Barber Half Dollar Good Condition 1896-O

A familiar name to coin collectors, William Barber served as the Chief Engraver, to the US Mint, from 1869-1879. In just the short ten years as Chief Engraver, Barber was responsible for a history-breaking coin design. Being one of the only designs to grace all current denominations, the Barber design was inspired by the Grecian goddess, Liberty, who has been admired and loved by warriors since the beginning of time. Liberty wears an Acanthus leaf cap as a crown, which was very common in ancient Greece, and the "United States of America," and the coin's mint date are also simply stamped on the obverse. The reverse contains the nation's official seal, which is of a heraldic eagle holding a shield. Each of the eagle's talons are grasping a symbolic gesture: olive branches and arrows. The 1896-O Barber Half Dollar is a part of a hefty mintage and can be easily accessed in all conditions. The 1896-O coin is considered to be in good condition, which is the lowest grade these half dollars can be found in. Good condition is usually associated with extreme wear on the entire coin, with major details lacking.

There were four mints that aided in the production of the Barber Half Dollar. The Old Mint, served as a branch of the US Mint from 1838-1861, then again from 1879-1909; serving alongside three other mints in order to produce the highly collectible Morgan silver dollar. Decommissioned in 1909, the New Orleans Mint has been used as an assay office, a fallout shelter, and a storage facility for the US Coast Guard. The Old Mint is considered an official historical landmark and is presently the oldest structure in the US. The Old Mint also participated in other important coin series, such as the Barber coinage, wherein it is one of the only coin collections that has the same design on all denominations.

• Denomination: N/A
• Year: 1896
• Diameter: N/A
• Mint Mark: N/A
• Thickness: N/A
• Grade: N/A