1894 50C MS66 Certification #19806494, PCGS #6468

Laibstain. Duckor/Friend. Picked up directly from the Dale Friend set at auction. This coin has been owned by three collectors that have been involved with the PCGS registry set for many years, and all three have put together gem sets of Barber Half Dollars. This coin serves as an interesting link between the three sets and was a coin traded by Steve Duckor to Dale Friend to help Steve improve his set to the level he did. We are proud to be current holders of this coin in the set. Only two finer examples, one was the coin Dale sold Steve which then sold at the auction of the set of Steve Duckor. As expected, the 1894 comes well-struck. Not an easy coin to find in gem or better. David Lawrence once remarked that the 1894 half in circulated condition is quite a bit more difficult to find than most realize and he once challenged Barber Collectors to try to put together a roll in G condition in a year, as he didn't think it could be done. I never tried, but realized that the date isn't seen as often as one would think. This date also is the 100th anniversary of the first federally struck half dollars.

Ron Guth

The 1894 Half Dollar is a very common date, though it is not as common as some of the other dates of this decade (such as the uber-plentiful 1892, 1893, 1894, 1894-O, and others).  Most Mint State 1894 Half Dollars range in grade from MS62 to  MS64.  Gems are fairly common and there are a couple of superb examples to tempt the quality-conscious buyer.  The best example of which we are aware is the stunning PCGS MS67+ formerly of the Dr. Duckor Collection (which is, not surprisingly, the record-holder of the highest price for an 1894 Half Dollar).

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David Akers

All grades considered, this is one of the more common issues of the decade...