The Barber (Liberty head) quarter belongs to the Barber coin series minted from 1892 to 1916. This coin got its name after the US Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, the man who created its design. Four mints produced these coins depending on the year, including Philadelphia, New Orleans, Denver, and San Francisco.
Most pieces are rare, and a few are really scarce, directly affecting Barber quarter values. Even coins in the worst possible condition will be worth at least as much as the silver it contains. Since most of these coins were in heavy circulation, you need to be patient to find high-grade specimens and be prepared to pay them more.
Barber Quarter History
Four mints produced Barber quarters during the minting period from 1892 to 1916, including Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New Orleans.
You can recognize the minting place thanks to the mint mark on the coin reverse, below the eagle’s tail. As always, coins minted in Philadelphia don’t have a mint mark, while others are marked with letters D, S, or O.
Barber quarter |
|
| Face value | $0.25 (25 cents) |
| Compound | 90% silver and 10% copper |
| Coin weight | 0.20094 troy ounces (6.25 g) |
| Silver weight | 0.18084 troy ounces (5.62 g) |
| Coin diameter | 0.95669 inches (24.3 mm) |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Charles E. Barber designed both the coin obverse and reverse. You can see Lady Liberty facing right with a Phrygian cap on her head. The inscription LIBERTY is written on a small band, next to a laurel wreath she wears.
The reverse is unique, with the Great Seal of the US showing a heraldic eagle and thirteen stars that honored first states. The eagle holds arrows and an olive branch in its talons.
The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is placed over the bird’s head, while the denomination QUARTER DOLLAR is placed along the bottom coin rim.
Barber Quarter Price
Once you get one of the Barber quarters, you need to check its:
- Date and the mint mark variety to determine its availability
- Grading condition to estimate its value
- Special qualities to know how collectible this particular piece is
Most Barber quarters are inexpensive in low grades, except for a few rare pieces, including the 1896 S Barber quarter worth $1,000 in good condition. On the other hand, the coin in the mint state can reach almost $20,000.
Depending on the condition, the 1896 O Barber quarter will cost you $60 to $2,000. Coins minted in San Francisco and New Orleans in 1897 are more expensive than most other pieces, and you should set aside about $2,000 for those in the mint state.
Barber quarter value by USA Coin Book |
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| Year | Quality | Mintage | |||||||
| Good | Very good | Fine | Very fine | Extra fine | AU | MS 60 | MS 63 | ||
| 1892 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $83 | $138 | $260 | $470 | 8,237,245 |
| 1892 S | $33 | $55 | $90 | $145 | $223 | $335 | $520 | $1,155 | 964,079 |
| 1892 O | $14 | $19 | $48 | $65 | $105 | $175 | $335 | $520 | 2,640,000 |
| 1893 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $83 | $138 | $250 | $445 | 5,484,838 |
| 1893 S | $19 | $40 | $65 | $120 | $185 | $335 | $495 | $1,200 | 1,454,535 |
| 1893 O | $7.9 | $12 | $33 | $65 | $110 | $185 | $310 | $545 | 3,396,000 |
| 1894 | $7 | $7.9 | $39 | $55 | $105 | $167 | $268 | $495 | 3,432,972 |
| 1894 S | $7.9 | $14 | $45 | $65 | $133 | $230 | $365 | $797 | 2,648,821 |
| 1894 O | $7.9 | $20 | $48 | $80 | $145 | $255 | $365 | $797 | 2,852,000 |
| 1895 | $7.9 | $12 | $33 | $50 | $90 | $157 | $250 | $545 | 4,440,880 |
