1916 half dollar

What matters about 1916

First year of Adolph Weinman's Walking Liberty design, an obverse so admired that it was revived in 1986 for the American Silver Eagle.

On 1916 coins the mint mark sits on the obverse, below the motto, rather than in its later position on the reverse.

Identifying it

A 1916 half dollar is a Walking Liberty, designed by Adolph A. Weinman. The obverse shows Liberty striding toward the sunrise, draped in the flag and the reverse a bald eagle perched on a mountain crag. It measures 30.6mm across.

Mint mark: Obverse below the motto in 1916 and part of 1917, then reverse at lower left for the rest of the series.

Because it is solid silver alloy all the way through, the edge is the fastest check: hold it side on and look for an unbroken silver-grey band. A clad coin of the same design shows a copper stripe sandwiched between two lighter layers. The other three checks take about the same time.

The rest of the jar

Every circulating silver denomination in 1916 used the same 90% alloy, so their silver content is simply proportional to face value. If you are sorting a mixed container, these are the numbers you need.