Information
on the
Barber Coin Series:
In 1887, Mint Director James
P. Kimball informed the US Congress that he was requesting a coinage
redesign because he felt the US coinage was inferior to other
countries. He proposed a process that would allow distinguished artists
to participate in the design process. In 1890, the United
States Department of the Treasury invited ten artists to submit design
proposals for minor silver coinage. This plan fell through
when the artists made financial demands that the treasury could not
meet. The Mint next decided to open the contest to the
public. Extensive internal politics surrounded the ultimate
awarding of the design job. A four-member committee (which
included Barber) appointed by Kimball, picked only two of more than 300
submissions for "honorable mention", finding the rest unsatisfactory.
Kimball's successor, Edward O. Leech, decided to dispense with the
committees and public design competitions and simply instructed Barber
to develop a new design. It has been speculated that this is what
Barber had wanted all along.
Barber's designs appeared on
the dime and quarter from 1892 through 1916, and the half dollar
through 1915.
This coinage is commonly referred to as Barber or
Liberty Head.
Obverse design: The basic
obverse design of the Barber silver coinage consists of a Liberty head
with a cap and wreath. The portrait was inspired by classical
Greek and Roman figures and various 19th century French coinages.
The word "LIBERTY" appears on a headband worn by Lady
Liberty. Many numismatists use the condition of the engraved
"LIBERTY" to determine the grade of the coin. The Liberty
head on the Quarter and Half Dollar is flanked by "IN GOD WE TRUST" and
13 stars (for the original 13 colonies), on the Dime it is flanked by
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the date
is centered below.
Reverse design: There were
two
basic reverse designs on Barber silver coinage. The dime
features a wreath of Americana agricultural products with the words
"ONE DIME" in the center and the mintmark (if applicable) below. On the
quarter and half dollar, a heraldic eagle carrying a banner in its beak
reading "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is featured. Below the eagle is
either "QUARTER DOLLAR" or "HALF DOLLAR" with a mintmark (if
applicable) beneath. Above the eagle, 13 stars are again used to
represent the 13 original American colonies with "UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA" inscribed.