- Year: 1897
- Mint Mark: S
- Type: Barber Half
- Price: $100.00-$5600.00+
- Face Value: 0.50 USD
- Produced: 933,000
- Edge: Reeded
- Silver Content: 90%
- Silver Weight: .3617 oz.
- Melt Value: $11.01
Notes: Just under a million barber half dollars were minted at the San Francisco mint in 1897. These coins are valued much higher than the ones from Philadelphia (the no mint mark ones) One in MS-63 condition will be worth around 4 thousand dollars. Photo a bit blurry sorry.
Worth Remembering
Special year and mint combos worth remembering.
| Year | Mint Mark | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1892-O | Micro O | Key Date |
| 1897-O | O | Key Date |
| 1914 | None (Philadelphia) | Key Date |
| 1896-S | S | Semi-Key Date |
| 1904-S | S | Semi-Key Date |
| 1913 | None (Philadelphia) | Semi-Key Date |
| 1915 | None (Philadelphia) | Semi-Key Date |
| 1892-S | S | Better Date |
| 1893-S | S | Better Date |
Key Dates - rare and unique, the most popular and valuable of the series.
Semi Key Dates - Very popular dates but not the absolute most popular.
Better Dates - These dates are better than average but not considered key.
Mintages
How much is a 1897 S Barber Half Dollar worth?
In Average Circulated (AC) condition it's worth around $100.00, one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $5,600 at auction. This price does not reference any standard coin grading scale. So when we say Average Circulated, we mean in a similar condition to other coins circulated in 1897, and mint state meaning it is certified MS+ by one of the top coin grading companies. *** [?].
What are your coins really worth?
Use the handy-dandy calculator below to find the real value of any barber half dollar in your collection.
Most Valuable
The most valuable Barber Half Dollar's. Prices listed are for MS-65 certified. Visit the link to learn more about each coin.
| Image | Year | Mint | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1904 | S | $29.5k |
 |
1893 | S | $22,575 |
 |
1895 | S | $12.5k |
 |
1896 | O | $11k |
 |
1901 | S | $11k |
 |
1900 | S | $10k |
 |
1901 | O | $10k |
 |
1907 | S | $8.9k |
 |
1904 | O | $8.5k |
 |
1896 | S | $7.5k |
| Register Free to see more. | |||
| Image | Name | Mint | Worth |
Want more? Click here to see the most valuable coins ever minted.
Are 1897 S Barber Half Dollars Silver?
Yes! Barber Half Dollar's produced in 1897 are 90% silver to be precise, and contain .3617 troy oz or 11.25 grams in total of .999 pure silver. Silver weight is measured in troy ounces. Troy ounces weigh about 2 grams more than the standard ounce. CoinTrackers has built a tool that will let you know if your coin is silver or not. The tool is called Is My Coin Silver?.
Numismatic vs Intrinsic Value:
This coin in poor condition is still worth $88.99 more than the intrinsic value from silver content of $11.01, this coin is thus more valuable to a collector than to a silver bug. Coins worth more to a collectors may be a better long term investment. If the metal prices drop you will still have a coin that a numismatic would want to buy.
Want more info? Then read Coin Collecting Investment an article that details the benefits of coin collecting as a way to build wealth. Also learn how to properly store your coins.
Current silver melt value* for a 1896 S Barber Half is $11.01 and this price is based off the current silver spot price of $30.45 This value is dynamic so bookmark it and comeback for an up to the minute silver melt value.
***Price subject to standard supply and demand laws, dealer premiums, and other market variations. Prices represent past values fetched at online auctions, estate sales, certified coins being sold by dealers, and user submitted values. While we wholeheartedly try to give honest price estimates there are many factors besides appearance, metal content, and rarity that help make up the coins overall value. Call or visit your local coin dealer for more information.
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