Barber Quarter History & Information

Barber Quarter 1892–1916

The Barber quarter was designed by Charles E. Barber and first minted in 1892. Barber was Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint at that time. The Barber quarter was minted of 90% silver and 10% copper and used the same design as the half dollar and dime (Barber Dime).
The Barber dime displays Lady Liberty on the obverse with a Phrygian cap encircled with a laurel wreath and a ribbon. The inscription on the headband reads “LIBERTY”. The reverse was a very simple design consisting of a wreath around the words “One Dime”. Mint marks, if present, appear at the bottom below the ribbon that ties the wreath.

1901 Barber Quarter
1901 Barber Quarter

Barber quarters were widely circulated yet one is more likely to find a higher grade example than they are a rare date. Some Barber quarter date / mint marks can be worth 50 times more for Extremely Fine than for Good for the same year and mint! The most rare Barber quarter is the 1901-S. The 1901-S is valued in the thousands of dollars depending upon grade.
A main factor for determining the grade of a Barber quarter is in the word “Liberty” which appears on lady Liberty;s headband on the obverse. If you can read the full word the coin is at least Fine. If some of the letters are obliterated then you have a “Good”. Also, for a barber quarter to qualify as Fine the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on the reverse should also be clear and intact.
1913 S Barber Quarter
1913 S Barber Quarter

Barber Quarter Specifications:

Designer: Charles E. Barber
Diameter: 24.3 mm
Weight: 6.3 grams
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Edge: Reeded
Net Weight: 5.67 g pure silver
Mintage Numbers for Circulation

1892 8,236,000
1892-O 2,640,000
1892-S 964,079
1893 5,444,023
1893-O 3,396,000
1893-S 1,454,535
1894 3,432,000
1894-O 2,852,000
1894-S 2,648,821
1895 4,440,000
1895-O 2,816,000
1895-S 1,764,681
1896 3,874,000
1896-O 1,484,000
1896-S 188,039
1897 8,140,000
1897-O 1,414,800
1897-S 542,229
1898 11,100,000
1898-O 1,868,000
1898-S 1,020,592
1899 12,624,000
1899-O 2,644,000
1899-S 708,000
1900 10,016,000
1900-O 3,416,000
1900-S 1,858,585
1901 8,892,000
1901-O 1,612,000
1901-S 72,664 (A scarce, key date issue.)
1902 12,196,967
1902-O 4,748,000
1902-S 1,524,612
1903 9,669,309
1903-O 3,500,000
1903-S 1,036,000
1904 9,588,143
1904-O 2,456,000
1905 4,967,523
1905-O 1,230,000
1905-S 1,884,000
1906 3,655,760
1906-D 3,280,000 (First year struck at Denver. In fact, this was the opening year for this Mint.)
1906-O 2,056,000
1907 7,192,000
1907-D 2,484,000
1907-O 4,560,000
1907-S 1,360,000
1908 4,232,000
1908-D 5,788,000
1908-O 6,244,000
1908-S 784,000
1909 9,268,000
1909-D 5,114,000
1909-O 712,000
1909-S 1,348,000
1910 2,244,000
1910-D 1,500,000
1911 3,720,000
1911-D 933,600
1911-S 988,000
1912 4,400,000
1912-S 708,000
1913 484,000
1913-D 1,450,800
1913-S 40,000 (Scarce in all grades.)
1914 6,244,230
1914-D 3,046,000
1914-S 264,000
1915 3,480,000
1915-D 3,694,000
1915-S 704,000
1916 1,788,000
1916-D 6,540,800