Building a Walking Liberty Half Dollar Registry Set: Acquiring Silver with a Numismatic Purpose

As denominations of silver go, few U.S. coins offer the trifecta of artistic beauty, historical significance, and actual silver value like the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. Minted between 1916 and 1947, Walking Liberty Half Dollars let collectors accumulate silver and work toward completing an affordable, well-defined collection goal. Building a PCGS Registry Set of Walking Liberty Half Dollars is a great way to achieve these aims.

History of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar

Walking Liberty Half Dollars were first minted in 1916. The new design was part of a renaissance of U.S. coinage, with Adolph Weinman being chosen to redesign the half dollar after the long run of the Barber design. Walking Liberty Half Dollars would see production for thirty-two years until they were replaced by the Franklin Half Dollar in 1947.

Design Appeal

Walking Liberty Half Dollars feature Miss Liberty on the obverse walking toward the sun, draped in the American flag, and bearing branches of olive and oak. The reverse features a majestic eagle landing on a rock, wings partially raised. The dynamic nature of the scene and the feeling of moving forward lend the coins an optimistic feeling that has made them attractive to multiple generations. Well-worn coins also maintain eye appeal, which helps the series remain desirable even today.

Coin Specifications

The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was minted containing 90% silver. As such, each coin contains approximately 0.3617 troy ounces of actual silver. By today’s standards, that is far from a high spot price. But as collectible coins, Walking Liberty Half Dollars offer something that pure bullion does not: tangible silver combined with numismatic value. Collectors seeking silver exposure but who don’t want to own just rounds or bars can add numismatic depth to their portfolio by collecting historically significant U.S. coins like Walking Liberty Half Dollars.

Grade Selection for Building A PCGS Registry Set

Prices of AU Walking Liberty Half Dollars tend to be roughly 2 to 2.5 times that of XF coins. Meanwhile, prices of Mint State coins are exponentially higher. While all coins in a PCGS Registry Set will be professionally authenticated and graded, buying primarily VF through AU coins will allow collectors to complete their sets while minimizing risk. Once the set is complete, collectors can strategically upgrade coins, rather than having to worry about acquiring specific dates first.

Targeting Common Dates

Speaking of dates, collectors new to the series should consider only buying coins from years where U.S. Mint production was high. While there are some key dates and semi-keys, many issues from the 1940s and even some from the 1930s are common. By focusing on common dates, collectors can get a feel for the series, better understand grading and what to look for beyond grade, and find motivation to complete their sets.

Factors Beyond Date

Speaking of grades, it should also be noted that strike quality will vary both by time period and mint of issue. Coins from early years in San Francisco were typically softly struck. Coins from the Denver Mint in the 1940s are generally sharper. Toning is also fairly common, but should not be the sole consideration when examining circulated coins. Eye appeal is still important, particularly in higher grades.

PCGS Registry Sets

Using PCGS Registry Sets helps collectors to focus on completing the set rather than randomly buying silver. Each coin received is documented, graded, and authenticated to protect against counterfeits. Plus, collectors can’t just buy one of everything and call it a day; they have to start at the beginning of the checklist and work their way through. Additionally, using lists pegged to the PCGS Set Registry allows collectors to add coins to their sets thoughtfully rather than attempting to acquire every date at once. Building a PCGS Registry Set takes patience and dedication, but rewards collectors with a well-rounded collection that maintains numismatic significance far beyond just being a basket of silver.