The silver Barber (Liberty head) half dollar was something entirely new the US Mint produced, and it got nicknamed after its designer, Charles Barber. Its unique design was never used before, and it was the third American coin type ever minted.
Nowadays, the Barber half dollar value is relatively high thanks to the short mintage period from 1892 to 1915 and a small number of surviving pieces, especially in the mint state. In fact, some rare coins are worth a little fortune.
Barber Half Dollar
After the Chief engraver Charles E. Barber designed the silver Barber half dollar, this series was minted from 1892 to 1915.
The first pieces minting started in the Philadelphia mint at 9 AM Jan 2, 1892. Three more mints, including San Francisco, New Orleans, and Denver, produced these coins over the years.
Barber half dollar (1892 to 1915) |
|
| Face value | $0.50 (50 cents) |
| Coin weight | 0.40188 troy ounces (12.5 g) |
| Coin diameter | 1.20472 inches (30.6 mm) |
| Coin thickness | 0.07087 inches (1.8 mm) |
| Compound | 90% silver with 10% copper |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Shape | Round |
You can see Lady Liberty on the coin obverse with a Phrygian cap on her head and surrounded by 13 six-pointed stars. There is an eagle image with the US shield on the coin reverse. It holds an olive branch and thirteen arrows in its claws.
Most Barbers struck in New Orleans have a regular O mint mark. However, you can find a few famous variations in the letter size that affect these coins’ price.
Coins minted in Denver have a D mint mark on the reverse, below the eagle. On the other hand, you can find four S mint mark variations on those struck in San Francisco.
Barber half dollar value by USA Coin Book |
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| Year | Mintage | Good | Very good | Fine | Very fine |
| 1892 | 935,245 | $30 | $45 | $82 | $134 |
| 1892 S | 1,029,028 | $266 | $385 | $457 | $561 |
| 1892 O | 390,000 | $345 | $421 | $561 | $660 |
| 1892 Micro O | $2,815 | $4,763 | $6,230 | $8,513 | |
| 1893 | 1,826,792 | $23 | $34 | $94 | $180 |
| 1893 S | 740,000 | $163 | $237 | $561 | $723 |
| 1893 O | 1,389,000 | $40 | $82 | $151 | $244 |
| 1894 | 1,148,972 | $34 | $57 | $123 | $230 |
| 1894 S | 4,048,690 | $26 | $29 | $82 | $163 |
| 1894 O | 2,138,000 | $29 | $40 | $105 | $192 |
| 1895 | 1,835,218 | $21 | $29 | $82 | $163 |
| 1895 S | 1,108,086 | $34 | $62 | $163 | $288 |
| 1895 O | 1,766,000 | $45 | $69 | $151 | $207 |
| 1896 | 950,762 | $23 | $29 | $105 | $180 |
| 1896 S | 1,140,948 | $134 | $191 | $276 | $442 |
| 1896 O | 924,000 | $57 | $82 | $237 | $385 |
| 1897 | 2,480,731 | $23 | $26 | $52 | $110 |
| 1897 S | 933,900 | $172 | $244 | $402 | $610 |
| 1897 O | 632,000 | $180 | $261 | $561 | $850 |
| 1898 | 2,945,735 | $21 | $23 | $52 | $110 |
| 1898 S | 2,358,550 | $34 | $55 | $105 | $208 |
| 1898 O | 874,000 | $44 | $105 | $276 | $457 |
| 1899 | 5,538,846 | $21 | $23 | $52 | $110 |
| 1899 S | 1,686,411 | $29 | $45 | $105 | $201 |
| 1899 O | 1,724,000 | $29 | $40 | $94 | $191 |
| 1900 | 4,762,912 | $20 | $22 | $52 | $110 |
| 1900 S | 2,560,322 | $20 | $22 | $52 | $115 |
| 1900 O | 2,744,000 | $21 | $29 | $69 | $192 |
| 1901 | 4,268,813 | $20 | $21 | $52 | $110 |
| 1901 S | 847,044 | $37 | $62 | $191 | $402 |
| 1901 O | 1,124,000 | $20 | $30 | $94 | $261 |
| 1902 | 4,922,777 | $20 | $21 | $52 | $110 |
| 1902 S | 1,460,670 | $22 | $32 | $76 | $172 |
| 1902 O | 2,526,000 | $20 | $23 | $62 | $123 |
| 1903 | 2,278,755 | $20 | $21 | $52 | $110 |
| 1903 S | 1,920,772 | $20 | $22 | $69 | $151 |
| 1903 O | 2,100,000 | $20 | $21 | $62 | $143 |
| 1904 | 2,992,670 | $20 | $21 | $40 | $97 |
| 1904 S | 553,038 | $55 | $134 | $385 | $881 |
| 1904 O | 1,117,600 | $26 | $40 | $110 | $266 |
