Rare 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar to be Offered by Heritage!

Dallas, TX: Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc. (HNAI) will offer an extremely rare 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, graded PR65 by NGC, in their upcoming Signature Auction, to be held June 1-4, 2005 as part of the official auction of the Long Beach Coin Expo.

"This is a significant 20th century pattern with LIBERTY (appearing as LiberTy) and IN GOD WE TRUST in large letters in the right obverse field," said Greg Rohan, President of HNAI. "The reverse features an eagle that is a likeness of the final version of the Walking Liberty design, but there the similarity ends."

"The legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOLLAR are above the eagle, while E PLURIBUS UNUM appears beneath the branch on which the eagle is perched," continued Rohan. "There are several different variations of 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar patterns known. The earlier issues and the eighth edition of the Judd reference listed six varieties, while Andrew Pollock included a seventh variety. Based on the pedigree research of Saul Teichman on his uspatterns.com website, only about 20 examples of all different varieties are currently known. Five of these are in the Smithsonian Institution, leaving a net available population of just 15 coins. This particular pattern variety comprises eight of the extant specimens, two being impounded at the Smithsonian."

"This particular coin is widely believed to be the Morris Evans piece," Rohan stated, "sold by Bowers and Merena in August, 1998 as an uncertified (and moderately toned) PR64, where it sold for what now seems like the bargain price of $40,250. The surfaces here display a radiant gray-silver finish with innumerable die striations in the field. There are no abrasions or other notable disturbances to report on either side."

"Collectors were essentially unaware of the prototype 1916 strikings until the late 1930s when one was described in the April 1937 issue of The Numismatist," said Rohan. "In relatively recent research, it has been shown that Mint Director Robert Woolley discussed the new design in his annual report for the fiscal year ending June 1916, when he stated, ?The obverse of the half dollar bears a full length figure of Liberty with a background of the American flag flying to the breeze. The goddess is striding toward the dawn of a new day, carrying laurel and oak branches, symbolic of civic and military glory. The reverse shows an eagle perched high up on a mountain crag, wings unfolded. Growing from a rift in the rock is a sapling of mountain pine, symbolic of America.'

Rohan added, "For the pattern or advanced Walking Liberty specialist, this is an extremely important opportunity, as is any offering of a 1916 pattern coin, regardless of the denomination. The specimen offered here is quite possibly the finest available of any 1916 Half Dollar pattern and should generate unprecedented interest."

This coin bears a pre-auction estimate of $100,000.

Images, descriptions, and prices realized from all of Heritage's previous sales are available in the Permanent Auction Archives at the Heritage website.

To purchase a catalog for any Heritage Sale, please contact Nicole Jewell, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX., 75219 or visit HeritageGalleries.com to order by credit card.

Heritage Numismatic Auctions' world headquarters are located at 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, Texas, 75219. 1-800-US COINS (1-800-872-6467).