[The following excerpt is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its author, Bruce Fox. This information was originally published in 1993 in The Complete Guide to Walking Liberty Half Dollars]
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MINTAGE: 1,014.400
VARIETIES: V 101 – Repunched Mintmark. first Sat entered to southwest (CONE E-01, Breen 5130,RPM #1, and FS# 50¢-008). V 102 – Filled Mintmark. Relatively common (CONE E-01).
SCARCITY: This issue has a higher mintage than the Philadelphia issue, but is somewhat more difficult to locate in the higher mint state conditions. Not necessarily underrated, but because of its mintage is believed by less experienced numismatists to be more common in all grades.
RARITY RATING: G/VG R2; F/VF R3; EF/AU R1; MS60/MS63 R3; MS64 R3; MS65 R3
RARITY CONSENSUS: G/VG 10/65; F/VF 13/65; EF/AU 18/65; MS60/MS62 25/65; MS63 27/65; MS64 27/65; MS65 25/65
TOTAL MS PCGS/NGC/ANACS 643 (Ranking 28/65).
COMMENTS: It is believed that the Denver Mint established a policy to preserve die life by setting the dies a little further apart than normal. This caused a wide variance in striking characteristics. This issue exhibits slight flatness on the eagle’s breast, more so than the 1916-P. Sometimes this is used as a hook to promote a slider or AU coin as a mint state example. Buyers must be certain mint frost is constant throughout the coin, including the lightly struck areas. Mint marks are on the obverse of the Denver and San Francisco issues of 1916. The finish is the same satin, subdued finish as the 1916-P. Flat squared rims are also seen occasionally. Fully struck gems are seen at auctions from time to time. These are scarcer than the Philadelphia issue, but not as rare as the 1916-S. Investment potential is well above average for grades MS63 and higher (see Appendix A).
