1946-D

At 2,151,000 pieces, the 1946-D carries the lowest mintage of any Denver-struck Walking Liberty Half Dollar from the post-1933 short-set era, and the figure looks especially modest next to the 12,118,000 Philadelphia coins produced the same year. The five-to-one ratio between the two mints reflects regional bullion allocation rather than collector demand, but the practical result for modern numismatists is that the 1946-D appears at auction notably less often in higher grades than its Philadelphia counterpart.

Strike characteristics on Denver Walkers from this period are generally above average. The 1946-D typically shows complete detail in Liberty's gown lines and a well-defined eagle on the reverse, although the date numerals occasionally appear slightly soft on examples struck late in the die life. Mintmark verification on the lower-left reverse should be a routine step, since added-D forgeries created by mounting a small "D" onto a Philadelphia coin do exist for the date. Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) holders provide reliable attribution. Die marker references published by both major grading services document the specific D punch position and reverse rock detail that distinguishes genuine 1946-D strikes from altered Philadelphia hosts, an especially relevant check given the low mintage and elevated price structure.

Luster on original 1946-D examples favors a satiny finish over the brilliant frosty appearance more common at Philadelphia. The date is not particularly difficult in circulated grades, but MS-65 and above quickly grows scarce, and registry-grade examples at MS-66 or MS-67 are genuinely uncommon. As a one-year, low-mintage Denver issue near the end of the series, it offers practical key-date interest within a collectible price band. Original-roll material from postwar releases supports adequate supply through MS65, though the meaningful gap to MS66 and finer pieces reflects the relatively low mintage and modest preservation rate. For more on the design's final chapter, see the Walking Liberty Half Dollar series history.