Barber Dimes (1892-1916)

All You Need to Know About Buying Barber Dimes on eBay

Barber dimes were designed Charles E. Barber, Chief Engineer of the United States Bureau of the Mint, as part of the Barber coins series of US coins he was authorized to design. Minted between 1892 and 1916, Barber dimes are commonly sought by collectors and hobbyists alike for their unique qualities. Learn how to identify and select Barber coins, whether as a novelty or to add to your growing US currency collection.

In order to distinguish Barber dimes from other old coins, look for certain identifying characteristics. The obverse side contains the iconic image of the Head of Liberty with the letter "B" for Barber monogrammed on the cutoff of her neck, the words "United States of America" overhead, and the date beneath. The reverse side contains the denomination written out in text as "One Dime" surrounded by a wreath of wheat, corn, oak, and maple foliage. Other distinguishing qualities of the Barber dime include the following:

• Edge - Reeded
• Composition - 90% silver, 10% copper
• Silver - 0.07234 troy ounce
• Mint Mark - Either D for the Denver Mint, O for the New Orleans Mint, and S for the San Francisco Mint located beneath a wreath on the reverse side, or, if minted at the Philadelphia Mint, no mint mark.

Besides being certain the dime being sold is, indeed, a genuine Barber dime, there are various factors of condition to consider before committing to purchase one. Depending on your priorities in buying Barber dimes or collecting US currency, you may want to purchase only a Barber dime in the ideal possible condition. Many Barber dimes are certified and/or graded by the third-party US currency experts. Certification may come from organizations like ICG, ANACS, CAC, PCGS, or the US Mint itself. Gradings can range widely based on the coin's quality. Different coin graders use different scales like the Sheldon scale, NGC scale, and Adapted scale.

There is one Barber dime in particular that is rarer and, hence, more valuable than all the other Barber dimes minted; that is the 1894-S Barber dime. Designed in 1892 and minted in 1894, only 24 of these dimes were produced. Only nine, all proof coins rather than circulated coins, are known to still be in existence.