Rare 1943 Half Dollar Errors (List & Pictures)
A yellow Walking Liberty half is very different from the silver coin most collectors expect. The dated Peruvian-brass-blank example among these 1943 Half Dollar errors sold for $21,150 in November 2013.
The groups below span about $50–$60,000, but the highest estimate concerns an undated steel-blank comparison. Follow the visible clues while keeping confirmed dates, reported varieties, and undated pieces separate.
| Area to inspect | Possible finding | Estimated range |
|---|---|---|
| Below right wingtip | Missing AW | $75–$7,500 |
| Back lettering | Strike-through or filled die | $60–$800 |
| Back surface | Lamination | $60–$600 |
| Motto, skirt, and rays | Front doubling | $50–$1,200 |
| Back feathers and letters | Reported reverse doubling | $50–$1,200 |
| D or S | Repunched mintmark | $60–$1,500 |
| Below AM on the back | Die clash | $75–$700 |
| Missing edge metal | Clip | $50–$400 |
| Raised rim lump | Reported cud | $150–$2,000 |
| Overlapping folded metal | Reported folded blank | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Two design positions | Reported double strike | $1,500–$6,500 |
| Wide, complete design | Reported broadstrike | $1,000–$7,000 |
| Large bare crescent | Off-center strike | $4,000–$15,000 |
| Wrong metal or size | Foreign or steel blank | $12,000–$60,000, depending on identity |
A normal Walker contains 90% silver, weighs 12.50 grams, and measures about 30.6 mm. It is not a modern clad coin with bonded copper-nickel outer layers.
1. 1943 Half Dollar AW Is Absent below the Wingtip: Missing Designer Initials Error
Adolph Weinman’s AW initials normally appear below the wingtip on the viewer’s right. On the recognized 1943-S FS-901 variety, polishing removed this shallow detail from the die.
Coins struck afterward could lack the letters while retaining nearby design. Wear and later rubbing can hide the same initials for different reasons.
How to Identify
Locate AW on a normal reverse, then light that spot on the candidate from several directions. Any surviving stroke of A or W changes the finding from complete absence to weak initials.
Confirm S at the lower left of the back and inspect nearby feathers for wear or fine scratches. Keep the surface untouched rather than trying to polish the letters into view.
What It’s Worth
$75–$7,500 spans worn examples through exceptionally preserved coins. Greysheet’s retail guide lists $5,250 for MS67 and $7,500 for CAC-approved MS67.
Those are guide figures, not auction results. The very high grade and additional CAC quality review contribute heavily to the upper amount.
2. 1943 Half Dollar Part of DOLLAR Fails to Appear: Strike-Through and Filled Die Error
A Philadelphia report describes DOLLAR without OLLAR, possibly because material blocked those details in the die. A separate 1943-S MS65 has a minor back-side strike-through.
These are different examples in one broad group. The location and appearance of one should not be assigned to the other.
How to Identify
Compare the missing OLLAR with the remaining D and adjacent design. Broad wear, scratches, or local smoothing can also remove lettering.
For an impressed patch, inspect its boundary and texture before naming the trapped material. The San Francisco description does not identify the obstruction or place it at the Philadelphia coin’s missing words.
What It’s Worth
$60–$800 is an estimated range from minor genuine omissions to clearer impressions. The 1943-S PCGS MS65 sold for $253 in March 2010.
That historical result belongs to the S-mint coin. A separate 1951-S Franklin strike-through in NGC MS64 was listed as sold for $134 in April 2026.
3. 1943 Half Dollar A Patch Has Split from the Metal: Lamination Error
The cataloged 1943-S MS65 has a missing patch in the center of its back. The 2009 Coin Galleries description says the detached piece was not retained.
A lamination follows a weakness within the silver-copper alloy. It should not be called missing modern cladding, and a separate collector-discussed coin does not inherit this example’s mint or grade.
How to Identify
Look along the patch’s boundary for a natural separation within the metal. Scraped trenches and widespread corrosion can leave missing material with a different surface pattern.
