Have you ever wondered what the most valuable half dollars are? Are silver half dollars the only ones to look for?
It seems like half dollars don’t receive as much attention in the coin collecting world as, say, pennies, quarters, or silver dollars.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some amazing half dollars out there for coin collectors to enjoy.
In fact, some of the most valuable coins that have ever been made are half dollars — especially a few of the really old ones.
Check out the prices on these silver half dollars:
- 1838-O Capped Bust half dollar ($300,000 in Extremely Fine-40 grade)
- 1796 16 obverse stars Draped Bust half dollar ($40,000 in Good-4)
- 1878-S Seated Liberty half dollar ($35,000 in Good-4)
- 1794 Flowing Hair half dollar ($4,500 in Good-4)
Of course, these half dollars aren’t the kind you’ll necessarily expect to find in a roll of half dollars from the bank or even in your great-great uncle’s heirloom treasure chest in the attic.
17 Valuable Half Dollars That Are Easier To Find
So, what are some of the most valuable half dollars from the late 19th century and 20th century — the kinds you’re most likely to stumble upon or have a better chance of affording?
Here’s a list of all the half dollars you should be looking for…
#1 – 1892-O Micro “O” Barber Half Dollar ($4,000 & up)
This die variety shows a tiny “O” mintmark (for the New Orleans mint) under the eagle on the reverse of the coin.
These Micro-O 1892 Barber half dollars are very scarce.
#2 – 1892-O Barber Half Dollar ($325 & up)
Also scarce is the regular 1892-O Barber half dollar.
Only 390,000 Barber half dollars were made at the New Orleans mint in 1892, and most no longer survive.
#3 – 1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar ($275 & up)
The 1921-D half dollar is a key-date coin for the Walking Liberty half dollar series and is a scarce coin, too. Only 208,000 were made, but far fewer exist today.
This coin is worth $295 in a grade of Good-4.
#4 – 1892-S Barber Half Dollar ($265 & up)
Like the New Orleans mint Barber half dollars from 1892, the San Francisco mint halves from that year are also very scarce.
While 1,029,028 1892-S Barber half dollars were originally made, far fewer are still around, making this coin much scarcer than its mintage figure might suggest.
#5 – 1998-S Matte Finish Kennedy Half Dollar ($185 & up)
This special John F. Kennedy half dollar was packaged in a set that also contained a commemorative coin honoring JFK’s younger brother, Robert F. Kennedy.
Only 62,350 matte finish Kennedy halves were made, and the coin is now a scarce collector’s item.
The 1998-S half dollar is a coin that Kennedy half dollar enthusiasts definitely want.
#6 – 1897-O Barber Half Dollar ($175 & up)
The 1897-O Barber half dollar, like so many other mintmarked 19th-century coins, is much scarcer than its same-year Philadelphia counterpart.
The New Orleans mint made 632,000 Barber halves in 1897, but few of these coins were saved in collectible condition.
#7 – 1893-S Barber Half Dollar ($170 & up)
The 1893-S half dollar is a semi-key coin for the Barber half series. 740,000 were minted, which is a decent figure, but many of these coins were heavily used — meaning few were ever saved in collectible condition.
Some coin collectors might be surprised to find out that it’s very difficult to find the necessary coins to a complete the Barber half dollar series in a minimum grade of Good-4.
#8 – 1921 Walking Liberty Half Dollar ($170 & up)
Similar to the 1921-D half dollar listed above, production of the 1921 Walking Liberty half dollar at the Philadelphia mint was low, too — that’s due to a recession that hit the United States in the early 1920s.
The 1921 Walking Liberty half dollar, which has a low mintage of 246,000, is very hard to find today and is a coin that Walking Liberty enthusiasts really want to get their hands on.
#9 – 1897-S Barber Half Dollar ($145 & up)
Just as the 1897-O Barber half dollar (listed above) is considered a scarce coin, the 1897-S half dollar is also a difficult coin to locate — even though a whopping 933,900 were made.
Again, few mintmarked coins from the 19th century were saved in large numbers, making these coins very scarce today.
