Barber Dime

United States Barber coinage

The director of the Mint back in 1887 James P. Kimball added a request for coinage redesign in his annual report to the United States Congress.

In his proposal he suggested that distinguished artists would be asked to participate in the design process. Liking the idea the Department of the Treasury asked 10 American artists to submit designs for silver coinage.

Great ideas don’t always work! The artists demanded payment that the Treasury could not meet. So the offer went out to the public but none submitted any designs with the quality required.

So the job of producing the new designs fell to Charles Barber for the new silver coinage. His first designs were place in production in 1892.

On the Obverse

The Barber dime consisted with a Liberty head with cap and wreath.

Classical Greek and Roman design’s from some of the 19th century inspired his designs.

On the headband appeared the word “LIBERTY” incuse. Today it is used by numismatists to determine the condition of the coins.

On the left side of the Liberty head has 6 stars and the right there is 7 stars and above them appears “IN GOD WE TRUST” The date of minting appeared below the figure.

On the Reverse

The Barber dime had a wreath of American agricultural products with the words "ONE DIME" in the center. The mint mark, if any, was positioned below the wreath.

Collectible Barber Coins

The Barber series there were few mint marks or other aberrations. The 1894-S Barber Dime is one of the most valuable coins ever produced by the United States. Only 24 were produced. Of those, only nine remain, one of which sold for $1.9 million in 2007