10 Most Valuable Barber Quarters in 2024: Prices & Rarity

Douglas Winter

Aug 24th, 2024 ·

The most valuable Barber quarters are the following:

1901-S Barber Quarter: $3,750-$475,000
1913-S Barber Quarter: $1,000-$145,000
1897-S Barber Quarter: $85-$30,000
1896-O Barber Quarter: $100-$40,000
1896-S Barber Quarter: $45-$40,000
1914-S Barber Quarter: $95-$37,500
1909-O Barber Quarter: $65-$34,500
1911-D Barber Quarter: $12.50-$25,000
1908-S Barber Quarter: $17.50-$20,000
1912-S Barber Quarter: $15-$17,000

Are you a coin collector or someone interested in rare coins? If so, you may have come across barber quarters. Today, we’ll discuss whether these coins are worth your money.

Minted from 1892 to 1916, these quarters were produced during a period of significant economic and social change in the United States, just before World War I. This historical context makes them a fascinating and valuable addition to any collection.

Designed by Charles E. Barber, these coins were introduced to replace the earlier Liberty Seated designs, as part of a revamp of U.S. coinage. This issue also features barber half dollars and barber dimes.

The front of the coin depicts a classic portrayal of Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap and a laurel wreath, while the reverse side features a heraldic eagle surrounded by 13 stars, representing the original colonies.

If you have barber quarters in your collection and are curious about their value, you can contact us for a free coin appraisal by one of our experts.

Alternatively, you can download our free instant value guide to assess their worth.

Today, we’ll take a look at the ten most valuable barber quarters in 2024, discussing their mintage, historical context, and unique features. Let’s get started!

1901-S Barber Quarter

If you can find a 1901-S Barber Quarter, you’re looking at one of the rarest issues of the coin. It has the second-lowest mintage on this list, sitting at just 72,664. This is due to the San Francisco Mint’s focus on producing other types of coins during this year.

It is also a coin that’s rare to find in higher grades. This makes it very valuable and enticing for collectors. In 1990, one such coin sold for a whopping $550,000 at auction.

Quick Breakdown: 1901-S Barber Quarter

Year: 1901

Mint Location: San Francisco

Mintage: 72,664

Price Based on Condition:

Low: $3,750
High: $475,000

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Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service

1913-S Barber Quarter

With the lowest mintage on this list at only 40,000, the 1913-S Barber Quarter is another rare and valuable barber quarter. This quarter is exceptional for a few reasons.

Firstly, it has a low mintage. This is due to the dies being retired early on, stopping the production of this coin. The dies had a few flaws, which created a couple of unique features:

Die cracks: can be found around the lower part of the ‘3’ date.
Strike characteristics: this coin has an uneven strike, with the left side being weaker than the right.

This coin can fetch a high price, especially at auction. Its record sits at $173,500 in 2005.

Quick Breakdown: 1913-S Barber Quarter

Year: 1913

Mint Location: San Francisco

Mintage: 40,000

Price Based on Condition:

Low: $1,000
High: $145,000

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Image Credit: Professional Coin Grading Service

1897-S Barber Quarter

Year: 1897
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mintage: 542,229
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $85
- High: $30,000

In circulated condition, the 1897-S Barber Quarter could fetch you between $85 and $2,350.

This coin has a fairly low mintage compared to other issues of this coin. It only accounts for 5% of quarters minted that year.

Look out for a centered mint mark on an 1897-S Barber Quarter. This is particularly rare and can add a bit of value.

1896-O Barber Quarter

Year: 1896
Mint Location: New Orleans
Mintage: 1,484,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $100
- High: $40,000

The 1896-O Barber Quarter is considered relatively rare. While not as rare as its San Francisco counterpart, this coin is still highly sought after.

It’s estimated that around only 2,000 coins of this issue still exist today, which adds to their value. They are also hard to find in good condition.

In 2007, one of these coins sold for $80,500 at auction, which is its record.