If another example still has a flap, leave it attached and photograph the joint from the side. Removing it can destroy useful evidence of the split.
What It’s Worth
$60–$600 is a practical estimate for genuine laminations across different conditions. The supplied catalog entry gives no sale price for the 1943-S MS65.
A 1947 MS65 with a front lamination was offered at $275. That dealer asking price concerns another year and face, rather than a completed 1943-S sale.
4. 1943 Half Dollar The Motto and Rays Have Extra Outlines: Front Doubling and 1943/2-Type Features Error
Front-doubling reports cover coins from all three mints, with clues in the motto, lower skirt, or central sun rays. Some also show a faint earlier-date shape behind the 3.
Collectors often call these 1943/2 features, while specialists continue to examine exactly how the tools acquired them. The visible pattern remains useful even when its manufacturing explanation changes.
How to Identify
Match several raised details on a coin of the same mint to specialist photographs. Use a shape behind the 3 only when it is actually visible.
Flat shelves caused by movement during striking do not establish the same variety. Tool marks around an altered digit are another reason to reject a match based only on a 1943/2 label.
What It’s Worth
$50–$1,200 is the estimated range for identifiable examples. Strong extra outlines and well-preserved surfaces generally attract more interest than subtle detail on a worn coin.
A different 1939-D doubled die in NGC MS67+ sold for $2,160 in April 2025. Its exceptional condition and established identity should not set the price of every doubled-looking 1943 half.
5. 1943 Half Dollar Back Feathers or Letters Show Extra Contours: Reported Doubled Reverse Error
Philadelphia reports describe extra feather and letter outlines without a matched specialist variety number. A separate 1943-S MS63 appeared in a 2022 Centennial catalog as a doubled reverse with the label BR-5199.
That catalog label identifies its own listing. It is not automatically interchangeable with numbers used by other specialists.
How to Identify
Under magnification, check whether an extra contour stays visible as the light moves. Compare nearby details so a normal feather edge or shadow does not become supposed doubling.
A flat step that narrows a letter can result from movement during striking. Keep the Philadelphia and San Francisco evidence separate when looking for a consistent doubled-die pattern.
What It’s Worth
$50–$1,200 is a comparison-based estimate for a clearly identified doubled reverse. No sale price is supplied for the cataloged 1943-S MS63.
A recognized 1946 reverse variety in NGC MS65 brought $2,040 in November 2024. Its stronger established identity makes it a different comparison from an unnumbered 1943 report.
6. 1943 Half Dollar D or S Has Part of Another Letter beside It: Repunched Mintmark Error
Mintmarks were punched into the die separately, and a second punch could leave part of the first letter visible. Denver examples show extra D contours to the west or southwest.
San Francisco references describe two westward S/S forms. Other small marks help distinguish the tools that made them.
How to Identify
Find the mintmark at the lower left of the reverse and follow the extra shape. It should resemble part of another D or S rather than a random ridge.
Compare supporting lines or cracks with the correct reference. If front doubling is also claimed, examine it separately; an extra S does not prove a doubled front design.
What It’s Worth
$60–$1,500 is an estimated range across worn and attractive unworn examples. Visibility of the extra letter and the overall condition both matter.
Different-year comparisons include a 1944-S FS-501 in MS62 at $588 in September 2017 and an FS-502 in MS66 at $893 in November 2013. Neither result identifies a particular 1943 mintmark variety.
7. 1943 Half Dollar An Opposite-Side Shape Appears below AM: Die Clash Error
CONECA records a clash below AM on a stage of the 1943-S RPM-001 die. The two dies collided without a blank between them and picked up traces of each other’s design.
This coin also has a repunched S. The clash and the extra mintmark arose at different steps and need separate visual checks.
How to Identify
Locate AM on the back, then compare the mark below it with the corresponding part of Liberty’s design. Correct shape and position matter more than simply finding an extra line.
