Description

The Barber Quarter (named after the designer Charles E. Barber) was introduced in 1892, after more than five decades of use for the previous Seated Liberty motif. The series of Barber Quarters, minted continuously from 1892 until 1916, consists of 74 circulation strike issues and an additional 24 proof issues for all years up to 1915.

The 1896-S Barber Quarter is the first of a trio San Francisco Mint issues, which comprise the most difficult coins in the series. This coin had a mintage of 188,039 coins. Most recently, the piece graded NGC MS 66 sold for $57,588 at an auction held in January 2011.

The 1901-S Barber Quarter is known as the “King of Barber Coinage.” The issue has a mintage of 72,664 and is known as the most difficult coin of the series to acquire in any grade. The single finest known 1901-S Barber Quarter is graded an astounding PCGS MS68. It is believed that the coin was purchased by a collector directly from the San Francisco Mint in the year of issue, accounting for its remarkable condition. The coin was purchased at auction in March 2010 for $327,750 and then immediately resold to a collector.

The 1913-S Barber Quarter has the lowest mintage of the entire series with only 40,000 coins produced. This represents the last of the three lower mintage San Francisco coins generally considered to be key dates of the Barber Quarter series. The finest known example of the 1913-S Barber Quarter graded PCGS MS68 sold for $86,250 at auction in April 2009.

The Barber dime was designed by Charles E. Barber, Chief Engraver of The United States Mint. He also designed the quarter and half-dollar coins that bear a similar image of Lady Liberty on the obverse.