Coin Highlights
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Issuer: United States of America
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Date: 1942
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Mint: Philadelphia (no mintmark)
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Denomination: Fifty Cents (Half Dollar)
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Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
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Weight: 12.5 g
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Diameter: 30.6 mm
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Grade: NGC PF66 (Gem Proof)
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Obverse Design: Liberty striding toward the sunrise, draped in the U.S. flag, carrying branches of laurel and oak (Adolph A. Weinman).
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Reverse Design: Bald eagle perched on a mountain pine branch with wings raised.
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Edge: Reeded
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Orientation: Coin alignment (↑↓)
Historical Significance
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The Walking Liberty Half Dollar series (1916–1947) is widely considered one of the most beautiful U.S. coin designs.
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Proofs were struck in limited numbers between 1936 and 1942 before suspension due to World War II. They did not resume until 1950 with the Franklin Half Dollar.
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The 1942 proof issue, with a mintage of only 21,120 coins, was the final proof struck in the series.
Collectibility
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At PF66, this coin offers near-pristine surfaces, full brilliance, and outstanding eye appeal, making it a top choice for advanced proof type collectors.
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Survivor Scarcity: With low original mintage and wartime distribution, high-grade proofs from this year are difficult to obtain.
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Highly prized among Walking Liberty specialists, proof type set builders, and World War II–era coinage collectors.
G-4 Good- Scant Rim. LIBERTY on shield worn off. Date and letters legible.
VG-8 Very Good- Rim fairly defined. Some letter in LIBERTY evident.
F-12 Fine– LIBERTY complete, but weak.
VF– Very Fine– LIBERTY mostly sharp.
EF-20 Extremely Fine- LIBERTY entirely sharp. Scroll edges and clasp distinct.
AU-50 About Uncirculated- Slight trace of wear on Liberty’s breast and knees, and on eagle’s head, claws, and wing tops.
MS-60 Uncirculated- No Trace of wear. Light blemishes.
MS-63 Choice Uncirculated- Some distracting contact marks or blemishes in prim focal areas. Impaired luster possible.
