NationMaster - Encyclopedia: United States Barber coinage

Liberty Head ("Barber") designs appeared on United States minor silver coinage (the dime, quarter, and half dollar) from 1892 to 1916. They derive their common name from their designer, Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ... A dime is a coin issued by the United States Mint with a denomination of one-tenth of a United States dollar, or ten cents. ... The quarter is 1/4th of a United States dollar or 25 cents. ... The Half Dollar of the United States has been produced nearly every year since the inception of the United States Mint in 1794. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Charles Edward Barber (1840–18 February 1917) was Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1879 until his death. ...

Origins

In 1887, Mint Director James P. Kimball included a statement in his annual report to Congress requesting a coinage redesign. He proposed a process whereby distinguished artists would be invited to participate in the design process, and, in 1890, the United States Department of the Treasury asked ten eminent American artists to submit design proposals for minor silver coinage. However, this plan proved unworkable when the artists made financial demands that the Treasury was unwilling to meet. The next effort was a contest open to the public, but none of the designs submitted in this manner were satisfactory to the Mint. Ultimately, it fell to Charles Barber to create new designs for silver coinage. He did so, and the designs were first placed into production in 1892. 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet department and the treasury of the United States government. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Basic Design

Image File history File links Barber_Quarter_Obverse. ... Image File history File links Barber_Quarter_Obverse. ...

Obverse

The basic obverse design of the Barber silver coinage consisted of a Liberty head with a cap and wreath. ^[1] This figure was inspired both by classical Greek and Roman models and by the designs of various 19th-century French coinage. The word "LIBERTY" appeared on the headband in incuse; since it wears relatively quickly in circulation, it is often used by numismatists to help determine the condition of circulated coins. The Liberty head is flanked by six stars on the left and seven on the right, and the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" appears above it. The date is centered below the figure. The terms obverse and reverse apply almost exclusively to currency, and most often specifically to coins; they are usually described with less precision as, respectively, the front and back sides, or with regard to a coin tossed to produce a random choice between two things, heads and tails. They can... In God We Trust on the twenty dollar bill In God We Trust is the national motto of the United States of America. ...

Reverse

There were two basic reverse designs on Barber coinage. The dime featured a wreath of American agricultural products with the words "ONE DIME" in the center. The mint mark, if any, was positioned below the wreath. This reverse design differed little from that of the old Seated Liberty dime. Image File history File links Barber_Quarter_Reverse. ... Image File history File links Barber_Quarter_Reverse. ... The quarter is 1/4th of a United States dollar or 25 cents. ... The Half Dollar of the United States has been produced nearly every year since the inception of the United States Mint in 1794. ... Image File history File links Barber_Dime_Reverse. ... Image File history File links Barber_Dime_Reverse. ... A dime is a coin issued by the United States Mint with a denomination of one-tenth of a United States dollar, or ten cents. ... The terms obverse and reverse apply almost exclusively to currency, and most often specifically to coins; they are usually described with less precision as, respectively, the front and back sides, or with regard to a coin tossed to produce a random choice between two things, heads and tails. They can... A wreath is a ring made of flowers, leaves, and sometimes fruits, used as an ornament, hanging on a wall or door, or resting on a table. ... A mint mark is an inscription on a coin indicating the mint at which the coin was produced. ... The Seated Liberty designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage during the mid- and late-nineteenth century, from 1836 through 1891. ...

On the quarter and half dollar, a heraldic eagle, similar to that featured on the Great Seal of the United States, is the central design element, with "QUARTER DOLLAR" or "HALF DOLLAR" and the mint mark (if any) located beneath it. As on the Great Seal, the eagle carries a banner in its beak reading "E PLURIBUS UNUM", and the amount of the motto visible is helpful to numismatic graders in determining the condition of circulated specimens. A field of 13 stars (the same number as on the obverse, representing the 13 original American colonies) appears above the eagle, and on the top edge, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" is inscribed. The popular, informal term spread eagle is derived from a heraldic depiction of an eagle displayed, with both wings, the body and the legs displayed, which has been used as the emblem of a number of states and monarchs. ... Obverse The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States government. ... E pluribus unum is included in the Great Seal of the United States E pluribus unum was the first national motto of the United States of America. ...

References

2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 20 is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ...

External links

Category: Coins of the United States The Seated Liberty designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage during the mid- and late-nineteenth century, from 1836 through 1891. ... It has been suggested that the section United States coins from the article United States dollar be merged into this article or section. ... A dime is a coin issued by the United States Mint with a denomination of one-tenth of a United States dollar, or ten cents. ... Many numismatists consider the Standing Liberty Quarter among the most attractive of all U.S. coin designs. ... Walking Liberty Half Dollar A silver half dollar coin issued by the United States government, equal to 50 cents. ...

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