1892 Barber Half Dollar. MS-65 (PCGS).

An attractive example of the first year of the Barber or Liberty Head half dollar. Light golden toning presents over lustrous, frosty surfaces. A bit better than typically struck, with just a whisper of lightness beyond the upper right corner of the shield on the reverse (the spot to check in this regard - not well known, but for you, well worth making a note of for future reference). A desirable example that will probably be most attractive to someone forming a high level date or type set While typically the first year of issue of a denomination attracts attention by the public, this does not seem to have happened with the Barber dime, quarter, and half dollar. The main reason is probably that nationwide attention was focused on the forthcoming 1892 souvenir (as it was called) half dollar for the World's Columbian Exposition. These coins attracted a great deal of attention, with widespread newspaper accounts. In contrast, contemporary notices about the new Barber coins were occasional and contained some pointed remarks about the design, not intended to inspire people to save them. Because of this, Barber half dollars of this date survived as a matter of chance. We are not aware of any hoard or even a small group surviving from the year of issue. Barber coins remained in numismatic disfavor as well, with scarcely a word of favorable comment being given to them in pages of The Numismatist, auction catalogues, or elsewhere. During the ensuing years, to 1915, most circulation strikes slipped into the channels of commerce without fanfare. Incidentally, the same was true of Morgan silver dollars, although today Morgan dollars survive in quantities because of government hoards. There were no equivalent hoards of Barber coins. Fast forward to the second half of the 20th century, when Barber coins became a specialty for quite a few collectors. It was soon found that the number of true Gems was few and far between. Today in 2022, it can be a real challenge to put together a set of MS-65 Barber half dollars that combines high grading numbers with sharpness of strike and good eye appeal. Indeed, we estimate that it would take several years and a well endowed pocketbook to accomplish this feat.

PCGS# 6461. NGC ID: 24LF.

PCGS Population: 114; 91 finer (MS-68 finest).