1923 Half Dollar Error List with Pictures
Look for a blank crescent. An off-center coin has part of its design pushed beyond the edge, leaving some metal untouched.
A 1976 Kennedy half with this error sold for $480 at Heritage in December 2025. It is a comparison from another year, not a 1923 sale.
This guide to 1923 half dollar errors uses an estimated $150–$1,000 range for circulated examples with readable dates. Read on to separate an off-center strike from ordinary weak detail.
1923-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar Off-Center Strike Error (Estimated Up to $1,000)
An off-center strike leaves a blank crescent next to an incomplete design. The metal blank sat in the wrong place between the dies, the steel tools that stamp the coin.
The CoinValueChecker guide lists this error for 1923. It describes the fault but does not name a certified example or a sale for that year.
Check both sides. The readable 1923 date and the S on the back identify the San Francisco half dollar, while the shifted designs show what went wrong during striking.
Estimated Value
Estimate $150–$1,000 for genuine circulated examples with readable dates. A larger shift can attract more interest when the date still shows.
For comparison, a 1976 Kennedy half, fifteen percent off center and graded NGC MS64, sold for $480 in December 2025. MS64 means it had no circulation wear.
That is a different year, design, and grade comparison. The 1923 estimate also considers the older silver coin, its remaining detail, and how clearly the error can be seen.
How to Identify
A weak hand is not enough. Normal 1923-S halves can have soft detail without the design being pushed toward the edge.
Photograph the entire coin on both sides, then read the date and S on the back. The designs should be shifted beside a blank area, rather than show only one uneven rim.
Use a 10× magnifier on the crescent to check for filing, cut edges, or metal pushed around by later damage. A digital scale compares the coin with its original 12.50 grams, while calipers check against the normal 30.6-mm diameter.
The faulty strike can change the outline and edge grooves. An error specialist can most quickly confirm it by examining both faces and the edge together.
Conclusion
The estimated $150–$1,000 range applies to genuine circulated off-center pieces with a readable 1923 date. The $480 auction comparison belongs to a 1976 Kennedy half, not a 1923 coin.
Keep the full coin in view. A blank crescent beside shifted designs matters more than a weak hand or eagle breast, and the date plus the S on the back identifies the correct issue.