2017-09-09 Sat

Bonhams’ Coins and Medals auction sold a 1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar graded Mint State 65 for $88,920 in Los Angeles on 5th September. The coin had a mintage of 548,000 and was struck at the San Francisco Mint. Considering the mintage limit of the same coin at three U.S. Mints, this one was the highest. Unlike the Denver and Philadelphia Mint versions though, fewer 1921-S half dollars were saved at the time of issue. Date collectors very rarely find this coin which is not as common as some other Walking Liberty half dollar dates. For almost 10 years, the 1922 Walking Liberty half dollars were not struck and production was infrequent.

The offered coin had a golden patina with scattered russet accents on both sides. The surfaces are frosty and have clean fields with just two small scratches on Liberty’s skirt. Compared to other coins of this type, the offered coin showcases a well-executed strike.

A 1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar graded MS-66 without any toning was sold for $40,950. The coin has a series-low mintage of 208,000 coins for circulation, making the coin a key date in all grades. The 1919-D and 1921-S are rarer among higher Mint State grades.