1943 Half Dollar Value (Rarest & Most Valuable Sold For $120,000)

The 1943 Half Dollar, also known as Walking Liberty Half Dollar, is extremely popular among collectors and coin enthusiasts. Why, you might ask? Because of its amazing design, unique size, and rarity. Even the most experienced numismatists struggle to find a sample in perfect condition, which only increases the 1943 Half Dollar value.     

This bullion coin is worth at least its melt value of $9.0641 (7/20/2023). As of July 2023, according to the NGC price guide, the 1943 Half Dollar value in a circulated condition is from $12 to $32.50.

However, a sample of the 1943 Half Dollar, in perfect, uncirculated condition, can be sold for as much as $6000 on the open market. Auction prices set an even higher value!

For example, a virtually perfect 1943 Half Dollar (MS68+) was sold for an amazing $120,000 in June 2021 on one of Stack’s and Bower’s live auctions. So, price-wise, the sky is the limit for this beautiful 80-year-old silver coin!

We always emphasize that the value of a specific coin, including the 1943 Half dollar, depends on many factors. Hence, our wide approach to determining its worth starts from the coin’s history, mintage, and features and ends with the most valuable 1943 Half Dollars.

Once you see the whole picture, you can put a price on the 1943 Half Dollar in your pocket change or become a serious bidder on the next coin auction. Let the journey in discovering the 1943 Half Dollar value begins!

History of 1943 Half Dollar

The history of the 1943 Half Dollar takes us to the beginning of the 20^th century in 1916. The mintage process that commenced in 1916 lasted until 1947. This exquisite bullion coin was in production for thirty-one years, and still, it is nearly impossible to find it in circulation today.

In 1915, the Walking Liberty Half Dollar replaced the Barber coinage used for 25 years. Robert W. Woolley (Mint Director at the time) hired the Commission of Fine Arts to initiate a competition for new designs for quarters, half dollars, and dimes.  Adolph A. Weinman’s design of Liberty was selected for the half dollar, but several problems occurred during the test mintage, causing production delays.

To solve the issue, the word LIBERTY was redesigned and the pressing force used to strike the 1943 Half Dollar planchets was readjusted. That did not diminish the beauty of this coin in any way. On the contrary, many art historians believe that a Walking Liberty Half Dollar is one of the most beautiful U.S. coins. No wonder they became an instant hit right after their release in circulation.

Mintage of 1943 Half Dollar

At the zenith of the Second World War, the American economy was thriving which resulted in a high mintage of the 1943 Half Dollar. The 1943 Half Dollar had the single highest mintage of 53,190,000 coins until the 1963-D Franklin mintage of 67,069,292 coins. The 1943 Half Dollar was minted in the following Mints and quantities:

• Philadelphia Mint produced 53,190,000 samples of the 1943 Half Dollar with no mint mark;
• Denver Mint produced 11,346,000 samples of the 1943-D Half Dollar (D mint mark for Denver);
• San Francisco Mint produced 13,450,000 samples of the 1943-S Half Dollar (S mint mark for San Francisco).

U.S. Mints produced a total of 77,986,000 samples of the 1943 Half Dollar. So, the 1943 Half Dollar does not lack quantity, but when it comes to quality, there are a few well-preserved 1943 Half Dollars out there which makes them highly collectible. So, if you are looking for a valuable investment, adding this rare coin to your collection could be a smart move.

