Barber Quarter is a multi -year favorite among collectors of its historical significance and the exciting challenge that comes to try to assemble a complete set, including coins from all mint facilities.
In their era, Barber quarters went primarily immediately in circulation and stayed there. They were strongly used and today they are survivors in high qualities scarce. In 1896, only 762 barber protections were marked. Today, the difficult quarter is in high quality in 1896 Barber Proof Quarterers is difficult to come up with. There are only 250 survivors of grade 65 or better.
Having a Barber Quarter from 1896 in your hand is a direct connection to one of the most economically lively periods in our country’s history. This coin was embossed towards the end of the gilded age.
The rapid growth of heavy industry, such as factories, railways and culmination, drove economic growth forward at a furious pace these years. The gilded age contained great wealthy industrialists and financiers such as John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, JP Morgan and Cornelius Vanderbilt, who are well remembered today. Many of their gilded age assets were turned into good use through philanthropy, and they continue to influence people’s lives today through universities, hospitals, museums and libraries.
Barber -Quarter was marked from 1892 to 1916. The striking coin is named after its designer, United States Bureau of Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. Barber -quarter is part of a number of coins that today collectors refer to as “Barber Coinage.” This includes a penny, quarter and a half dollars.
Today, collectors strive to own a collection of shaving quarters characterized by all the various American mint facilities, including Philadelphia (no coin brand), New Orleans (O Mint Mark), San Francisco (S Mint Mark) and Denver (D Mint Mark).
The Barber quarter was introduced as part of a modernization effort from our country’s coin, and it replaced Sitting Liberty quartal, which had been in circulation since 1838. The Barber quartal has served a reverential place in the Numismatic world as it represents the changing coin at the end of the 19th century.
Mint with 90% silver and 10% copper has opposed a bust of freedom facing the right. She carries a Phrygian Cap, which is a symbol of freedom, and is surrounded by the words “in God we trust.” The date is located under the bust of freedom. The reverse highlights a memorable heraldic eagle with extensive wings. Eagle has an olive branch and arrows in its talons and symbolizes peace and strength.
This coin was embossed in an extraordinary period of American history – the gilded age. Other memorable events in 1896: Utah was admitted as the 45th state of the United States of America, in May 1896 a group of 12 industrial stocks was elected to form Dow Jones Industrial Average, and in November 1896 Republican William McKinley won the US presidential election and defeated William Jennings Brian. Look at the Article in the Barber Quarter certificate of 1896 here, and imagine keeping it in your hand as a way of connecting to this historic time in America.