1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value
A 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar is worth roughly $101 to $14,027 depending on its condition, while the raw metal inside it is valued at $13.20 as of 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated 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 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar worth today?
Start with $101 for a heavily circulated 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar and work upward. Lightly circulated 1938 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.
1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar specifications
- Series
- Walking Liberty Half Dollar
- Year
- 1938
- Mint mark
- D
- Mintage
- 491,600
- 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 D mint mark
Flip your 1938 Walking Liberty Half Dollar over and locate the "D". 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 Denver issue from its siblings and can move the price substantially.
Why the 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar is worth money
With a mintage of just 491,600, the 1938-D 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 1938-D 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.
Context adds the final layer to the 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar. Adolph Weinman's Walking Liberty half dollar is so admired that the U.S. 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.
Summary: the 1938-D 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.