1916 United States 1/2 Dollar Value
Today a 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar typically sells for $13.18 to $142, with condition doing most of the work, and its metal content alone is worth $13.18 as of 2026-06-01 Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1916 United States 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $13.18 |
| Good (G-4) | $13.18 to $15.82 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $13.18 to $16.29 |
| Fine (F-12) | $13.18 to $17.08 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $13.18 to $18.19 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.57 to $20.56 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $17.93 to $25.31 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $24.65 to $34.80 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $39.22 to $55.36 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $101 to $142 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
What is a 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar worth right now?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar starts around $13.18. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $142. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1916 United States 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1916
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 12.481 g
- Diameter
- 30 mm
- Silver content
- 0.36115 troy oz
No mint mark? Here is why
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time.
What makes the 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar valuable
Official mintage figures for the 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar are not well established. The museum-documented specimens behind our specifications provide the physical reference points for the issue, and the market prices it on observed scarcity.
Every 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar contains 0.3612 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $13.18. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
Context adds the final layer to the 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1916 United States 1/2 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY; IN GOD WE TRUST; (date)
Liberty walking l., holding branch. rising sun l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; HALF DOLLAR
eagle standing., facing l., wings outstretched
Measured 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar specimens
5 physically measured 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 12.481 g, 30 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar #1 | 12.517 g | 30.2 mm | 6 h | Breen.5127, KM.142 |
| 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar #2 | 12.481 g | 30 mm | 6 h | Breen.Encyclopedia.5127 |
| 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar #3 | - | - | - | Breen.5127 |
| 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar #4 | - | - | - | Breen.5128 |
| 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar #5 | - | - | - | Breen.5129 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1916 United States 1/2 Dollar is valued between $13.18 and $142 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.