Barber Half Dollar

About This Series

Charles Barber, then Chief Engraver of the US Mint, designed these half dollars along with matching dimes and quarters - the full "Barber coinage" introduced in 1892. The design was widely criticized from the start as stiff and uninspired, but it served for nearly a quarter century. The series has several genuinely tough dates: the 1892-O Micro O, the 1896-S, and the 1914 Philadelphia are among the hardest to find in any decent grade. Business strike survivors often come well-worn, making choice examples hard to come by and worth a meaningful premium when they show up.