1909 half dollar
| Issue | Composition | Weight | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
Barber half dollar | 90% silver | 12.50 g | 0.3617 ozt |
What matters about 1909
The last year New Orleans struck half dollars. The mint closed to coinage in 1909.
Identifying it
A 1909 half dollar is a Barber, designed by Charles E. Barber. The obverse shows Liberty in a Phrygian cap wearing a laurel wreath, facing right and the reverse a heraldic eagle with a shield, arrows and an olive branch. It measures 30.6mm across.
Mint mark: Reverse, below the eagle.
Because it is solid silver alloy all the way through, the edge is the fastest check: hold it side on and look for an unbroken silver-grey band. A clad coin of the same design shows a copper stripe sandwiched between two lighter layers. The other three checks take about the same time.
The rest of the jar
Every circulating silver denomination in 1909 used the same 90% alloy, so their silver content is simply proportional to face value. If you are sorting a mixed container, these are the numbers you need.
| Coin | Silver | Metal value |
|---|---|---|
| Dime | 0.0723 ozt | $4.93 |
| Quarter | 0.1808 ozt | $12.32 |
| Half dollar | 0.3617 ozt | $24.64 |