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Barber Half Dollars Liberty Head Half Dollars Liberty Half Dollars
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Barber Half Dollars
1892 to 1915
Barber Half Dollars
Barber Half Dollars
with Proofs
Barber Half Dollars
of Philadelphia
Barber Half Dollars
of New Orleans
Barber Half Dollars
of Denver
Barber Half Dollars
of San Francisco
Liberty Head Half Dollars
1892 to 1915
Liberty Head Half Dollars
Liberty Head Half Dollars
with Proofs
Liberty Head Half Dollars
of Philadelphia
Liberty Head Half Dollars
of New Orleans
Liberty Head Half Dollars
of Denver
Liberty Head Half Dollars
of San Francisco
Liberty Half Dollars
1892 to 1915
Liberty Half Dollars
Liberty Half Dollars
with Proofs
Liberty Half Dollars
of Philadelphia
Liberty Half Dollars
of New Orleans
Liberty Half Dollars
of Denver
Liberty Half Dollars
of San Francisco
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About Barber Half Dollars
The simple design of the head of Lady Liberty graced the United States Half Dollar for a period of twenty-five years. The coin was composed of 0.900 fine silver with a balance of copper and was struck at Philadelphia, Denver, New Orleans, and San Francisco. The reverse of the coin bears a bald eagle with outstretched wings soaring beneath an array of thirteen stars. While the obverse has never received much in terms of fanfare, the reverse design was appreciated for designer Charles Barber’s use of new technology to include more elements in finer detail.
This type originated from a desire in the late 1880s to replace the long-running Seated Liberty design that had been in use for over fifty years. To accomplish this task, the mint sought to have a juried panel and invite artists across the nation to create new illustrations for the obverse and reverse of the dime, quarter dollar, and half dollar. On this panel were Chief Engraver Charles Barber, acclaimed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and Boston-based engraver Henry Mitchell. The competition was met with refusal by invited artists as the Mint only offered to pay compensation to the winning design. Other artists that received a circular promoting the contest did submit their designs, however the juried panel ultimately rejected all submissions.
