Ron Guth

The 1900-S Half Dollar is semi-scarce but far from being an unheralded rarity. Mint State example can be found with relative ease in MS63 and MS64. In MS65 and higher, the profiles of the 1900-O and 1900-S are nearly identical with one notable exception -- the 1900-S is represented by a single PCGS MS67+ whereas the 1900-O is unknown above MS66.

Not all 1900-S Half Dollars are well-struck. Pay particular attention to the upper right shield and adjacent feathers. The goal should be full, horizontal lines in the shield and full feather details. However, the quality of the strike seems to have little impact on 1900-S Half Dollars. Hardly any discounts apply to weaker coins and very little premiums are attached to well-struck coins -- yet...

David Akers