Widely held to be the most beautiful coin the United States ever circulated, and still struck today on the face of the American Silver Eagle.
Silver spot
$53.44 a troy ounce.
Spot price as of 10 November 2026.
Each coin is 12.5 g at 900 fine,
a US Mint specification.
This is metal value only. Most coins are worth more than their metal to a collector,
and some are worth very much more, so check the date and mint mark before selling
anything here for its melt value.
What one Walking Liberty half is worth in silver
One Walking Liberty half contains 0.3617 troy ounces of pure silver, from a coin
weighing 12.5 grams at 900 parts per thousand. At the
current benchmark that metal is worth
$19.33.
The benchmark behind it was set on
, and every figure on this
page moves with it.
Melt value by quantity, at the current benchmark.
How many
Face value
Pure silver
Melt value
1
$0.50
0.3617 ozt
$19.33
10
$5.00
3.6170 ozt
$193.30
20
$10.00
7.2339 ozt
$386.60
50
$25.00
18.08 ozt
$966.51
100
$50.00
36.17 ozt
$1,933
What the coin is
The Walking Liberty half was struck from 1916 to 1947 at 12.5 grams and 90% silver, holding 0.36170 troy ounces of pure silver. That is the standard pre-1965 half dollar specification, shared with the Franklin half that followed it and the 1964 Kennedy half after that, so all three have identical melt values.
Adolph Weinman designed it in the same year as the Mercury dime, and the obverse, Liberty striding toward the sunrise with the flag around her shoulders, was revived in 1986 for the American Silver Eagle bullion coin. That is why a modern one ounce silver coin and a 1940s half dollar carry the same image at very different weights.
The design was notoriously hard to strike fully. Liberty’s left hand and the details of the skirt often came up weak, particularly on the San Francisco coins of the 1920s, which is why strike quality is discussed constantly in this series and why two coins in the same apparent grade can differ sharply in price.
Is it worth more than its metal?
The early years carry the premiums. The 1921, 1921-D and 1921-S are the keys, all struck in small numbers in a recession year, and the 1921-D has the lowest mintage in the series. The 1916-S, 1917-S obverse mint mark variety and 1938-D are all scarce as well.
Mint mark placement moved during 1917, which trips people up. On 1916 coins and some 1917s it is on the obverse below the motto, and from 1917 onward it sits on the reverse to the lower left of the pine branch. A 1917 with the mint mark on the obverse is the scarcer of the two versions.
The common dates are the 1940s coins, struck in large numbers during the war years, and those trade near melt in worn condition. Anything from the 1910s or 1920s deserves a look before it goes into a bullion lot, and anything uncirculated deserves a grading opinion.
Selling it
The 1940s coins are junk silver and sell by face value alongside dimes and quarters. The pre-1934 coins are not, and a coin dealer will separate them out even if you do not, which is the argument for doing it yourself first.
This is a series where collector demand is strong enough that even a moderately worn 1920s coin can beat melt by a wide margin. If the date is before 1934 or the mint mark is D or S on an early coin, get a numismatic opinion rather than a scale.
How much silver is in a Walking Liberty half dollar?+
0.36170 troy ounces of pure silver, from 12.5 grams at 90% fineness. Franklin halves and 1964 Kennedy halves share exactly the same specification and melt value.
Which Walking Liberty halves are valuable?+
The 1921, 1921-D and 1921-S are the key dates, with the 1921-D having the lowest mintage in the series. The 1916-S, the 1917-S with the obverse mint mark and the 1938-D are also scarce and worth well over melt.
Is the Silver Eagle the same design?+
The obverse is. Weinman’s striding Liberty was revived in 1986 for the American Silver Eagle, which is one troy ounce of 99.9% silver rather than the half ounce of 90% silver in the original half dollar.
Where is the mint mark on a Walking Liberty half?+
On 1916 and some 1917 coins it is on the obverse below the motto. From 1917 onward it moved to the reverse, to the lower left of the pine branch. The obverse mint mark 1917 coins are the scarcer version.
Recommended Gold Testing & Smelting Equipment
Laboratory-grade scales, non-destructive electronic testers, and digital melting furnaces for accurate scrap valuation and refining.
Digital Electric Gold & Silver Melting Furnace (1kg to 3kg, 1150°C / 2100°F)
Commercial digital smelting furnace with high-density graphite crucible, insulated heating chamber, and heavy-duty crucible tongs. Heats up to 2100°F (1150°C) with precise digital PID temperature control to cleanly melt scrap gold jewelry, sterling silver, and brass into tradeable bullion bars in under 45 minutes.
Laboratory-grade electronic gold analyzer that instantly determines karat purity from 10K to 24K and verifies platinum without messy acid drops or destructive scratching. Rapid self-calibration ensures quick, reliable scrap valuation without damaging collectible jewelry.
0.001g High-Precision Analytical Milligram Jewelry Scale (50g x 0.001g)
Laboratory-grade analytical milligram balance measuring down to 0.001 grams, 0.005 carats, and 0.0001 troy ounces (ozt). Features a clear protective draft shield, tare function, and stainless steel calibration weights to catch fine weight fractions before smelting.
Multi-Cavity High-Density Graphite Ingot Mold for Bar Casting
Machined high-purity fine-grain graphite mold designed for pouring clean 1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, and 10 oz gold and silver bars. Delivers high thermal stability, rapid heat dissipation, and a smooth cavity finish for effortless ingot release.
Master Gold & Silver Chemical Acid Scratch Assay Kit with Touchstone & Loupe
Complete precious metal appraisal kit featuring 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K gold testing acids, silver testing solution, a genuine dense testing touchstone, and an illuminated triplet jeweler loupe to distinguish solid karat gold from heavy plating.
Kevlar-reinforced split-cowhide foundry gloves rated for temperatures up to 2000°F with extended gauntlet forearm protection, paired with a high-impact anti-glare face shield designed for safe scrap metal handling and pouring.
Compare essential equipment specifications for establishing an efficient scrap gold testing and melting workstation:
Equipment Type
Primary Purpose
Capacity / Accuracy
Key Advantage
Electric Smelting Furnace
Melting scrap jewelry, dental gold, and coins into bullion
1 kg to 3 kg crucible capacity
Clean flameless PID temperature control up to 2100°F
Electronic Karat Tester
Instant purity check on intact jewelry and high-end watches
10K to 24K gold and platinum ranges
Non-destructive testing with no acid stains or scratches
Analytical Milligram Scale
Precise scrap weight measurement before refining
50g capacity at 0.001g (0.0001 ozt)
Catches fine weight margins standard kitchen scales miss
Multi-Cavity Ingot Mold
Casting molten scrap metal into tradeable bullion bars
1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz bar cavities
High-density graphite prevents sticking and oxidation
Acid Touchstone Assay Kit
Distinguishing solid karat alloy from heavy vermeil or plate
10K, 14K, 18K, 22K acid standards
Time-tested chemical confirmation for scrap buyers
Scrap Valuation Pro Tip: Melt Loss & Non-Destructive Testing
When melting scrap jewelry lots, expect an average 1% to 3% melt loss due to burn-off of non-precious solder joints, skin oils, and enamel. Before melting high-value items, verify karat content using a non-destructive electronic tester. Acid scratch testing can leave noticeable etch marks and may read false positive on heavy gold-filled or rolled gold plate items (such as 1/10 10K RGP or vermeil).
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