| 1905 | 662,727 | $29 | $34 | $97 | $208 |
| 1905 S | 2,494,000 | $19 | $22 | $60 | $163 |
| 1905 O | 505,000 | $34 | $52 | $143 | $259 |
| 1906 | 2,638,675 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1906 S | 1,740,154 | $19 | $22 | $60 | $134 |
| 1906 D | 4,028,000 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1906 O | 2,446,000 | $19 | $22 | $48 | $110 |
| 1907 | 2,598,575 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1907 S | 1,250,000 | $21 | $34 | $97 | $208 |
| 1907 D | 3,856,000 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1907 O | 3,946,000 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1908 | 1,354,545 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1908 S | 1,644,828 | $19 | $29 | $86 | $180 |
| 1908 D | 3,280,000 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1908 O | 5,360,000 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1909 | 2,368,650 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1909 S | 1,764,000 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1909 O | 925,400 | $21 | $26 | $77 | $201 |
| 1910 | 418,551 | $23 | $34 | $110 | $201 |
| 1910 S | 1,948,000 | $21 | $23 | $41 | $110 |
| 1911 | 1,406,543 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1911 S | 1,272,000 | $21 | $23 | $45 | $115 |
| 1911 D | 695,080 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1912 | 1,550,700 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1912 S | 1,370,000 | $19 | $21 | $52 | $115 |
| 1912 D | 2,300,800 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1913 | 188,624 | $86 | $105 | $237 | $484 |
| 1913 S | 604,000 | $19 | $29 | $62 | $137 |
| 1913 D | 534,000 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1914 | 124,610 | $172 | $192 | $359 | $610 |
| 1914 S | 992,000 | $19 | $23 | $45 | $115 |
| 1915 | 138,450 | $123 | $163 | $325 | $430 |
| 1915 S | 1,604,000 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
| 1915 D | 1,170,400 | $19 | $20 | $52 | $110 |
Barber Half Dollar Proofs
Barber half dollar proofs minted in Philadelphia are highly popular collectibles, particularly pieces struck in the 19th century. You should remember that all of them were produced in mintage lower than 1,000 or often 700 pieces.
The only exception was the first year when the Philadelphia mint produced 1,245 of these coins. There are no rare proofs in the series, and most have the same value as regular coins minted the same year. Only those with a cameo or deep cameo contrast surfaces are pricey.
Barber half dollar value by USA Coin Book |
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| Year | Extra fine | AU | MS 60 | MS 63 | PR 63 |
| 1892 | $237 | $384 | $586 | $1,136 | $1,320 |
| 1892 S | $634 | $787 | $1,085 | $2,527 | / |
| 1892 O | $755 | $818 | $1,030 | $2,099 | / |
| 1892 Micro O | $13,575 | $20,900 | $31,773 | / | / |
| 1893 | $237 | $374 | $610 | $1,270 | $1,320 |
| 1893 S | $1,085 | $1,461 | $1,983 | $5,130 | / |
| 1893 O | $402 | $483 | $755 | $1,715 | / |
| 1894 | $345 | $429 | $586 | $1,229 | $1,320 |
| 1894 S | $248 | $412 | $660 | $1,715 | / |
| 1894 O | $345 | $429 | $586 | $1,136 | / |
| 1895 | $237 | $402 | $610 | $1,136 | $1,320 |
| 1895 S | $345 | $421 | $660 | $1,596 | / |
| 1895 O | $296 | $429 | $692 | $1,768 | / |
| 1896 | $276 | $412 | $610 | $1,136 | $1,320 |
| 1896 S | $634 | $943 | $1,768 | $3,986 | / |
| 1896 O | $610 | $943 | $1,856 | $7,127 | / |
| 1897 | $230 | $413 | $610 | $1,136 | $1,320 |
| 1897 S | $912 | $1,111 | $1,768 | $4,084 | / |
| 1897 O | $1,184 | $1,461 | $1,928 | $4,449 | / |
| 1898 | $230 | $413 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,320 |
| 1898 S | $385 | $488 | $1,058 | $3,875 | / |
| 1898 O | $602 | $723 | $1,320 | $3,651 | / |