#10 – 1914 Barber Half Dollar ($130 & up)
During the last 3 years of the Barber half dollar series (1913-1915), output of the coin from the Philadelphia mint was relatively small.
Of the last 3 Barber half dollar Philadelphia issues, the 1914 half dollar (124,610 were made) is the most valuable in the lower circulated grades.
You’ll see the other 2 Philadelphia issues I was talking about a moment ago pop up just a little later on this list of most valuable half dollars.
#11 – 1896-S Barber Half Dollar ($125 & up)
Here’s another S-mintmark Barber half dollar from the late 19th century that’s considerably scarce.
The 1896-S half dollar was made in fairly large numbers — 1,140,948 were struck, but few exist today even in the lowly grade of Good-4.
#12 – 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar ($125 & up)
Here’s the San Francisco issue from the first year of the Walking Liberty half dollars.
The 1916-S half dollar is worth a pretty penny (see what I did there?) and is a semi-key in the Walking Liberty half dollar series.
#13 – 1915 Barber Half Dollar ($100 & up)
Here’s another one of those Philadelphia-mint Barber half dollars I was talking about a moment ago… the 1915 half dollar.
Only 138,450 Barber halves were made in 1915 (that’s a pretty paltry number, really), and they’re worth a lot of money even in the well-worn grade of Good-4.
#14 – 1913 Barber Half Dollar ($95 & up)
And here’s the third Philadelphia Barber half dollar that I mentioned above. This one’s the 1913 half dollar.
As you might have guessed, all 3 of the Philly Barber half dollars that I’ve included in this list are considered semi-key coins for the Barber half series and are highly desirable by collectors.
#15 – 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar ($65 & up)
This is a semi-key coin in the Walking Liberty half dollar series and one that coin collectors need to include in order to complete a collection of Walking Liberty half dollars.
Some coin collectors will buy the 1938-D half dollar in better grades — such as Extremely Fine-40, About Uncirculated-5o, and Uncirculated grades.
However, specimens of the 1938-D half dollar in those higher grades are much more valuable than the $50 price listed here for a 1938-D in Good-4.
#16 – 1904-S Barber Half Dollar ($75 & up)
It’s often the case that branch mint Barber half dollars are scarcer than their Philadelphia counterparts. (The 1913, 1914, and 1915 Barber half dollars are clearly exceptions!)
The 1904-S half dollar from the San Francisco Mint is one of the scarcer Barber halves — and while 553,038 were made, far fewer were ever saved.
#17 – 1955 “Bugs Bunny” Franklin Half Dollar ($30 & up)
Here’s a Franklin half dollar with a whimsically named die variety. The “Bugs Bunny” Franklin half dollar was created by a die clash that caused damage to Ben Franklin’s mouth, appearing to give him buck teeth.
This is probably one of the most popular Franklin half dollar varieties and is one that many half dollar collectors want.
Other Valuable Half Dollars To Look For
A lot of people ask me if their Kennedy half dollars are worth any money.
The simple answer is this: if your Kennedy half dollar is from 1971 or later and it’s worn, then it is most likely worth only face value.
There are a few exceptions to this rule — especially if the coin has an “S” mintmark (meaning it’s a proof coin, in this case) or has any die varieties, such as the case with the 1982 no-FG half dollar.
More or less, 99 out of 100 Kennedy half dollars you’ll find in bank rolls or pocket change are from 1971 on, and they are worth only face value.
Earlier half dollars are worth more because of their silver content, which is 40% for 1965-1970 half dollars and 90% for all earlier half dollars made during the 20th century.
Here’s a rundown on minimum coin values for all dates not listed above:
- Barber half dollars — $18
- Walking Liberty half dollars — $9
- Franklin half dollars — $8
- 1964 Kennedy half dollars — $7.50
- 1965 to 1970 Kennedy half dollars — $3.50
More Info About Valuable Half Dollar Coins
- Reasons To Collect Silver Half Dollars
- A List Of The Most Valuable Kennedy Half Dollars
- Tips For Collecting Barber Half Dollars
- How To Determine The Condition (Grade) Of Your Half Dollar
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century.
I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek.
I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
