1917-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar – 90% Silver – Ungraded Coin (Reverse Mintmark Variety)
Coin Overview
This listing is for a 1917-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar, struck at the San Francisco Mint. Containing 90% silver, this is a classic and highly collectible piece of United States numismatic history. Designed by renowned sculptor Adolph A. Weinman, the coin is widely considered one of the most beautiful designs ever produced for U.S. coinage.
This is the Reverse Mintmark variety, meaning the "S" is located on the tails side. In early 1917, the U.S. Mint moved the mintmark from the obverse (heads side) to the reverse to address design clutter and wear issues. This change became the standard placement for the rest of the Walking Liberty series.
With a total mintage of 5,554,000, the 1917-S Reverse Mintmark is the highest mintage among the four 1917-dated Walking Liberty half dollars. It is considered a key date in the series. While common in lower circulated grades, it becomes scarce in XF and higher, very scarce in Mint State, and rare in Gem condition.
Design & Specifications
| Denomination | 50 Cents (Half Dollar) |
| Year of Issue | 1917 |
| Mint Mark | S (San Francisco) – located on the reverse, below the olive branch near the left rim |
| Variety | Reverse Mintmark (mintmark on tails side) |
| Mintage | 5,554,000 |
| Composition | 90% Silver, 10% Copper |
| Weight | 12.5 grams |
| Diameter | 30.6 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Designer | Adolph Alexander Weinman |
Obverse (Heads Side)
The obverse features a full-length figure of Lady Liberty striding confidently toward the rising sun on the left. Her right arm is outstretched, and her left arm carries laurel and oak branches, symbolizing civil and military glory. She wears the Stars and Stripes as a cape. The inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST appear alongside the date, 1917. As a Reverse Mintmark variety, this side bears no mint mark.
Reverse (Tails Side)
The reverse shows a powerful bald eagle perched on a rocky mountain crag, with wings elevated in a defensive posture. The inscriptions read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and HALF DOLLAR. The S mint mark is placed below the olive branch near the left rim.
Value & Condition
This coin is being sold in its ungraded state, meaning it has not been professionally assessed by a third-party grading service like PCGS or NGC. The value can vary significantly based on the coin's physical condition.
