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- Product ID: 20358
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Philadelphia was the nation's capital, at the beginning of this country's history. In order to set up an identity as a country and to be able to conduct international commerce, the US needed a mint to produce currency. The Philadelphia Mint was the first mint to be established in the US so it doesn't mark its coins with a mint-mark. The Mint Act officially announced the opening of the Philadelphia Mint and also instituted guidelines for the newly minted currency. A dollar decimal system would be used to assign the currency with legal tender values. Also, an emblematic symbol of liberty must be included on US currency, hence why so many adaptations of Liberty have been used. Since the Philadelphia Mint was the main headquarters for the Barber Half Dollar collection, it produced some of the largest mintages in the series.
The Barber Half Dollar replaced the Seated Liberty coinage in 1892, by preference of the Mint Director, Edward Leech. After a failed attempt to offer a friendly competition among local artists, Leech resorted to Chief Engraver, William Barber, to come up with the design. Barber's design extended to the dime, quarter, and half dollar; being one of the only coin designs to serve on all currency. Liberty is wearing a Grecian leaf cap, on the obverse, as the reverse features the nation's seal. The Barber Dime is the only Barber coin to not showcase the heraldic eagle, holding the shield, on its reverse. The dime and quarter feature just the coin's monetary denomination. The 1899 Barber Half Dollar is an easily accessible coin that can be found at a high grade for a low premium. This 1899 Barber Half Dollar is in fine condition, exhibiting large amounts of wear on the entire coin and some of the main image details are also worn. The 1899 Barber Half Dollar will be packaged in a coin flip to ensure proper protection while in transit.