1920-S 50C (Regular Strike)

Series: Walking Liberty Half Dollars 1916-1947

PCGS MS66+

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PCGS MS66+

PCGS MS66

PCGS #:: 6582

Designer:: Adolph Alexander Weinman

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 30.00 millimeters

Weight:: 12.50 grams

Mintage:: 4,624,000

Mint:: San Francisco

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $96,938 • MS66+ • 01-27-2019 • Legend Rare Coin Auctions

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1920-S 50C

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	225,000	R-1.8	35 / 66 TIE	35 / 66 TIE
60 or Better	750	R-5.5	7 / 66 TIE	7 / 66 TIE
65 or Better	80	R-8.2	8 / 66 TIE	8 / 66 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	225,000
60 or Better	750
65 or Better	80

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-1.8
60 or Better	R-5.5
65 or Better	R-8.2

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	35 / 66 TIE
60 or Better	7 / 66 TIE
65 or Better	8 / 66 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	35 / 66 TIE
60 or Better	7 / 66 TIE
65 or Better	8 / 66 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Gerald R Forsythe Collection
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Legend Numismatics, sold privately in 9/2011 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II - Heritage 10/2014:98579, $44,062.50 - Steven L. Duckor Collection - Heritage 1/2018:4879, $60,000
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Heritage 4/2015:5110, $56,400
1	MS66 PCGS grade
1	MS66 PCGS grade
1	MS66 PCGS grade
1	MS66 PCGS grade
1	MS66 PCGS grade
1	MS66 estimated grade
1	MS66 estimated grade

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Gerald R Forsythe Collection

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Legend Numismatics, sold privately in 9/2011 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II - Heritage 10/2014:98579, $44,062.50 - Steven L. Duckor Collection - Heritage 1/2018:4879, $60,000

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Heritage 4/2015:5110, $56,400

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

#1 MS66 estimated grade

Jim Halperin: James Bennett Pryor collected U.S. half dollars as a lifelong passion and he indeed succeeded in putting together a complete 1794 to date set in fabulous condition. Along the way he had acquired an original roll of 1892-S Barber half dollars, which he sold to me in the mid 1970s, and two original rolls of 1920-S half dollars. He sold me the 1920-S half dollars in the late 1970s. They were frosty original coins that would grade MS64 to MS66 today, maybe even MS67 for the best one. It was an amazing deal and the only "quantity" deal of this rare early Walking Liberty half dollar I have ever seen or heard of.

David Hall:

The 1920-S Walking Liberty half dollar is relatively available in the lower circulated grades (G to VG), but is scarce in higher circulated grades. Like all early Walkers, this issue is rare in mint state as very few examples were saved at the time of issue. It is comparable in rarity in both mint state and Gem condition to the 1920-D, 1923-S, and 1928-S...rare coins all. While not as rare in choice condition as the 1921-S and 1919-D and a few others, the 1920-S is definitely a key date in the series in top condition. Many of the surviving Gem examples come from a 40 piece mini-hoard found by half dollar specialist James Bennett Pryor and sold to dealer Jim Halperin in the late 1970s.

The typical mint state 1920-S has soft frosty luster and/or some degree of golden toning. You would want to avoid the overly dark examples. As is the case with many S-Mints in this series, strike can be a problem, with weak detail of Ms. Liberty's left hand being common.