1917-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Obverse Mintmark ANACS VG8 Details

This 1917-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar is an important piece of American numismatic history. The coin’s full description, 1917-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Obverse Mintmark, ANACS VG8 Details Scratched, Cleaned, tells a fascinating story of design, wartime production, and collector challenges.

Historical and Numismatic Context

1. The Coin Design: A ‘Renaissance’ of American Coinage

The Walking Liberty Half Dollar, designed by Adolph A. Weinman, is widely considered one of the most beautiful coins ever struck by the U.S. Mint. It was first issued in 1916, replacing the Barber Half Dollar, as part of a directive to modernize U.S. coinage after its designs had been in use for 25 years.

• Obverse: Features a full-length figure of Liberty, draped in the American flag, striding toward the rising sun, symbolizing the nation moving forward. She carries branches of laurel and oak, symbolizing civil and military glory.
• Time Period: The coin was minted from 1916 to 1947, spanning the tumultuous eras of World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II, making it a tangible connection to major American historical events.

2. The 1917-D Obverse Mintmark Variety (The Key to its Significance)

The year 1917 is unique and highly significant in the Walking Liberty series because the mintmark location changed mid-year.

• The Variety: Your coin is the Obverse Mintmark variety, meaning the “D” for Denver is located on the front (obverse) of the coin, below the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. This was the original design position used in 1916 and early 1917.
• The Change: Mint officials, notably Director F. J. H. von Engelken, objected to the mintmark’s prominent placement on the obverse, fearing it looked like a die defect.
• Mintage Rarity: The mintmark was moved to the reverse (under the eagle’s left wing) later in 1917. As a result, the 1917-D Obverse Mintmark has a significantly lower mintage of only 765,400 pieces compared to the 1,940,000 pieces of the reverse mintmark variety. This low mintage makes it one of the scarcer issues in the entire series and a coveted piece for advanced collectors.

Condition and Estimated Value

The value of your specific coin is determined by its low mintage and, critically, its post-mint damage.

Estimated Value

While a problem-free 1917-D Obverse Mintmark in VG8 might be valued in the $80 – $120+ range, the “Details” designation lowers the collectible value closer to its market value as a damaged example.

Based on similar certified auction results:

• Estimated Value Range: $35 – $75 USD (Value is highly variable and dependent on the severity of the scratching and cleaning).

This coin represents a unique transitional period in U.S. coinage and still holds a place in history, even with the surface issues. It is a genuine example of a key date/variety within one of America’s most beloved coin series.