1942 United States 1/2 Dollar Value
A 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar is worth roughly $9.68 to $105 depending on its condition, and its metal content alone is worth $9.68 as of 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1942 United States 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $9.68 |
| Good (G-4) | $9.68 to $11.62 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $9.68 to $11.97 |
| Fine (F-12) | $9.68 to $12.55 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $9.68 to $13.37 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $10.70 to $15.11 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $13.17 to $18.60 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $18.11 to $25.57 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $28.81 to $40.68 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $74.09 to $105 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-13. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
How much is a 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar worth today?
Figure roughly $9.68 as the realistic floor for a damage-free, well-worn 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar, rising steadily through the grades to about $105 for a certified gem. Cleaned or damaged coins trade below these figures, though never below the $9.68 melt floor.
1942 United States 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1942
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 9.17 g
- Diameter
- 30 mm
- Silver content
- 0.26534 troy oz
Why this coin has no mint mark
The 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (check the usual position for this series), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
What makes the 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar valuable
Documented examples of the 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.
The 90% silver composition gives a 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar 0.2653 oz of precious metal ($9.68 at current spot). Bullion demand alone supports the bottom of its price range.
Context adds the final layer to the 1942 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.
1942 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 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar specimens
5 physically measured 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 9.17 g, 30 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar #1 | 9.17 g | 30 mm | - | Breen.5189.ctft |
| 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar #2 | - | - | - | Breen.5189 |
| 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar #3 | - | - | - | Breen.5192 |
| 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar #4 | - | - | - | Breen.5195 |
| 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar #5 | - | - | - | Breen.5189 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1942 United States 1/2 Dollar is valued between $9.68 and $105 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.