If This Half Dollar Coin Is In Peak Condition, It Could Be Worth More Than $100,000 In 2025
An old fashioned saying goes: "find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck." Well, if you come across another valuable coin that might have lying around, specifically the 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar in near mint condition, you might be having more than your fair share of exceptionally great fortune. That's because while that coinage might have been originally produced to only be worth 50 cents over 100 years ago, in today's money it could be valued at over $100,000.
Gainesville Coins has reported that the 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar has actually set a record-breaking auction price of $270,250. While that figure does not quite reach the heights of some silver dollar coins that are worth upwards of $2 million in 2025, nor is it quite as rare as an 1820's quarter valued at $20,000 or more, what truly gives the 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar an added boost of worth is if you can find one in top notch condition.
It can be hard to know exactly how to take care of collectible currency or how to spot a rare coin. How do you know when you have a pristine and highly valuable 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar in your possession?
Finding a 1919-D Walker
Upon its mintage, over 1.1 million 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollars, sometimes referred to as 1919-D Walkers, were put into circulation for use as U.S. currency. That might sound like a lot, but over time, many of them have been lost, melted down, or damaged, making them scarce amongst collectors. Coin aficionados seek out the 1919 half dollars the most, followed by the 1921 half series, in an attempt to complete the full Walking Liberty set according to Coin Values.
Beyond the limited availability, finding a verified date and mintmark is a challenge in and of itself, but the real obstacle is that very few 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollars were actually retained. During the time of their mintage, 50 cents one held by one coin equated to a large bill held in someone's wallet in 2025, typically unable to be spent or broken in one place. This makes them very different from other highly-sought after coins by dealers and collectors, such as rare pennies worth $3,000 by present day standards.
Worth looking for a 1919-D Walker?
So far, no random person has stumbled upon an untouched and immaculately preserved 1919 Denver Mint Walking Liberty half dollar without reporting it. Between the Numismatic Guaranty Company and Professional Coin Grading Service, two major organizations that specialize in rare coin authentication and grading services, the highest grade ever given to a solitary 1919 Denver Mint Walking Liberty half dollar on record labeled as Mint State 66 or MS66.
Additionally, the CDN Greysheet, which measures and tracks currency values, also lists only one single 1919-D with a grade of MS66. This means that the chances of tracking down a 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar, maintained in the best condition possible, is extremely difficult.
That does not mean you should give up entirely or throw away any "junk" coins with significant value that you have lying around. Rather, it just re-emphasizes the need to stay vigilant and keep an eagle eye out for when a 1919-D "Walker" comes your way. Because when it does, you will have more than 50 cents on your hands in modern day money.