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The 1936 Walking Liberty Half Dollar has a high mintage and is in extra fine condition. Extra fine condition exhibits slight wear but usually still has a readable date. Since this coin was also minted by the Philadelphia Mint, the first mint to be established in the US, and doesn't place mint-marks on its coins. Founded when the US desperately needed an identity but also a means to international commerce, the Founding Fathers decided that a national mint was the answer. The Mint Act officially announced the opening of the Philadelphia Mint and also instituted guidelines for the newly minted currency. A dollar decimal system would be used to assign the currency with legal tender values. Also, an emblematic symbol of liberty must be included on US currency, hence why so many adaptations of Liberty have been used.
Winning a competition to design the new dime and half dollar in 1916, Adolph A. Weinman was a famous sculptor. Since the Barber design reigned all three denominations for over 25 years, it was legally allowed for the Mint Director to update the design. Weinman wowed the public when the Walking Liberty design was released. Instead of sticking to a portrait-like design, Weinman desired to depict Liberty's youth and her origin. Liberty is a Grecian goddess so naturally Weinman wanted to show her in a Greek toga, her slender and long body gently draped with a flowing robe. This design is still used currently on the American Silver Eagle and is proved to be one of the most popular designs in coin history. Although the design was loved by all, it was a pain for the mint to strike, and after 30 years of production, the Walking Liberty was replaced by the Franklin Half Dollar.