1896 Barber Half Dollar. MS-66 (PCGS). This is an exceptional and richly toned Gem, offering blooms of orange-gold and electric-blue iridescence. The surfaces display satiny luster and a sharp strike, and appear virtually untouched beneath a glass. Just five grading events rank higher at PCGS, making this an ideal candidate for an advanced Registry Set of Barber coinage.<p>One of the scarcer Philadelphia Mint issues in this series, the 1896 has a mintage of 950,000 pieces and has always presented a challenge to specialists. When writing in the 1980s, David Akers remarked that "In my experience, [the 1896] is the rarest P Mint Barber Half Dollar of the decade, especially in Gem condition." This still holds true decades later as certified populations offer more clarity about the rarity of this issue. While lower Mint State examples can be located with patience, Gem examples like the present PCGS MS-66 are truly elusive.
