1894 Barber Half Dollar

1894 Barber half dollars are a great collectible for any numismatist who enjoys 19th- and 20th-century coins, silver coins, or United States coinage. These large silver coins are generally scarce, with Barber half dollars grading a full good somewhere hard to find and those at a grade of Fine or above tough. This may have to do with the fact that very few of these coins were saved by collectors of the day, who generally specialized in early U.S. type coins, foreign issues, and Colonial coins. A half dollar represented a lot of money back around the turn of the century, and therefore most of these coins were heavily used.

Below is a glance at the mintage figures and values for 1894 Barber half dollars:

• 1894 – 1,148,000; $33

• 1894-O – 2,138,000; $28

• 1894-S – 4,048,690; $24

• 1894 proof – 972; $900

*Values are for coins in a grade of Good-4, unless otherwise noted.

If you are attempting to buy any full-Good Barber half dollars, including those from 1894, it is best to shop around and look for the best you can afford. Many Barber halves have been cleaned, or show some type of damage. However, there are nice, original pieces out there that have only honest wear, and you will find these desirable coins if you’re patient and look around enough.