1903 Barber Half Dollar

A healthy number of Barber half dollars were made in 1903 to meet circulation demands, and the coin remains generally common today. While coin collectors have many options to choose from when it comes to buying 1903 halves, it still must be remembered that these are Barber half dollars. So, as a rule, relatively few have survived above the grade of Very Good, due to extremely heavy use during their prime.

Here’s a rundown of the 1903 Barber half dollar mintages and the coins’ approximate values:

• 1903 – 2,278,000; $18

• 1903-O – 2,100,000; $23

• 1903-S – 1,920,772; $23

• 1903 proof – 755; $900

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

Barber half dollars were originally called Liberty Head half dollars and were first minted in 1892. Designed by Charles E. Barber, Chief Engraver at the United States Mint during that time, the Liberty Head half dollar would be renamed in common vernacular by numismatists for the coin’s designer.

Today, Barber half dollars are quite popular with collectors of 20th-century coins, silver coins, and U.S. coins. They are also commonly sought by type collectors, who particularly seek common-date Barber half dollars that grade Fine or above and serve as high-quality representatives of their type.