1905 Half Dollar Error List with Pictures
A tiny second S below the mintmark is the clue to this 1905 variety. It is easy to miss without magnification.
For a price comparison, a 1942 half dollar with a repeated D sold for $69 in 2024. That sale involved a different date and design.
The 1905 half dollar errors covered here have an estimated range of $75–$350 in worn condition. Read on to find the extra S and separate it from a damaged letter.
1905-S Barber Half Dollar Repunched Mintmark Error (Estimated Up to $350)
Look below the eagle on the back. A small piece of another S can appear beneath the main mintmark, the letter showing where the coin was made.
The S means San Francisco. A worker punched it into the die, the steel tool used to stamp coins, then punched it again slightly higher.
Part of the first mark remained. Coins made with that die copied the extra outline.
The Barber Coin Collectors’ Society survey lists two reported examples of this S/S variety. That does not mean only two coins survive.
Estimated Value
Estimate $75–$350 for confirmed examples in worn Good to Very Fine condition. This is the value of the entire coin, including its normal value as a 1905-S half dollar.
A 1942 half dollar with an extra D sold for $69 at Heritage in March 2024. It had an unworn ANACS MS62 grade.
That different-year sale gives a comparison for a repeated mintmark. A clear extra S and undamaged surfaces support stronger interest in the 1905 coin.
How to Identify
Use a 10× magnifier on the bottom of the S. Look for part of a separate S outline below the main letter, not just extra thickness.
Move the lamp to the other side. The shape should remain visible as raised metal rather than disappear as a shadow.
Corrosion can create uneven bumps. Movement during stamping can also leave a flat shelf beside a letter, which is a different feature.
Check the whole coin: the date must read 1905 and the back must say HALF DOLLAR. A scale and calipers can check a loose coin against 12.50 grams and about 30.6 millimeters, with grooves around the edge.
The fastest identification is a matching lower S outline in a clear photo of a confirmed 1905-S/S.
Conclusion
The small extra S below the main mintmark is the feature to find. Two examples were reported in a collector survey, but that count does not tell us how many survive.
The estimated $75–$350 range applies to confirmed worn examples. Compare the letter’s shape carefully, then consider the coin’s remaining detail and surfaces before choosing a price within that range.