1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC. OGH. Irregular deep golden and steel-blue toning overall with a bold, but not quite full strike at the obverse and reverse centers. Superior, matte-like luster remains under the obviously original and appealing toning. This marks the first year of issue at San Francisco and by all measures, the scarcest branch mint this year. Adolph A. Weinmans Walking Liberty half dollar is highly regarded today but evoked mixed reactions when it made its debut. "At last we have on our coins the great American eagle in a natural, lifelike form," The Numismatist said. "As represented on the half dollar he is, as the small boy would say, some bird, and his size and proportions are in keeping with the greatness and power of the country." However, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman chided, "The artist has made this bird a terrestrial fowl, striding or marching on the ground like a turkey-cock, and with as much dignity as one." Another critic said, "The eagle looks as though it were wearing overalls and marching through hot tar." So much for opinions from the old days; this cataloger thinks the Walking Liberty half dollar is one of Americas best designed coins -- ever!
