The 1941 Half Dollar offers plenty of variety for different types of coin collectors. For example, beginner and intermediate coin collectors can complete the 1941-1947 short set, while Type collectors can aim for a single high-grade variety like the 1941-S MS-67.
You can obtain a 1941 Half Dollar for an affordable price, while those in Gem condition command hundreds to thousands of dollars, but it is well worth it. Here, we will tackle the valuation of each major and die variety, including their auction prices. But before diving into it, here’s an overview of their estimated value.
| 1941 Half Dollar Summarized Value Chart | |||
|
Coin Grade |
1941 No Mintmark Half Dollar | 1941-D Half Dollar | 1941-S Half Dollar |
| Circulated
(PO-1 to XF-40) |
$10.75-$17.75 | $10.75-$17.75 | $10.75-$17.75 |
| About Uncirculated
(AU-50 to AU-58) |
$22-$32.50 | $25-$50 | $25-$55 |
| Uncirculated
(MS-60 to MS-64) |
$35-$85 | $55-$115 | $70-$245 |
| Gem Uncirculated
(MS-65 and above) |
$115-$11,750 | $130-$16,000 | $450-$35,000 |
| Proof
(PF-55 to PF-69) |
$200-$22,500 | / | / |
1941 Half Dollar History
The 1941 Half Dollar is the 26th year of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar Series. Notably, 1941 was the first year when the mintage suddenly doubled compared to the past years. Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mint coined over 43 million pieces of 1941 Half Dollar, rendering a high survival estimate today.
Numismatists have favored the Walking Liberty Half Dollar since its issue. Additionally, they look forward to the two short sets in the series. One of which is from 1941 to 1947. The set contains dates from the pivotal period of American History—World War II—making it a fun collecting challenge even for beginner and intermediate collectors.
1941 Half Dollar Coin Information
- Category: Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947)
- Face Value: 50 Cents
- Obverse-Reverse Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
- Metal Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- Weight: 12.50 grams
- Diameter: 30.00 millimeters
- Edge: Reeded
The 1941 Half Dollar is considered a Type coin collected as a standalone representative of the series by type collectors. The 1941 Half Dollar showcases the coinage in a larger collection of other coins from different eras. But aside from its historical background, it offers a magnificent design that captures the eye of many.
A.A. Weinman features the Liberty walking towards the dawn while holding laurel and oak branches. The word LIBERTY arches above the figure, and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST follows on the right field. Lastly, you’ll find the mint year resting at the bottom surface of the obverse side.
For the reverse of his design, a majestic eagle perched on a mountain crag dominates the field. Further, a mountain pine sapling springs from the rock with the words E PLURIBUS UNUM above it. On the top surface reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, while the bottom has the coin denomination, HALF DOLLAR.
1941 No Mintmark Half Dollar Value
Philadelphia minted 24,192,000 regular strike 1941 Half Dollars. It was a dramatic increase for the no-mintmark issues since 12 million was the ceiling since inception. As you would anticipate, the survival rate is high.
The 1941 Philadelphia Half Dollar is abundant, even in uncirculated and gem conditions. That said, it does not sell as much as high as the previous dates of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. A circulated condition 1941 Half Dollar is worth between $10.50 and $32.50, while an uncirculated condition can fetch from $35 to $11,750.
| 1941 MS No Mintmark Half Dollar Value | |
| Coin Grade | Estimated Value |
| MS-60 | $35-$37.50 |
| MS-61 | $40-$42.50 |
| MS-62 | $45-$50 |
| MS-63 | $55-$60 |
| MS-64 | $70-$85 |
| MS-65 | $115-$130 |
| MS-66 | $170-$250 |
| MS-67 | $425-$1,050 |
| MS-68 | $4,500-$11,750 |
A typical 1941 Half Dollar is sharply struck with a white and frosty luster. Meanwhile, the highest grade available for this variety has a superior eye appeal and incomparable preservation. We’re talking about the 1941 MS-68+ Half Dollar sold for $50,400 by Stack’s Bowers in 2021. Based on our research, it is the single finest known example and a miraculous survivor from the 1941-dated half dollars.
