1900-S

The San Francisco Mint produced 329,000 Liberty Head Half Eagles in 1900, a workmanlike output that placed the issue in the middle of the branch facility's turn-of-the-century gold production. The S-mint operation served the Pacific commerce that ran from the wharves of San Francisco out to Hawaii, the Philippines, and the Asian trade ports, and half eagles played a steady role in those settlements alongside larger gold pieces. Each coin was struck on a planchet of 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper alloy, weighing 8.359 grams and measuring 21.6 millimeters in diameter, with a reeded edge securing the rim against shaving. Christian Gobrecht's Coronet portrait, dating to 1839 and modified for the With Motto reverse adopted in 1866, gave the design the long continuity that defined the series until its replacement in 1908.

Authentication of a 1900-S begins with the small S mintmark seated below the eagle on the reverse. Examine the punch under magnification for the rounded serifs and properly aligned position used by San Francisco that year, since added or transplanted mintmarks remain the most common deception applied to Liberty half eagles. Weigh the coin against the 8.359 gram standard; gold-plated counterfeits or low-karat copies typically miss this figure by a noticeable margin and ring dull rather than producing the bright tone of true gold alloy. Strike on genuine 1900-S pieces is generally good but not sharp, with the eagle's neck feathers and the upper hair curls above Liberty's ear sometimes showing the softness common to San Francisco production of the period. Original surfaces carry a warm coppery to greenish-gold tone built up from a century of cabinet storage.

For modern collectors the 1900-S is a readily available date in circulated grades and through the lower Mint State range, making it a sensible choice for type representation or for a date set being assembled on a moderate budget. Premiums climb noticeably at MS63 and above, and gem examples with original color and clean fields draw competitive bidding when they appear. Read the full Liberty Head Half Eagle series history.