Barber Dime: Dates, Mint Marks, Silver and Value

In this article

Quick answer

A Barber dime is a ten-cent silver coin dated 1892–1916, designed by Charles E. Barber. It contains 90% silver and about 0.07234 troy ounce of fine silver. Liberty’s capped portrait and ONE DIME inside a wreath distinguish it from the similarly styled Barber quarter and half dollar.

For a common-date example, the PCGS guide checked October 21, 2026 lists a 1906 Philadelphia dime at $15 in G4, $30 in VF20, $55 in XF40 and $265 in MS63. The date and mint matter: these values do not price the exceptional 1894-S or a scarce branch-mint issue.

Coin photos

1906 Philadelphia Barber dime obverse: read Liberty’s headband and date.

1906 Barber dime reverse: ONE DIME fills the wreath; no mint letter below is normal.

Basics & coin story

Barber’s dime entered circulation in 1892 alongside new quarter and half-dollar designs. Their shared portrait explains why the denomination on the back matters as much as the face. The small dime used a wreath and written denomination rather than the larger coins’ eagle reverse.

The series lasted until 1916, when the Mercury dime arrived. Both designs can bear that year, but the famous 1916-D rarity is a Mercury dime. A genuine 1916-S Barber dime belongs to a different issue. Begin with the portrait rather than transferring a well-known date-and-letter price between designs.

Identification at a glance
Feature	What to check
Dated series	1892–1916
Denomination / designer	10 cents / Charles E. Barber
Composition	90% silver, 10% copper
Nominal weight / diameter	2.50 g / 17.9 mm
Fine silver	Approximately 0.07234 troy ounce
Edge	Reeded
Mint marks	None, O, S or D where issued; reverse below wreath

Identification

Match the denomination and mint

Look for ONE DIME inside the reverse wreath. A Barber quarter and half dollar share a family resemblance but differ in size, weight and reverse. The mint letter, when present, is below the wreath. No letter normally identifies Philadelphia; O is New Orleans, S San Francisco and D Denver.

Not every date exists from every mint. Check an exact catalog listing rather than assuming a complete grid of letters for every year. Read the date and reverse together before selecting a price.

Keep major rarities separate

The 1894-S is an extraordinary issue with a recorded original production of only 24. That history should not set the expected value of an ordinary worn Barber dime. A claimed example requires authentication of the date, mint mark and complete coin.

The 1895-O is another issue that deserves its own reference. A faint O or an uncertain final digit cannot be assigned the highest plausible value. Photograph the mark and date under soft light and retain any certificate or ownership information.

Condition & value

Amounts are U.S. dollars. These PCGS retail-guide examples were checked October 21, 2026 for the stated issue and designation. A raw coin needs its own condition assessment; guide figures are not guaranteed sale proceeds and can lag metal prices.

Match the issue, grade and price basis
Issue	Grade / condition	Value or reference	Basis	Important distinction
1906 Philadelphia regular	G4 / VF20	$15 / $30	PCGS retail guide	Common-date comparison only
1906 Philadelphia regular	XF40 / MS63	$55 / $265	PCGS retail guide	Problem-free surface required
1906 Philadelphia regular	MS65	$500	PCGS retail guide	Not a raw-coin grade assumption
Contained silver	Approx. 0.07234 troy oz	0.07234 × silver spot per oz	Metal calculation	Not a complete collector valuation
1894-S / scarce date or mint	Exact authenticated issue	Separate evidence	Rarity-specific	Do not use the 1906 row

LIBERTY on the headband is a useful wear indicator, but a complete grade considers the whole coin. Look for rim wear, hair detail, luster and surface problems. A cleaned or corroded coin can retain readable lettering while selling below a problem-free guide.

Compare sold examples with the same date, mint and grade; avoid substituting a seller’s ambitious asking price. For a mixed dime collection, the 2026 dime guide helps identify a later design before valuation. The grading scale explains the condition terms used here.

Summary

Confirm ONE DIME, read the date and reverse mint mark, then judge condition. The 1906 figures are a common-date reference. Keep the 1894-S, scarcer branch issues and 1916 Mercury rarities in their own comparisons, and preserve original surfaces before seeking an offer.

FAQ

Are Barber dimes silver?

Yes. Standard Barber dimes contain 90% silver, approximately 0.07234 troy ounce of fine silver in a 2.50-gram coin.

Where is the mint mark on a Barber dime?

It is on the reverse below the wreath when present. No letter normally identifies Philadelphia.

Is the rare 1916-D dime a Barber dime?

No. The famous 1916-D is a Mercury dime. Identify the design before applying its price.

Is every Barber dime rare?

No. Dates and mints vary substantially. Common-date coins, the exceptional 1894-S and other scarce issues need separate comparisons.

References

References and further reading

Sources checked October 21, 2026. Retail guides and historical sales are identified separately; neither guarantees a buying offer.