1943 Half Dollar Features

• Series: Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916-1947)
• Mint: Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver
• Mintage: Total of 77,986,000
• Obverse Designer: Adolph A Weinman
• Reverse designer: Adolph A Weinman
• Composition: 90% Silver and 10% Copper
• Weight: 0.44092 ounces or 12.5 grams
• Diameter: 1.20512 inches or 30.6 mm
• Thickness: 0.08464 inches or 2.15 mm
• Face Value: 50 cents or 0.50 USD
• Melt value: $9.0641 (7/20/2023)
• Edge: Reeded

The 1943 Half Dollar, one of the most beautiful coins struck in the U.S. Mint, has the following distinct features:

• Adolph A Weinman portrayed the iconic Walking Liberty on the obverse (front) side of the coin. You can see her flowing dress and American flag over her shoulder as she steps toward the rising sun. In her left hand, she is carrying laurel and oak branches symbolizing the country’s glory in different spheres. Her right-hand points forward to the sky, symbolizing freedom. You can find these inscriptions on the obverse: “LIBERTY” (above), “IN GOD WE TRUST” (right coin side), and the minting date, 1943 (below).
• The reverse (back) side of the coin is reserved for Weinman’s design of the fearless American’s bold eagle ready to spread his wings while resting on a mountain rock. The eagle symbolizes the country’s powerful spirit while the mountain pine sapling in its right claw symbolizes the country itself. You can read the following writings on the reverse: “E PLURIBUS UNUM” (left coin side, above the sapling), “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” (upper rim), “HALF DOLLAR” (lower rim).

The 1943 Half Dollar has the most beautiful motifs on both sides, the only downside of this striking coin is the complexity of its design which caused problems during mintage. As a result, there were noticeable signs of wear shortly after the mintage process. Other than that you are looking at a coin with incredible features and varieties (with and without mint mark).

It is no secret that the coin’s beautiful design is one of the collector’s favorite features that affect its value. However, every variety has distinctive characteristics and values you should know about. Read on to find out how many 1943 Half Dollar varieties are out there and how much they are worth.

1943 Half Dollar Varieties and Value

There are three different varieties of the 1943 Half Dollar each with its specific value. From the total mintage of 77,986,000 coin samples in three U.S. Mints, the 1943 Half Dollars can only be differentiated by their mint mark. Here are the varieties and their value according to the PCGS price guide:

1943 Half Dollar with no mint mark

53,190,000 samples of the 1943 Half Dollar with no mint mark were minted in the Philadelphia Mint. That is two-thirds of the coin’s total mintage. You will not find a mint mark on the reverse (back) side of the 1943 Half Dollar, and you can buy it for the following prices:

1943-D Half Dollar

11,346,000 samples of the 1943-D Half Dollar with the “D” mint mark were produced in the Denver mint. If you compare the quantity with the other two 1943 Half Dollar varieties this coin with its distinguished mint mark had the lowest mintage that year. Here is the value of this easily recognized coin:

1943-S Half Dollar

The San Francisco Mint produced 13,450,000 samples of the 1943 Half Dollar with an “S” mint mark on the coin’s reverse. In terms of quantity that was the second-largest mintage of the 1943 Half Dollars that year. In terms of the value you will be probably interested in these numbers:

If you compare the prices from the table, you will see that the value of the 1943 Half Dollar is closely connected to its mint mark and condition (grade). However, the most valuable coins are the uncirculated ones in perfect condition with the highest MS68 grade.

Errors Affecting the Value of 1943 Half Dollar

Other factors affecting the value of the 1943 Half Dollar are the coin imperfections (errors). You can consider yourself quite lucky if you stumble upon a 1943 Half Dollar with some of these visible or barely visible errors:

1943-S Half Dollar proof-like error

There were no proof coins during the Second World War, so the mintage of the 1943 Half Dollars did not include proof pieces. However, some 1943 proof-like half dollars were carrying a PL mark very similar to proof samples. The essential difference between the proof-like coins and the actual proof coins is the production method.

For example, proof coins are struck on a highly polished planchet with a specifically prepared die (struck at least twice), while proof-like coins are struck on a particularly bright and beautiful planchet with a new or polished die (struck only once). If you check the data in the price table above, you can see that the value of a 1943-S Half Dollar with proof-like qualities in MS65 condition is between $900 and $1,100.  

1943 Half Dollar off-center strike error

This off-center strike error on the 1943 Half Dollar can be between 5% and 95% off the center of the coin. Collectors are always after the higher percentage because such specimens are more scarce and valuable. This error occurs when the die strikes the 1943 Half Dollar at an off angle from the center.

