One of the most exquisite silver coins ever produced by the United States is the Walking Liberty half dollar. Adolph A. Weinman created the Walking Liberty half dollar, produced from 1916 to 1947 and is now one of the most well-known coins ever.
What Is the 1936 Liberty Half Dollar Made Of?
Designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman, the 1936 Walking Liberty half dollar has a face value of $0.50 or half a dollar. It has a reeded edge and weighs 12.50 grams. It measures 30.00 millimeters in diameter with a metal composition of 90% Silver and 10% Copper.
Image Source: USA Coin Book
Lady Liberty is pictured strolling with her right arm outstretched toward the sun on the coin’s obverse. Her starry cape is trailing behind her, and her left arm carries a branch bundle. Behind her is the well-known proverb IN GOD WE TRUST, with the word LIBERTY overarching above the coin. You can find the 1936 minting year on the coin’s bottom part.
The image of a bald eagle perched atop a rocky outcrop on the reverse is accompanied by a pine sapling, representing power. Just above the branches, on the left, is E PLURIBUS UNUM, which translates to “Out of many, one.”
The denomination is underneath the overarching UNITED STATES OF AMERICA inscription on the coin’s upper rim. The “D” or “S” mint mark is beneath the pine seedling for the coins minted in Denver and San Francisco. Philadelphia’s coins do not bear any mint marks.
1936 Liberty Half Dollar Varieties
Here are the Liberty half dollar varieties minted in 1936:
| Variety | Mint Location | Mintage |
| 1936 D Liberty Half Dollar | Denver | 4,252,400 |
| 1936 S Liberty Half Dollar | San Francisco | 3,884,000 |
| 1936 P Liberty Half Dollar | Philadelphia | 12,614,000 |
| 1936 Proof Liberty Half Dollar | Philadelphia | 3,901 |
| Total | 20,754,301 |
1936 D Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Year of minting: 1936
Mint Mark: D
Place of minting: Denver
Quantity produced: 4,252,400
Face Value: $0.50 (fifty cents)
Price: $14 to $55 (circulated condition)
Mass: 12.50 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Adolph Alexander Weinman
Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
Diameter: 30.00 millimeters
Image Source: PCGS
Though it is unquestionably rarer than the 1939 D, the 1936 D Walking Liberty half dollar variant is not nearly as uncommon as the 1934 D, 1935 D, 1937 D, and 1938 D in a pristine state and Gem condition. The gems for this edition have a frosty white luster and are typically well-struck.
Denver’s half-dollar mintage increased more slowly than in 1935 because the Midwest recovered more slowly from the recession than the rest of the country. This issue is easily accessible in the MS65 grade, and there are enough certified MS66 coins to satisfy serious collectors. Many of these have decent but incomplete strikes.
The master dies doubling that causes the minor doubling shown on the obverse of 1936 D half dollars also affects the 1936 half dollars from the other two mints. There is no added premium. A few obverse dies show extra doubling, but this is also small and of little general importance.
1936 S Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Year of minting: 1936
Mint Mark: S
Place of minting: San Francisco
Quantity produced: 3,884,000
Face Value: $0.50 (fifty cents)
Price: $14 to $70 (circulated condition)
Mass: 12.50 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Adolph Alexander Weinman
Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
Diameter: 30.00 millimeters
Image Source: PCGS
The 1936 S Walking Liberty half dollar is underappreciated and difficult to get in mint or Gem condition. This issue is more uncommon than any S-Mint after it, including the 1937 S Walking Liberty half dollar, despite not being as uncommon as the S-Mints that come before it. The strike is typically good on this issue, and the frosty white sheen is prevalent.
The San Francisco Mint missed the four million mark for the third consecutive year, reflecting steady demand for half dollars. Gems for this problem are widely available, although their quality of strike varies greatly.
The same may be true for luster, but excellent coins might be discovered with some careful looking. Beyond the master die doubling present on every 1936 half, there are no variants for 1936-S.
1936 P Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Year of minting: 1936
Mint Mark: no mint mark
Place of minting: Philadelphia
Quantity produced: 12,614,000
Face Value: $0.50 (fifty cents)
Price: $14 to $27 (circulated condition)
Mass: 12.50 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Adolph Alexander Weinman
Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
Diameter: 30.00 millimeters
Image Source: PCGS
The most prevalent issue of that time period in all grades is the 1936 P Walking Liberty half dollar, which has the largest mintage between 1917 and 1940. The 1936 P variety is less common than the P-Mints of the 1940s since the roll in the 1940s kept more coins than in the 1930s. This is despite being accessible in mint state and Gem condition.
The average 1936 P Walking Liberty half dollar in mint state is exceptionally nicely struck and has a brilliant white frosty shine.
Since 1917, when the United States entered World War I, there had not been as many half dollars minted; this was an indication of recovering economic activity after the great depression in the 1930s.
