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.
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.
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 |