1903 Barber Quarter

The Barber Quarter is one of the marquis offerings of the US Mint, though it hasn’t been produced for quite some time. First introduced in the late 19th century, the Barber Quarter was put to use by US citizens as it was a very useful coin. Today, collectors are eager to get their hands on these pieces of US history, but only at the right price.

A majority of 1903 Barber Quarters were minted in Philadelphia. Roughly, 25% of the 1903 Barber Quarters were minted in New Orleans and 3% were minted in San Francisco. Coins minted in Philadelphia have no mint mark, coins minted in New Orleans (O) and San Francisco (S) have a mint mark on the reverse, under the Eagle.

The 1903 Barber Quarters are fairly common in general, and they are quite affordable in the lower circulated grades. However, as most collectors strive to acquire only coins that are in excellent condition, collecting Barber Quarters becomes difficult. Not only are there 3 different types of these coins minted every year, they were often circulated heavily and therefore in poor condition.

Grading the 1903 Barber Quarter

As is the case with any coin sought after by collectors, the condition of the piece is everything. Even though these coins have plenty of age, there are still quite a few remaining in tip-top shape. Difficult to find, it is easy to see why collectors are willing to pay top-dollar for Barber Quarters that have been well-preserved.

Under normal circumstances, a coin’s condition is judged through a grading process executed by a professional organization. Understanding that not everyone can afford to send their coins away for grading, we have provided below an outline of what you might expect coins of certain grades to look like.

Uncirculated: An uncirculated coin is one that saw no time being exchanged on the open market. Instead, these pieces were kept in storage throughout their entire lives and did not have the chance to be damaged or worn. Because of their pristine condition, uncirculated coins are the most sought after.

Extremely Fine: To receive an Extremely Fine grade, the coin in question will have had to have spent a little bit of time in circulation. Though these coins will undoubtedly show some signs of wear and tear, it will be difficult to make out this wear with the naked eye. These coins are also of great value to all collectors.

Fine: Fine is the grade given to those coins that spent some time in circulation such that they have been lightly tarnished and/or damaged. Coins of this grade will show visible signs of wear, but the coin’s imagery will remain intact and able to easily be made out with the naked eye.

Good: Good is the grade given to Barber Quarter that have seen an extended period of time having been circulated. The condition of these coins can best be described as poor, and the damage you will see on both faces will be extensive. Though these coins are in fairly poor shape, they are still great additions to any collection as they are more than 100 years old and quite rare.

Pricing the 1903 Barber Quarter

To price the 1903 Barber Quarter accurately, you must take into consideration a few factors. First, you must consider the type of Quarter you have. Because 2 or more types of Barber Quarters were produced each and every year, the type’s specific rarity comes into play. Secondly, the price of the coin will be directly determined by the condition which it is in. Naturally, those coins that have been well-preserved are the ones that will sell for the higher prices. The chart below will give you a better idea as to what you can expect to pay for a Barber Quarter given its condition and type.

Barber Quarters

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1903 Barber Quarter	$9	$26	$65	$120
1903 Barber Quarter (O)	$10	$40	$120	$275
1903 Barber Quarter (S)	$15	$45	$150	$275
Source: Red Book