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BARBER HALF DOLLAR
Barber Half Dollars (1892-1915)
The first United States half dollars were minted in 1794. The Flowing Hair design was produced that year
and also in 1795, followed by the Draped Bust obverse, Small Eagle reverse style 1796-1797, examples of
which are prime rarities today.
No half dollars were coined with dates 1798 to 1800. In 1801 the half dollar again appeared, with the
Draped Bust obverse of yore, combined with the new Heraldic Eagle reverse, a style used through part of
1807.
The Capped Bust design, with lettered edge, by John Reich, was introduced in 1807 and continued until
1836. Examples were struck every year except 1816, when there was a disastrous fire at the Mint. The
1807-1836 series is rich for the number of interesting overdates and other die varieties it contains and,
as such, it has attracted the attention of many numismatists. Silver dollars were not struck for a long
span from 1804 until 1836, and during this era the Capped Bust half dollar reigned as the largest silver
coin of the realm. Mintages were large, accounting for the survival of many today.
From 1836 to 1839, two different types of Capped Bust halves with reeded edges were made, the first
1836-1837 with 50 CENTS on the reverse, and the second 1838-1839 with HALF DOL.
and also in 1795, followed by the Draped Bust obverse, Small Eagle reverse style 1796-1797, examples of
which are prime rarities today.
No half dollars were coined with dates 1798 to 1800. In 1801 the half dollar again appeared, with the
Draped Bust obverse of yore, combined with the new Heraldic Eagle reverse, a style used through part of
1807.
The Capped Bust design, with lettered edge, by John Reich, was introduced in 1807 and continued until
1836. Examples were struck every year except 1816, when there was a disastrous fire at the Mint. The
1807-1836 series is rich for the number of interesting overdates and other die varieties it contains and,
as such, it has attracted the attention of many numismatists. Silver dollars were not struck for a long
span from 1804 until 1836, and during this era the Capped Bust half dollar reigned as the largest silver
coin of the realm. Mintages were large, accounting for the survival of many today.
From 1836 to 1839, two different types of Capped Bust halves with reeded edges were made, the first
1836-1837 with 50 CENTS on the reverse, and the second 1838-1839 with HALF DOL.
Reference Works
Over the years, half dollars have formed the focus for study for many scholars. Notable among these are Capt. J.W. Haseltine, who published his Type
Table, or list of die varieties, in 1881, and, especially, M.L. Beistle, a Shippensburg, PA manufacturer of cardboard boxes and coin albums (his
contribution as a pioneer maker of coin albums has been generally overlooked by the hobby), who in 1929 came forth with his magnum opus, a fine
study of half dollars titled Register of United States Half Dollar Die Varieties an Sub-Varieties. Both the Haseltine and Beistle works have been
rendered obsolete by later studies, but are important as historical items.
Today, key works in the series include these:
Fox, Bruce. The Complete Guide to Walking Liberty Half Dollars. Virginia Beach, VA: DLRC Press, 1993.
Lawrence, David. The Complete Guide to Barber Halves. Virginia Beach, VA: DLRC Press, 1991.
Overton, A1 C., edited by Donald Parsley. Early Half Dollar Die Varieties 1794-1836. 3rd edition. Colorado Springs, CO: published by the author, 1990.
Wiley, Randy and Bill Bugert. The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dollars. Virginia Beach, VA: DLRC Press, 1993.
Over the years, half dollars have formed the focus for study for many scholars. Notable among these are Capt. J.W. Haseltine, who published his Type
Table, or list of die varieties, in 1881, and, especially, M.L. Beistle, a Shippensburg, PA manufacturer of cardboard boxes and coin albums (his
contribution as a pioneer maker of coin albums has been generally overlooked by the hobby), who in 1929 came forth with his magnum opus, a fine
study of half dollars titled Register of United States Half Dollar Die Varieties an Sub-Varieties. Both the Haseltine and Beistle works have been
rendered obsolete by later studies, but are important as historical items.
Today, key works in the series include these:
Fox, Bruce. The Complete Guide to Walking Liberty Half Dollars. Virginia Beach, VA: DLRC Press, 1993.
Lawrence, David. The Complete Guide to Barber Halves. Virginia Beach, VA: DLRC Press, 1991.
Overton, A1 C., edited by Donald Parsley. Early Half Dollar Die Varieties 1794-1836. 3rd edition. Colorado Springs, CO: published by the author, 1990.
Wiley, Randy and Bill Bugert. The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dollars. Virginia Beach, VA: DLRC Press, 1993.