US · Fifty Cents · 1892–1915
Barber Half Dollar (1892–1915)
Heaviest of the three Barber denominations. No single blockbuster rarity, but the series has many low-mintage dates and is genuinely scarce in mint state across the board. Most survivors are well-circulated.
i.
Reference photos
Obverse
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1899_half_dollar_obv.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Brandon Grossardt for the coin image; Charles Barber for the coin design. / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1904_Barber_Half_PCGS_CAC_AU50_Obverse.png (public-domain) 
Photo: Coin: Charles Barber. Image by Lost Dutchman Rare Coins / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1903_proof_Barber_quarter_obverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Coin: Charles E. Barber. Image by Lost Dutchman Rare Coins / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1907-D_Barber_half_obverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Lost Dutchman Rare Coins for image, Charles E. Barber for coin / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1913-D_Barber_half_obverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Patrick20242023 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1894-O_Barber_half_Dollar_Obverse_Mirror_Field.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: Patrick20242023 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1894-O_Barber_half_Dollar_obverse.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usa-1-2-dollar-1913.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usa-1-2-dollar-1913_(1).jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Coin designed by Charles E. Barber. Image by unknown photographer for Kagin's (the auction house) / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barber_half1.jpg (public-domain)
Reverse
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1899_half_dollar_rev.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: photographer from MTB / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barber_half_reverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Coin: Charles E. Barber. Image by Lost Dutchman Rare Coins / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1907-D_Barber_half_reverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Brandon Grossardt for the coin image; Charles Barber for the coin design. / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1904_Barber_Half_PCGS_CAC_AU50_Reverse.png (public-domain) 
Photo: Patrick20242023 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1894-O_Barber_half_Dollar_Reverse_Mirror_Field.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: Lost Dutchman Rare Coins for image, Charles E. Barber for coin / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1913-D_Barber_half_reverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Coin: Charles Barber. Image by Lost Dutchman Rare Coins / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1903_proof_Barber_quarter_reverse.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Patrick20242023 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1894-O_Barber_half_Dollar_Reverse.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0)
ii.
Specifications
| Designer | Charles E. Barber |
|---|---|
| Composition | 90% silver / 10% copper |
| Weight | 12.5 g |
| Diameter | 30.6 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Series | Barber Half Dollar |
| Years issued | 1892–1915 |
iii.
Key dates & varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1892 | O | Micro O | — | key |
| 1904 | S | — | 553K | key |
| 1913 | P | — | 188K | key |
| 1914 | P | — | 124K | key |
| 1915 | P | — | 138K | key |