| 1895 S | $19 | $35 | $80 | $135 | $186 | $308 | $465 | $1,155 | 1,764,681 |
| 1895 O | $10.3 | $20 | $55 | $80 | $157 | $255 | $445 | $1,005 | 2,816,000 |
| 1896 | $7.9 | $12 | $33 | $50 | $90 | $145 | $280 | $445 | 3,874,762 |
| 1896 S | $1,005 | $1,670 | $2,583 | $4,230 | $5,570 | $7,640 | $10,820 | $19,480 | 188,039 |
| 1896 O | $63 | $93 | $223 | $350 | $620 | $890 | $1,155 | $2,225 | 1,484,000 |
| 1897 | $7.9 | $12 | $28 | $45 | $80 | $120 | $270 | $445 | 8,140,731 |
| 1897 S | $133 | $167 | $335 | $595 | $920 | $1,110 | $1,770 | $2,085 | 542,229 |
| 1897 O | $45 | $75 | $200 | $375 | $445 | $645 | $950 | $1,935 | 1,414,800 |
| 1898 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $80 | $138 | $250 | $445 | 11,100,735 |
| 1898 S | $9 | $28 | $45 | $65 | $100 | $225 | $420 | $1,290 | 1,020,592 |
| 1898 O | $14 | $30 | $80 | $157 | $335 | $425 | $675 | $1,670 | 1,868,000 |
| 1899 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $83 | $138 | $250 | $445 | 12,624,846 |
| 1899 S | $30 | $45 | $105 | $120 | $157 | $290 | $470 | $1,555 | 708,000 |
| 1899 O | $9 | $17 | $40 | $80 | $135 | $280 | $420 | $890 | 2,644,000 |
| 1900 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $83 | $138 | $250 | $445 | 10,016,912 |
| 1900 S | $7.9 | $14 | $40 | $65 | $90 | $145 | $390 | $1,110 | 1,858,585 |
| 1900 O | $10.3 | $28 | $75 | $120 | $157 | $345 | $570 | $950 | 3,416,000 |
| 1901 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $83 | $138 | $250 | $445 | 8,892,813 |
| 1901 S | $5,700 | $10,820 | $17,885 | $24,970 | $33,155 | $38,125 | $44,475 | $52,100 | 72,664 |
| 1901 O | $45 | $65 | $157 | $308 | $495 | $675 | $950 | $2,010 | 1,612,000 |
| 1902 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $80 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 12,197,744 |
| 1902 S | $12 | $25 | $65 | $100 | $175 | $270 | $545 | $1,060 | 1,524,612 |
| 1902 O | $7.9 | $15 | $55 | $95 | $157 | $250 | $520 | $1,425 | 4,748,000 |
| 1903 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $80 | $130 | $250 | $495 | 9,670,064 |
| 1903 S | $14 | $28 | $48 | $95 | $167 | $310 | $470 | $950 | 1,036,000 |
| 1903 O | $7.9 | $10.3 | $45 | $65 | $133 | $310 | $470 | $1,288 | 3,500,000 |
| 1904 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $80 | $135 | $250 | $445 | 9,588,813 |
| 1904 O | $33 | $45 | $95 | $167 | $268 | $495 | $890 | $1,425 | 2,456,000 |
| 1905 | $33 | $40 | $55 | $73 | $83 | $133 | $250 | $465 | 4,968,250 |
| 1905 S | $33 | $45 | $83 | $110 | $130 | $250 | $390 | $1,110 | 1,884,000 |
| 1905 O | $45 | $65 | $133 | $237 | $287 | $390 | $520 | $1,355 | 1,230,000 |
| 1906 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $48 | $80 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 3,656,423 |
| 1906 O | $7 | $7.9 | $45 | $65 | $110 | $223 | $335 | $595 | 2,056,000 |
| 1906 D | $7 | $7.9 | $33 | $55 | $80 | $160 | $260 | $495 | 3,280,000 |
| 1907 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $45 | $80 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 7,192,575 |
| 1907 S | $7.9 | $17 | $48 | $80 | $157 | $305 | $520 | $1,110 | 1,360,000 |
| 1907 O | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $80 | $145 | $280 | $545 | 4,560,000 |
| 1907 D | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $85 | $195 | $310 | $705 | 2,484,000 |
| 1908 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $80 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 4,232,545 |
| 1908 S | $17 | $40 | $95 | $185 | $365 | $500 | $830 | $1,200 | 784,000 |
| 1908 O | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $80 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 6,244,000 |
