Circulated Barber Dimes: 19th Century Dates

Like Barber quarters, Barber dimes were minted from 1892 to 1916. This discussion is about building a set of circulated, nineteenth century Barber dimes, generally those grading from VF-20 to AU-55. Please see a separate guide for collecting circulated, twentieth century Barber dimes. Collectors interested in Choice to Gem quality Barber dimes may wish to read my two articles on MS-64 to MS-66 grade Barber dimes.

Of all the series of U.S. silver coins that commenced in the nineteenth century, Barber dimes are the least expensive and easiest to collect. Representatives of fifty of the seventy-three dates cost relatively small amounts.

This discussion is about business strikes. I cover Proofs in a separate discussion here on the CAC website.

Among business strikes in the series, there are no rarities. I have examined seven of the nine known 1894-S dimes and I am certain that these are not business strikes. They are Proofs or are close to being Proofs, carefully made special strikings from extraordinarily prepared dies. The texture of the surfaces, the physical characteristics of the border elements, the relationships of some elements to nearby areas, and the dynamic reflective fields of many 1894-S dimes, all contribute to my firm conclusion that they are not business strikes. These characteristics are covered in other discussions.

A point here is that an 1894-S dime is not needed for a complete set of business strikes, and really does not belong in such a set. There are, though, some scarce nineteenth century Barber dimes.

Indeed, nineteenth century dimes tend to be scarce in general. I suggest that beginners progress towards assembling a set of twentieth century dates first and then focus on nineteenth century Barber dimes. Collectors tend to learn while collecting, and some experience with Barber dimes may help in the process of searching for the ‘better dates’ and semi-keys. The 1895-O is the only key business strike in the series.

In XF-40 to AU-55 grades, there are few ‘common dates’ before 1900, and they are all Philadelphia Mint products: 1892, 1897, 1898 and 1899. Currently, a fair, medium-retail price for a CAC stickered or CACG graded XF-40 common date Barber dime would be in the range of $57.50, though retail prices often vary considerably. The circumstances of a transaction or the precise physical characteristics of the respective coin may have a large effect on a price paid.

Only Philly Semi-Key: The 1895

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The only Philadelphia Mint, semi-key Barber dime is the 1895. The total CAC population of 1895 dimes is fifty-one, as of April 25, 2025. The three largest auction firms for U.S. coins have not sold a CAC approved, circulated 1895 in many years. In circulated grades, these are far scarcer than most specialists think of them as being. Indeed, while Philadelphia Mint Barber dimes do not receive much attention in coin-related media, the 1895 is a date that deserves a great deal of recognition.

Circulated 1895 dimes are not often seen, anywhere. Curiously, in his book, The Complete Guide to Barber Dimes (Virginia Beach: DLRC Press, 1991, p. 37), David Lawrence Feigenbaum wrote that 1895 dimes are “scarcer in circulated grades than mint state”!

On Jan. 7, 2012, more than thirteen years ago, Heritage sold a CAC approved VG-10 grade 1895 for $195.50. A medium-retail price for this same coin in 2025 would probably be in the range of $275 to $335. In many cases, coins sell for low-retail or top-wholesale prices in auctions.

On June 4, 2011, Heritage sold a CAC approved VF-35 grade 1895 dime for $424.35. This coin would be likely to realize much more if it was auctioned in 2025 or 2026. On Aug. 15, 2016, during a period when coin markets were not faring well, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a CAC approved AU-58 grade 1895 dime for $763.75 If a CAC approved XF-40 or XF-45 grade 1895 became available in 2025 or 2026, a collector would probably be able to buy it for less than $700.

A Noteworthy ‘Better Date’: 1895-S

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The 1895-S is almost a semi-key. It is certainly a CAC rarity. Market values are such that it is financially worthwhile for dealers to send qualifying, circulated 1895-S dimes to CAC, yet the CAC population of 1895-S dimes is only forty-one, in all grades. On Nov. 29, 2020, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved VF-30 grade 1895-S dime for $176. On Dec. 13, 2022, Stack’s Bowers sold a CAC approved AU-53 grade 1895-S dime for $384.

There must be many 1895-S dimes in the VG-08 to Fine-15 grade range that have never been sent to CAC. Collectors who have considerable free time and some extra funds may wish to buy some such 1895-S dimes and submit them to CAC. With patience, these could probably be purchased at small or medium size coin shows for $50 to $150 each. Even submission results that are disappointing to the submitter are often educational, and it is fun to find scarce coins.

A Famous Semi-Key: The 1896-O

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Appealing, circulated 1896-O dimes may be found by collectors who have patience. On Oct. 17, 2023, Heritage sold a CAC approved XF-40 grade 1896-O dime for $660. Back in October 2021, GreatCollections sold a different CAC approved XF-40 grade 1896-O dime for $580.80. In the XF-40 to AU-55 grade range, the CAC pop of 1896-O dimes is just eleven.

Market levels for XF-40 to AU-55 grade 1896-O dimes are dramatically lower than the market levels for MS-64 and higher grade 1896-O dimes In MS-64 grade, a CAC approved MS-64 grade 1896-O would be likely to retail for more than $5000. Retail prices for CAC approved XF-40 to AU-55 grade 1896-O dimes tend to range from $500 to $1600.

For Barber dimes in XF-40 to AU-55 grades, the 1896-S should certainly be considered a semi-key, too. Furthermore, in grades below VF-20, the 1896-S is generally believed to be scarcer than the 1896-O. In the XF-40 to AU-55 grade range, their relative rarity is similar. The CAC pop for the 1896-S in this range is nine. On Feb. 7, 2021, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved XF-45 grade 1896-S dime for $539.

