Barber Dimes MS64 to MS66: Introduction

A set of Choice to Gem Uncirculated Barber dimes can be completed without much difficulty. As 1894-S dimes are classified as a Proof-only issue, an 1894-S is not needed for a complete set. Most business strikes are easily obtainable in ‘mint state’ (uncirculated grades), though a significant number of dates are not easy to find in grades above MS-63.

It would be challenging and exciting, yet practical, to build a MS-64 to -66 grade set of Barber dimes. There are no extremely rare business strikes.

Somewhat Better 20th Century Dates

In regards to building a set, it is sensible to start with twentieth century Barber dimes. The 1902 is a somewhat ‘better date,’ scarcer than common dates though not particularly scarce. On April 21, 2025, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1902 for $750.

A MS-66 grade 1902 is considerably costlier than a MS-65 grade 1902. On Nov. 12, 2023, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1902 for $1774.30. 

The 1902-O is certainly a better date. On Jan. 19, 2025, Heritage sold a PCGS graded MS-64+ 1902-O, with a CAC green sticker, for $1560. As experts at the CAC office in New Jersey ignore the plus aspect of plus grades assigned by PCGS or NGC, they will not reveal whether they assigned a 64+ grade to this coin or a grade in the middle of the 64 range. This coin might have a chance of being CACG graded MS-64+ if it was submitted to the CAC office in Virginia Beach.

On April 21, 2025, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1903 for $630. The 1904 is scarcer in MS-64 and higher grades than many experts think of it as being. On July 23, 2023, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-64 grade 1904 for $535.70. On Jan. 14, 2024, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1904 for $1545.50.

Should a MS-66 grade 1904 dime be worth nearly three times as much as a MS-64 grade 1904 dime, if both have CAC stickers? Two points come to mind. First, I would have to see the actual coins to form a personal opinion. Some MS-66 grade Barber dimes feature wonderful natural toning, and others are characterized by more of a blank-white texture. The eye appeal and other characteristics of CAC approved MS-64 grade Barber dimes vary, too. There are some CAC approved MS-64 grade Barber dimes that capture my attention in a very positive way, and others that do not thrill me.

Secondly, the values of specific coins depend in large part on the personalities and buying patterns of the collectors who are willing and able to purchase them. There are some collectors who will regularly pay two to four times as much for a MS-66 grade coin over a MS-64 grade coin of the same type and date with the same certification. There are other collectors who would tend towards the MS-64 grade coin in most such circumstances.

Many interested collectors make such buying decisions on a case-by-case basis, with consideration of availability, condition rarity, time involved in waiting for another of the same type and date, and other factors. Eye appeal is one factor among several. Registry set competition is another pertinent variable. There is no single collecting formula that is applicable to all buyers of MS-64 to -66 grade Barber dimes. I aim to provide information, analysis and advice to better enable collectors to make their own decisions.

MS-64 grade 1905 dimes can be found without too much difficulty. On Dec. 16, 2024, Heritage sold a CAC approved, NGC graded MS-64 1904 for $288.

In MS-65 and higher grades, the relative rarity of the 1905 is unclear. Population reports include multiple counts of individual coins. If a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1905 becomes available for less than $700, an interested collector building a set should definitely consider it.

On April 21, 2025, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1905 for $1110, a wholesale price, though way more than three times as much as the just mentioned price realized for a CAC approved MS-64 grade 1905, $288. On July 17, 2022, Heritage sold a  CAC approved MS-66 grade 1905 for $1920, a strong price. On Oct. 8, 2023, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1905 for $1815. On Aug. 15, 2024, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS graded MS-66+ 1905, with a CAC sticker, for $2200.

The 1905-O is unquestionably a better date, which is better than most better dates. It is not, though, close to being a semi-key. A CAC approved MS-65 1905-O would probably retail for more than $1500.

CAC approved MS-66 grade 1905-O dimes have been consistently selling for more than $3000 each for a long time. On Dec. 15, 2022, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1905-O for $3360.

The 1905-S is a somewhat better date, though not nearly as scarce as the 1905-O. On Jan. 25, 2023, Stack’s Bowers sold a CAC approved MS-64 grade 1905-S for $384. On April 21, 2025, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1905-S for $990. On May 19, 2024, GreatCollections sold a PCGS graded MS-66+ 1905-S, with a CAC sticker, for $2475.

The 1907 is one of the half-dozen most common dates in the whole series, especially in uncirculated grades. The 1908 is in the same category as the 1907, though not quite as plentiful overall.

