Coin Value Finder » 1917 Half Dollar Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

1917 Half Dollar Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

The half dollar minted in 1917 is one of the series known as Walking Liberty half dollars. It’s an attractive coin – but is it valuable?

That’s what we’re here to find out! We’re going to explore the 1917 half dollar value. We’ll learn about the different mint marks and varieties. And we’ll find out how much difference coin condition makes to the price collectors are willing to pay.

Ready to find out more? Step this way!

1917 Half Dollar Details

  • Category: Walking Liberty half dollars
  • Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
  • Total mintage: 21,503,400 
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Design date: 1916
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Diameter: 30.0 millimeters
  • Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
  • Weight: 12.50 grams
  • Silver weight: 11.25 grams

1917 Half Dollar Value Chart

Mint mark and Variety XF45 MS60 MS65 MS67
1917 (P) No Mint Mark Half Dollar Value $75 $275 $1,250 $40,000
1917 D Obverse Half Dollar Value $425 $1,100 $10,000 n/a
1917 D Reverse Half Dollar Value $475 $2,000 $12,500 n/a
1917 S Obverse Half Dollar Value $1,500 $4,500 $27,500 $175,000
1917 S Reverse Half Dollar Value $325 $1,250 $13,500 $67,500

 

1917 Half Dollar Values and Varieties Guides

1917 (P) No Mint Mark Half Dollar Value

1917 (P) No Mint Mark Half Dollar

  • Type: Walking Liberty half dollar
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: None
  • Place of minting: Philadelphia
  • Year of minting: 1917
  • Face value: $0.50
  • $ price: $18 to $40,000+
  • Quantity produced: 12,292,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman

The half dollars minted in Philadelphia in 1917 don’t have a mint mark on either side of the coin. Over 12 million of them were produced, and today they’re the most common of the early date Walking Liberty dollars. (“Early date” coins are those produced between 1916 and 1929.)

But they’re still attractive coins that command a considerable premium over their face value. The independent coin graders the PCGS value a 1917 Philadelphia half dollar in poor condition at $18. (That’s for a coin graded 2 on a scale which goes from 1 to 70.)

Prices rise for coins in better order. A coin graded G06 (the “G” stands for “good”) is valued at $24, while a “fine” specimen (F15) is $32. At “extremely fine” (XF45) the value increases to $75. And a coin in “about uncirculated” condition (AU55) is valued at $140.

At the top end of the range are mint state coins, those that have never been circulated. These are graded from 60 to 70, with 70 denoting a flawless example. If you want to get your hands on one of those, you’ll need to pay considerably more.

A 1917 Philadelphia half dollar graded MS60 is worth about $275. And a coin graded MS65 – the lowest level at which coins are considered “gems” – is valued by the PCGS at $1,250.

Values accelerate rapidly from there. Go up a single point on the grading scale from MS65 to MS66, and the value quadruples. And at MS67, the PCGS values a 1917 Philadelphia half dollar at $40,000.

It might be sensible, however, to treat that figure with caution. The finest known example of a 1917 Philadelphia half dollar is a single coin graded MS67+. It was graded by another coin agency, the NGC. And when it came up for auction in 2021, it sold for $19,800.

1917 D Obverse Half Dollar Value

1917 D Obverse Half Dollar

  • Type: Walking Liberty half dollar
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: None
  • Place of minting: Denver
  • Year of minting: 1917
  • Face value: $0.50
  • $ price: $20 to $75,000
  • Quantity produced: 765,400
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman

The half dollars struck in Denver and San Francisco in 1917 carry mint marks – a “D” for Denver and an “S” for San Francisco. At the start of 1917, those marks appeared on the obverse of the coins, to the right of Lady Liberty. But half way through the year, they were moved to the reverse.

As a result, there are two distinct categories of both Denver and San Francisco half dollars. They’re known as the 1917 D (or S) obverse or reverse, depending on where the mint mark appears.

Just 765,400 of the Denver half dollars were struck with the mint mark on the obverse. And even in the poorest condition, the PCGS values one of these coins at $20. An extremely fine (XF45) example is worth about $425, while an about uncirculated coin (AU55) is valued at $750.

