Hobbies Coin Collecting U.S. Coin Values Guide

Barber Half Dollar Values and Prices

How Much Is My Barber Half Dollar Worth?

By
James Bucki
James Bucki Coin Collecting Expert
James Bucki
James Bucki is a nationally-recognized coin collector and numismatic expert and author, sharing his knowledge and specialized training in coin grading, minting errors, and collection techniques. He has over 50 years of numismatic and writing experience, including a monthly magazine column for the American Numismatic Association.
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Updated on 03/27/20
1892 Barber half dollar

 The Spruce / James Bucki

The United States Mint manufactured Barber half dollars from 1892 to 1915. These classic United States coins feature an allegorical image of Lady Liberty on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. This is an affordable coin collection to assemble for an intermediate coin collector that is familiar with coin grading and avoiding problem coins.

History of the Barber Half Dollar

The Barber half dollar is also known as the Liberty Head half dollar. It was minted from 1892 until 1915 and was designed by Charles E. Barber. The average weight of the coin is 12.5 g. and is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. It has a diameter of 30.6 mm with the reeded edge. 

The Mint Act of September 26, 1890, specified that coin designs could only be changed after they have been in use for 25 years. In 1891 dimes, quarters and  half dollars became eligible for a redesign. Mint Director, J. P. Kimball wasted no time in changing the design of America's coins.

Market Analysis

Barber half dollars are moderately collected and demand tends to be fairly steady. Therefore, values and prices for lower end circulated coins also tend to be fairly stable.  If you want top dollar for your Barber half dollars, you need to sort them and organize them so the dealer can quickly see what you have.

Key Dates, Rarities, and Varieties

The following Barber half dollar in any condition, are worth considerable more than common Barber half dollars.  As such, these coins are occasionally counterfeited or altered from common Barber half dollars.  Therefore, before you start celebrating your new found fortune, have the following coins authenticated by a reputable coin dealer or third party grading service.

  • 1892-O
  • 1892-S
  • 1893-S
  • 1897-O
  • 1897-S
  • 1904-S
  • 1914

Condition or Grade Examples

If your coin is worn and looks similar to the one illustrated in the link below, it is considered a circulated coin.

If your coin looks similar to the one illustrated in the link below and has no evidence of wear due to being in circulation, it is considered an uncirculated coin.

Mint Marks

Barber Half Dollars were produced at four different mints: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), New Orleans (O) and San Francisco (S).  As illustrated in the picture link below, the mint mark is located on the reverse of the coin, just below the eagles tail feathers and above the "D" in DOLLAR.

  •  Photo of the Barber Half Dollar Mint Mark Location

Barber Half Dollars Average Prices and Values

The buy price is the average price that a coin dealer is charging to purchase the coin in the specified condition. while the sell value is what you can expect a dealer to give you when you sell the coin at his coin shop. These are approximate retail prices and wholesale values. The actual offer that you negotiate for a particular coin dealer will vary depending on the agreed upon grade of the coin and a number of other factors that determine its worth.

