I picked up an original Walking Liberty US Mint 1944 Half Dollar, and a Walking Liberty silver 1oz bar on the bullion shop trip to Edmonton.
Walking Liberty
I already had the 1oz pure silver Walking Liberty remake round from Sunshine Mint, but wanted to find a US Mint original. The original Half Dollar is 90% silver / 10% copper, with a 30.63mm diameter, 1.8mm thickness, and a weight of 12.5 grams, a third the size of the 1oz remake.
US Mint
The Walking Lady Liberty Half Dollar was originally minted by from 1916 to 1947, designed by sculptor and engraver Adolph A. Weinman (Source).
Walking Liberty Coin, Round, and Bar
The Walking Liberty side of the original coin and round are very similar, the most noticable difference is the mint year is replaced with "SMI" on the Sunshine Mint remake.
US Mint
The Sunshine Mint round is 1oz pure .999 silver, the original US Mint Half Dollar is 90% silver / 10% copper for circulation durability.
Sunshine Mint
The mini Walking Liberty on the silver bar is also very similar, minus the year. This .999 pure silver bar was produced by Highland Mint, based in Florida.
Highland Mint
Below the mini Walking Liberty at the top of the bar, there is a large "1" in the center background, behind the text "ONE TROY OUNCE FINE SILVER 999+". In the bottom square is the text "Made in U.S.A.", below that is the "HM" text for Highland Mint.
Highland Mint
Back Sides
The Eagle sides are very different, the original is simple with the "HALF DOLLAR" text at the bottom. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" along the top curve, "E PLURIBUS UNUM" on the left side of the coin, the proud eagle in center, clutching an olive branch.
US Mint
Many more details on the eagle side of the remake, along the bottom of the round is the text "ONE TROY OZ .999 FINE SILVER', the text "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is on the banner of the eagle.
Sunshine Mint
The eagle is clutching an olive branch as well as arrows on the Sunshine Mint remake - there are also thirteen stars above the eagles head, and a Sunshine Mint mark in the center.
Highland Mint
The Highland Mint 1oz silver bar backside has a simple repeating square pattern.
Highland Mint
I remember the eagle side of the Half Dollar from my childhood, an enjoyable addition to the collection - the Walking Liberty bar from Highland Mint is a fine silver start to the 1oz bar stack.
