Numismatic

1895-O Barber Half Dollar AG

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The year 1895 saw the production of a silver half dollar at the historic New Orleans Mint, bearing a design that would define an era of United States coinage. Crafted from 90 percent silver, this fifty-cent piece carries a total silver weight of 0.3617 ounces. It represents a fascinating period in American coining history, surviving over a century of circulation to arrive in an Almost Good state of preservation, where its major design elements remain visible as a testament to its long journey through commerce. On the obverse, the coin displays the profile of Lady Liberty. She is depicted wearing a traditional Phrygian cap adorned with a laurel wreath, a classic motif that came from the mind of designer Charles Barber. The reverse features a heraldic eagle with its wings spread wide, protecting a shield positioned across its chest. In its beak, the eagle holds a decorative banner, while its powerful claws grasp an olive branch and a cluster of arrows, symbolizing both peace and defense.