The 1921-D half dollar sells for US$183,000

AL.com (Kayode Crown, September 28, 2026) reports that a collection of rare half dollars fetched US$2.4 million at a recent auction. The note cites a September 24 release from Stack’s Bowers Galleries: the September 3 sale of the Mack C. Chase Collection (opens in a new tab) featured 253 lots, and several of them broke records. (The URL slug reads “24 million”; the visible headline and the body of the note say US$2.4 million. We use the figure in the text, not the one in the link.)

A 1921-D in MS-66

The top lot was a 1921-D Walking Liberty half dollar, which realized a record US$183,000. Only 208,000 pieces were struck that year in Denver, the lowest mintage in the series. “The original mint finish is full, strong, and displays a lovely satin texture,” Stack’s Bowers said of the coin. “Fully without distractions and delightful to examine in hand.”

Another record, and a third six-figure coin

Another record-setting half dollar was a 1917-D with the mintmark on the reverse, which realized US$122,000. “It is an exquisite example with full, billowy mint luster in a delightful satin texture,” the firm said. A third six-figure coin, a 1918-D, sold for US$115,900.

US$2,448,125 in total

Stack’s Bowers’ release, reprinted by Greysheet (opens in a new tab), gives the exact figure: the full collection — part of the Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, session 6, lots 4001-4253 — realized US$2,448,125 (all prices include the buyer’s premium). That total includes other records: a 1916-D (PCGS MS-67, CAC, CMQ) at US$56,120; a 1918-S (PCGS MS-66, CAC, CMQ) at US$91,500, a record for the date; a 1920-S (NGC MS-67), the finest graded, at US$85,400, a record for an NGC-graded example; a 1940 (NGC MS-69, the only one at that grade in the series) at US$39,040; and a 1944-D, the finest NGC-graded example, at US$24,400.

“We knew from the beginning that the Mack C. Chase Collection was something special, and it was great to see collectors respond so enthusiastically,” said John M. Pack, executive director of consignments for Stack’s Bowers. “Mack built this collection over many years with tremendous patience and a keen eye for quality. It was rewarding to see that recognized with such strong results and record prices.” Pack said more of the collection will come up in the November 2026 Showcase Auction.

More detail at AL.com (opens in a new tab).