The phrase "find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck." If you find another precious coin, like the 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar in near mint condition, you may be in luck. Instead of 50 cents 100 years ago, the currency could be worth over $100,000 today.
Gainesville Coins announced that the 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar sold for a record $270,250. The 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar is worth more if you can find one in good condition, but it is not as rare as an 1820's quarter, which is worth $20,000 or more.
It might be difficult to identify rare coins or care for valuable currencies. How can you identify a superb 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar?
Over 1.1 million 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollars, or 1919-D Walkers, were minted and circulated as U.S. currency.
That sounds like a lot, but many have been lost, melted down, or damaged, making them rare among collectors. According to Coin Values, coin collectors seek the 1919 half dollar first, then the 1921 half series, to complete the Walking Liberty pair.
A coin with 50 cents in it was like a huge bill in a wallet in 2025, unable to be used or damaged. This sets them apart from rare pennies for $3,000 today, which dealers and collectors prize.