The Walking Liberty Half Dollars or silver half dollar coins issued by the United States government are equal to 50 cents. Walking Liberties Silver Half Dollar were minted from 1916 to 1947. The coin is named after its representation of Liberty on the obverse. The coin's obverse and reverse was designed by Adolph A. Weinman and his mark, AAW, appears under the eagle's wing feathers on the reverse. The Walking Liberty series replaced the Barber Series in 1916 for two reasons. First, Barbers had been produced for 25 years and as such were no longer protected by statutory lease. Second, the public was putting pressure on the Treasury to produce coins that were an example of “beauty and art to all its citizens”. In response the Treasury decided to have an outside contest. The Commission of Fine Arts awarded winning contracts to Adolph Weinman, who designed the Walking Liberty half dollar and the Mercury dime as well as Hermon MacNeil (famous for the Standing Liberty quarter)
The Walking Liberty Half was designed by Mr.Weinman and his own comments follow: The design of the half dollar bears a full-length figure of Liberty Silver Half Dollar, the folds of the stars and stripes flying in the breeze as a background, progressing in full stride toward the dawn of a new day, carrying branches of laurel and oaks, symbolic of civil and military glory. The hand of the figure is outstretched in bestowal of the spirit of Liberty. The Walking Liberty Half Dollar Series (1916 to 1947) was produced to the reflect the pride of an American public. A public that was proud of its accomplishments both at home and abroad.