Inspect the mark for scratches or later pressed-in damage. Photograph the S separately to confirm the die variety without treating every nearby mark as a clash.
What It’s Worth
$75–$700 is a working estimate for a collectible example as a whole coin. Do not add a complete repunched-mintmark price to a complete clash price.
A 1973-S Kennedy Proof with a strong clash sold for $720 in October 2022 in PR68 Deep Cameo. Its different design, Proof finish, and exceptional condition limit the comparison.
8. 1943 Half Dollar A Curved or Straight Section Is Missing: Clipped Blank Error
The reported 1943 clips include curved gaps and straight missing sections. They can start when the blank punch overlaps an old hole or runs beyond the metal strip’s edge.
The incomplete blank then receives its design. The reports do not establish a particular certified coin’s clip size or location.
How to Identify
Inspect both ends of the gap for rim and lettering that formed beside already missing metal. Fresh cuts through completed design suggest later sawing or filing.
Weakness at the opposite rim can support a clip but is not present on every example. Weight loss helps describe missing metal; it cannot distinguish a Mint clip from a later cut by itself.
What It’s Worth
$50–$400 is the estimated range for genuine clips. Larger attractive gaps with original surfaces usually make stronger collector pieces.
A 1942-S rim clip in ANACS MS62 sold for $81.90 including the buyer’s fee in May 2025. Its nearby date provides a small-clip comparison without supplying measurements for a 1943 example.
9. 1943 Half Dollar A Raised Lump Reaches the Edge: Reported Rim Cud Error
A cud forms when a piece breaks from the edge of a die and coin metal fills the missing space. The resulting lump joins the rim and replaces some intended design.
General 1943 reports mention cuds, including a 1943-S claim above the eagle’s head. The supplied report does not establish that spot’s rim connection in a certified photograph.
How to Identify
Follow the raised area all the way to the edge. An isolated lump above the head could be a smaller die chip rather than a cud.
Added solder, corrosion, or an impact-folded rim can create false lookalikes. Check the opposite face for related weakness, but do not assume an exact location without examining the coin.
What It’s Worth
$150–$2,000 is an estimate for a genuine rim cud, depending on its size and condition. The supplied 1943 reports give no recorded sale.
A large 1973-S Kennedy Proof cud in NGC PR67 Cameo brought $2,040 in March 2022. Its dramatic break and collector finish do not set a routine price for a small Walker defect.
10. 1943 Half Dollar The Design Meets Overlapping Metal: Reported Folded Blank Error
A year list mentions folded 1943 coins without establishing one certified example. Its explanation also mixes blank cutting with folding, so the actual order of events needs examination.
A genuine folded-blank error must show that overlapping or folded metal was involved during striking. A finished coin bent later is damage even if it looks equally dramatic.
How to Identify
Look at the design where the metal overlaps. Details struck into the folded area tell a different story from completed letters simply bent afterward.
Leave the fold closed and avoid squeezing it with calipers. A specialist can inspect tool marks, fresh breaks, and the altered thickness without destroying the evidence.
What It’s Worth
$1,000–$5,000 is an estimated range for a professionally identified folded-blank Walker. It does not assign that value to an unexplained bent coin.
A 1944 double strike in NGC MS62 sold for $4,320 in December 2022. That shows interest in dramatic Walker errors, but it is not a folded-blank sale.
11. 1943 Half Dollar One Picture Crosses an Earlier Picture: Reported Double Strike Error
Two strikes can leave parts of an earlier portrait or lettering beneath the later image. The remaining overlaps record how the coin moved between blows.
The 1943 year reports do not establish a specific mint or movement amount. Nearby pictures of 1942-S and 1945-S coins must stay attached to their own dates.
How to Identify
Trace an earlier letter or figure into a second consistent arrangement of design. Compare both faces before deciding whether the coin turned or shifted between strikes.
A small flat ledge beside one letter does not prove a second blow. Seams, squeezed metal, or an unreadable date also call for closer examination.
