Release Date: August 6, 2026, at 12 noon ET | Available at usmint.gov The launch of the 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar is highly anticipated by collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Few coins in American history command the reverence of the 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar. Adolph A. Weinman’s masterpiece — Liberty striding confidently toward the sunrise, the American flag billowing behind her — is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful designs ever struck by the U.S. Mint. Now, in honor of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, that legendary design is returning in a way collectors have never seen before.
On August 6, 2026, at 12 noon ET, the U.S. Mint will release the Best of the Mint 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar Gold Coin and Silver Medal Set. This is the third installment in a landmark five-set series celebrating the greatest coins in American numismatic history.
To commemorate the Semiquincentennial, the U.S. Mint took on an ambitious project: identifying the finest coins ever produced in its 234-year history. The Mint curated a list of 21 historic coins spanning the nation’s story, from the institution’s founding in 1792 into the 21st century. After gathering public input and expert recommendations, five iconic designs were chosen for the Best of the Mint program:
Each set pairs a reissued gold coin faithful to the original design with a companion silver medal. The medal features a modern artistic reinterpretation. The Walking Liberty set marks the last of the three celebrated 1916 designs. Afterward, the series turns to two of the rarest and most storied coins in the American canon.
The centerpiece of this release is a 24-karat one-half ounce gold coin — the largest gold coin in the series so far. Struck in .9999 fine gold, it reproduces Weinman’s original obverse in stunning fidelity. Liberty walks left toward a rising sun, carrying branches of laurel and oak symbolizing civil and military glory. The inscriptions “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1916” appear just as they did more than a century ago.
But there’s a detail that makes this striking distinctly of our moment: a special Liberty Bell privy mark with the numeral 250. This small but significant addition ties the coin directly to America’s Semiquincentennial celebration. It ensures that no one will ever confuse this modern tribute with a vintage Walker. Also, it gives collectors a one-time-only feature that will never be repeated.
The reverse carries the design’s famous eagle, completing a coin that bridges 110 years of American artistry.
Alongside the gold coin sits a one-ounce medal struck in 99.9% fine silver. Rather than simply copying the original, the silver medal offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the Walking Liberty theme. It showcases how the Mint’s current generation of artists engages with Weinman’s enduring legacy.
Demand for the first two sets in this series was strong, and the Walking Liberty — arguably the most popular of the five honored designs — is expected to draw even more attention. Here’s what you should know before the release:
The Walking Liberty design never truly left us — it lives on today as the obverse of the American Silver Eagle, the world’s best-selling silver bullion coin. But seeing Weinman’s full original vision rendered in half an ounce of pure gold, crowned with the 250th anniversary privy mark, is a genuinely historic moment for the hobby.
For collectors pursuing the complete five-set collection, this release is essential. For everyone else, it’s a rare chance to own a golden tribute to the most admired coin America ever made. When the clock strikes noon on August 6, be ready.
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