Barber Half Dollars – $10 Roll (G-VG)

Description

By 1890, American silver coins in circulation had largely featured the same issue since the 1830s. The Seated Liberty design featured on half-dime, dim, quarter, and half-dollar coins from 1836 to 1891, and was also on the silver dollar until 1873. The replacement for this series debuted in 1892 in the form of the Liberty Head by Charles E. Barber.

Coin Highlights:

• Arrives in a protective tube!
• Issued on the half-dollar from 1892 to 1915!
• Contains .36139 Troy oz of .900 pure silver in circulated condition.
• Bears a face value of $.50 (USD) backed by the federal government.
• Obverse includes the Liberty Head design.
• Reverse features the heraldic eagle of the US based upon the Great Seal.
• Designs from Charles E. Barber.

Each of the protective tubes of 90% Silver Barber Half Dollar Coins in this listing contains a total of 20 individual Barber Half Dollars. These coins total $10 (USD) in face value and are in circulated condition. As the name suggests, these coins were used as a medium of exchange in regular commerce and show obvious signs of wear and damage as a result.

US Mint Director Edward O. Leech commissioned a change in silver coin designs for US coinage in 1891 following approval by Congress. The US Mint offered a cash prize to the winning artist’s designs, but as the winner was the only to receive an award, no artists stepped forward for the competition.

The responsibility of developing designs for the nation’s silver coins fell to Chief Engraver of the US Mint Charles E. Barber. Chief Engraver from 1879 to 1917, Barber succeeded his own father, William Barber, in the role and designed the Liberty Head image used on the dime, quarter, and these half-dollar coins.

On the obverse of the 90% Silver Barber Half Dollar Coin takes a classical, Roman styling in the creation of a right-profile portrait of Liberty. As the largest coin in the Barber Coinage, “In God We Trust” appears above her head and she wears a small headband with the engraving of “Liberty” upon it.

The reverse of the Silver Barber Half Dollar is the depiction of the heraldic eagle of the United States, which is based upon the Great Seal of the United States of America. It features the national shield on the eagle’s chest, a cluster of 13 stars above, an olive branch in one hand, and arrows in the other.

All 90% Silver Barber Half Dollar Coins were struck by the US Mint at four of its minting locations from 1892 to 1915. Coins struck by the Denver Mint, New Orleans Mint, and San Francisco Mint feature mint marks on the reverse, while Philadelphia Mint coins bear no mint marks.