What It’s Worth
$1,500–$6,500 is an estimated range for a genuine, securely dated 1943 double strike. Clear overlapping pictures and original surfaces support stronger interest.
The 1944 MS62 with an off-center second impression sold for $4,320 in December 2022. Its specific year and striking sequence remain part of that comparison.
12. 1943 Half Dollar Complete Designs Sit inside a Wide Outline: Reported Broadstrike Error
The retaining ring, called the collar, normally limits how far metal can spread. A broadstrike results when that restraint fails and the coin expands during striking.
The supplied 1943 report gives no certified example, mint, or measured diameter. The physical shape therefore needs to carry the identification.
How to Identify
Measure several widths and account for the entire design on both faces. A broadstrike keeps the intended pictures within naturally expanded metal.
Missing design beyond an untouched crescent suggests an off-center component. Hammering a finished coin can also widen it, but often crushes details or leaves impact marks.
What It’s Worth
$1,000–$7,000 is a comparison-based estimate for a genuine Walker broadstrike. A documented 1944 PCGS MS62 supplies a shape comparison without a quoted sale here.
A separate 1944 half struck 30% off center sold for $5,760 in November 2022 in XF40. That is market context for a dramatic silver-half error, rather than a direct broadstrike result.
13. 1943 Half Dollar Most of the Design Misses the Blank: 60% Off-Center Strike Error
The auctioned 1943 example was struck 60% off center toward one o’clock. Its date survives, but the normal mintmark position lies outside the struck design.
NGC described it as Uncirculated Details, Cleaned. It has no circulation wear, while cleaning affects its surfaces and value.
How to Identify
Compare the date and untouched crescent on both faces, keeping the same orientation. Their relationship should fit one blank displaced during striking.
The absent mintmark area cannot establish Philadelphia origin because that detail never formed. It also cannot establish an overdate, and cleaning should be assessed separately from the original striking error.
What It’s Worth
$4,000–$15,000 is an estimated range for dramatic genuine Walker off-center strikes. The cleaned 1943 coin needs a surface-condition comparison within that broad range.
A 1944 example 30% off center in XF40 sold for $5,760 in November 2022. A 1918 example only 10% off center but in much finer MS65 condition brought $10,575 in April 2013.
14. 1943 Half Dollar The Weight and Metal Do Not Fit a Silver Half: Wrong Blank Error
The dated brass example weighs 7.47 grams and was struck on a Peruvian blank. It carries the doubled motto and sun-ray features called FS-101, and NGC graded it MS63.
Its suggested San Francisco origin comes from production history rather than a visible S. Separate steel and El Salvador comparisons have missing or disputed dates and must not become additional confirmed 1943 discoveries.
How to Identify
Record each coin’s actual date, weight, edge, and surviving design. Check for trimming or plating, then have the metal compared with the proposed blank.
The steel-cent-blank coin is undated, with reports considering 1943 or 1944. MS64 and MS62 references need separate identities rather than combined details from different holders.
A dealer’s 1943-S El Salvador attribution also needs to be kept separate from a documented 1945-S piece. Neither a similar metal nor a missing mintmark supplies an unreadable year.
What It’s Worth
$15,000–$30,000 is an estimated range for the dated Peru-blank coin. Its November 2013 auction record lists $21,150.
Separate estimates are $30,000–$60,000 for the undated steel candidate and $12,000–$25,000 for an identified El Salvador example. The steel MS64’s $44,062.50 record notes an owner repurchase, rather than an ordinary sale to a new collector.
The related 1945-S El Salvador coin brought $15,275 in November 2013. Its result cannot establish a 1943 date for a different piece.
Conclusion
Use the smallest reliable clue first: a missing AW stroke, a second mintmark contour, or the boundary of lost metal. For dramatic shapes, the surviving date and the relationship between both faces become especially important.
Keep reported and undated pieces identified that way. The $60,000 upper estimate belongs to an undated steel comparison, while the dated brass coin has its own documented $21,150 result.