Date & Mint Circ. Buy Circ. Sell Unc. Buy Unc. Sell
1892 $40.00 $23.00 $730.00 $570.00
1892 O * $370.00 $180.00 $1,300.00 $900.00
1892 S * $310.00 $150.00 $1,600.00 $1,100.00
1893 $40.00 $25.00 $750.00 $630.00
1893 O $70.00 $40.00 $1,000.00 $750.00
1893 S * $220.00 $170.00 $2,800.00 $2,100.00
1894 $55.00 $30.00 $730.00 $520.00
1894 O $51.00 $29.00 $800.00 $650.00
1894 S $42.00 $22.00 $900.00 $700.00
1895 $40.00 $20.00 $800.00 $600.00
1895 O $69.00 $34.00 $1,200.00 $800.00
1895 S $68.00 $33.00 $1,100.00 $800.00
1896 $43.00 $22.00 $800.00 $600.00
1896 O $110.00 $60.00 $3,400.00 $2,800.00
1896 S $190.00 $110.00 $2,400.00 $1,900.00
1897 $33.00 $16.00 $750.00 $540.00
1897 O * $270.00 $150.00 $2,500.00 $1,900.00
1897 S * $250.00 $120.00 $2,500.00 $1,900.00
1898 $25.00 $12.00 $790.00 $530.00
1898 O $120.00 $80.00 $2,200.00 $1,500.00
1898 S $55.00 $30.00 $2,200.00 $1,500.00
1899 $26.00 $14.00 $730.00 $540.00
1899 O $47.00 $28.00 $1,000.00 $800.00
1899 S $47.00 $28.00 $1,400.00 $1,000.00
Date & Mint Circ. Buy Circ. Sell Unc. Buy Unc. Sell
1900 $25.00 $13.00 $700.00 $550.00
1900 O $36.00 $19.00 $2,000.00 $1,800.00
1900 S $31.00 $16.00 $1,200.00 $900.00
1901 $27.00 $18.00 $770.00 $580.00
1901 O $45.00 $23.00 $3,000.00 $2,200.00
1901 S $110.00 $70.00 $4,700.00 $3,500.00
1902 $22.00 $11.00 $710.00 $490.00
1902 O $37.00 $19.00 $2,000.00 $1,600.00
1902 S $35.00 $19.00 $1,600.00 $1,200.00
1903 $28.00 $17.00 $780.00 $600.00
1903 O $34.00 $19.00 $1,200.00 $850.00
1903 S $33.00 $19.00 $1,300.00 $1,000.00
1904 $24.00 $14.00 $720.00 $590.00
1904 O $49.00 $29.00 $2,100.00 $1,800.00
1904 S * $200.00 $110.00 $13,700.00 $11,000.00
1905 $43.00 $25.00 $1,100.00 $750.00
1905 O $73.00 $40.00 $1,200.00 $950.00
1905 S $34.00 $19.00 $1,300.00 $950.00
1906 $21.00 $12.00 $670.00 $510.00
1906 D $27.00 $18.00 $730.00 $530.00
1906 O $28.00 $17.00 $900.00 $650.00
1906 S $32.00 $18.00 $1,000.00 $750.00
1907 $22.00 $12.00 $740.00 $550.00
1907 D $25.00 $14.00 $730.00 $590.00
1907 O $28.00 $13.50 $740.00 $600.00
1907 S $51.00 $28.00 $2,500.00 $1,800.00
Date & Mint Circ. Buy Circ. Sell Unc. Buy Unc. Sell
1908 $24.00 $14.00 $680.00 $500.00
1908 D $25.00 $15.00 $700.00 $530.00
1908 O $24.00 $15.00 $760.00 $580.00
1908 S $42.00 $24.00 $1,600.00 $1,400.00
1909 $24.00 $12.00 $710.00 $510.00
1909 O $40.00 $23.00 $1,300.00 $1,000.00
1909 S $25.00 $15.00 $900.00 $700.00
1910 $40.00 $25.00 $900.00 $650.00
1910 S $33.00 $16.00 $1,500.00 $1,200.00
1911 $22.00 $11.00 $740.00 $600.00
1911 D $27.00 $14.00 $800.00 $600.00
1911 S $27.00 $14.00 $1,200.00 $950.00
1912 $23.00 $13.00 $690.00 $510.00
1912 D $26.00 $13.00 $730.00 $580.00
1912 S $28.00 $14.00 $800.00 $610.00
1913 $120.00 $60.00 $1,500.00 $1,200.00
1913 D $29.00 $15.00 $760.00 $600.00
1913 S $43.00 $25.00 $1,200.00 $850.00
1914 * $200.00 $110.00 $1,700.00 $1,300.00
1914 S $32.00 $17.00 $1,000.00 $7500.00
1915 $140.00 $80.00 $1,700.00 $1,250.00
1915 D $24.00 $12.00 $670.00 $480.00
1915 S $30.00 $15.00 $700.00 $520.00
Complete
Date-Mint Set		 $4,800.00 $2,600.00 $100,000.00 $77,000.00
Complete
Date Set		 $720.00 $400.00 $19,000.00 $15,000.00

F.V. = Face Value
B.V. = Bullion Value
"-" (dash) = Not Applicable or not enough data exists to calculate an average price
* = See the section above "Key Dates, Rarities and Varieties" for more information on these coins.