The Barber Half Dollar was launched along with the similarly designed dime and quarter dollar of the same name in 1892. The series lasted until 1915, after which it was replaced by the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. The Barber Half was minted at four different mints, including the Philadelphia, Denver, New Orleans, and San Francisco facilities. Although there are some lower mintage dates, there is no traditionally key date Barber Half as most coins are available in circulated grades. Some major rarities do exist in gem grades and higher, which can be difficult to acquire for some years. The coins share the common 90% silver composition or “coin silver” used for circulating silver coins of the era.
Barber Half Dollar Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
1892-1915 |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia |
|
Denver |
|
New Orleans |
|
San Francisco |
| Composition: |
90% silver |
|
10% copper |
| Weight: |
12.50 grams |
|
0.40 ounces |
| Diameter: |
30.61 mm |
|
1.21 inches |
halves barber
The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was issued from 1916 to 1947. Along with other designs of the same era, this is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the history of circulating American coinage. The obverse features a rendition of the allegorical Liberty figure standing and striding forward with a hand outstretch. The reverse features an eagle perched on a stone. The designer of the coin was Andrew A Weinman. The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was minted at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. The lowest mintage occured with the 1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar with 208,000 coins struck.
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
1916-1947 |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia |
|
Denver |
|
San Francisco |
| Composition: |
90% silver |
|
10% copper |
| Weight: |
12.50 grams |
|
0.40 ounces |
| Diameter: |
30.61 mm |
|
1.21 inches |
halves liberty
The Kennedy Half Dollar was produced in 90% silver for its first year of release in 1964. The composition was switched to 40% silver and used from 1965 to 1970. The final composition was a copper nickel clad based composition, which had been used to produce the quarter and dime since 1965. The composition consists of an outer layer of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a core of pure copper. This yields a net composition of 91.67% coper and 8.33% nickel. Coins were struck for circulation by the Philadelphia and Denver Mints from 1971 to present.
Clad Kennedy Half Dollar Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
1971-present |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia |
|
Denver |
| Composition: |
91.67% copper |
|
8.33% nickel |
| Weight: |
11.34 grams |
|
0.36 ounces |
| Diameter: |
30.61 mm |
|
1.21 inches |
halves kennedy
After only one year of production, the Kennedy Half Dollar saw its composition changed. The same year, the compositions of the dime and quarter were also changed to remove their silver content. Some silver was still retained for the composition of the Kennedy Half. The composition consisted of an outer layer composed of 80% copper and 20% nickel with a core of 20.9% silver and 79.1% copper. This yielded a net composition of 40% silver and 60% copper. This composition was used from 1965 until 1970, when the series was switched to the copper nickel clad composition. The 40% silver was used briefly once again for Bicentennial Kennedy Half Dollars produced for collectors in 1976.
40% Silver Kennedy Half Dollar Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
1965-1970 |
|
1976 |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia (1965-1967) |
|
Denver (1968-1970) |
|
San Francisco (1976) |
| Composition: |
40% silver |
|
60% copper |
| Weight: |
11.50 grams |
|
0.37 ounces |
| Diameter: |
30.61 mm |
|
1.21 inches |
halves kennedy
The Kennedy Half Dollar series was launched amidst the final year of 90% silver circulating US coinage. It represented an interesting one year composition for the series until the revival of the composition for later silver proof coins issued for collectors. The 1964 Kennedy Half had one of the higher mintages of the entire series as many were taken out of circulation due to the silver content or as momentos of the President Kennedy. Starting in 1992, the US Mint issued silver proof Kennedy Half Dollars which used the same coin specifications as the earlier 1964 coin. These silver proof coins were all minted at the San Francisco Mint.
90% Silver Kennedy Half Dollar Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
1964 |
|
1992-present |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia (1964) |
|
Denver (1964) |
|
San Francisco (1992-present) |
| Composition: |
90% silver |
|
10% copper |
| Weight: |
12.50 grams |
|
0.40 ounces |
| Diameter: |
30.61 mm |
|
1.21 inches |
halves kennedy