Barber Quarters (1892-1916)
Barber Quarters
Designed by Mint Engraver Charles Barber, the Barber quarter became a prominent aspect of everyday life for Americans at the end of the 19th Century. It was originally intended that a public contest would be held to choose the design for the new twenty-five cent piece. This contest was deemed a financial as well as artistic failure as none of the designs submitted by the public were judged as worthy to represent this new coin.Collecting U.S. Mint Coins
Quarter Dollars
If you're drawn to Barber quarters, consider exploring other quarter designs from the U.S. Mint. The movement to modernize American coinage replaced Barber's design with the Standing Liberty quarter series, sculpted by Hermon MacNeil.
Barber's Liberty had drawn criticism almost from the day it appeared, prompting the Mint to seek a bolder, more modern look. MacNeil delivered it with a full standing figure of Liberty, one of many designs that redefined the quarter across the decades. Explore our collection of American quarters and discover the iconic designs that capture unique moments in American history and enrich any coin collection.