Numismatic

1939-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar AU

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In 1939, the Denver Mint produced a half dollar that remains a high point of American coinage design. Struck in 90 percent silver, this fifty-cent piece contains 0.3575 troy ounces of precious metal. The coin represents a classic era of United States currency, combining precious metal content with an artistic vision that captured the spirit of the nation on the eve of a momentous decade. The obverse side presents a powerful image of Lady Liberty moving gracefully toward a rising sun. She cradles a bundle of branches in her arm, symbolizing peace and strength. This side features the legible inscriptions of the year 1939, along with the national motto, IN GOD WE TRUST. The design was created by the noted sculptor Adolph Weinman, whose work brought a new level of fluid realism to American pocket change. On the reverse, Weinman placed a majestic eagle perched upon a rugged mountain crag. The bird is depicted with its wings partially unfolded, appearing ready to launch into flight. The Denver mint mark, a small D, is struck on this side alongside the traditional inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the denomination, HALF DOLLAR. This particular specimen survives in Almost Uncirculated condition, preserving the fine details of the feathers and the folds of Liberty's gown for modern observers to appreciate.