1949 United States 1/2 Dollar Value
Today a 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar typically sells for $13.13 to $142, with condition doing most of the work, and its metal content alone is worth $13.13 as of 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1949 United States 1/2 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $13.13 |
| Good (G-4) | $13.13 to $15.75 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $13.13 to $16.22 |
| Fine (F-12) | $13.13 to $17.01 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $13.13 to $18.11 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.50 to $20.48 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $17.85 to $25.20 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $24.55 to $34.65 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $39.05 to $55.13 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $100 to $142 |
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.
What is the 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar starts around $13.13. 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.
1949 United States 1/2 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1949
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 12.428 g
- Diameter
- 30 mm
- Silver content
- 0.35961 troy oz
Why this coin has no mint mark
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time.
What makes the 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar valuable
Every 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar contains 0.3596 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $13.13. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Context adds the final layer to the 1949 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.
1949 United States 1/2 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / BOOKER T. WASHINGTON / HALF / DOLLAR / (DATE) /
head facing r.
Reverse
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON BIRTHPLACE MEMORIAL / LIBERTY / FROM SLAVE CABIN / TO HALL OF FAME / IN GOD / WE / TRUST / FRANKLIN / COUNTY / VA.
NYU Hall of Fame building and Log Cabin
Measured 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar specimens
8 physically measured 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 12.428 g, 30 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar #1 | 12.565 g | 30 mm | - | - |
| 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar #2 | 12.428 g | 30 mm | - | - |
| 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar #3 | - | - | - | Breen.7573 |
| 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar #4 | - | - | - | Breen.7574 |
| 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar #5 | - | - | - | Breen.7575 |
| 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar #6 | - | - | - | Breen.5223 |
| 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar #7 | - | - | - | Breen.5224 |
| 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar #8 | - | - | - | Breen.5225 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1949 United States 1/2 Dollar is valued between $13.13 and $142 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.