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Half Dollars
W
ONDERFUL
P
ROOF
1910 B
ARBER
H
ALF
823
1910
.
NGC graded Proof 68
. Lovely rainbow toning.
Only 551 minted. While the 1910 Barber half is relatively
available in Mint condition, especially considering only
418,551 pieces were struck, leading to the obvious conclu-
sion that it would likely be unavailable, the Proofs are as
scarce as their mintage. This is an absolutely full specimen,
the striking details are uniform from side to side with com-
plete keen-edged detail in all areas. Lustrous deep mirrors
with original lilac and blue toning over each side. The
reverse has a particularly warm splash of iridescence
angling across the eagle. This is an impressive Proof 68
example of this popular, low mintage issue and one of the
finest reported.
Pop 5; none finer at NGC
.
Estimated Value .................................... $10,000 - 11,000
Enlargement
F
LASHY
C
AMEO
P
ROOF
1910 B
ARBER
H
ALF
824
1910
.
NGC graded Proof 67 Cameo
. A fully white
Cameo Proof. Only 551 struck. The Barber Half Dollar was
produced in one main Type from 1892 to 1915. Very few
Proof 67 examples are extant today from that time, an era
with attractive, low mintages and a high survival rate, but
handling and cleaning attrition that would make a 21st cen-
tury collector blanche in horror. Original Proof sets from the
early 1900s with high grade specimens have generally not
been available at public auction since the 1920s. To find
such a large sized silver coin that was struck prior to the
First World War and in this condition is, in our experience a
worthy event. In addition to its rock-solid technical merits,
the surfaces add breathtaking eye appeal in the form
vibrant silvery gleam that really needs to be seen (wearing
sunglasses) in order to be fully appreciated.
Pop 13; 2
finer, 1 in 68, 1 in 68 Star.
Estimated Value ........................................ $6,000 - 6,500
825
1912
.
PCGS graded MS-65
. A nice white coin. This is a
thickly frosted, Gem quality representative of the 20th Century
Barber Half Dollar coinage, desirable inasmuch as it is struck
with controlled precision throughout.
Pop 19; 5 finer, 2 in
65+, 2 in 66, 1 in 66+
. (
PCGS # 6524
)
A curious incident in the annals of US history, now forgotten by
most: The year was 1912, the same year that this Barber Half
Dollar was issued. It is a presidential election year. On his way
to a speech in Milwaukee less than three weeks before Election
Day, ex President Theodore Roosevelt, now running on the “Bull
Moose” ticket, was shot in the chest by a deranged man under
orders (the man claimed) from the spirit of President McKinley.
As Roosevelt’s aids started to take him to the hospital, he
ordered: “You get me to the speech. It may be the last one I
shall ever deliver, but I am going to deliver this one.” His shirt
bloodied, a bullet hole through his script, he took to the podium
and addressed the crowd. “I have just been shot. But it takes
more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”
With a broken rib and a slug wedged less than an inch from his
heart, Roosevelt would spend the next five days in the hospital.
He recovered, to go on to split the Republican party ticket in the
November election, tossing the White House to the underdog,
Democrat candidate, Woodrow Wilson.
Estimated Value ..............................................$2,500 - 2,600
