resulting coins display characteristic doubling effects most commonly visible in the lettering, numbers, and fine details such as the edges of the eagle’s feathers or Liberty’s gown lines.

Collectors should examine the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST,” the date, and “LIBERTY” inscription carefully, as these areas typically show the most pronounced doubling effects.

The value of double die errors varies considerably based on the prominence and location of the doubling, with dramatic examples affecting major design elements commanding substantially higher premiums than subtle varieties affecting only minor details.

3. Clipped Planchet Error 

Clipped planchet errors occur when the blanking dies overlap previously punched-out holes in the metal strip, resulting in coins with missing portions that create curved or straight-edged clips along the rim.

This manufacturing defect happens during the early stages of coin production when the cutting process removes circular blanks from strips of metal – if the cutting die overlaps an area where a blank was previously removed, the resulting planchet will have a portion missing.

The clips can appear as crescents, straight cuts, or irregular shapes depending on the overlap pattern and can affect anywhere from a small percentage to a significant portion of the coin’s edge. Genuine clipped planchet errors must be distinguished from post-mint damage, as the missing metal will show the same coloration and wear patterns as the rest of the coin.

These errors typically add moderate premiums to coin values, with larger clips and those affecting important design elements commanding higher prices than small clips that barely impact the coin’s appearance.

 

Where To Sell Your 1935 Half Dollar?

Got valuable coins but not sure where to sell them? I’ve done the homework for you – here’s my rundown of the best online selling options, with the real scoop on what works well and what to watch out for.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1935 Half Dollar Market Trend

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About The 1935 Half Dollar

1. What makes a 1935 Half Dollar (Walking Liberty) rare?

Most 1935 Walking half-dollars are not ultra-rare coins, despite their age, but you can sometimes come across a few surprises. Be aware that pieces in the mint state over MS 65 can be scarce and challenging to find, so their prices can be high.

2. Which 1935 Half Dollar (Walking Liberty) is worth a lot of money?

• The most expensive San Francisco Walking Liberty Half Dollar in MS 67 grade, minted in 1935, won the auction record of $67,563 in 2023
• The most expensive Denver Walking Liberty Half Dollar in MS 67 grade, minted in 1935, won the auction record of $23,500 in 2016
• The most expensive Philadelphia Walking Liberty Half Dollar in MS 67+ grade, minted in 1935, won the auction record of $12,338 in 2021

3. Are 1935 half dollars good investments?

1935 half dollars offer both silver content protection and numismatic appreciation potential. Their 90% silver composition provides a value floor that moves with precious metal prices, while high-grade examples have shown strong performance at auction. However, like all collectibles, values can fluctuate based on market conditions and collector demand.