Barber Half Dollar - A Redesigned Coin Before The Turn Of The Century

The year was 1892, and the U.S. Mint had a fresh venture. For much of the second half of the 19th century, most U.S. silver coins bore a design of a seated Liberty, introduced to U.S. coins in the late 1830s. As artistic tastes changed over time, it was increasingly disliked in the United States. This led to a new silver half dollar entering circulation in 1892. Though some identify it as the Liberty Head half dollar, it’s more often referred to by the name of its designer, Charles E. Barber.