Numismatic

1899-S Barber Half Dollar Good

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Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this 1899 Barber half dollar represents a bygone era of American coinage. Composed of 90 percent silver, the coin contains 0.3575 troy ounces of precious metal. Because of its extensive time in circulation, the piece exhibits a heavily worn appearance, with details softened and a rim that may show signs of slight wear. This honest aging tells the story of a coin that actively passed through many hands at the turn of the twentieth century. The obverse features Charles Barber's classic depiction of Lady Liberty, who wears a laurel wreath atop a Phrygian cap. On the reverse, an eagle spreads its wings wide, protecting a shield on its chest. In its beak, the eagle holds a ribbon, while its talons grasp an olive branch and a bundle of arrows, symbolizing both peace and readiness.