Numismatic

1896 Barber Half Dollar Good

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This 1896 silver half dollar represents a classic era of United States coinage, carrying the distinctive artistry of Charles Barber. Struck with a silver purity of 90 percent, the fifty-cent piece contains 0.3575 troy ounces of precious metal. Although this specimen shows significant wear across its details and along its outer rim, the underlying artistry of the late nineteenth century remains visible. The front of the coin presents a profile of Lady Liberty. She is depicted wearing a laurel wreath over a Phrygian cap, a traditional symbol of freedom. On the reverse, a heraldic eagle stands with its wings spread wide. The bird supports a shield on its chest and holds a banner in its beak, while its talons grasp a symbolic olive branch and a bundle of arrows.