Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions
BARBER DIMES (1892-1916)
(ebay coin auctions links by date)
Specifications:
Designer: Charles E. Barber
Diameter: 17.9 millimeters
Metal content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%
Weight: 2.5 grams
Edge: Reeded
Cherry Picker's List:
1893 Look for the rare 1893/2 over date.
1894-S One of the rarest and most popular of all U.S. coins.
1892-O
1892-S
1893/2
1893-O
1893-S
1894
1894-O
1895
1895-O
1895-S
1896
1896-O
1896-S
1897-O
1897-S
1898-O
1898-S
1899-O
1899-S
1900-O
1902-S
1901-S
1903-S
1904-S
1905-O MICRO O
1909-D
1909-S
1913-S
1915-S
Notes:
Mint marks: the mint mark appears as a small letter just below the wreath on the reverse, as follows:
None = Philadelphia
O = New Orleans
S = San Francisco
D = Denver
Six different punches were used to make the mintmarks on Barber Dimes, as follows:
San Francisco (three):
1) 1892-1899 - previously used on Seated Liberty Dimes - fat S with tall serifs and loops that are almost completely closed.
2) 1899-1911 - wider and thinner S with loops that are slightly more open and serifs that are not as tall and have a slightly rounded appearance.
3) 1912-1916 - thinner and taller than the preceding, but with smaller serifs and loops that are more open.
Denver (one):
4) 1906-1914
New Orleans (two):
5) 1892-1909 - previously used on Seated Liberty Dimes - fat sides connected by thin lines at top and bottom.
6) 1905 - "Micro" mint mark
Sources and/or recommended reading:
"Barber dime Mint mark punches vary", COIN WORLD, November 1, 2004, page 102
"The Complete Guide To Certified Barber Coinage" by David & John Feigenbaum