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The 1893 Barber Half Dollar was minted at the very first mint in the US and is in very good condition. Collectors expect very good condition to contain large amounts of wear on the entire coin, with specific details missing, such as the intricacies of Liberty's face or the feather detailing on the eagle. The Barber Half Dollar replaced the Seated Liberty coinage, 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. All individual coins will be secured in a coin flip to ensure proper protection while in transit.
The Philadelphia Mint is the oldest mint in the US, being established in 1792. After the ratification of the Constitution, the Founding Fathers needed to establish a national identity and a means of commerce. At the time, Philadelphia was the capital of the US so it only made sense for the first mint to be built there. The Mint Act was also passed, during this time, to assign coins denominations based on their legal tender or metal fineness. The Mint Act also mandated that an emblematic symbol of liberty should be depicted on all US currency, lending to the Lady Liberty craze over the years. The Philadelphia Mint is still a main producer of US currency, carrying its years of history and expertise into every coin collection.