Barber Dimes MS64 to MS66: Middle Dates

The early years (1892-95) of Barber dimes are characterized by several much better dates along with the very common 1892. The ‘middle dates’ cover a period from 1896 or so to around 1906.

There are no widely accepted, precise definitions of early dates, middle dates, and late dates in the realm of Barber dimes. These terms, I hope, make Barber dimes more understandable as these terms relate to different periods in U.S. history. Mintages and collecting activities were affected by historical factors. Also, quite a few ‘late dates,’ after 1905, are covered in my introductory article on building a set of Barber dimes (1892-1916) in MS-64 to -66 grades.

Middle dates include a few semi-keys, several much ‘better dates,’ a quantity of somewhat ‘better dates,’ and a small number of common dates. The semi-keys should and will be discussed separately.

It is really important for many interested and budget-minded collectors to learn about MS-64 to MS-66 grade Barber dimes and ‘get a feel’ for the series before spending relatively large sums on the semi-keys. Some of the ‘better middle dates’ are covered here with the idea of providing guidance to collectors who are considering or have already started a set of Barber dimes ‘by date’ (and mint location) in MS-64 to -66 grades.

New Issues, Collectors, and the Economy

Fortunately for collectors now, there were many people in the United States collecting coins from 1897 onward. The U.S. economy fared extremely well in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Moreover, the population of the United States increased from around 72 million in 1897 to more than 100 million in 1916. The number of coin collectors active during the early part of the twentieth century was very significant, including beginners who saved coins that were then new issues, or acquired coins directly from the mints.

Indeed, throughout the history of coin collecting, beginners and low-budget experienced collectors have often focused on then current issues. Barber dimes from the 1897 to 1916 period survive in large quantities. MS-64 to MS-66 grade Barber dimes, however, are generally condition rarities. Perhaps these are much rarer than most collectors think of them as being.

Among collectors who plan on spending substantial sums on coins, most do not wish to start projects that are nearly impossible, nor do they like projects that are too easy. MS-64 to -66 grade Barber dimes are accessible yet difficult enough to collect such that there is considerable excitement involved in chasing ‘better dates.’ 

Some ‘better dates’ stem from years in which declines in the U.S. economy led to fewer ‘Mint State’ coins than usual being saved. By 1897, U.S. GDP, the total product of goods and services, was finally above the U.S. GDP level reached in 1892, though average per person (‘per capita’) GDP had not yet returned to the level reached in 1892. As GDP data must be converted into some kind of ‘constant dollars’ for comparison purposes, a common denominator, it would not make sense to list specific GDP figures here, as they would require a great deal of space-consuming explanations.

It is important to keep in mind that, during the early part of the twentieth century, mintages of coins and collector demand were sharply influenced by the growth of the economy as a whole, the restored financial health of the U.S. government, and the total money supply over time. Please refer to my articles on the history of Morgan dollars for more information regarding the intertwinement between coinage and the financial status of the U.S. government during the late nineteenth century.

Barber Dimes of 1897

Certainly, the increase in GDP is relevant to an increased mintage of dimes in Philadelphia in 1897. There was an increase in the need for dimes to be used in commerce and people were more optimistic after the 1893 to 1895 financial crisis was resolved.

The Philadelphia Mint produced nearly eleven million dimes in 1897, more than five times the number minted in Philadelphia in 1896. Before 1897, the Philadelphia Mint had not produced more than three million dimes in any one year since a mintage of around 3.3 million in 1893!

All grades considered, Philadelphia Mint 1897 dimes are extremely common in the present, though it is not easy to find CAC approved 1897 dimes. The CAC pop of MS-64 grade 1897 dimes is or was twenty-four. The last two to be publicly sold were in GreatCollections auctions during the winter of 2022. On Jan. 2, 2022, a CAC approved MS-64 grade 1897 realized $344.30, and another realized $333.30 on Feb. 20, 2022.

On July 4, 2025, the CAC pop of MS-65 1897 dimes was eleven, and the pop of MS-66 grade 1897 dimes was eleven as well. The CPG-CAC medium retail estimate of $490 in MS-65 is likely to be low. If a dealer had one to sell in the middle of 2025, there is a fair chance that he would ask for a price in the range of $500 to $600, with the idea of drawing a buyer who is assembling a set ‘by date’ rather than a buyer who is seeking just one Barber dime for a type set.

The 1897-O is a semi-key and will be discussed along with the other semi-keys. Although the 1897-S is not a rare coin and is surprisingly available for a San Francisco Mint Barber dime from the 1890s, the 1897-S is a condition rarity in MS-64 to MS-66 grades. It is true that the PCGS population of MS-64 grade 1897-S dimes is above forty. It is likely, though, that a substantial number of these are repeat submissions of some of the same coins.

It is important to not take PCGS and NGC population reports too literally. Over the years, I have met many of the people who did or still do resubmit some of the same coins over and over again. Furthermore, some repeat-submitters do not always, if ever, return the printed labels, also called ‘tags’ or ‘inserts,’ pertaining to coins that they removed from PCGS or NGC holders. Unreturned printed labels have led to multiple counts of individual coins in PCGS and NGC population reports.

Also, I have some idea as to the coins that ‘crackout artists’ select for resubmissions and the coin dates that were targeted in this regard. There is no easy way to explain the ‘crackout’ phenomenon. The advent of CAC has substantially contributed to grading consistency ‘in the marketplace,’ though coin grading will never be perfectly consistent.

