The 1946 Doubled Die Reverse Walking Liberty Half Dollar

The Walking Liberty Half Dollar is easily one of the most popular half dollar series around, boasting a patriotic design by sculptor Adolph Weinman and in production from 1916 through 1947. The series is a top destination for collectors, many of whom build complete sets on the basis of date and mintmark. However, there are also several notable varieties one can include. Among the most important of these varieties is dated 1946 and exhibits significant, highly visible doubling across much of the reverse. The 1946 Doubled Die Reverse Walking Liberty Half Dollar is a major prize for the collector and receives prominent billing among Walking Liberty Half Dollars listed on PCGS CoinFacts.

The diagnostics for the 1946 Doubled Die Reverse are clear as day to an observant numismatist, with strong doubling in the legend “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” the eagle’s wing feathers and left wing, and in the branch that creeps up the left side of the field. A 5X to 10X loupe certainly aids in verifying the presence of the doubled features, but this is a variety that can be readily sighted by the careful glance of the naked eye. The drastic nature of this doubled die makes it a popular addition for Walking Liberty Half Dollar sets, yet it can still be cherrypicked by astute collectors who know what to look for.

PCGS estimates approximately 3,000 examples exist, with more than 400 in uncirculated grades and perhaps 50 in grades of MS65 or better. Examples in G4 start around $50, while those in XF40 fetch closer to $130. Prices climb into the mid-hundreds as the collector approaches the uncirculated grades, with specimens in MS61 crossing $450 and those in MS62 taking $450. In MS63, the coin climbs beyond $1,000, and in Gem range this variety goes for $2,250, a price point speaking to a slim population of 60 coins as counted in 2021. The highest-graded specimens are those notching MS66+, where PCGS has certified just six specimens and values touch $9,000. The record price for a 1946 Doubled Die Reverse Walking Liberty Half Dollar is $9,400, an amount realized in 2017 for a PCGS MS66+ example.