The 1941 Half dollar has one of the most intricate and fascinating designs, so collectors like to have it even in the lower grades. If you are lucky enough to find one, you are probably contemplating its value and whether it is worth selling or keeping!
Some 1941 half dollars can be very precious and worth big bucks; however, determining a coin’s value and grade can be challenging. When establishing the potential worth of a coin, you must consider several vital factors, such as the grade, place, and year of minting, mint mark, and others.
Let’s check out the varieties, mint mark, and the history of the 1941 Half dollar!
1941 Half Dollar Details
- Category: Walking Liberty Half Dollar
- Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
- Obverse/Reverse Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
- Mintage: 42,538,400
- Composition: 90% Silver and 10% Copper
- Mass: 12.5 grams
- Face Value: Half Dollar ($0.50)
- Diameter:30.63mm
- Fineness: 0.9
- ASW: 0.3617oz
- Melt Value: $7.45
As mentioned, the 1941 half dollar is known for its exciting design, which features the image of Lady Liberty on the obverse.
Lady Liberty is depicted in total length, seemingly walking and surrounded by Stars and Stripes floating around her. She also holds a sizeable olive branch, the world-known symbol for peace, pointing to the left. Alongside the coin’s rim, we can see the capitalized inscription “LIBERTY.”
Right underneath the first letter “L” of Liberty, we can see the Sun rising or setting. On the right side of the outstretched Lady Liberty is the American motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
There is an interesting story behind the term “LIBERTY” placement. Initially, the coin’s designer Adolph Weinman wanted to place the word above the American motto to utilize the coin’s space to leave more space for the image of Lady Liberty.
However, Weinman chose to put it alongside the rim, and the letters “B” and “R” are partially obscured with Lady Liberty’s flag and olive branch. The date of the minting “1941” is struck underneath the image of Lady Liberty and is very visible.
The coin’s reverse features an image of an American eagle with partly stretched and raised wings. The eagle is placed on the outcrop or a cliff, with one leg in front of the other. From this outcrop, there seems to be a mountain pine branching out.
The capitalized inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is struck alongside the upper part of the coin’s rim. On the right side of the eagle, there is the second most popular American motto, “E PLURIBUS UNUM. The motto loosely translates to “Out of many, one.”
Despite the coin’s ‘crowded’ design, which many admired, there was some controversy regarding the depiction of the eagle on the reverse. For some, the portrayal of the legs and the feathers was deemed too extravagant.
The denomination “HALF-DOLLAR” is placed underneath the cliff or the lower part of the coin’s rim. The mint mark is put on the coin’s reverse, underneath the branching mountain pine. When the coins were first struck, the mint mark was right underneath the minting year on the coin’s obverse.
However, in 1917 the decision was made to change the placement of the mint mark. There are still some coins (which are very rare) that have the mint mark in their original place. On the other hand, most of the coins struck during that year have mint marks on the reverse.
The designer’s initials are also on the coin’s reverse- under the eagle’s left wing or above the denomination. As usual, the initials are hard to notice and can be best seen using a magnifier. If the coin does not have the initials, you can get a higher amount.
1941 Half Dollar Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extra Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1941 No Mint Mark Half Dollar Value | $7.60-$8.30 | $9-$10 | $12 | $29 |
| 1941 D Half Dollar Value | $7.70 | $10 | $10-$13 | $35 |
| 1941 S Half Dollar Value | $8 | $38 | $12-$13 | $70-$90 |
1941 Half Dollar Value and Varieties Guide
The 1941 Half dollar was struck at mint facilities in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. The total mintage is 41,538,400.
The most valuable are the proof coins, also minted in Philadelphia. The proof coins are meant for archival purposes and have the most detailed design and the original luster of a new coin, making them very valuable and collectible. For a 1941 proof Half dollar, you can get from $600 to $700.
1941 No Mint Mark Half Dollar Value
- Type: Walking Liberty Half Dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: /
- Place of Minting: Philadelphia
- Year of Minting: 1941
- Face Value: Half Dollar ($0.50)
- Quantity produced:24,192,000
- Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
- Composition: Silver and Copper
- Mass:5 grams
- Diameter: 36
Compared to the other two mints, Philadelphia had the highest mintage in 1941. The high mintage usually dictates the value of a particular coin. The coins minted in Philadelphia have no mint mark.
Considering that these coins are made of precious metal silver, they are always worth their weight in silver, which depends on the current price of the silver.
They are generally worth around $7.60 to $8.30 in good condition. For specimens in excellent condition, expect to pay around $12 for 1941 No Mint Mark Half dollar. Coins in extra fine condition usually have minor details missing, which happens when the coin circulates.
They do not have the luster and the shine of a new coin. However, the coin’s appearance is pleasing and has enough details to constitute a well-defined coin. Also, the separation between the branches must be visible.
When the 1941 Half Dollar coins spend much time in circulation, the head of the Lady Liberty flattens, and the branches seem mashed together rather than individually separated. Therefore, the 1941 No Mint Mark in uncirculated condition can cost around $28 or more, depending on the details.
However, pieces with no mint mark and grade MS68 are scarce and can cost several thousand.
1941 “S” Half Dollar Value
- Type: Walking Liberty Half Dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: S
- Place of Minting: San Francisco
- Year of Minting: 1941
- Face Value: Half Dollar ($0.50)
- Quantity produced: 8,098,000
- Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
- Composition: Silver and Copper
- Mass:5 grams
- Diameter: 36
The lowest mintage was in San Francisco-8,098,000, meaning the 1941 S Half dollars are the most valuable and collectible in the series. In an average state, you can get around $8 or more, depending on damage and wear.
