1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value

Depending on how well it survived, a 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar brings anywhere from $101 to $14,027. Its intrinsic melt value stands at $13.20 based on spot prices from 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.

191650 CENTS50 CENTS
Illustrative rendering. Photographs of this date are being added.

1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar value by grade

1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar value by grade
GradeEstimated value
Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01)$13.20
Good (G-4)$101 to $149
Very Good (VG-8)$146 to $215
Fine (F-12)$213 to $314
Very Fine (VF-20)$337 to $495
Extremely Fine (XF-40)$561 to $825
About Uncirculated (AU-50)$954 to $1,403
Mint State (MS-60)$1,683 to $2,475
Choice Unc (MS-63)$3,142 to $4,621
Gem Unc (MS-65)$9,538 to $14,027

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.

How much is a 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar worth today?

Start with $101 for a heavily circulated 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar and work upward. Lightly circulated 1916 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $14,027. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.

1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar specifications

Series
Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Year
1916
Mint mark
S
Mintage
508,000
Composition
90% silver, 10% copper
Weight
12.5 g
Diameter
30.6 mm
Edge
Reeded
Designer
Adolph A. Weinman
Silver content
0.36169 troy oz

Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).

How to find the S mint mark

Flip your 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar over and locate the "S". On the obverse below IN GOD WE TRUST (1916-1917) or on the reverse at lower left near the rim (1917-1947) That single letter separates the San Francisco issue from its siblings and can move the price substantially.

What makes the 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar valuable

With a mintage of just 508,000, the 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar is one of the celebrated key dates of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar series. Survivors are scarce in every grade, and demand from series collectors keeps prices firm year after year.

The 90% silver composition gives a 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar 0.3617 oz of precious metal ($13.20 at current spot). Bullion demand alone supports the bottom of its price range.

There is history in a 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar as well. The design's high relief means central details, Liberty's hand and the eagle's breast, are often softly struck, so fully struck examples carry real premiums. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.

Summary: the 1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar is valued between $101 and $14,027 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.