The 1897-O is an important ‘better date.’ It is, though, widely recognized as such. Market levels are reflective of its scarcity in VF-20 to AU-55 grades. On May 28, 2023, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved VF-25 grade 1897-O dime for $438.90.

The 1897-S is much less scarce than the 1897-O, yet its grading service populations are much lower. Not many circulated 1897-S dimes have been submitted to grading services. Out of a mintage of 1.34 million, maybe only a total of five hundred different 1897-S dimes have been certified by all grading services?

Many certified 1897-S dimes would not qualify for numerical grades if submitted to CAC.  As of April 27, 2025, the total CAC pop of 1897-S dimes is just twenty-seven.

I suggest that collectors carefully select some VG to VF grade 1897-S dimes, possibly raw (uncertified) coins, and submit them to CAC. The process of selecting and submitting may be educational and enjoyable.

The 1898-O and the 1899-O deserve to be mentioned. They are very scarce in grades above VF-20. On Aug. 28, 2022, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved XF-45 grade 1898-O dime for $269.50.

Oddly, 1898-S dimes are frequently ignored. It has been decades since I heard anyone talk about 1898-S dimes. They are much scarcer than common dates. It is usually not easy to find a CAC approved, circulated 1898-S dime.

The 1899 is very common, though it is noteworthy as a nineteenth century date. A collector who seeks just one Barber dime for a type set may prefer a nineteenth century date. In terms of advances in technology, population growth, military events and world affairs, the twentieth century was dramatically different from the nineteenth century. In general, twentieth century coins of many design types are readily available.

 Although an 1899 dime is just two years older than a 1901 dime, an 1899 dime is more of a conversation piece. Collectors may wish to bring 1899 dimes with them to dinner parties or taverns. They also can be relatively inexpensive gifts.

The Scarcity of the 1899-O

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In grades below Fine-12, 1899-O dimes are around. They are not as plentiful as common dates in the AG-03 to F-12 grade range, though they are not very difficult to find. In Fine to XF grades, however, 1899-O dimes are truly scarce.

I have been interested in Barber dimes since my grandmother began to give them to me while I was five years old. Within a couple of years, I was searching for Barber dimes at coin shows. During my whole life, I have seen very few circulated 1899-O dimes. Indeed, I have seen more uncirculated 1899-O dimes than circulated 1899-O dimes. 

On June 2, 2024, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved XF-40 grade 1899-O for $232.10. This is one of very few CAC approved, circulated 1899-O dimes that have ever been auctioned. Undoubtedly, some have been available at coin shows.

The “1893/2”?

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Many specialists maintain that there exists an 1893/2 overdate dime that should be collected as another date in the series, something in addition to an 1893 and an 1892. Although it might very well be true that an 1893 logotype was punched over an 1892 on an obverse (head) die, it is very difficult to interpret any such evidence on the struck coins.

On examples of this variety, high powered magnification is needed to see evidence of anything unusual underneath and about the numerals. In my opinion, this should be an obscure variety that does not rise anywhere close to the level of an additional date in the series. In any event, I suggest that a collector first complete or nearly complete a set of Barber dimes ‘by date’ (and mint location) and then think about whether an “1893/2” is desired for his or her set. Time that might be spent on searching for obscure varieties could be used instead to search for reasonably priced, very appealing representatives of the semi-keys and the key date in the series.

The Key Date: 1895-O

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A certified 1895-O, the key date, is worth at least $200 in all grades, and thus easily worth a submission fee to a leading grading service. The total CAC population of 1895-O dimes is just 125, including six in ‘Details’ holders that failed to receive numerical grades. Many Barber coins were very harmfully cleaned or accidentally scratched such that they fail to merit numerical grades. Also, quite a few have been artificially toned.

I maintain that fewer than two thousand 1895-O dimes, perhaps even fewer, exist in all states of preservation, including the ungradable. A total of more than two thousand that have been certified by all grading services probably includes multiple counts of many individual coins.

The semi-keys are notably less expensive than the 1895-O in regard to coins of equivalent quality and similar appearance. The 1894-O, in contrast, is one of the least scarce semi-keys. A CAC approved XF-40 grade 1895-O might very well cost five times as much as a corresponding 1894-O. On June 2, 2024, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved XF-40 grade 1894-O for $588.50. One tenth as much, $58.58, would be a fair retail price for a CAC approved XF-40 or -45 grade 1898 or 1899 dime. The 1895-O, the semi-keys and the common dates are all in different price categories.

Most certified 1895-O dimes cost more than $1000 each. On June 9, 2024, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved Good-06 grade 1895-O for $585.20. On Oct. 23, 2022, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved Fine-15 grade 1895-O for $1320. On June 28, 2020, DLRC sold a CAC approved XF-45 grade 1895-O for $3300. 

In the realm of nineteenth century Barber dimes, the 1895-O is the only business strike that is considered expensive in the context of classic U.S. silver coins. An 1895-O dime is much less costly, however, than an equivalent 1901-S or 1896-S Barber quarter. On the whole, a CAC-only set of circulated, nineteenth century Barber dimes is not very expensive and is practical without being easy, a fun challenge that is not especially hard.

Greg has carefully examined thousands of truly rare and conditionally rare classic U.S. coins, including a majority of the most famous rarities. He is also an expert in British coins. He is available for private consultations.