| 1908 D | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $80 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 5,788,000 |
| 1909 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $73 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 9,268,650 |
| 1909 S | $7 | $7.9 | $40 | $63 | $100 | $200 | $315 | $830 | 1,348,000 |
| 1909 O | $45 | $110 | $445 | $705 | $1,005 | $1,935 | $2,745 | $3,780 | 712,000 |
| 1909 D | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $93 | $167 | $250 | $445 | 5,114,000 |
| 1910 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $90 | $157 | $250 | $445 | 2,244,551 |
| 1910 D | $7.9 | $9 | $48 | $80 | $138 | $268 | $390 | $1,005 | 1,500,000 |
| 1911 | $7.9 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $80 | $138 | $250 | $445 | 3,720,543 |
| 1911 S | $7 | $7.9 | $63 | $93 | $185 | $305 | $420 | $830 | 988,000 |
| 1911 D | $33 | $45 | $167 | $335 | $470 | $645 | $920 | $1,425 | 933,600 |
| 1912 | $7 | $7.9 | $28 | $50 | $80 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 4,400,700 |
| 1912 S | $20 | $33 | $73 | $100 | $140 | $237 | $390 | $1,030 | 708,000 |
| 1913 | $14 | $28 | $80 | $200 | $445 | $570 | $1,005 | $1,290 | 484,613 |
| 1913 S | $1,810 | $2,430 | $5,570 | $8,310 | $10,820 | $14,200 | $16,640 | $21,900 | 40,000 |
| 1913 D | $10.3 | $14 | $40 | $65 | $93 | $195 | $310 | $495 | 1,450,800 |
| 1914 | $7 | $7.9 | $25 | $45 | $73 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 6,244,610 |
| 1914 S | $138 | $200 | $420 | $595 | $890 | $1,058 | $1,425 | $1,725 | 264,000 |
| 1914 D | $7 | $7.9 | $25 | $45 | $73 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 3,046,000 |
| 1915 | $7 | $7.9 | $25 | $45 | $73 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 3,480,450 |
| 1815 S | $28 | $45 | $65 | $93 | $130 | $223 | $315 | $520 | 704,000 |
| 1915 D | $7 | $7.9 | $25 | $45 | $73 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 3,694,000 |
| 1916 | $7 | $7.9 | $25 | $45 | $73 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 1,788,000 |
| 1916 D | $7 | $7.9 | $25 | $45 | $73 | $130 | $250 | $445 | 6,540,800 |
Relatively rare 1913 S Barber quarter has the lowest mintage among American regular-strike silver coins the US Mint produced in the 20th century. It is worth almost $2,000 if you have a piece in good condition. The specimen in the mint state will cost you more than $20,000.
Finally, the 1914 S Barber quarter will cost you almost $2,000 when you find an uncirculated piece.
As for the proof coins, those minted from 1892 to 1913 are typically worth $900 to $1,900, depending on the condition and dealer. Remember that the Philadelphia mint didn’t produce these coins in 1916.
The King of Barber Coinage
The series key date among Barber quarters is the 1901 S specimen, the King of Barber coinage. The highly graded 1901 Barber quarter produced in the New Orleans mint can reach approximately $2,000, the one minted in San Francisco is considered scarce.
The price of any saved specimen of 72,664 minted in the worst condition is at least $5,700. On the other hand, you need to set aside at least $50,000 for the MS 63 graded piece.
The top-grade MS 68+ King of Barber quarter was sold fin 1990 for an unbelievable $550,000. Due to the current economic situation, a similar piece was sold in 2010 for only $327,000.
Summary
Although the US Mint produced Barber quarters in a relatively short period, most of them are affordable even in the mint stage. These coins are highly collectible nowadays, even though most collectors didn’t appreciate them before the late 1960s.
If you like this appealing design, you should choose this series. Besides a few rare pieces, most Barber quarters will cost you less than $15.
