A Barber Half Dollar contains 11.25 grams of silver. The series was issued by the United States Mint from 1892 to 1915, and its silver content was congressionally mandated by the Coinage Act of 1873. Designs by Charles Barber were used for the half dollar, quarter dollar, and dime.
Historical and Legal Background
One of the provisions of the Coinage Act of 1873 set the composition of dollars, half dollars, quarter dollars, dimes, nickels, and cents. It directed the Mint to continue using the 90% silver and 10% copper for the dollar, half dollar, quarter, and dime, and further detailed the weight of the half dollar to be set at 12.5 grams. The weight change was done to modernize American coinage, bringing it in line with the international standards of the time.
Design of the Barber Half Dollar
Obverse Design
The obverse of the Barber Half Dollar depicts a bust of Liberty wearing a wreath of laurel and facing right. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST curves above Liberty. Thirteen stars for the colonies and the date form the lower border of the obverse, which is beaded.
Reverse Design
The reverse features an eagle with outspread wings and a shield on its chest. It faces to the left, and its left talons clutch thirteen arrows, and the right talons hold an olive branch. The border features the phrase “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” arching above, with “HALF DOLLAR” positioned below. The eagle’s beak grips a ribbon marked E PLURIBUS UNUM. Above the eagle’s head are 13 stars, and mint marks below the eagle’s tail identify Philadelphia (No mark), New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S), or Denver (D).
Design (Other Attributes)
Mint officials demanded low relief and sharp features, but coins from the San Francisco Mint and New Orleans Mint often show weak detail. These “weak strikes” appear mostly on the eagle’s breast or Liberty’s ear. Collectors assess these features to separate manufacturing character from wear.
How Much Does a Barber Half Dollar Weigh?
Each Barber Half Dollar, as struck, weighs 12.5 grams and has a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper.
- Total weight: 12.5 grams.
- Silver weight: 11.25 grams (0.36169 troy ounces).
- Copper weight: 1.25 grams.
Minting and Production Details
The U.S. Mint issued each Barber Half Dollar with a total weight of 12.5 grams and a diameter of 30.6 millimeters. The Philadelphia Mint office produced the most coins, but the New Orleans, San Francisco, and Denver branches also struck Barber Halves.
Circulation, Wear, and Loss of Silver
Barber Halves endured constant use in shops and banks. Many coins lost mass through handling. Coins in “Very Good” condition usually weigh about 12.25 grams and contain about 0.354 troy ounces of silver. Only pristine, uncirculated coins retain the maximum content set at the Mint.
Melting and Surviving Populations
Melting during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries removed large numbers of Barber half dollars from circulation. Population reports suggest a small percentage of the original mintage is believed to survive. Rare dates and grades receive the most attention from collectors, while counterfeits appear when prices reach higher levels. Authentication by grading services protects buyers.
Comparison to Other Silver U.S. Coins by Silver Content
| Coin | Silver Content (troy oz) |
| Barber Dime | 0.07234 |
| Barber Quarter | 0.18084 |
| Barber Half | 0.36169 |
| Morgan Dollar | 0.77344 |
Barber half dollars in uncirculated condition contain 0.36169 troy ounces of fine silver, though their numismatic value typically exceeds melt value by a wide margin.
