ALL NEW!!! - 2027 Red Books Available
Order Your Copy Today!

1953-S 50c Washington-Carver MS

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Silver): 0.3617 oz
$20.92
Thank you to our sponsors!
Go check them out!

The 1953 Washington-Carver commemorative half dollars honor the memories of two prominent African American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with Booker T. Washington -- pioneering author and presidential advisor and Carver -- renowned scientist and inventor. Both are pictured in -- jugate portrait by Isaac Scott Hathaway, the first African American to design -- U.S. coin with his Booker T. Washington type debuting in 1946.

While Washington-Carver halves are quite common in uncirculated condition, they are remarkably difficult in grades of MS66 or higher. This is due largely to the flat, broad reverse depicting -- map of the United States. Many examples are quite nice, with fantastic luster and excellent overall eye appeal.

Obverse Description

Features overlapping portraits of George W. Carver and Booker T. Washington with the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN GOD WE TRUST, and E PLURIBUS UNUM on the outer periphery. The inner periphery bears the names of those honored along with the words HALF DOLLAR. The date is presented to the left of the portraits at 9 o'clock.

Reverse Description

Depicts a map of the United States with the letters U.S.A. overprinted. The periphery bears the words FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL * AMERICANISM.

Catalog Information

GSID: 10400
Designer: Isaac Scott Hathaway
Obverse Designer: Isaac Scott Hathaway
Reverse Designer: Isaac Scott Hathaway
Fineness: 0.9
Weight (gr): 12.5 gr
Weight (oz): 0.475 oz
Precious Metal Weight: 0.3617 oz
Strike Type: Business
Diameter: 30.6
Coin Shape: Round
Edge: Reeded
Variety: Washington-Carver
Coin Date: 1953-S
Denomination: 50c
Designation: MS
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mint Mark: S
Mintage: 88,020
Coinage Type: Classic Commemorative
Coinage Years: 1951-1954
Composition: 90% silver; 10% copper
PCGS #: 9440
Subscribe to View

View more data, info, and visualizations. Get access to retail and wholesale pricing as well as auction data.

Coin Value History
1953-S 50c Washington-Carver MS
Value By Grade
1953-S 50c Washington-Carver MS
CPG (retail) values
Value by grade is available to subscribers. Subscribe to View

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Silver): 0.3617 oz
$20.92
GSID:10400 PCGS:9440 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
MS67 CAC $2,000 $1,234
MS67 - $1,400 $1,234
MS66 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS66 - $1,234 $1,234
MS65 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS65 - $1,234 $1,234
MS64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS64 - $1,234 $1,234
MS63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS63 - $1,234 $1,234
MS62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS62 - $1,234 $1,234
MS61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS61 - $1,234 $1,234
MS60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234
XF45 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF45 - $1,234 $1,234
XF40 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF40 - $1,234 $1,234
VF35 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF35 - $1,234 $1,234
VF30 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF30 - $1,234 $1,234
VF25 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF25 - $1,234 $1,234
VF20 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF20 - $1,234 $1,234

Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
See all
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS65 PCGS. CDN: $55.03 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS65. Mintage 108,020. ...
$89
Sold 7/22/2026
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS64 PCGS. Housed in a Generation 1.2 "rattler" holder. CDN: $56.16 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS...
$119
Sold 6/15/2026
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS67 NGC. NGC Census: 53 in 67 (8 in 67+, 4 in 67?, 2 in 67?+), 1 finer (3/26). CDN: $1,100 W...
$732
Sold 5/18/2026
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS66 PCGS. CDN: $80 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS66. Mintage 108,020. ...
$84
Sold 10/29/2025
Heritage Auctions
1953-S Carver/Washington Commemorative. MS-63 (PCGS).
$36
Sold 7/29/2020
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
CANADA. Newfoundland. 2 Dollars, 1870. NGC AU-58.
$588
Sold 8/17/2015
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver--Artificially Toned--ANACS. MS 60 Details. NGC Census: (0/806). PCGS Population (0/1211). Mint...
$13
Sold 8/13/2006
Heritage Auctions
1953-S Carver/Washington Commemorative. MS-65 (PCGS). CAC. OGH Generation 3.0.
$105
Sold 12/22/2025
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS64 PCGS. PCGS Population: (1046/1341). NGC Census: (579/972). CDN: $42 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PC...
$174
Sold 8/19/2024
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS67 NGC. NGC Census: 52 in 67 (8 in 67+, 4 in 67?, 2 in 67?+), 1 finer (2/26). CDN: $1,100 W...
$915
Sold 5/18/2026
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS66 PCGS. Mintage 108,020. ...
$74
Sold 9/3/2025
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS63 PCGS. PCGS Population (88/1647). NGC Census: (23/1102). Mintage: 108,020. Numismedia Wsl....
$53
Sold 1/15/2013
Heritage Auctions
1953-S Carver/Washington Commemorative. MS-65 (PCGS).
$85
Sold 10/8/2025
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS64 PCGS. PCGS Population: (979/1293). NGC Census: (532/925). CDN: $42 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCG...
$111
Sold 6/19/2023
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver, MS67 PCGS. PCGS Population: 31 in 67 (8 in 67+), 0 finer (12/25). CDN: $1,100 Whsle. Bid for ...
$1,007
Sold 2/2/2026
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS66 PCGS. Mintage 108,020. ...
$154
Sold 8/18/2025
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS63 ANACS. NGC Census: (20/1044). PCGS Population (80/1402). Mintage: 108,020. Numismedia Wsl...
$26
Sold 10/11/2011
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS65 PCGS. Mintage 108,020. ...
$104
Sold 8/18/2025
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS64 NGC. NGC Census: (500/890). PCGS Population: (941/1211). CDN: $30 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS...
$61
Sold 2/7/2022
Heritage Auctions
1953-S 50C Washington-Carver MS67 PCGS. PCGS Population: (23/0 and 8/0+). Mintage 108,020. ...
$1,080
Sold 5/12/2025
Heritage Auctions
Subscribe to View

View more data, info, and visualizations. Get access to retail and wholesale pricing as well as auction data.

Related Items

Other items from this series
See all

From the Greysheet Marketplace

Live listings from Greysheet dealers
See all

Greysheet News

1888 Proof Double Eagle Leads Heritage's Summer FUN U.S. Coins Auction to $12.4 Million
1888 Proof Double Eagle Leads Heritage's Summer FUN U.S. Coins Auction to $12.4 Million

1861-S Paquet Double Eagle, rare 1930-S Indian Eagle and early U.S. gold also rank among July 16-18 event highlights.

Gold Rush Gallery Finds a Permanent Home with the Southern Gold Society
Gold Rush Gallery Finds a Permanent Home with the Southern Gold Society

The website will be maintained as a fully functional resource to preserve its extensive historical content and the thousands of existing links that researchers and collectors rely upon.

Early American Copper Coins Lead Heritage's July Showcase Auction to More Than $436,000
Early American Copper Coins Lead Heritage's July Showcase Auction to More Than $436,000

Demand for early copper and Colonial-era numismatic treasures drives strong results in Heritage Auctions' July 13 Early Copper & Colonial U.S. Coins Showcase Auction

Events

Midlands Coin Club Coin, Currency and Collectibles Show - SC
Midlands Coin Club Coin, Currency and Collectibles Show - SC Location: Medallion Center
Friday, May 1, 2026
Hershey Coin Show - PA
Hershey Coin Show - PA Location: Campbelltown Volunteer Fire Company
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Heartland Coin Club's Coin Show - CA
Heartland Coin Club's Coin Show - CA Location: Elks Lodge 1812
Saturday, May 2, 2026