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- Product ID: 20309
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The 1906-S Barber Half Dollar is in very good condition, exhibiting extreme wear on both sides of the coin but the date is still readable. The 1906-S was minted in San Francisco, and carries the infamous "S" mint-mark. The San Francisco Mint was established during the historical California gold rushes and helped prospectors turn their freshly mined gold into money. The San Francisco Mint is also known for its highly efficient quality control and strong strikes on its coins. Barber used the Head of Liberty to grace the obverse of the Barber coin series. Liberty's look is inspired by a Grecian Goddess and she wears an Acanthus leaf cap as a crown. "United States of America," and the coin's mint date are also simply stamped on the obverse of the Barber Half Dollar. 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. Since the Barber Half Dollar contains 90% silver, it is among the limited list that satisfies both the picky coin collector and the diverse bullion investor.
The Barber Half Dollar's design has quite an interesting history. The Barber design was named after the US Mint's Chief Engraver, William Barber. The coins were in circulation from 1892-1916, but the half dollar wasn't minted the last couple of years before the series ended. William Barber would also work over George T. Morgan, the Morgan's designer, as the Barber coinage was minted. The Seated Liberty design had run its course and the Mint's Director, Edward Leech, wanted to officially change the design. Holding a competition, Leech wanted to encourage participation by giving the winner a cash prize. All of the local artists invited declined and Leech resorted to his mint for direction, specifically William Barber.