An MS-65 grade 1897-S is worth at least $1000 more than an MS-64 grade 1897-S, and a grading fee is just a small fraction of $1000. It is not surprising to me that many PCGS graded MS-64 1897-S dimes were ‘cracked out’ of their holders and resubmitted to PCGS with the idea of receiving an MS-65 grade from PCGS.

A substantial number of 1897-O dimes were ‘cracked out’ as well. The true physical populations of MS-64 to MS-66 grade 1897-O and 1897-S dimes are more of a mystery than the true populations for most other dates in the series of Barber dimes.

If one emerges soon, it may be difficult to interpret the market value of a CAC approved MS-64 to MS-66 grade 1897-S dime. It might be a good idea to consult a rare coin professional. A CAC approved MS-64 to MS-66 grade 1897-S dime has not appeared in a GreatCollections, Heritage or Stack’s Bowers auction in more than four years.

On April 22, 2021, Heritage auctioned a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1897-S for $3120, not a strong price. That coin, though, was very apparently dipped-white. Many collectors of ‘Mint State’ (uncirculated) Barber dimes seek colorful coins. More so than with other series of U.S. silver coins dating from after the U.S. Civil War and before 1950, a substantial percentage of surviving MS-64 to MS-66 grade Barber dimes are naturally colorful. To a considerable extent, this is true of Barber half dollars, too.

Barber Dimes of 1898

The 1898 is a common date. On April 23, 2025, Stack’s Bowers sold a CAC approved MS-64 grade 1898 for $312. On Oct. 27, 2024, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1898 for $442.20.

The 1898-O is definitely a ‘better date’ that commands a substantial premium. I disagree, though, with the claim in the catalogue for a recent major auction that the 1898-O is scarcer than the 1897-O. Nevertheless, many collectors and dealers are unaware of its scarcity, as 1898-O dimes are not discussed very often. Stack’s Bowers auctioned a CAC approved MS-65 1898-O for $2,880 on Aug. 15, 2024 and a CACG graded MS-66 1898-O for $5,280 on April 1, 2025.

The Condition Rarity of the 1898-S

During the 1990s, David Lawrence Feigenbaum regarded the 1898-S dime as one of the ten scarcest dates in ‘mint state.’ Although the 1898-S may be one of the dozen scarcest dates overall in grades above VF-20, it is not one of the scarcest in ‘mint state,’ in my view. More information about Barber dimes is available now than was available to authors in the 1990s.

There are quite a few dates in the period from 1896 to 1906 that are in the same rarity category as the 1898-S in MS-64 to -66 grades. Unless an 1898-S is well struck with wonderful color, it would not be a good idea to pay a huge premium for a ‘mint state’ dime of this date. In 2025 or 2026, though, a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1898-S could very well sell for more than the corresponding CPG-CAC medium retail estimate of $2,850. The 1898-S is clearly a CAC rarity in MS-64 to -66 grades, and is really a CAC rarity in all grades. Twenty-two 1898-S dimes have CAC stickers and five are in CACG holders, as of July 4, 2025.

On Dec. 8, 2022, Heritage sold a CAC approved, NGC graded MS-65 1898-S for $2,040. On Aug. 15, 2024, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1898-S for $6,300.

The Turn of the Century: 1899-1901

The 1899 is very common. A CAC approved MS-64 to -66 grade 1899 is a logical option for someone who demands an attractive nineteenth century dime for a type set or as a conversation piece.

Good to Very Fine grade 1899-O dimes are not especially scarce. It is easy to find a heavily circulated 1899-O. In MS-64 to -66 grades, 1899-O dimes are much better dates and are extreme CAC rarities, much more so than the 1898-S. If Barber dimes in MS-64 to -66 grades were considered by themselves, the 1899-O would be considered a semi-key. On Dec. 15, 2024, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved, NGC graded MS-65 1899-O for $4,191.

The 1900 and 1901 Philadelphia Mint dimes are common dates. The 1900-O is another condition rarity that is not discussed very often. The CAC pop in MS-64 to -66 grades is ten, and the total CAC pop of the 1900-O is thirty-two in all grades. An MS-64 grade 1900-O would probably cost less than $3,000.

It is very difficult to estimate the market value of the two CAC approved MS-65 grade 1900-O dimes. One of the two was auctioned three times by Heritage in the past: for $3,600 on Jan. 3, 2018, for $3,400.45 on Aug. 2, 2017, and for $4,312.50 on April 27, 2011. On Nov. 19, 2023, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1900-O for $5,230.50.

In MS-64 to -66 grades, the CAC pop of the 1900-S, twenty, is twice that of the 1900-O, ten. While the 1900-S is a much better date, it is not as much of a condition rarity as some of the already mentioned dates. On Dec. 25, 2022, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1900-S for $3,054.70.

The 1901 is a common date and the 1901-S is a semi-key. The 1901-O is a better date and a condition rarity in MS-64 to -66 grades, yet it is not particularly expensive. A CAC approved MS-64 grade 1901-O would probably sell for an amount between $1,500 and $2,000, if offered during 2025. On Jan. 16, 2025, Heritage auctioned a PCGS graded MS-66+ 1901-O, with a CAC sticker, for $5,640.

Many of the better dates from 1902 to 1916 are covered in my introduction to building a set of MS-64 to -66 grade Barber dimes. The next installment will be about the semi-keys.

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.