Understanding the 1896 Quarter Value: A Collector's Guide
By BullionMentor on December 20, 2024
The 1800 Draped Bust Large Cent popularly is a unique piece of U.S. coinage history. It is a coin in high demand among coin collectors. It was struck more than two centuries ago and represents the craftsmanship of a historical era in American history as well. The 1800 large cents are scarcely available these days and are gaining rarity status pretty fast. Let’s take a look at what makes this coin featuring Lady Liberty in all her glory so special and what determines the 1896 Quarter’s value.
History of Barber quarter
The Barber Quarter has a unique prelude attached to it. With its history rooted in late 19th Century America, this coin was designed by Charles E. Barber and minted from 1892 to 1916. Prior to the Barber series, all U.S. Silver coins featured the Seated Liberty design, but once the late 1880s kicked in, there was an update demanded by the public.
This was when Mint Director Edward O. Leech organized a public competition with the aim of drafting new designs for the coin in 1891. However, it was boycotted by prominent artists as there was no agreement about the prize terms. Leech was disheartened and turned to Barber, whose design got the approval of then-President Benjamin Harrison.
1896 barber quarter value
There are two important factors when determining your 1896 Quarter’s value: its condition and the specific type it belongs to. Barber quarters that have been preserved and bear minimal wear damage can fetch you a higher price than the ones that do not have fine details and consist of some wear. Moreover, there were various mints that struck different editions of the Barber Quarter each year. This had an adverse impact on the coin’s value. To get a better understanding of the pricing, you can refer to the pricing chart given below to know what the 1896 Quarter’s value can be -
| DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
| 1896 Barber Quarter | $10 | $30 | $80 | $135 |
| 1896 Barber Quarter (O) | $55 | $200 | $550 | $800 |
| 1896 Barber Quarter (s) | $900 | $2,400 | $5,000 | $7,000 |
Grading the 1896 barber quarter
When looking to understand your 1896 Quarter’s value based on what grade it falls under, you need to understand what characteristics signify the conditions required in each grade. Grading is a process that is used to assess a coin’s condition. The 1896 Barber Quarter particularly could have some wear because it was circulated over a century back and might have gone through heavy circulation. Let’s take a better look at the grading system:
1
Uncirculated:
This grade is bestowed on the coins that have been preserved in mint condition. An Uncirculated Barber Quarter indicates that it has never been used as a means of transaction, thus having no signs of wear. The coins in this condition are usually kept in the same condition as they would be seen fresh off the mint. If you have an Uncirculated Barber Quarter, you could fetch a great price due to its rarity.
2
Extremely Fine:
A coin that is graded Extremely fine indicates that it has been circulated for a short span of time. It could show some minor wear on the fine details of the coin, like the rivets of its pillars or the features of the eagle’s wings. It is desired by collectors as it has faced minimal damage despite being in circulation for such a long time.
3
Fine:
Your Barber Quarter falls under the fine category if it has been in circulation for a good while and has noticeable wear. While its finer details could be faded, its central features, like the shape and design, are still intact. They are not as valuable as the higher grades but are quite appreciated as a good addition to one’s portfolio.
4
Good:
A coin is graded as Good when it has gone through wear over many years. The details have been smoothened, but the coin may appear flat because of excessive handling. Most of the Quarters found today fall under this grade.
Mint Varieties of 1896 Quarters
When determining the value of an 1896 Barber Quarter, the most important factor that can influence the price can be finding the mint it has been struck in. Each mint has its own mintmark, which distinguishes it from the others. Here are the details of some of the different 1896 Barber Quarters struck at different minting locations of the U.S. Mint.
1896-S Barber Quarter
The 1896-S Barber Quarter was minted at the San Francisco Mint and belongs to the rarer strain of the Barber Quarters. The “S” mintmark is featured on the reverse, below the tail feathers of the eagle. Only a few coins were made in this condition, making the 1896-s Quarter more valuable than the other varieties.
1896- O Barber Quarter
The 1896-O Barber Quarter struck at the New Orleans Mint is not as rarer as the S-variety but still fetches a great price for its limited mintage numbers.
1896 Barber Quarter (No Mintmark)
The 1896 Barber Quarter, which features no mintmark, was struck at the Philadelphia Mint. There were quite a huge number of this variety minted for circulation, which makes it less valuable than the other varieties, but it still has the same historical context attached to it. Coin collectors desire them due to the coin’s existence over a hundred years of circulation.
When you are looking to understand the 1896 Quarter’s value, it is important to be sure of which variety it falls under, as it can determine what value it could possess in the future.
Conclusion
When looking to understand the 1896 Quarter’s value, factors like its condition and the mint it belongs to are quite important. While the “No-mark” variety isn't as valuable as the “S” and “O” varieties, all of them are equally special as a great addition to your portfolio.
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