Being that the Barber Dime was minted so long ago, it is naturally quite difficult to get your hands on one. What’s more, for a collector trying to find a 1912 Barber Dime in great condition, the process becomes immensely difficult. After all, these coins were heavily circulated, which means that very few have survived the years in excellent condition.
For coins that are as old as the 1912 Barber Dime, collectors are constantly concerned about the coin’s condition. Like was previously stated, these coins were used frequently and exchanged hands quite often. Because of this, those pieces that have survived the years can be in any type of condition.
For a collector, the process of judging the condition of a coin is known as giving the coin a grade. Grading is a unique process often executed by a coin expert, but with the specifications below you can attain a good idea of what coins of a certain grade will look like.
Uncirculated: A coin graded to be Uncirculated is a coin that spent absolutely no time exchanging hands. These coins will show no signs of wear and will be in perfect condition. The condition of these coins is so excellent, in fact, that even the mint’s original luster will have been preserved, giving the coin a shiny appearance.
Extremely Fine: In Extremely Fine condition, the Barber Dime will show only very minimal signs of wear. You will be able to see some light scratching, but the overall texture and appearance of the coin will remain intact. Even some of the mint’s original luster may be hanging around to give the coin a nice appealing shine.
Fine: A coin given this grade is one that saw a good amount of time in circulation and has the signs to show it. Complete with a good amount of scratching and other imperfections, this coin will appear as though it exchanged hands for quite a few years.
Good: A coin given this grade was circulated more than any other. These coins will have a lot of scratching, so much, in fact, that the coin’s imagery and inscriptions may be somewhat difficult to make out. Because these coins were used on a day-to-day basis by so many Americans, this is the grade given to most surviving 1912 Barber Dimes.
When it comes to giving the Barber Dime a price, the first thing you must consider is the type of coin it is. Three different varieties of Barber Dimes were minted in 1912 and each of them have their own scarcity and level of demand by collectors. In addition to the type, you must also consider the grade of the coin. The chart below is designed to give you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for a 1912 Barber Dime of a certain grade and type.
Barber Dimes
DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
---|---|---|---|---|
1912 Barber Dime | $4 | $6 | $25 | $75 |
1912 Barber Dime (D) | $4 | $6 | $25 | $75 |
1912 Barber Dime (S) | $4 | $6 | $35 | $90 | Source: Red Book |