1897 Barber Half Dollar
Base
About This Coin
The 1897 Barber Half Dollar is a United States half dollar from the Barber Half Dollars 1892-1915 series — 6th of 24 years in the series. In 1897, coins were struck at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New Orleans Mints with a combined mintage of 4.0 million. This ranks 10th of 24 years by total mintage, below the series median of 4.9 million. The obverse features Liberty facing right wearing a Phrygian cap topped by a laurel wreath, with the word LIBERTY on a headband and the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM. The 1897-O with a mintage of 632,000 is a major semi-key date, scarce in all grades above Good. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 12.5 grams, 30 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Across its variants, estimated values range from $60 to $5.0K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $43K in MS67 grade at Heritage Auctions. Designed by Charles E. Barber.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(4)
1897 (O) Barber Half Dollar
1897 (S) Barber Half Dollar
1897 Barber Half Dollar
1897 Proof Barber Half Dollar
Other Base Coins in This Series
Collector Essentials
Tools and references for building and protecting your coin collection.
10x-20x Jeweler's Loupe
A must-have for examining coin details, mint marks, and surface quality
Red Book — Guide to U.S. Coins
The essential annual reference for U.S. coin values, history, and mintages
Coin Albums & Storage
Archival-quality albums and holders to protect and display your collection
USB Digital Microscope
Capture detailed images for documentation and community submissions
As an Amazon Associate, NumisDex earns from qualifying purchases.