1943 Half Dollar struck on a quarter planchet error

1943 Half Dollars with this error are struck on a quarter planchet instead of a half-dollar one. So, instead of striking the half-dollar planchet, the die strikes the quarter planchet. This error was easy to make by the Mint workers because of the similarity between these two planchets.

1943-S Half Dollar struck on a Peru Half Sol planchet error

In 1943 the U.S. Mint produced several coin issues for other countries, including Peru. Therefore, some Peruvian half-cent coin planchets were left behind in the San Francisco Mint. This extremely rare error occurred when half dollars were struck on those planchets. Due to their rarity, the value of a 1943-S Half Dollar with an off-planchet error is ridiculously high. For example, one was sold for an amazing sum of $20,000.

1943 Half Dollar struck on a El Salvador 25 centavos planchet error

This is another off-planchet error that occurred when several coin series for El Salvador were left behind in the U.S. Mint. Some 1943 Half Dollars were struck on an El Salvador 25-centavos planchet instead of half-dollar planchets. This error is extremely rare and valuable and can reach a price of approximately $15,000.

1943 Half Dollar double die error (DDE)

When a die strikes the 1943 Half Dollar more than once a double die error occurs. In such cases the coin shifts position slightly before the second strike. To spot this error you need to look closely and examine every letter, number, and feature.

1943 Half Dollar lamination error

The 1943 Half Dollar lamination error occurs when a foreign material gets into the copper and silver mixture. If a coin is affected by a lamination error, it is prone to peeling or cracking.

Each error adds a unique look and value to the 1943 Half Dollar. So, stay alert and look for some of the know or unknown errors that could be worth a fortune!

1943 Half Dollar Auction Record Value

We have not done our job properly (determining the worth of the 1943 Half Dollar) if we do not introduce you to the 1943 Half Dollar auction record value. PCGS data give detailed information on the entire series of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947). The 1943 Half Dollar is one of the most valuable coins in the Walking Liberty series with the following auction record prices:

These data justify the collectors’ interest in the 1943 Half Dollar. Who would not want to have a magnificent coin with an auction record value between $51,175 and $120,000? Surely the answer is no one! Whether you already possess a 1943 Half Dollar, or you are trying to buy one you should be familiar with the most valuable samples sold on different auction. That way you will be fully aware of the coin’s worth on the market.

Most Valuable 1943 Half Dollars

To be competitive in the world of numismatic you should always be one step ahead of your competition. You should be well informed and know the coin’s value, at least in the last few years. Check out our table of the most valuable 1943 Half Dollars in the last three years and be prepared to be amazed.

For more information on the 1943 Half Dollar value, you can also visit PCGS auction details and Heritage Auction prices. Find the one you like the most and outbid your fellow bidders!

Also Read:

• The 1943 Mercury Dime Value (Rarest Sold For $19,550)
• The Ultimate Guide to Lincoln Wheat Penny Value ($840,000 for a 1943-S Bronze MS)
• 1943 Steel Penny Value (Rarest & Most Valuable Sold for $138,000)

Conclusion

Many factors affect the value of the 1943 Half Dollar, like the coin quality, quantity, features, and unique errors. But one thing is for sure, a well-preserved 1943 Half Dollar is super rare (PCGS has certified only ten examples of the type in MS-68+, and none finer) and exceptionally valuable. One might say it is every collector’s dream to have this priceless gem.

The 1943 Half Dollar has two aces in its sleeve the Walking Liberty and the American bald eagle. These designs made this coin popular since its release date. The coin’s beauty and unique errors only add to its collectible value. And last but not least, the 1943 Half Dollar high auction value makes it even more appealing for numismatists, both as an investment and a lovely addition to their coin collection. So, wait no longer! Use the information in this article, compare prices, and invest in one of the most valuable coins in the Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947) series.  

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