1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar

During the World War I years, coinage output in the United States boomed to meet the demands of a wartime economy. Following the Armistice in November 1918, American soldiers began returning home, soon to be confronted with slowing business conditions.

By 1921, a post-war recession had fully set in. The production of all coins (with the exception of the Morgan Silver Dollar, as required by law) was sharply curtailed in response to depressed economic activity.

Production of Walking Liberty Half Dollars fell by 92% compared to their 1920 levels. All three active mints at the time, Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, turned out only 246,000, 208,000, and 548,000 half dollars, respectively, in 1921.

Of this trio, the 1921-D is the most elusive for ordinary collectors willing to settle for heavily worn coins. In higher grades, it is the 1921-S that pulls ahead in value.

In any grade, the 1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar is a classic 20th century rarity. No buyer should worry about a reversal of status for this key date Walker.