| 1899 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,320 |
| 1899 S | $345 | $484 | $881 | $2,449 | / |
| 1899 O | $317 | $437 | $755 | $1,815 | / |
| 1900 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,320 |
| 1900 S | $237 | $412 | $723 | $2,583 | / |
| 1900 O | $314 | $484 | $973 | $3,767 | / |
| 1901 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,321 |
| 1901 S | $787 | $1,229 | $2,280 | $11,088 | / |
| 1901 O | $402 | $536 | $1,461 | $5,443 | / |
| 1902 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,321 |
| 1902 S | $288 | $484 | $876 | $3,166 | / |
| 1902 O | $244 | $442 | $881 | $3,886 | / |
| 1903 | $230 | $402 | $610 | $1,658 | $1,321 |
| 1903 S | $261 | $429 | $723 | $1,815 | / |
| 1903 O | $237 | $429 | $755 | $1,768 | / |
| 1904 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,184 | $1,321 |
| 1904 S | $1,715 | $2,527 | $11,136 | $21,459 | / |
| 1904 O | $457 | $660 | $1,391 | $4,262 | / |
| 1905 | $304 | $412 | $610 | $1,715 | $1,321 |
| 1905 S | $276 | $429 | $723 | $2,061 | / |
| 1905 O | $374 | $510 | $850 | $1,857 | / |
| 1906 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,321 |
| 1906 S | $237 | $402 | $660 | $1,530 | / |
| 1906 D | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | / |
| 1906 O | $230 | $402 | $660 | $1,596 | / |
| 1907 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,321 |
| 1907 S | $429 | $692 | $1,426 | $6,396 | / |
| 1907 D | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | / |
| 1907 O | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | / |
| 1908 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,321 |
| 1908 S | $317 | $479 | $1,002 | $2,648 | / |
| 1908 D | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | / |
| 1908 O | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | / |
| 1909 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,321 |
| 1909 S | $230 | $413 | $660 | $1,391 | / |
| 1909 O | $429 | $723 | $1,596 | $1,815 | / |
| 1910 | $359 | $457 | $634 | $1,229 | $1,321 |
| 1910 S | $230 | $402 | $692 | $2,211 | / |
| 1911 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,321 |
| 1911 S | $237 | $412 | $723 | $1,715 | / |
| 1911 D | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | / |
| 1912 | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | $1,321 |
| 1912 S | $230 | $437 | $634 | $1,229 | / |
| 1912 D | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | / |
| 1913 | $723 | $941 | $1,321 | $1,983 | $1,461 |
| 1913 S | $317 | $442 | $660 | $1,530 | / |
| 1913 D | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,136 | / |
| 1914 | $881 | $1,111 | $1,530 | $2,211 | $1,658 |
| 1914 S | $230 | $419 | $634 | $1,271 | / |
| 1915 | $634 | $973 | $1,530 | $2,527 | $1,715 |
| 1915 S | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,137 | / |
| 1915 D | $230 | $402 | $561 | $1,137 | / |
Barber Half Dollar Rarities and Key Dates
The entire Barber half dollar series includes 73 coins different by the mint mark and date, including keys and semi-keys:
- 1913, 1914, 1915, 1892 O, and 1895 S
However, you can find a few other rare dates, like:
- 1894, 1896, 1903, 1913, 1914, and 1915
- 1892 S, 1893 S, 1896 S, 1897 S, 1901 S, and 1913 S
- 1892 O micro O, the rarest piece in the series
- 1896 O, 1897 O, and 1898 O
Besides these key dates and several tough dates, you can consider all the pieces in higher circulated grades scarce.
Summary
Barber half dollar value is often high because these coins were minted for less than 25 years. Even though they are of lower quality, many collectors appreciate them as precious pieces of American history.
On the other hand, regular dates in low grades are considered junk silver, so their value is the same as the price of precious metal they are made of.
