USA 25 cents Barber Quarter 1892

USA, New Orleans

Rarity

Common

Attributes of Coins

Region	USA
Denomination	¼ dollar
Krause number	KM# 114
Mintage	2,640,000
Metal	Silver 0.900
thickness	1.75 mm
diameter	24.26 mm
weight	6.25 g

Obverse:

Liberty

Star

Creators:

Charles Edward Barber

IN GOD WE TRUST

Reverse:

Coat of arms

Description:

Eagle (heraldry)

Creators:

Charles Edward Barber

E PLURIBUS UNUM

QUARTER DOLLAR

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Introduction of Coins

Being far from the center of coin collecting activity, the New Orleans Mint issue of this new coin type was saved in much lower quantities than its Philadelphia cousin. Nevertheless, a fair number were preserved for their novelty, which existed throughout the nation among members of the general public. Gems are scarce but not rare, but superior examples grading MS 66 and higher are far more rare than for 1892(P). Reverse dies were taken from two distinctive hubs this year. Since branch mint production typically commenced after that of the Philadelphia Mint, fewer of these dies featured the Type 1 reverse, and it is noticeably more scarce among surviving coins. Among its distinctive features is that the eagle is positioned ever so slightly higher in the field, but this proved to have little effect on a problem encountered with the mintmark placement. While the similar half dollar possessed plenty of room to fit a mintmark under the eagle's tail, the quarter dollar did not. In 1892 alone it was wedged into the tight space between the feathers and letter R of QUARTER, which led to displacement of the adjacent design features and occasional chipping of the die steel between these elements. Doubled dies are known for both obverse and reverse. The one repunched date variety is a little hard to discern on worn coins but shows clear doubling of the 2 on higher-grade examples. A repunched mintmark variety is also known for 1892-O. It is quite minor and would likely go unheralded were it not for the paucity of such varieties in this series.Read More