Coin Value Finder » 1935 Half Dollar Value: are”D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

1935 Half Dollar Value: are”D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

Half dollar coins are a popular, quirky denomination that do not circulate much today, but coins like the 1935 half dollar have seen their fair share of use. These silver coins are desired first for their composition, but many collectors covet them for sentimental reasons or to add to the coins they’ve accrued.

Lower quality 1935 half dollars aren’t worth much more than their melt value, but better-preserved coins reflect a premium desire of the coin collecting community. Small, verifiable errors may increase this value, making the coins worth well over their face value.

Keep reading to learn about the basics of the 1935 Walking Liberty half dollar, including the different types of coins, how to grade them, and what errors to look for.

1935 Half Dollar Details 

  • Category: Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916 to 1947)
  • Mint: Philadelphia; Denver; San Francisco
  • Mintage: 16,019,800
  • Obverse Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Reverse Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Composition: 90% silver; 10% copper
  • Fineness: 0.9
  • Mass: 12.50 g 
  • ASW: 0.3617 oz

The Walking Liberty half dollar design is largely regarded as one of the most beautiful coins in United States history, and many 1935 half dollars exhibit this in high degree.

On the front of the coin is Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty design. Lady Liberty strides to the left with a sun on the horizon and a cape of thirteen stars behind her. Her right arm reaches out, and her left arm carries a bundle of branches. 

The inscriptions read LIBERTY across the top of the coin and IN GOD WE TRUST above her calf on the right. The year 1935 is printed at the very bottom, below her feet.

The reverse of the coin feature’s Weinman’s bald eagle design. In it, the eagle perches on a rocky crag with its wings bent behind it. Branches grow from the perch.

The inscription at the top reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. To the right of the eagle, right above the end of the branches, is the country’s E PLURIBUS UNUM Latin motto, and the HALF DOLLAR denomination inscription nestles into the bottom curve.

If the coin bears a mint mark, it’s printed to the left of where the eagle perches, towards the rim of the coin.

1935 Half Dollar Value Chart

Mint Mark Good Fine Extremely Fine Uncirculated
1935 No Mint Mark Half Dollar Value $8.15 $9.27 $11.23 $47.00
1935 D Half Dollar Value $8.15 $10.30 $29.00 $142.00
1935 S Half Dollar Value $8.15 $10.30 $37.00 $213.00

1935 Half Dollar Value and Varieties Guide

Like most silver coins, the baseline value of the 1935 half dollar is based on its melt value at any given moment. While it is legal to melt silver coinage, this only gets you about $8.15 for the half dollar at the time of writing this.

In reality, these coins are worth much more when sold to collectors or when you take them to auction. The value relies mostly on the condition of the coin and the particular mint from that year. 

1935 No Mint Mark Half Dollar Value

1935 No Mint Mark Half Dollar Value

  • Type: Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916 to 1947)
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint Mark: N/A
  • Place of Minting: Philadelphia
  • Year of Minting: 1935
  • Face Value: $0.50
  • $ Price: $8.15 to $47+
  • Quantity Produced: 9,162,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Mass: 12.5g
  • Diameter: 30.6 mm

The 1935 no mint mark half dollar was the most plentiful of the three, and Philadelphia put about 9.16 million of these into circulation. These coins are more likely to be lesser grades, but they’re still worth at least their silver melt value.

You’ll find novel collectors happy to add a “Fine” no mint mark 1935 Walking Liberty half dollar to their collection for around $10 or more, but more experienced collectors often wait and spend a bit more for higher grades.

The current auction record for the 1935 no mint mark half dollar is from a Legend Rare Coin Auctions sale in April 2021. The PCGS MS-67+ coin sold for $12,337.50.

1935 D Half Dollar Value

1935 D Half Dollar Value

 

  • Type: Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916 to 1947)
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint Mark: D
  • Place of Minting: Denver
  • Year of Minting: 1935
  • Face Value: $0.50
  • $ Price: $8.15 to $142+
  • Quantity Produced: 3,003,800
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Mass: 12.5g
  • Diameter: 30.6 mm

The Denver mint saw the lowest number of half dollars produced in 1935, and it only put about 3 million D half dollars out into circulation. Coins in “Good” condition may catch melt value or a lower premium from collectors.

Ideally, you want to add a “Fine” or better coin to your collection. These sell for $10+ at market, while “Uncirculated” 1935 D half dollars start at $142.

These d-marked coins are also worth a premium on the markless coins when they go to auction. The current record holder is a NGC MS-67 1935 D half dollar that sold at a 2016 Heritage Auction for $23,500.

1935 S Half Dollar Value

1935 S Half Dollar Value

 

  • Type: Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916 to 1947)
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint Mark: S
  • Place of Minting: San Francisco
  • Year of Minting: 1935
  • Face Value: $0.50
  • $ Price: $8.15 to $213+
  • Quantity Produced: 3,854,000
  • Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
  • Mass: 12.5g
  • Diameter: 30.6 mm

While the San Francisco mint produced more half dollars than the Denver mint, these coins are actually more rare now. This is due to a lack of collectors in the area in 1935, and therefore a higher circulation that thinned out the pool of high-quality coins.

The 1935 S half dollar in “Extremely Fine” condition bumps its sale price up to $37, but uncirculated coins start selling at a baseline of $213 at market. This only climbs higher when you go to auction, and the current record holder nearly doubles the D-mark record.

