1909 Barber Dime

Barber Dimes were minted from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s and are a great addition to any collection. Though the US Mint has produced many iconic coin series over the years, few are more attractive than the Barber Dime. The 1909 Barber Dime is of particular interest to collectors, but is not see easy to collect. The reason for this is due to the fact that four different types of the coin were minted this year.

Because so many different types of Barber Dimes were minted in 1909, collectors must first consider coin type then condition. Unfortunately, because these coins are so old, very few have survived the years in excellent condition.

Grading the 1909 Barber Dime

For coins like the 1909 Barber Dime, the first thing collectors will take into consideration is the condition of the coin. Because no one wants to add a tarnished, blemished, beaten up coin to their collection, it is important that a collect acquire the coin that is in the best possible condition.

When you carefully assess the condition of a coin, what you are really doing is giving that coin a grade. Grading is something that is usually done by a professional coin grading company, but with the specifications below you can derive a good idea of what qualities a coin of a specific grade will possess.

Uncirculated: An Uncirculated Barber Dimes is one that will show absolutely no signs of wear and tear. These coins are in excellent condition and really do appear as though they were minted recently, not 100+ years ago. Even the coin’s original mint finish will be present, giving the faces a nice shine.

Extremely Fine: This is the grade given to coins that were circulated, but only for a short period of time. Due to their time in circulation, these coins will have acquired some wear on the surfaces. Scratching will be light, but will be visible under close inspection. At the end of the day, however, these coins are still in excellent condition.

Fine: Fine is a grade given to coins that have seen a good amount of time in circulation. They have acquired a lot of wear on their surfaces and will have lost their original luster. Still, the imagery and inscriptions on the coin are able to be made out without any trouble and the coin is in decent shape.

Good: Good is the grade given to coins that were in circulation for many decades. These coins will show heavy signs of wear including scratching, bending, and chipping. Due to years of exchanging hands, the surfaces of the coin will have been worn down such that they are no longer textured, but rather smooth. Naturally, these coins are the most inexpensive.

Pricing the 1909 Barber Dime

In order to price a Barber Dimes, you must consider a few different factors. For one, you must take into consideration the type of Dime it is. Because 1909 saw four different varieties of Dimes, the type you possess is important. After figuring out the type, condition then becomes paramount. As the condition of the coin improves, the price you are going to pay for it will increase, sometimes dramatically. The chart below will give you a good idea of what you will be asked to pay for 1909 Barber Dimes depending on type and grade.

Barber Dimes

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1909 Barber Dime	$4	$6	$25	$75
1909 Barber Dime (D)	$8	$60	$140	$225
1909 Barber Dime (O)	$5	$13	$70	$150
1909 Barber Dime (S)	$9	$80	$180	$310
Source: Red Book