1940-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar
The 1940-S Walking Liberty half dollar design began life when Adolph Weinman won a design competition held by the Commission of Fine Arts. As the winner, Weinman was given a commission to design this half dollar and the dime. However, this is not his first design for the Walking Liberty coin.. Several of the designs he created were rejected before this final design won approval. This coin has the worst strike of any Walking Liberty silver half dollar issues from any mint. It’s described as flat as a pancake and with some coins, Liberty’s left hand isn’t even visible. Decently struck examples do exist but they are very rare. The “S” mint mark is on the reverse of the coin to the left of the eagle’s perch.
1940-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value
The 1940-S Walking Liberty half dollar value starts on the low end with $9 for a low-grade circulated coin to as much as $45 for a higher grade uncirculated coin. In uncirculated and Gem condition, this is the rarest of the Walking Liberty coin issued in the 1940’s. It is rarer than the 1941-S. Note that there were no 1940-D Walking Liberty half dollars. If you are offered one, it is counterfeit. If you have a coin in poor condition, the value of the silver is just about the same as the numismatic value of the coin. That makes this coin about equally valuable to both coin and silver collectors. Both values are still higher than the face value of the coin. Even though this is one of the rarer coins, Walking Liberty half dollar key dates don’t include the 1940.
Type of coin: Half dollar
Year: 1940 Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Mint Mark: San Francisco
Total mintage: 4,550,000
Metal content: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Face value: 50 cents
Weight: 12.5 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Adolph Alexander Weinman
Diameter: 30 millimeters