1929-S

San Francisco struck 1,902,000 Walking Liberty half dollars in 1929 alongside the Denver issue of the same year, giving collectors two semi-keys to chase in a single year after the long production gaps that had characterized the design's first decade. The 1929-S falls into the upper-middle tier of Walker difficulty, with a mintage low enough to create genuine scarcity in higher grades and a strike quality that ranges from acceptable to soft depending on die state. The coin is one of the last semi-keys before the four-year hiatus that ended only with the 1933-S, and it carries the weight of representing San Francisco's final Walker output of the decade.

Strike characteristics on the 1929-S are inconsistent. Early die-state coins can show very good definition on Liberty's hand and the eagle's breast, while later strikes often display the softness typical of overused San Francisco dies. Luster is usually satin with a slight cartwheel, and original surfaces are critical for any Mint State certification. Authentication concerns include added S mintmarks on Philadelphia 1929 coins, with the same warning signs as other added-mintmark fakes: tooling around the device, raised rings, or a mintmark that lacks the integral relief of a struck-up example. The S punch should match the style documented for late-1920s San Francisco production, and the position above the rock at the lower-left reverse should align with reference photos. Weight at 12.50 grams and diameter at 30.61 mm are baseline checks. Cherrypickers' Guide notes a doubled-die obverse on the date that, when present, can add premium value, and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) both attribute the variety.

Auction records for the 1929-S show MS65 examples reaching the five to ten thousand dollar range at Heritage Auctions, with MS66 coins climbing into the high teens when strike quality is strong. Circulated grades from Good through About Uncirculated remain very accessible. The date pairs well with the 1929-D for collectors building a year-by-year set and is often acquired alongside it. For series design and production background, see the Walking Liberty Half Dollar series history.