Half dollars don’t show up in everyday change nearly as often as pennies, nickels, or quarters, which is one reason many people hang onto them when they find one. Dig through an old coin collection, inherited change jar, or forgotten box of coins, though, and you could come across a half dollar that’s worth considerably more than 50 cents.
Some of the most valuable half dollars date back to the earliest years of U.S. coinage, while others became scarce because very few were produced or because a particular variety is exceptionally difficult to find. Here are seven rare half dollars worth knowing about.
1878-S Seated Liberty Half Dollar
The 1878-S Seated Liberty half dollar is another coin whose scarcity makes it especially attractive to collectors. Relatively few were produced at the San Francisco Mint, and surviving examples in desirable condition can be worth thousands of dollars.
1919-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar
You don’t necessarily have to find a coin from the 1700s or 1800s to have something valuable, as certain Walking Liberty half dollars can also command impressive prices. The 1919-D is particularly difficult to find in excellent condition, and high-grade examples can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Related: 10 Rare Half Dollar Coins That Can Be Worth Hundreds—or Even Thousands
1794 Flowing Hair Half Dollar
The 1794 Flowing Hair half dollar comes from the earliest days of U.S. coin production and features Liberty with flowing hair on the front and an eagle on the reverse. Its historical significance and rarity have made high-quality examples extraordinarily valuable, with some valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
1796 Draped Bust Half Dollar With 16 Stars
One of the rarest early half dollars is the 1796 Draped Bust variety featuring 16 stars surrounding Liberty. Examples can be worth tens of thousands even in lower grades, while exceptionally well-preserved coins have been valued at more than $700,000.
1797 Draped Bust Half Dollar With 15 Stars
The 1797 Draped Bust half dollar looks similar to its 1796 counterpart, but the 15 stars surrounding Liberty are an important detail. Extremely desirable examples can command enormous prices, with top-quality specimens valued at well over $1 million.
1838-O Capped Bust Half Dollar
The 1838-O Capped Bust half dollar is notable for its connection to the New Orleans Mint and its extremely limited production. Surviving examples are exceptionally scarce, making this one of the half dollars collectors are willing to pay substantial amounts to own.
1853-O Seated Liberty Half Dollar Without Arrows
Many 1853 half dollars have arrows beside the date, which makes the rare New Orleans “No Arrows” variety especially important to recognize. Very few are known to have survived, and examples have reached values approaching $600,000.