The 1936 P Walking Liberty half dollar is widely accessible, and gems up to the grade of MS66 are also common. Higher-grade coins are less common, although there are enough certified to meet seasoned collectors’ demands.
There are several doubled-die obverse variations for this issue, but only FS101 fetches a premium (DDO-003). The large vertical gap between the two date images makes this obvious.
1936 Proof Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Year of minting: 1936
Mint Mark: no mint mark
Place of minting: Philadelphia
Quantity produced: 3,901
Face Value: $0.50 (fifty cents)
Price: $499 (circulated condition)
Mass: 12.50 grams
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Adolph Alexander Weinman
Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
Diameter: 30.00 millimeters
Image Source: PCGS
For the first time since 1915, proof half dollars were minted in 1936. Compared to the mintages in the millions for the current era proofs, it is simple to understand why the 1936 Walking Liberty half dollar proofs are so highly respected.
In 1936, only 3,901 proof specimens were produced. Only the 1936 Washington quarter had a lower mintage among the proofs produced from 1936 to 2000 than the 1936 half dollar (3,837 coins).
The 1936 proof Walking Liberty half dollar is difficult to find in any grade, let alone in Gem quality. The Walking Liberty half-dollar proof that is rarest by far is from this year. Most specimens—but not all—have good mirror depth.
On Lady Liberty’s left hand, you occasionally see specimens with some detail loss and/or markings. Specimens might be toned or completely dazzling. There aren’t any known cameos, and finding PR67 or better specimens is quite impossible.
List Of 1936 Liberty Half Dollar Errors
There were only about 20 million half-dollar coins produced in 1936. If you compare it to other mintage figures, this is certainly a small number. However, even if this is a low mintage, some errors still happen.
Perhaps, the most common type of error is the Doubling Error.
A doubled die is a type of die variation, an error on a die that frequently strikes coins. As a result, different instances of the same variety will be present. As such, a doubled die variety happens when an error during the hubbing process doubles the design on the die.
Image Source: PCGS
How Much Is the 1936 Liberty Half Dollar Worth Today?
As of January 2023, the NGC Price Guide set the 1936 Liberty half dollar’s melt value at $8.57. It has a face value of $0.50 or half a dollar. The 1936 D Walking Liberty half dollar is valued between $11.50 and $77 in circulated condition.
Meanwhile, the ones minted in San Francisco, in circulated condition, cost between $11.50 and $125. Finally, the Philadelphia variants are worth between $11.50 and $50.
But buy or sell these coins in pristine, uncirculated condition on the open market. You can make up to $8,575, $9,000, and $7,500 for the Denver, San Francisco, and Philadelphia variants.
How Does The Grading System Work?
Contact organizations that offer professional coin grading services, such as the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), to learn the worth of your coin. You can notice a big boost in the value of your coins by having these coin grading professionals accurately assess them.
To view even the smallest details of a coin, these coin assessors or numismatists employ instruments, including magnifying glasses and coin microscopes. They will evaluate the coin’s brilliance, strike, color, preservation, and attractiveness to determine its condition and value.
Image Source: Royal Canadian Mint
Additionally, numismatists use the Sheldon Scale to grade coins. Numismatists can precisely determine the coin’s grade because of its 70-point grading scale.
Using this scale, a coin may be rated as MS (Mint State) or PR (Proof). Coins with a grade of 60 to 70 are considered mint state coins, meaning any imperfections on the coin are so minute that they can only be seen under a microscope.
Where To Buy Or Sell 1936 Liberty Half Dollar?
Using online marketplaces like auction sites is the most practical way to buy or sell a 1936 Walking Liberty half dollar. Many vendors bid on rare coins on platforms like eBay, Etsy, Amazon, and Craigslist.
You can also purchase or sell your 1936 Walking Liberty half dollars in coin and antique shops in addition to these online marketplaces. However, you should be aware that it might be more difficult to find this particular coin there.
You can ask reputable coin grading service providers like the PCGS and the NGC for advice if you need recommendations on where and how to buy or sell your 1936 Walking Liberty half dollars.
FAQs
Where is the mint mark on a 1936 Walking Liberty Half Dollar?
You can find the 1936 minting year at the coin’s bottom. Only the coins minted in the Denver Mint and the San Francisco Mint have mint marks. The ones minted in Philadelphia do not bear any mint marks.
How much is a 1936 S walking liberty half dollar worth?
If you check the NGC Price Guide on their website, you will see that a 1936 Walking Liberty half dollar is valued between $11.50 and $125 (in circulated condition). However, on the open market, this particular coin in pristine, uncirculated condition value could reach as high as $9,000.
What is a 1936 D Walking Liberty Half Dollar Worth?
The 1936 D Walking Liberty half dollar is valued between $11.50 and $77 in circulated condition. But if you buy or sell this particular variant of a coin in pristine, uncirculated condition on the open market, you can make up to $8,575!