As ever, uncirculated coins will be considerably more expensive. Values start at $1,100 for a coin graded MS60, increasing to $2,850 at MS64. From there, there’s a big jump to $10,000 for an MS65 gem.

The honor of finest known coin is shared by two coins, each graded MS66+. They’re valued at $75,000 apiece.

In this case, however, that valuation may be conservative. There are no public records of the sales of either of these MS66+ coins. But a coin graded MS66 last came up for sale in 2018. And on that occasion, it realized a price of $78,000.

1917 D Reverse Half Dollar Value

1917 D Reverse Half Dollar

  • Type: Walking Liberty half dollar
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: None
  • Place of minting: Denver
  • Year of minting: 1917
  • Face value: $0.50
  • $ price: $25 to $45,000
  • Quantity produced: 1,940,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman

On production, Denver half dollars with mint marks on the reverse outnumbered their obverse counterparts by more than two to one. There are, however, fewer survivors, and prices are generally higher for reverse half dollars.

Indeed, the 1917 Denver reverse half dollar is rarer than any almost any other 1917 half dollar in gem condition. (The exception is the 1917 San Francisco obverse – more about that shortly.)

A coin in the poorest condition could be yours for about $25. An extremely fine (XF45) example is likely to cost you around $475. And an about uncirculated coin (AU55) will be around the $1,100 mark.

In mint state, values start at $2,000 for an MS60 coin, rising to $4,000 at MS64 and $12,500 at MS65. The finest known examples are graded MS66. Five coins share that honor, and the PCGS values them each at $45,000.

1917 S Obverse Half Dollar Value

1917 S Obverse Half Dollar

  • Type: Walking Liberty half dollar
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: None
  • Place of minting: San Francisco
  • Year of minting: 1917
  • Face value: $0.50
  • $ price: $40 to $175,000
  • Quantity produced: 952,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman

Some of San Francisco’s 1917 half dollars had their mint mark on the obverse, and others on the reverse. The obverse coins were produced in far smaller numbers – less than a million, compared to 5.5 million reverse coins.

These are highly collectible at all grades. Even a coin in the poorest condition is worth about $40, as long as its date, denomination and mint mark remain legible. That value increases to $1,500 for an extremely fine (XF45) coin, and $3,350 for an about uncirculated example at AU55.

Mint state coins start at $4,500 at MS60, and values break into five figures at MS64+. A coin at that level is valued at $14,000.

The finest known 1917 San Francisco obverse half dollar is graded MS67. That last came to auction in 2015, when it sold for a record-breaking $152,750. Today, the PCGS places its value at a mighty $175,000.

1917 S Reverse Half Dollar Value

1917 S Reverse Half Dollar

  • Type: Walking Liberty half dollar
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: None
  • Place of minting: San Francisco
  • Year of minting: 1917
  • Face value: $0.50
  • $ price: $25 to $67,500
  • Quantity produced: 5,554,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman

Over 5.5 million dollars with the mint mark on the reverse were produced at the San Francisco mint in 1917. But while that makes examples easier to find than the 1917 S obverse, this is still a collectable coin.

An example in the poorest condition will be worth around $25. That rises to $750 for a coin in about uncirculated condition (AU55).

Values for uncirculated coins start at $1,250 (MS60), rising to a minimum of $13,500 for a gem (MS65).

The finest known example is a sole 1917 San Francisco reverse half dollar graded at MS67. That last came up for sale over a decade ago, when it fetched a price of $32,900. Today, the PCGS values it at $67,500.

History of the 1917 Half Dollar

1917 Half Dollar History

1917 was the second year of production of the coins known as the “Walking Liberty half dollar”. They get their name from the image on the obverse, a striding Lady Liberty wrapped in the American flag. It’s considered one of the most beautiful designs on any US coin.

But the Walking Liberty half dollar actually resulted from a mistake. Robert D. Woolley, then director of the Mint, incorrectly believed the Mint was required to replace coin designs after 25 years of use.

