Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Silver Coin Description
In 1915, United States Mint Director Robert W.
Woolley invited three noted sculptors to design templates for three
silver coins that would become the Mercury dime, the Standing Liberty
quarter, and the Walking Liberty half-dollar (also referred to as
"Liberty Walking", or "Walker" for short). A. A. Weinman was awarded
the designs for both the dime and the half-dollar.
Design of the Walking Liberty Half-Dollar
The coin's obverse depicts Lady Liberty cloaked in Old
Glory walking towards a new day. She carries branches of laurel and oak
in her arms. The motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" rests to the right of her
calf. The Walking Liberty half-dollars are the last regular issue silver coins
to feature Miss Liberty, although the U.S. Mint decided to copy the
design for its
Silver American Eagle bullion coins.
The reverse of the coin features an American bald eagle with wings spread
proudly. Weinman's initials, AAW, can be found under its wing tip. It
rests on a rocky crag with mountain pine sapling springing from its
cracks. The Mint Mark signifying the city where these coins were struck
is located just below the pine sapling for all coins struck after 1917
(for the first year and a half, it was located on the obverse under the
motto).
Walking Liberty Half-Dollar Coin Minting Information
Walking Liberty half-dollars were
minted from 1916 until 1947, except for 1922 and between the years of
1924-26 and 1930-32. These silver half-dollars span 30.6 millimeters in
diameter and have a weight of 12.50 grams. Composed of 90% silver and
10% copper, each Walker contains a net weight of 0.36169 ounces.
A.A. Weinman
Adolph A. Weinman immigrated to the United
States from Germany in 1880 at the age of ten. He studied under the
tutelage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, designer of the
$20 Saint-Gaudens gold piece, (often considered America's most beautiful coin). It is
interesting to note that the designs for the
gold and
silver bullion coins of the United States were taken from designs created by teacher
and pupil.
| Detailed Coin Information for the |
| Coin Designer: A. A. Weinman (AAW Mint Mark) |
| Gross Weight: 12.50g |
Silver Content: 0.36169 oz. |
| Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Coin Diameter: 30.6mm |
Coin Edge: Reeded |
| Dates: 1916-21, 1923, 1927-29, 1933-47 |
| US Mint Branches: Denver (1916-21; 1929; 1934-39; 1941-47), Philadelphia (1916-1921; 1934-47), and San Francisco (1916-21; 1923; 1927-29; 1933-37; 1939-46) |
