1942-S Walking Liberty Half Large "S" vs. Small "S"

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by TexasTwister, Apr 27, 2012.

  1. TexasTwister

    TexasTwister Member

    Hi folks,

    I have looked everywhere for information on the 1942-S Walking Liberty Half large "S" vs. small "S" varieties, but can't find any side-by-side comparison photos so that I can determine what it is that I have. Can you tell from my photo what size mint mark it has? NGC has a photo of the large "S" variety, but without anything to compare it to, it's hard to make a determination. Many thanks!

    1942-S WLH.jpg
     
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  3. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Check out Heritage images.

    Small S

    http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1144&lotNo=4261

    http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=434&lotNo=3051


    L
    arge S

    http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1169&lotNo=4774

    http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1169&lotNo=10150


    G
    iven those pics, I'd say your coin is a large S.

    Someone can correct me on this, but in looking at the pics the Small S has a trumpet serif on the bottom of the S, while the Large S has a bulbous serif on the bottom of the S.

    Your coin has a bulbous serif.
     
  4. TexasTwister

    TexasTwister Member

    Thanks for the info. I should have thought of using Heritage pics as a point of reference. Upon reviewing the "small s" pics, I noticed a significant difference in the distance the right-side curve of the "s" was from the device. I definitely don't have a "trumpet tail s" which Heritage notes is "one of three mintmark styles" (I only knew of the two). A plain ol' Large "s" it is! Thanks.
     
  5. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Could be wrong, but I don't think placement is near as important because the mm were punched in by hand. So placement is bound to vary some.
     
  6. GeorgeM

    GeorgeM Well-Known Member

    I'm running into the same question. Is this also the large S variety? I'm seeing the bulb/bulge on the bottom of the S.

    20200508_151811.jpg 20200508_151947.jpg 20200508_151954.jpg

    And, does anyone know of the relative scarcity of the two?
     
  7. GeorgeM

    GeorgeM Well-Known Member

    As I continue to putaway some recent acquisitions, I was surprised to find that multiple sized mint marks occured at Denver & SanFran almost a decade apart:

    I haven't been able to find a side by side pic of the 1934-D big vs. small varieties. Anyone happen to have one handy?

    20200508_155806.jpg 20200508_155813.jpg 20200508_160015.jpg
     
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