Dimes, quarters and half dollars were at the time all nearing their 25-year anniversaries. Woolley commissioned new designs from the Mint engravers, but found none of them to be satisfactory.

A competition was launched for all the coins. The winner for both the half dollar and dime designs was a well-known sculptor named Adolph A Weinman.

While Weinman’s design for the half dollar was aesthetically successful, striking it onto coins proved difficult. And at one point, production was stopped when it became apparent that the coins wouldn’t work in vending machines.

There was much debate about how to proceed.  Eventually, the vending machine problem was solved by lowering the relief of the design, adjusting the strength of the strike, and changing the way the planchets were prepared.

In February 1917, more changes were made. A new Mint Director, Friedrich Engelken, had been appointed the previous year. Engelken believed that the original position of the mint mark, on the obverse, had the appearance of a die defect. The mint mark was duly moved to the reverse later that year.

Despite the design changes, production problems continued. Many Walking Liberty half dollars, especially those minted in San Francisco, lack detail. And in 1948 the coins were replaced with a new half dollar commemorating the former president, Benjamin Franklin.

1917 Half Dollar Grading

The key to determining the value of a 1917 half dollar is assessing its condition accurately. Even a single point’s difference on the grading scale can make a big difference to how much collectors are prepared to pay.

Many coins on the market, particularly in uncirculated grades, will have already been assessed by independent grading agencies. Certification from the PCGS, NGC or ANACs can give you confidence that you’re getting an authentic coin at the specified grade.

You can also get a good idea of condition yourself by examining the coin closely. The presence of luster, the level of detail on the coin, and general wear and tear are all important.

1917 Half Dollar Errors

1917 (P) No Mint Mark Half Dollar, Laminating Error

Errors among Walking Liberty half dollars are rare. Watch out for sellers claiming to have 1917 dollars with double die errors. No such errors are recognised by the major coin grading agencies.

But one coin, minted in Philadelphia, did have a mint error. It showed multiple areas of delamination on both sides.

This type of error usually occurs because of contaminants in the alloy from which the planchet is made. These cause the metal to separate, usually horizontally. The result is a coin surface with missing areas of metal.

This particular coin hadn’t been graded when it was offered for sale. It was in relatively poor condition, with considerable signs of wear. The unusual error, however, made it more interesting. And at the time of writing, it could be yours for $85.

This YouTube video from Couch Coin Clips shows 1916 and 1917 Walking Liberty half dollars. And it looks at the different positions of the mint marks on the 1917 coins.

FAQs

How much is a 1917 silver half dollar worth?

The answer to that depends on the mint mark, where the mark is located, and the condition of the coin.

Circulated coins start at about $20 to $25. Half dollars with the “S” mint mark on the obverse are rarer, and start at about $40.

But that value can increase to tens of thousands of dollars for coins in the finest condition. That’s the case for 1917 half dollars with S or D mint marks, or without any mark at all.

And remember that 1917 San Francisco half dollar with the mint mark on the obverse? The finest known example, graded MS67, is today valued at $175,000.

Where is the mint mark on a 1917 half dollar?

If your half dollar was minted in Philadelphia, it won’t have a mint mark. But coins from San Francisco will be marked with an “S”, and those from Denver with a “D”.

1917 half dollars are unusual, because some coins have their mint mark on the obverse, while others have it on the reverse. The first coins struck that year had the mint mark on the obverse, but this was changed after a few months.

If the mark is on the obverse, it will be towards the bottom right of the coin. Look for it beneath the letter “R” in the motto “In God we trust”.

If the mark is on the reverse, it will appear on the left hand side, near the coin rim. It sits just to the left of the rocky crag on which the eagle stands.

1 thought on “1917 Half Dollar Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?”

  1. Thanks for explaining the different 1917 Walking halves. Just a quick correction to your article, though. You state, “And in 1948 the coins were replaced with a new half dollar commemorating the former president, Benjamin Franklin.” While a founding father, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and our first Postmaster General, Benjamin Franklin was never president.

    Reply

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