Barber Quarter

The Barber quarter got its name for the designer, Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. The bust of Liberty is much like that of the Morgan Dollar, but facing right. She wears a Liberty cap with a laurel wreath and has a ribbon in her hair at the back of her neck. IN GOD WE TRUST is above her head and the date below. There are six stars on the left and seven on the right to represent the thirteen colonies. The designer’s initial B is at the base of Liberty’s neck. On the reverse is the Great Seal of the United States and an eagle with outstretched wings. It holds an olive branch with thirteen leaves in the right claw and thirteen arrows in its left. E PLURIBUS UNUM is on the ribbon that the eagle holds in his beak with thirteen stars in the field.

This series of quarter dollar coins were minted from 1892 through 1916 and consists of 74 regular issues with no significant varieties.

There have been a total of 15,315 Barber quarters certified as mint state found to date of the 264 million produced. This series has many rarities as 28 different dates have a population of less than ten in MS65 or better condition. The challenge of this set is well known, but many collectors attempt to take it on. The 1901 Barber Quarter is the key date and the rarest issue minor US coin in the 20th Century. The 1901 is very valuable in all grades. There were just two dies made to mint this date and they have specific date and mintmark positions.