1893 Barber Quarter

There were three varieties of the 1893 Barber Quarter: 1893 (Philadelphia), 1893-O (New Orleans) & 1893-S (San Francisco). The 1893 Barber Quarter was the second year of the series and the coins weren’t saved as expected. All three 1893 coins have much lower populations than 1892 coins. For collectors, it is a difficult task to find these coins, and the impossibility of that task is only increased when you try to find one in good shape.

The mint mark appears on the reverse of the 1893 Barber Quarter as a small letter just below the Eagle’s tail. For collectors, it is always a goal to find coins in the best possible condition because no one wants to bluster a collection of coins that is not much to look at. With regard to the 1893 Barber Quarter, finding one in great condition is no simple task.

Grading the 1893 Barber Quarter

If you have ever talked with collectors, you are more than likely aware of the fact that they put a lot of weight into the condition of an old coin like the 1893 Barber Quarter. Because these coins are quite old, their condition is not necessarily always the greatest. Knowing this, collectors will closely inspect every coin they receive, looking for even the smallest imperfections.

By way of the specifications below, you can gain a good idea of what a graded Barber Quarter might look like.

Uncirculated: An Uncirculated Barber Quarter is one that never saw any time on the open exchange market. These coins appear pristine and, even after close inspection, really are in excellent shape. You will find that the coin will appear as though it was just minted not too long ago.

Extremely Fine: A coin that is given this grade will appear pristine, but will play host to a bit of light damage. Though the damage may be light, it is enough to devalue the coin somewhat. Still, even after a close look over you will find that the most severe damage is nothing more than some light scratching.

Fine: If your coin is graded to be Fine it definitely saw time in circulation, but the amount of damage incurred during that time was nothing overly significant. You will see plenty of scratching and maybe even some chipping, but the coin’s images and inscriptions will be almost wholly intact.

Good: This grade is reserved for those Barber Quarters that are in extremely rough shape. Having been heavily circulated throughout the years, these coins have been damaged considerably. With inscriptions and images beginning to fade, the appeal of this coin is nothing like that of an Uncirculated edition. Still, because this is the 1893 Barber Quarter, it is still attractive to collectors simply because it is one of the first Barber Quarters produced.

Pricing the 1893 Barber Quarter

Giving the Barber Quarter a price is something that involves the consideration of two factors—condition and type of coin. Naturally, because the coin is so old, its condition will be the most accurate way to determine price. If the coin has been extremely well-preserved, you can bet that it will sell for more than a coin that is heavily damaged. Secondly, because multiple types of the Barber Quarter were produced annually, this also plays into determining a price.

Barber Quarters

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1893 Barber Quarter	$9	$26	$75	$130
1893 Barber Quarter (O)	$10	$30	$110	$170
1893 Barber Quarter (S)	$20	$60	$175	$300
Source: Red Book