1946-D 50C MS66 Certification #04039805, PCGS #6628

David Hall

The 1946-D is the enigma of the Walking Liberty half dollar series. It is the lowest mintage of the 1939 to 1947 issues and indeed it is the hardest to find in circulated condition. Back when I was a teenager (early 1960s) and circulated rolls of post 1933 coins were a big deal, the 1946-D was a premium issue in circulated condition that traded for significantly higher price than other issues of the 1940s. But in uncirculated condition, this is the second most common Walking Liberty half dollar, with only the 1943 Philadelphia being more common. Bottom line is that a huge quantity of uncirculated rolls was saved. So this issue is very easy to locate in mint state grades up to MS65. But the enigma of the 1946-D continues for in grades above MS66 this issue is almost impossible to find. Seems that uncirculated examples were saved, including many grading MS 65, but the quality was a little off and Superb Gems are rare. This issue is usually decently struck. The look can range from frosty white (a little more satiny and subdued than earlier issue though) to various degrees of toning.