All half dollars minted before 1965 contain 90% silver, and their value is still higher than their nominal value. As you can guess, older series are more expensive because of higher demand among collectors. You can find six types of these coins, so it is crucial to determine half-dollar value before buying one for your collection.
Half Dollars
The half dollars from the early era (1794 to 1837) were minted in the Philadelphia mint, the only one existing at the time. The New Orleans mint began its production in 1839, followed by:
- San Francisco in the mid-1850s with an S mint mark
- Carson City in 1870 with a CC mint mark
- Denver in 1906 with a D mint mark
Bust half dollar
Bust half dollars are all early pieces made from 1794 to 1839, regardless of their design:
- Robert Scot‘s Flowing hair
- Gilbert Stuart‘s Draped bust
- John Reich‘s Capped bust
You can find two subtypes of the Capped bust half dollar produced between 1807 and 1839:
- The larger-diameter lettered edge type
- The smaller-diameter reeded-edge halves
It is tricky to find these coins in top-notch condition since they are over two centuries old. Most of them are costly, and the most expensive 1838 O reeded Capped bust half dollar in the mint stage is $400,000.
Bust half dollar value by JM Bullion |
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| Year | Quality | ||
| Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| Flowing hair type | |||
| 1794 | $12,500 | $38,000 | $75,000 |
| 1795 | $2,750 | $11,000 | $19,000 to $20,500 |
| Draped bust type | |||
| 1796 | $52,000 to $56,000 | $110,000 | $220,000 to $250,000 |
| 1801 | $2,400 | $6,500 | $16,000 |
| 1802 | $2,500 | $7,000 | $16,000 |
| 1803 | $500 to $550 | $2,050 to $2,600 | $5,000 to $6,000 |
| 1805 | $450 to $875 | $2,250 to $3,500 | $5,000 to $7,500 |
| 1806 | $450 to $925 | $2,000 to $3,300 | $4,900 to $6,500 |
| 1807 | $400 | $1,800 | $5,000 |
| Capped bust type | |||
| 1815 | $300 | $1,600 | $2,200 |
| 1818 | $200 to $225 | $1,450 to $1,500 | $2,000 to $2,200 |
| 1819 | $200 | $1,450 | $2,200 |
| 1820 | $200 | $1,450 | $2,200 to $2,500 |
| 1821 | $200 | $1,450 | $2,200 |
| 1822 | $265 | $1,550 | $2,600 |
| 1823 | $50,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 |
| 1824 | $200 to $1,700 | $1,500 to $5,000 | $2,200 to $8,000 |
| 1828 | $200 | $1,450 | $2,200 |
| 1831 | $125 | $400 | $750 |
| 1832 | $125 | $400 | $750 |
| 1833 | $135 | $475 | $850 |
| 1834 | $125 | $400 | $750 |
| 1835 | $125 | $400 | $750 |
| 1836 | $125 to $1,650 | $400 to $3,250 | $750 to $5,000 |
| 1837 | $100 to $125 | $215 to $400 | $475 to $750 |
| 1838 | $100 to $125 | $225 to $400 | $475 to $750 |
| 1839 | $100 | $225 | $475 to $500 |
The real gem is Draped bust type minted in 1796. You should set aside $23,000 to $34,000 for the coin in good condition, while those in mint state cost an impressive $220,000 to $250,000.
Seated Liberty half dollar
Christian Gobrecht designed these coins that were pretty different from Bust half dollars being in circulation until then. Americans loved their design, and four mints produced them from 1839 to 1891.
All these dollars are 1.2 inches (30.6 mm) in diameter and contain 90% silver. However, their design and weight vary depending on the mint and production year. As you can guess, their current value depends on these parameters.
Liberty seated half dollar value by JM Bullion |
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| Year | Quality | ||
| Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1839 | $400 | $1,400 | $2,350 |
| 1840 | $65 to $275 | $175 to $1,600 | $300 to $1,600 |
| 1841 | $95 | $275 | $450 |
| 1842 | $60 to $1,400 | $150 to $4,500 | $325 to $7,500 |
| 1843 | $65 to $70 | $150 | $250 |
| 1944 | $65 to $70 | $150 to $175 | $225 to $300 |
| 1845 | $65 to $80 | $150 to $240 | $235 to $400 |
| 1846 | $55 | $140 to $150 | $300 to $400 |
| 1847 | $65 to $70 | $185 to $195 | $300 to $400 |
| 1848 | $65 to $100 | $210 to $275 | $285 to $500 |
| 1849 | $75 | $170 to $225 | $285 to $400 |
| 1850 | $60 to $450 | $175 to $775 | $300 to $1,000 |
| 1851 | $120 to $1,000 | $200 to $1,750 | $350 to $2,000 |
| 1852 | $275 to $600 | $775 to $975 | $1,400 |
| 1853 | $65 to $80 | $265 to $350 | $550 to $750 |
| 1854 | $65 | $130 | $325 |
| 1855 | $65 to $850 | $135 to $3,500 | $325 to $7,600 |
| 1856 | $65 to $175 | $130 to $625 | $200 to $1,275 |
| 1857 | $65 to $175 | $125 to $775 | $220 to $1,350 |
| 1858 | $65 to $70 | $125 to $260 | $225 to $440 |
| 1859 | $65 to $75 | $120 to $225 | $225 to $350 |
| 1860 | $65 to $75 | $135 to $180 | $250 to $300 |
| 1861 | $75 to $80 | $130 to $150 | $235 to $300 |
| 1862 | $75 to $85 | $150 to $190 | $275 to $400 |
| 1863 | $75 | $145 to $155 | $265 to $315 |
| 1864 | $75 | $175 to $210 | $400 to $550 |
| 1865 | $75 | $210 to $235 | $375 to $500 |
| 1866 | $70 to $875 | $145 to $2,300 | $235 to $3,400 |
| 1867 | $65 to $80 | $145 to $210 | $300 |
| 1868 | $65 to $90 | $145 to $275 | $250 to $400 |
| 1869 | $65 | $145 to $165 | $250 to $300 |
| 1870 | $65 to $4,400 | $140 to $16,000 | $210 to $32,000 |
| 1871 | $65 to $900 | $120 to $5,000 | $250 to $5,000 |
| 1872 | $65 to $500 | $120 to $2,500 | $285 to $4,250 |
| 1873 | $70 to $5,500 | $175 to $8,000 | $300 to $12,000 |
| 1874 | $65 to $1,800 | $230 to $4,650 | $400 to $8,250 |
| 1875 | $65 to $120 | $100 to $250 | $200 to $375 |
| 1876 | $65 to $90 | $100 to $180 | $185 to $300 |
| 1877 | $65 to $80 | $100 to $200 | $200 to $300 |
| 1878 | $65 to $2,200 | $120 to $3,500 | $200 to $5,000 |
Typical coins minted from 1879 to 1890 have similar value, and you can find a piece in uncirculated condition for $675 to $850. If you are a collector on a budget, you can find a coin produced in 1891 for only $50 to $225, depending on its condition.
