1898-O Barber Dime

Barber Dime
 1892–1916

The Barber Dime is a classic American coin — part of a collection of dimes, quarters, and half dollars designed by Charles Barber, U.S. Mint Chief Engraver from 1879 to 1917. The Barber Dime replaced the Seated Liberty Dime in 1892 and was followed by the Mercury Dime in 1916.

Originally, the new coinage design was supposed to be chosen from a contest ordered by Director of U.S. Mint, Edward Leech. However, many artists chose not to participate in the contest since only the winner would be paid for their work. Of more than 300 entries submitted by the public, Leech decided that none were suitable and abandoned the contest. Leech turned to his chief engraver, Charles Barber, to create a new design. At the time, Barber’s design was considered unremarkable, receiving mixed reviews from artists and the general public. Nevertheless, President Benjamin Harrison approved the design in November 1891, and Barber Dimes were struck the next year.

Also known as the Liberty Head Dime, the Barber Dime shares a nearly identical design to the Barber Quarter and Barber Half Dollar. The obverse features Lady Liberty, facing right and wearing a cap with a laurel wreath. On the wreath is a headband inscribed “LIBERTY.”  The minting date is inscribed at the bottom, underneath Lady Liberty’s neck. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is also inscribed on the obverse, wrapping along the rim.

The Barber Dime reverse features a laurel wreath encircling “ONE DIME” inscribed in the center. At the bottom of the wreath is a bow. The inscription “IN GOD WE TRUST” was omitted from the dime’s design, although it is featured on the Barber Quarter and  Barber Half Dollar. For dimes minted outside of Philadelphia, the mint mark can be found below the wreath’s bow.

Barber Dimes were minted in four different cities — Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Philadelphia Barber Dimes have no mint mark. For the rest of the cities, “D” represented the Denver Mint, “S” represented the San Francisco Mint, and “O” represented the New Orleans Mint. There are seventy-four different date and mint mark combinations with over 500 million Barber Dimes produced. The rarest and most valuable is the 1894-S dime, with only twenty-four struck and nine known to be in existence today. Other key dates include 1892-S, 1895-O, 1901-S, and 1903-S.

Specifications

Weight: 2.5 grams

Composition: 90% Silver (0.07234 troy oz), 10% Copper

Diameter: 17.91 mm

Edge: Reeded

Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, New Orleans