1892 - 1915
The Barber half dollar
Workhorse silver coinage that circulated hard. Most surviving Barber halves are heavily worn, which is exactly why the well-struck ones command a premium far above their silver.
Composition
| Years | Alloy | Weight | Silver | At spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1892-1915 | 90% silver | 12.50 g | 0.3617 ozt | $24.64 |
The design
Designed by Charles E. Barber. The obverse shows Liberty in a Phrygian cap wearing a laurel wreath, facing right; the reverse shows a heraldic eagle with a shield, arrows and an olive branch. The coin measures 30.6mm across.
Finding the mint mark
Reverse, below the eagle.
Mint marks matter more than most people expect: the same date from a different mint can be a common coin or a scarce one. What each letter means.
Every date in the series
Weights, finenesses and diameters are Mint specifications set by the Coinage Acts. Silver weight is calculated from them. No mintage figures or catalogue values appear on this site; here is why.