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- Product ID: 20944
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The 1938 Walking Liberty Half Dollar is a part of an average mintage and is in extra fine condition. Extra fine condition exhibits slight wear, with the main image details barely worn. 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. The Philadelphia Mint was the first mint to be established in the US so it doesn't mark its coins with a mint-mark. The US desperately needed an identity but also a means to international commerce so the Founding Fathers decided that a national mint was the answer.
Although the Walking Liberty design has become quite common today, it wasn't always that way. In fact, most depictions of Liberty used to entail just her head, leaving out her entire body. When Adolph A. Weinman was asked to create a new design for the half dollar, he surprised everyone with a new and updated design. Instead of Liberty stiffly posing for a portrait, she is roaming free wearing only a light-weight robe. She holds olive branches as she invites warriors to join her in battle. This elevated version of Liberty is still considered one of the most stunning renditions of all time. The reverse pictures an eagle, perched with its wings outstretched. Weinman wanted to portray Liberty as young and he did just that in perhaps the most beautiful coin in history. The fire to collect these historical beauties hasn't diminished among collectors and investors are even enjoying the 90% numismatic value of these gems.