The 1909 is scarcer than the 1907 or the 1908. CAC approved MS-64 to -66 grade 1909 dimes emerge often enough such that collectors usually do not have to wait long for an opportunity to acquire one. On June 11, 2023, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-64 grade 1909 for $239.67. On April 21, 2025, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1909 for $504.

Moderately Priced Denver Mint Coins

The 1910 is relatively common in MS-64 and higher grades, the 1911 even more so. Most common date Barber dimes were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and do not have mintmarks.

The 1911-D is one of the most common Denver Mint dates in the series of Barber dimes. In MS-65 to -67 grades, a collector should be able to find a CAC stickered or CACG graded 1911-D dime within a reasonable amount of time. On April 23, 2023, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1911-D for $562.10.

Although this discussion is about collecting ‘by date’ (and mint location), I am hoping that it is helpful to collectors assembling type sets as well. I suggest a twist on a type set. Rather than collect just one representative of each design type, a collector may consider acquiring one representative of each mint within the context of each respective design type. Four Barber dimes would be required for such an alternative type set, one each of those minted in Philadelphia, Denver, New Orleans and San Francisco.

The 1912-D is scarcer than the 1911-D in MS-64 and higher grades, though is also among the most common Denver Mint dates. On Aug. 22, 2024, Stack’s Bowers sold a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1912-D for $456.

Apparently, editors of some price guides figure that the 1914-D is worth a substantial premium over common dates in MS-65 to -66 grades. I suggest shopping around and being alert before paying more than a modest premium for a 1914-D. Over the years, I have seen many MS-65 and higher grade 1914-D dimes, along with a massive number of circulated 1914-D dimes. As I have indicated in other discussions, I first obtained a 1914-D dime as a gift from my grandmother when I was five years old.

My hunch is that CAC approved MS-65 or MS-66 grade 1914-D dimes will become available from time to time for prices in line with those for common dates in the series. If not, budget-minded collectors may tend towards MS-64 grade 1914-D dimes, as these are clearly inexpensive.

How Common is the 1915?

Despite numerous auction prices realized for 1915 dimes in MS-64 to -66 grades that suggest that it is as common as the two most common dates, the 1892 and the 1916, the 1915 is not that common. The CAC population of the 1915 in MS-66 grade is just nineteen and zero 1915 dimes are CAC certified in higher grades.

The CAC pop of the 1916 is thirty-one in MS-66 and ten in MS-67. The CAC pop of the 1898 in MS-66 is forty, plus one as MS-66+ and four as MS-67. The CAC pop of the 1892 is sixty in MS-66 and twenty-two in MS-67, as of May 5, 2025. An immediate point is that the CAC population of the 1915 dime in MS-65 and higher grades is much lower than the corresponding populations of the 1892, 1898 and 1916.

This relatively low CAC population has not been reflected in auction prices realized for MS-66 grade 1915 dimes. On Jan. 14, 2024, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-66 1915 for $789.81, not a high price for a MS-66 grade Barber dime of any date. On Dec. 11, 2023, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-66 1915 dime for $630. On March 12, 2023, GreatCollections sold a different CAC approved MS-66 1915 for $852.50. On Jan. 10, 2023, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-66 1915 dime for $780. On Aug. 11, 2022, Stack’s Bowers sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1915 for $720. Among CAC approved MS-66 grade Barber dimes that have sold at auction during the past few years, prices realized for 1915 dimes are below trends for common dates. 

The CPG-CAC medium retail estimate for a MS-66 grade 1892, $1000, is greater than the CPG-CAC estimate for MS-66 grade 1915, 1909, 1913, 1914, and 1916 dimes, $950 each. The 1892, however, is the most common.

The 1916 is the second most common Barber dime in the MS-64 to -66 grade range. Although the 1916-S is not nearly as common as the 1916 Philadelphia Mint issue, the 1916-S is generally categorized as a common date in the MS-64 to -66 grade range, and is valued just slightly higher than the most common dates. The CAC pop of the 1916-S is nine in MS-65 and six in MS-66, plus a mere one in MS-67.

On Sept. 29, 2024, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1916-S for $687.50. On April 21, 2025, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1916-S for $1080. Both results were higher than medium retail prices for common dates in these grades.

The supposed common date coins that consistently bring significantly more or notably less than typical common dates are curious. It is a good idea to pursue at least a dozen different, common or almost-common dates in the series of Barber dimes, before spending much larger amounts on much better dates, including 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.