THE 1894-S Barber dime is one of the most valuable coins in existence – and consider yourself lucky if you happen to have one in your possession.
The US mint has been producing coins for more than two centuries.
Some coins could be worth hundreds or even thousands depending on grade, condition, mintage, or if there is an error present.
However, the value of the 1894-S Barber dime is taken to another level.
We reveal why below.
What is the 1894-S Barber dime?
Barber dimes were struck by the US mint from 1892 to 1916.
The coin gets its name from engraver and designer Charles E. Barber.
The design of the Barber coin features an image of Liberty looking to the right with the date below on the obverse.
The reverse features oak, maple, corn, and wheat leaves surrounding the denomination of the coin that reads “One Dime”.
When it comes to the 1894-S Barber dime, the piece is rare enough when only considering its original mintage of 24.
However – even less are now said to exist.
“Only nine of them are known to still exist,” USA Coin Book wrote in a description of the 1894 S Barber piece.
Furthermore, seven of nine are said to be uncirculated and two are heavily worn.
The site added: “One of those circulated coins was found in an old junk box at Gimbels Department Store and purchased for only $2.40 in 1957.”
If you happen to find an 1894 Barber dime in your coin collection – make sure you lookout for an S mark at the bottom of the reverse before celebrating.
The S stands for the mint location of San Francisco.
If you happen to find an 1894 Barber dime without a mintmark, know that the mintage of those pieces was more than 1.3million.
How much it’s worth
As always, the value of your coins could depend on grade and condition.
In a January 2016 auction, an 1894 Barber-S piece certified by PCGS in a “PR66BM” grade sold for nearly $2million.
Another 1894 S dime, which was graded in PR65, sold for $1.03million in a 2005 auction.
PR stands for proof.
On the other hand, the 1894 Barber dime without a mintmark is worth $49 in average condition and up to $658 if in a PR63 grade, according to USA Coin Book.
How to find rare coins
There are many ways you can find rare coins.
The first thing you’ll want to do is check places in your home or any places you might store change.
Some other things you can try are using a metal detector in known areas for buried treasure and by stopping by your local bank branch and asking for a wrapper of pennies.
You can also try to get a good deal on one online through USA Coin Book or eBay.
But make sure you research the coin first and know what it’s worth before buying.
And also – be aware of potential fakes online.
To avoid this, it’s worth checking the seller’s history and whether or not the coin was certified in the listing.
