Charles Barber, the lead engraver for the U.S. Mint during the late 19th century, designed three hallmark coins for the government: the dime, the quarter, and the half dollar. Barber half dollars were produced rather sparingly--during the late 19th century and early 20th century, 50 cents was a lot of money. Indeed, over the 73 different mintings of Barber half dollars, only 136 million pieces were produced. One of the interesting facts about U.S. half dollars is that this coinage has been minted since 1794--the only U.S. coin to enjoy such consistency. While today, half dollars are rarely found in common circulation except in Las Vegas casinos, the denomination is a survivor. The chemical compositions of U.S. half dollars have changed over time. Barber halfs were approximately 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. When examining Barber half dollars for authenticity, you should check out the word "liberty" on the obverse side of the coin. The first place that usually shows wear and tear is right below "liberty." On the reverse side, the eagle's wings tend to collect the first abrasions. Collecting a Barber mint set can be enjoyable, since there are 73 different combinations. Unfortunately for rabid collectors, there are no really rare versions of the Barber half dollar. The main mint in Philadelphia produced the bulk of the Barbers. However, Denver, New Orleans, and San Francisco all minted some Barber half dollars. All told, the line ran for 24 years, and production remained relatively steady throughout the Barber half dollar's lifetime. |