A real rarity is the 1878 S Liberty seated half dollar. Its value vary from $30,000 to $70,000, depending on the condition.
Barber half dollar (1892-1915)
The Barber (Liberty head) half dollars were produced in four mints from 1892 to 1915 after Charles E. Barber‘s design. Their price varies depending on mint and date and can be very low for coins in poor condition. You can quickly purchase any of them but be prepared that some are rare, including the rarest 1892 O (micro O)
Barber half dollar value by JM Bullion |
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| Year | Quality | ||
| Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1892 | $70 to $500 | $210 to $675 | $350 to $750 |
| 1893 | $80 to $500 | $210 to $850 | $$325 to $1,350 |
| 1894 | $70 to $110 | $215 to $300 | $365 to $375 |
| 1895 | $70 to $140 | $210 to $300 | $385 to $400 |
| 1896 | $90 to $240 | $240 to $575 | $365 to $825 |
| 1897 | $45 to $500 | $200 to $1,050 | $360 to $1,300 |
| 1898 | $45 to $240 | $200 to $540 | $375 to $650 |
| 1899 | $45 to $90 | $200 to $300 | $350 to $400 |
| 1900 | $45 to $60 | $200 to $280 | $375 to $435 |
| 1901 | $45 to $165 | $200 to $700 | $350 to $1,250 |
| 1902 | $42 to $65 | $200 to $250 | $300 to $425 |
| 1903 | $45 to $60 | $200 to $230 | $375 to $400 |
| 1904 | $35 to $340 | $200 to $1,500 | $375 to $2,300 |
| 1905 | $53 to $125 | $240 to $325 | $365 to $450 |
| 1906 | $42 to $53 | $200 to $210 | $350 to $375 |
| 1907 | $45 to $85 | $200 to $375 | $350 to $650 |
| 1908 | $45 to $75 | $200 to $275 | $350 to $420 |
| 1909 | $45 to $65 | $200 to $375 | $360 to $650 |
| 1910 | $35 to $95 | $200 to $320 | $375 to $410 |
| 1911 | $40 to $45 | $200 to $210 | $350 to $385 |
| 1912 | $45 | $200 | $375 to $425 |
| 1913 | $45 to $210 | $200 to $650 | $375 to $835 |
| 1914 | $40 to $315 | $200 to $775 | $400 to $975 |
| 1915 | $45 to $285 | $200 to $575 | $350 to $850 |
Walking Liberty half dollar value
The unique Adolph A. Weinman‘s design of this coin produced from 1916 to 1947 in three mints makes it valuable and desirable among collectors. You can find pieces produced in three mints, which directly affect their value.
Walking Liberty half dollar value by JM Bullion |
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| Year | Quality | ||
| Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1916 | $85 to $90 | $215 to $225 | $240 to $265 |
| 1917 | $19.5 to $140 | $40 to $750 | $70 to $1,300 |
| 1918 | $20 to $38 | $80 to $250 | $200 to $475 |
| 1919 | $78 to $115 | $515 to $825 | $825 to $1,675 |
| 1920 | $20 to $75 | $80 to $450 | $160 to $925 |
| 1921 | $250 to $525 | $1,700 to $4,500 | $2,750 to $8,300 |
Most Walking Liberty half dollars in circulated condition are worth $13 to $50. You should pay a few hundred dollars for MS pieces produced in 1923, 1927, and 1928, but others are no more expensive than $100.
Franklin half dollar value (1948-1963)
John Sinnock designed the Franklin half dollar to pay tribute to Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers. These coins were minted from 1948 to 1963 in three mints. They are an excellent option for collectors on budget and newbies since you can find them for $14 to $18 at a piece in extra fine condition.
Silver Kennedy half dollar
Over 430 million Kennedy half dollars containing 90% silver appeared in 1964, only a few months after the beloved American President was assassinated. Gilroy Roberts designed the obverse while Frank Gasparro created the reverse.
From 1965 to 1969, produced coins changed the metal composition and consisted of only 40% silver. The US mint reduced the production in the 1980s and stopped making these coins in 2002. You can buy most of them for up to $5.
Summary
Half dollars are a valuable piece of American history, so many collectors want to have these coins. Besides a few rare and costly pieces, most of them are affordable and worth including in your collection.