A Heritage Auctions session in March 2012 saw a PCGS MS-67 1935 S half dollar sell for $41,125.

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1935 Half Dollar History

The 1935 half dollar is part of the Walking Eagle design produced from 1916 to 1947. Despite a widespread adoration of the design, it never struck well and was quickly replaced by the Franklin half dollar in 1948.

In 1915, Mint Director Rober W. Woolley asked the Commision of Fine Arts to host a competition to replace the current Barber dime, quarter, and half dollar designs.

Sculptors Adolph Weinman, Hermon MacNeil, and Albin Polasek submitted multiple designs for both sides of the coins, and Weinman had 5 chosen, including both sides of the half dollar.

The Mint began production of the coins on March 3 of 1916. Halfway through the following year, they decided to move the mintmark to the reverse of the coin (where we see it in 1935); this was the first year the mint mark moved to the back of the coin.

When all three denominations finally hit circulation, the eagle design on the back of the quarter commanded most of public attention. All three mints at the time struggled to keep up with the demand for the new half dollars, and original sales limited quantities per customer.

Despite this popularity, the design change in 1948 was needed to produce long-lasting coins. The Walking Liberty design was revived for the American Silver Eagle bullion coin, but the details were improved and the coin has a larger surface than the half dollar.

Walking Liberty was also restruck in gold for collectors, along with the other two silver coins that debuted in 1916.

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1935 Half Dollar Grading

Half dollars are generally better preserved than lower denominations, but that’s not a guarantee with coins nearing a century old. The 1935 half dollar has seen its fair share of history, and many of these coins bear the marks to prove it.

If you’re looking to add a coin to your collection, we always suggest going by a professional 70 point grading standard such as PCGS or NGC. Trained grading professionals can discern minute issues that an untrained eye would never have caught.

Otherwise, understanding the general grading buckets of these coins is a good skill to have. These “buckets” have no weight on the ultimate value of the coin, but they allow a better assessment of the coin’s worth and journey.

Good

On a “Good” 1935 Walking Liberty half dollar, the rim is starting to fade but all inscriptions are discernible. Liberty is reduced to an outline of her original detailed form, although major folds may be evident.

These coins are usually valued at the current silver melt rate.

Fine

A “Fine” example of the 1935 half dollar has greater detail. Liberty’s skirt is sharper, although you notice wear around her right arm and breast. The high points from head to foot are still relatively flat, along with rounded designs of the sun’s rays.

The reverse has a similar smooth area along the eagle’s head, chest, and leg. Any rounded designs are worn down, such as branches or leaves.

Extremely Fine

“Extremely Fine” coins begin to break the collectible barrier. These exhibit Liberty’s gown in near-full detail, and only light wear on high points of the designs.

All lines are clearly visible, but rounded areas such as the sun and its rays host noticeable wear.

Uncirculated

Coins that appear perfect are “Uncirculated”. These 1935 half dollars retain their original luster, although there may be stains, abrasions, or surface marks from the decades of life.

Major focal areas may have some blemishes or contact marks, but nothing that detracts from the first impression of the coin.

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List of 1935 Half Dollar Errors

Condition contributes the most to the value of a 1935 half dollar, but verifiable errors can increase the base value of the coin. In the best cases, you find coins of Mint State with professionally identified mint errors.

There are very few mint errors recognized today. These coins, particularly those from the Denver mint, are known to be of poor quality, and they’re often damaged form circulation.

You still may see:

  • Rotated Die: when the design of the coin is rotated, usually 90°, so the coin doesn’t flip to a perfectly oriented design
  • Double Dies: when the die strikes the coin multiple times; the coin shifts slightly in between, causing a second image (seen often in letters, numbers, or the edges of the eagle’s feathers)
  • Clipped Planchets: when the planchet is struck and chipped, causing part of the coin to be clipped away; needs professional verification because it can be easily replicated post-mint

In the video, the fourth 1935 half dollar has a fairly common lamination error seen in this year. The lamination on the obverse cracks through the middle of the coin. Because it’s a verifiable mint error, the coin sold for $75.

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1935 Half Dollar FAQs

How Much Is a 1935 Half Dollar worth Today?

A 1935 half dollar is worth between $7.49 to $213+ depending on condition. These coins will always be worth at least their melt value (according to silver content), which changes constantly. Professionally graded Mint State 1935 half dollars sell for thousands of dollars at reputable auctions.

Where Is the Mint Mark on a 1935 Half Dollar?

The mint mark on the 1935 half dollar is located on the reverse of the coin to the bottom left of the eagle. These coins were among the first to have the mint mark on the reverse rather than the front.

How Much Is a 1935 Half Dollar worth with a Mint Mark?

The value of a 1935 half dollar with a mint mark varies depending on the mint mark and the condition of the coin. “Good” grades sell for about $7.49, and “Fine” coins sell for about $10.30 (regardless of mint mark). “Extremely Fine” to “Uncirculated” 1935 D half dollars are valued from $29 to $142, while the same grades for 1935 S half dollars sell for $37 to $213 or higher.

Is a 1935 Half Dollar Pure Silver?

The 1935 half dollar is only 90 percent silver; the rest of the coin composition involves copper. The silver content in the half dollar dropped to 40 percent after the Coinage Act of 1965, then ultimately gave way to the 75 percent copper/25 percent nickel composition we see today.

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