1944-S

San Francisco produced 8,904,000 Walking Liberty Half Dollars in 1944, the lowest S-mint figure within the 1942-1945 wartime stretch and ranking near the bottom of the broader 1940s S-mint output. The 90 percent silver composition at 12.50 grams, 30.61 mm diameter, and reeded edge followed the established Walker standard, with the S mintmark hand-punched into the reverse working die at the lower-left rock position. Weinman's design, now in its twenty-eighth year, continued from the original 1916 master hub.

Strike characteristics on the 1944-S rank among the weaker entries of the wartime stretch, with measurable softness on Liberty's left hand, the skirt lines, and the eagle's breast appearing on a notable share of business strikes. Full Thumb examples exist but require careful selection, and Full Skirt pieces with sharp definition across all design elements remain elusive. Authentication for this date warrants extra attention to the S mintmark style and sharpness, since the typical strike weakness in the surrounding rock area can mask mintmark alterations; weight verification within the 12.50 gram tolerance provides an additional baseline check. Die marker references published by both major grading services document the specific S punch position and reverse rock detail that distinguishes genuine 1944-S strikes from altered Philadelphia hosts.

Certified populations at PCGS, the Professional Coin Grading Service, and NGC, the Numismatic Guaranty Company, remain ample through MS64 with reasonable MS65 availability, but the MS66 and MS66+ top-pop tier is notably limited compared with neighboring S-mint dates, particularly for examples combining strong strike with original undisturbed surfaces. Original-roll material from postwar Treasury releases supports decent supply through MS64 and MS65, though the limited MS66 top tier and the typical strike weakness in the surrounding rock area constrain top-grade availability. For more on San Francisco Walker production and strike-quality trends, see the Walking Liberty Half Dollar series history.