1936 United States 1/2 Dollar Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar brings anywhere from $13.22 to $143; the melt floor under every example is $13.22 (spot prices as of 2026-06-01) Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1936 United States 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $13.22 |
| Good (G-4) | $13.22 to $15.87 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $13.22 to $16.34 |
| Fine (F-12) | $13.22 to $17.14 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $13.22 to $18.25 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.61 to $20.63 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $17.98 to $25.39 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $24.73 to $34.91 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $39.34 to $55.53 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $101 to $143 |
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 the 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar starts around $13.22. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $143. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1936 United States 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1936
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 12.519 g
- Diameter
- 31 mm
- Silver content
- 0.36225 troy oz
Why this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (see the series guide) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
Why the 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar is worth money
The 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
Every 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar contains 0.3623 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $13.22. 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 1936 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.
1936 United States 1/2 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
ARKANSAS CENTENNIAL / 1836 - 1936 / LIBERTY / JOPSEPH T. / ROBINSON
bust of Joseph T. Robinson, r.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / ARKANSAS / HALF / DOLLAR / (DATE) / IN GOD WE TRUST / E PLURIBUS UNUM
eagle standing. on sun, rays behind, hunched over holding scroll with motto
Measured 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar specimens
12 physically measured 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 12.519 g, 31 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #1 | 12.519 g | 31 mm | 6 h | Breen.5164 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #2 | - | - | - | Breen.7557 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #3 | - | - | - | Breen.7557 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #4 | - | - | - | Breen.7551 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #5 | - | - | - | Breen.7551 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #6 | - | - | - | Breen.7553 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #7 | - | - | - | Breen.7553 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #8 | - | - | - | Breen.7555 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #9 | - | - | - | Breen.7555 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #10 | - | - | - | Breen.7547 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #11 | - | - | - | Breen.7547 |
| 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar #12 | - | - | - | Breen.7537 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1936 United States 1/2 Dollar is valued between $13.22 and $143 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.