Among coins with a collectible value, the Walking Liberty Half Dollar (WLH) can be regarded as one of the most beautiful and classic designs ever created in the United States. It was introduced into circulation in 1916 and continued until 1947. The design of the WLH depicts Lady Liberty walking towards the sun in the horizon with an American flag wrapped around her. While its artistic quality attracts many a collector, it’s worth, particularly for such key collectors’ coins of the 1946 half-dollar skinny, has appreciated considerably.
If you have been fortunate enough to find and keep a 1946 Walking Liberty half dollar and it is in a reasonably well-preserved state, you could be sitting on a pile of money. Probably as much as $27,500 for some coins, so hurry and check your recliners, drawers, and old coin files.
Why the 1946 Coin is So Valuable
The 1946 Walking Liberty half dollar is important in the making of such coins not only for its history but also for its available high-grade scarcity. It was produced in quite a large mintage, but due to the extensive circulation of the coins, most of them suffered from wear. Similarly, uncirculated or mint state (MS) coins, particularly those graded MS-65 and above, are hardly available these days.
There is a great need for uncirculated 1946 Walking Liberty coins, and the collectors are ready to spend whatever amount of money is needed. With the expansion of the numismatic world and the availability of the baby boomer collections, the quest for clean specimens has become tenfold more aggressive. A 1946 MS-65 half dollar can even fetch thousands when discovered.
Collecting Strategies for the WLH Series
If you want to get acquainted with the Walking Liberty series, there are many ways you can try. Some collectors are more ambitious and intend to collect every single date and every single mint mark from 1916 to 1947. This, however, is not an easy task, as the earlier years, especially the periods from 1916 to 1933, are quite expensive, with the highest grades of the coins being pricey.
A little more realistic approach could be concentrating on a short set, which in most cases commenced from 1934 or 1941 up to 1947. These sets are easier to complete since they are made up of coins from the later years of the series, when the coins were more popularly minted and high-grade specimens are not so difficult to find. Most dealers’ clients concentrate on purchasing MS-64 or MS-65 coins for their collections, as it is a compromise between the expenditure and worth of the given coins.
Beware of Price Volatility
One potential downside of collecting the WLH series is the volatility of prices. The value of these coins can rise and fall based on market demand, and prices can spike unexpectedly. Knowledgeable collectors recommend timing purchases carefully, aiming to buy during price dips.
The Hunt for High-Grade Coins
Collecting Walking Liberty half-dollars brings with it an additional joy of ‘a thrill of a hunt.’ Some ungraded coins of these still exist in the markets, estate sales, and collections, presenting a potential for treasure finding in an uncirculated grade.
To fans of numismatics, the 1946 WLH is not merely a coin; it is a quest. If you are completing a set or are a casual collector who enjoys owning a part of history, the 1946 Walking Liberty is a beauty taken from the numismatic realm.