Pieces in extremely good condition can cost from $12 to $13. The most valuable is the uncirculated 1941 S Half Dollar, which can reach the price of $60 or even more. For 1941 AU (about uncirculated) Half dollar with an “S” mint mark, you can get around $30.
Specimens that are uncirculated and graded MS 65 and higher can cost $90 or even more. The 1941 Half dollar with errors can change the coin’s price to the jaw-dropping $1,500.
The highest amount paid for the 1941 S Half dollar is whipping $28,000. The coin is in a near-perfect state and graded MS67 without the designer initials and with the rarest mint mark S. So, if you are wondering what factors can change the coin’s price, consider the ones mentioned above.
However, the same coin in lower grade, such as AU 58 with an S mint mark, was sold for $35. Also, look at the mint mark; if it is re-punched, that can drastically raise its price.
1941 “D” Half Dollar Value
- Type: Walking Liberty Half Dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: D
- Place of Minting: Denver
- Year of Minting: 1941
- Face Value: Half Dollar ($0.50)
- Quantity produced: 11,248,400
- Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
- Composition: Silver and Copper
- Mass:5 grams
- Diameter: 36
Denver mint had the second-highest mintage in the series-11,248,400. These coins are pretty collectible, and various factors can raise or lower their price. In the average state, expect to pay around $8. For pieces in fine and extra fine condition, you can pay anywhere from $10 to $13.
The 1941 D Half dollar with AU 58 grade can cost from $30 to $40, which is understandable given its grade. The grade is not particularly low, but it still is not in mint state, which is very important for the coin’s value. However, if we take the same coin with a D mint mark in MS 68, the value jumps to $13,000.
If you are unfamiliar with the grading system, the highest grade is MS 70, meaning it is a perfect coin. Therefore, pieces in nearly perfect condition can cost a couple of thousand.
1941 Half Dollar History
The Walking Lady Liberty dollars were struck from 1916 to 1947. These coins were the first to feature a full-length Walking Lady Liberty design, explaining why they were also called “Walkers.”
At the time, Mint Director Robert D. Woolley was under the wrong impression that the coin’s design should be changed every 25 years. Considering that the designs in place were reaching the 25th-year mark, Woolley invited a replacement design.
However, none of the designs were satisfactory, so Woolley held a competition among three sculptors and engravers. The winner was Adolph Weinman, who created the outstanding Walking Liberty design.
The coin’s design proved to be a two-way street- the intricate details were hard to be struck correctly, and the process was very complex. Also, the coin could not be used with the vending machines, which only added to the problem.
Even though Charles Barber, the previous designer of the half dollar, suggested some drastic measures to fix the issue, the supervisor of the Philadelphia Mint managed to fix the coin’s design without altering it drastically.
Basically, he lowered the relief and adjusted the force used to strike the blanks, also known as planchets. However, still, some issues remained regarding the production.
This relates to the condition of coins and their value- even though some coins seem to appear circulated, some are uncirculated but struck weakly and have no sharp details.
1941 Half Dollar Grading
When it comes to the grading process can be very complicated, especially for those that are new to coin collecting. The most used is the Sheldon Scale, which assigns grades from 1 to 70, depending on the scratches, details, wear, and other factors.
1941 Half Dollar List of Errors
Interestingly, despite the intricate design and numerous details on the coin, the 1941 Half dollar does not have many mistakes. The most known defects found on these coins are re-punching of the mint mark and missing initials.
1. 1941 Half Dollar Missing Designer’s Initials Error
As mentioned, the Philadelphia mint also produced 15,412 proof coins, and some rare specimens do not have the engraver’s AW initials on the reverse. This defect is very sought-after, and the coins that have it can reach the price of several thousand.
For example, in 2022, a rare specimen of 1941 Half Dollar in MS 68 with no initials was sold for $2.300.
During the same year, two other pieces with the same grade were sold for $5,700 and $6.900.
The highest amount paid for the coin with no initials was 18,000, and the coin was graded PF69, meaning almost a perfect coin.
2. 1941 Half Dollar Re-punched Mint Mark Error
Some specimens struck with S and D mint marks have a defect called a re-punched mint mark. If you see the term “RPM” attributed to a coin, that is the abbreviation for the re-punched mint mark.
The 1941 Half dollar with this error can raise the value to a couple hundred. A piece rated MS65 with this defect and the “S” mint mark was sold for $2,585. Interestingly, the same coin without the error was sold for $700.
Pieces struck in Denver are less valuable due to the high mintage number and cost around $60 in AU 55. However, in higher grades such as MS 66, you can expect to pay from $600 to $700 for the 1941 D Half dollar.
3. 1941 Half Dollar Struck on Wrong Planchet Error
During the production of these coins, they were struck by planchet meant for other coins or other denominations, such as a dime or quarter. This is a precious error that can change the coin’s price.
A piece from Philadelphia, which is generally less valuable and struck on the planchet meant for a quarter, was sold for $18.200 at an auction.
1941 Half Dollar FAQ
What is the error on a 1941 half-dollar?
The 1941 Half Dollar has the following defects: re-punched mint mark, being struck on the wrong Planchet, and missing AW or the designer’s initials.
Where is the mint mark on the 1941 half-dollar?
The Mint Mark is on the coin’s reverse, underneath the mountain pine or above the denomination and the cliff. Finding it can be very challenging, so we suggest you use a magnifier.
How do I know if my Kennedy Half Dollar is valuable?
If your Kennedy Half dollar was minted in Denver in 1970, the chances are that you have a coin worth over $100. As with other types of coin, the year and place of minting play a vital role when it comes to the value.