1896-S Barber Quarter

Year: 1896
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mintage: 188,039
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $45
- High: $40,000

Another example of a coin with a low mintage, the 1986-S Barber Quarter is another valuable issue to look out for.

It’s also a coin with plenty of history attached to it. We can attribute its low mintage to economic factors of the time, such as the economic downturn in the United States following the Panic of 1893.

The highest price this coin has fetched at auction was $96,000 in 2020. However, you can expect to get between $200 and $40,000 for this coin depending on its condition.

1914-S Barber Quarter

Year: 1914
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mintage: 264,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $95
- High: $37,500

The 1914-S Barber Quarter was minted in San Francisco and has a relatively low mintage compared to other issues. This can be attributed to economic factors at the time, including the breakout of the First World War that same year.

The historical context of the coin as well as its scarcity make it one of the most valuable issues of this quarter. In circulated conditions, it can be priced between $95 and $2,100.

1909-O Barber Quarter

Year: 1909
Mint Location: New Orleans
Mintage: 712,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $65
- High: $34,500

The 1909-O Barber Quarter is valuable for a couple of reasons. It has a low mintage compared to other years, making it incredibly rare.

1909 was the year that the New Orleans Mint ceased operations, making this the last run of quarters it produced.

Its features are also poorly struck, which makes it hard to come by in mint condition. In circulated condition, these coins can be worth between $65 and $4,850. However, in more pristine conditions, they can go for much higher prices.

1911-D Barber Quarter

Year: 1911
Mint Location: Denver
Mintage: 933,600
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $12.50
- High: $25,000

Minted in Denver, the 1911-D Barber Quarter is a rare issue of this coin, with only around 4,000 pieces believed to exist in all grades. It has the lowest mintage of any Barber Quarter minted in Denver.

Some examples of this coin are poorly struck, especially at the points of highest relief. You can see this on Liberty’s forehead, and the eagle’s claw on the reverse.

In circulated condition, this coin is worth between $12.50 and $850, with the auction record sitting at $21,150 achieved in 2014.

1908-S Barber Quarter

Year: 1908
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mintage: 784,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $17.50
- High: $20,000

Barber quarters minted in 1908 are considered fairly common. However, the San Francisco issue is an exception to this, with a mintage that’s much lower than other mints that produced this coin.

While the 1908-S Barber Quarter is not as valuable as other entries on this list, it can still fetch over $20,000 in pristine condition. Well-circulated versions of this coin can sell between $17.50 and $975.

1912-S Barber Quarter

Year: 1912
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mintage: 708,000
Price Based on Condition:
- Low: $15
- High: $17,000

The 1912-S Barber Quarter is fairly scarce due to its low mint run. In that year, the Philadelphia Mint produced the majority of these coins.

The San Francisco mint is particularly important in the coin’s run. The mint has a rich history due to its association with the California Gold Rush and is also known for its adept quality control.

In average condition, this coin is valued at around $42. Its value can range from $555 to $1,055 or more in uncirculated conditions.

Conclusion

Barber Quarters hold significant value due to their rarity, historical context, and unique characteristics. They are a fun coin to collect, and certain issues can fetch high prices at auction.

If you are curious about the price of your Barber Quarters, you can reach out to us for a free coin appraisal from our experts.

Additionally, we have an online coin-selling platform for you to utilize.

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Douglas Winter Chief Numismatic Advisor at Coinfully & President of Douglas Winter Numismatics. A famed rare coin expert and author, Douglas contributes to the Coinfully Blog and publishes educational articles to offer expertise as a leading numismatist in the field.

10 Most Valuable Barber Quarters in 2024

Table of Contents

1901-S Barber Quarter

Quick Breakdown: 1901-S Barber Quarter

1913-S Barber Quarter

Quick Breakdown: 1913-S Barber Quarter

1897-S Barber Quarter

1896-O Barber Quarter

1896-S Barber Quarter

1914-S Barber Quarter

1909-O Barber Quarter

1911-D Barber Quarter

1908-S Barber Quarter

1912-S Barber Quarter

Conclusion

Sources:

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