Barber dimes, which were issued by the U.S. Mint between the years 1882 and 1916, have garnered tremendous interest from coin collectors the world over. These coins are both rare and unique. Yet perhaps the most interesting thing about them is their origin. During the late 19th century, a commission led by Charles Barber--the U.S. Mint's chief engraver--asked the public to submit ideas for currency designs. Of the 300 plus submissions that the public offered, the committee awarded only two of them an honorable mention. Perhaps at least partially as a result of this, the Mint director, James Kimball, was replaced by a friend of Charles Barber, a man named Edward O. Leech. Quietly, Leech abandoned the idea of searching for citizen designers and awarded Charles Barber the honor of designing the dime himself. Barber's redesign ushered in the fourth major silver dime series, following the Draped Bust dimes, which were minted between 1796 and 1807, the Capped Bust dimes, which were minted between 1809 and 1837, and the Seated Liberty silver dimes, which were minted between 1837 and 1891. Following the production of Barber dimes, the mint changed the dime's design twice more. The Mercury design lasted from 1916 to 1945, and the Roosevelt dime lasted from 1946 to 1964. Today, dimes are minted from a copper nickel admixture. Given the wide circulation of Barber dimes and Barber half dollars during their heyday, it's no surprise that more Barber coins pop up every day. However, collectors should be sure to check for authenticity. Online sites and local dealers can give insight about how and where to find authentic Charles Barber dimes. |