Meanwhile, the highest sale price for an MS-68 (without a plus grade) was sold for $16,450 by Legend Rare Coin Auctions in 2022.
1941-D Half Dollar Value
The Denver Mint also doubled its production compared to the previous years, minting 11,248,400 pieces of 1941-D Half Dollars. Circulated grades through MS-66 are very common, and over a hundred MS-67 are available to meet the demand of serious collectors.
Denver Mints are scarcer when compared with Philadelphia Mints. With this, most grades sell for a small premium over the previous variety. A 1941-D Half Dollar in circulated condition can sell for $10.50 to $50, while an uncirculated condition can reach $55 to $16,000.
| 1941-D MS Half Dollar Value | |
| Coin Grade | Estimated Value |
| MS-60 | $55-$57 |
| MS-61 | $60-$62 |
| MS-62 | $65-$70 |
| MS-63 | $80-$90 |
| MS-64 | $110-$115 |
| MS-65 | $130-$140 |
| MS-66 | $200-$315 |
| MS-67 | $700-$2,750 |
| MS-68 | $16,000 |
The finest grade most collectors own is an MS-67 since MS-68 is rarely seen in auctions. Currently, the MS-68 only has six graded examples, and the highest sale price for this condition was sold for an astounding $36,000 under Heritage Auctions in 2022. This beautiful top-grade rarity has ivory-white luster with iridescence and gold color present on the edges.
1941-S Half Dollar Value
The San Francisco Mint has the lowest mintage of 1941 Regular Strike Half Dollar among the two other mints, with 8,098,000. But if we’re talking about the SF Mint alone across the series, it is actually one of the highest.
Circulated grades through MS-65 are common, with thousands of examples. However, MS-67 and above are scarce since this issue is infamous for the soft strike and incomplete central design. Finding an S-marked sharply struck coin is tricky, yet if you stumble upon one, you can expect it to sell for a premium.
Today, a 1941-S circulated condition is valued between $10.50 and $55, while an uncirculated condition can fetch $70 to $35,000.
| 1941-S MS Half Dollar Value | |
| Coin Grade | Estimated Value |
| MS-60 | $70-$75 |
| MS-61 | $80-$85 |
| MS-62 | $90-$95 |
| MS-63 | $120-$140 |
| MS-64 | $195-$245 |
| MS-65 | $450-$700 |
| MS-66 | $900-$2,650 |
| MS-67 | $15,000-$35,000 |
The 1941-S is the rarest 1941-1947 in Gem condition, making it a key date for the short set. Its importance showed in an auction in 2006 when an MS-67 sample was sold for an astounding $90,850 by Bowers & Merena. The sale price was so high that the following record of the same grade falls at $58,750, sold by Legend Rare Coin Auctions in April 2023.
Aside from this, the 1941-S also have Prooflike coins. However, the highest record for this is an MS-64 PL sold only for $141 on eBay in 2021.
1941 Proof Half Dollar Value
Philadelphia Mint is responsible for minting 15,412 pieces of 1941 Proof Half Dollar. With the design, some coins have A. Weinman’s monogram on the reverse side, but there are also those without. Experts explained that the later examples—struck in November and December—have initials, while those produced from January through October were made from lapped dies without the designer’s initials. Later, we’ll tackle more of this die variety and see its valuation.
Now—going back to the production, the low mintage resulted in a scarcity of grades PF-55 through PF-66. Superb Gems, on the other hand, are rare, with no known Cameo or Deep Cameo samples.
Today, a 1941 Half Dollar in impaired proof condition is worth between $200 to $270, while PF-60 through PF-69 can fetch around $290 to $22,500.
| 1941 Proof Half Dollar Value | |
| Coin Grade | Estimated Value |
| PF-55 | $200-$215 |
| PF-58 | $250-$270 |
| PF-60 | $290-$300 |
| PF-61 | $310-$330 |
| PF-62 | $350-$365 |
| PF-63 | $390-$415 |
| PF-64 | $450-$470 |
| PF-65 | $490-$525 |
| PF-66 | $600-$685 |
| PF-67 | $890-$1,275 |
| PF-68 | $5,500-$12,500 |
| PF-69 | $22,500 |
Impaired proof coins show signs of circulation or mishandling, making them hardly sell for a thousand dollars. Conversely, a PF-60 and above mirror the uncirculated grade and sell highly in auctions. An example is this 1941 PF-69 Half Dollar sold for a striking $27,600 by Heritage Auctions.
1941 Half Dollar Die Varieties
The 1941 Half Dollar is rich in varieties that sell for thousands of dollars. Below are some of the top samples, including their sale price.
1941 RPM Half Dollar
The Denver and San Francisco Mint both have RPM Die Varieties. PCGS recorded more than 20 samples in Denver alone, with the majority having an MS-66 grade. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Mint also has a couple of examples, with MS-64 as its common grade.
Below, you’ll see the highest sale price record for the two varieties.
| Coin Variety | Grade | Sale Price | Auction Firm |
| 1941-D/D Half Dollar RPM FS-501 | MS-67 | $1,700 | eBay |
| 1941-S/S Half Dollar RPM FS-501 | MS-65 | $2,585 | Heritage Auctions |
1941-S Missing Wing Feather Half Dollar
Aside from RPM, the San Francisco Mint bears another die variety caused by a heavily polished reverse die. Coins punched from this die don’t have the sixth feather at the lower back wing of the eagle. But despite the design discrepancy, it still sold for thousands of dollars because only a few coins have this feature.
Based on our research, the highest record for a Missing Wing Feather Half Dollar is a 1941-S MS-66+ sold for $4,112.50.
1941 Half Dollar No “AW”
The “AW” initial is located beneath the eagle’s right wing. Most do not have it, while a few sport the initial because of the difference in dies used. The highest record for this variety is a PF-69 sold for $25,300 in 2011, although the coin reappeared in a 2013 auction and has a lesser sale price of $18,213.
1941 Half Dollar Error Coins
Aside from die varieties, Mint error coins are also available in the market. A few have unique flaws and sell for almost a hundred dollars. Here are some of them, including their valuation.
Obverse Lamination Crack Half Dollar
Lamination crack results from planchet errors where the coin surface slightly lifts on one side. Contaminants or foreign materials intercept the alloy, preventing the metal layers from adhering to each other. Here, you’ll notice the enormous crack streaming from Liberty’s shoulder through the coin edge.
This coin sells for almost $90 but can fetch a few hundred dollars if in better condition.
Struck on 25C Planchet Error
Occasionally, a planchet of one denomination gets fed into a coin press equipped with dies from another denomination. An example is this Half Dollar struck on a Quarter Dollar planchet. As a result, the design is incomplete because of the smaller diameter. Additionally, it weighs 6.3 grams, almost double the original 50 Cents.
This coin has an offer price between $24,000 to $28,000.
Double Struck Half Dollar
Here is a 1941 Double Struck coin with a 90% off-center second strike. It happens when a coin is pressed and fails to release between the dies before being struck the second time. But what makes this coin unique is the second strike came from a newly fed quarter planchet, making the coin part a half dollar and part quarter.
This coin can sell for more or less $2,000 and can fetch more if placed on an open auction.
Slag Inclusion Obverse
Slag inclusion occurs when a foreign material floats atop the molten metal and remains throughout the minting process. Ideally, mint workers should skim off the contaminants before they pour the alloy into the mold. But because thousands to millions of coins are processed daily, there are situations that they barely notice. In the photo, you’ll see the deformity at the 10 o’clock obverse side of the coin.
You can expect this coin to sell for $200 to $250.
Clipped Planchet Error Half Dollar
Blank metal sometimes gets misfed into the blanking press, causing the cutting device to create irregularly shaped coins. In this case, you’ll notice there’s a straight clip on the left bottom edge of the coin. Additionally, there is a sign of weakness across it—atop the laurel and oak branches. They call it the Blakesley Effect, making the coin an authentic error.
Coins with this kind of error can sell between $50 to $350, depending on the grade.
Jenson is a professional numismatist, a dedicated coin collector, a graduate of the College of Business at Oregon State, a life member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), and an overall coin nerd. He is the founder of Coin Value List.