The Barber Quarter is a coin that was popular when it was in circulation and even more popular now that it is no longer being produced. Minted and circulated throughout the late 19th century and early 20th century, these coins played a vital role in the lives of most every day Americans.
The 1906 Barber Quarter was minted in Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D) and New Orleans (O). The mint mark is on the reverse, under the Eagle. The 1906 Barber Quarters are considered common by most coin collectors and are easy to locate. In general, 1906 is one of the cheapest years in the Barber quarter series in terms of the prices for Good grades.
For collectors, the goal is to find Barber Quarters that have withstood the test of time well. Unfortunately, due to how heavily circulated these pieces were, finding one in pristine condition is not such an easy task.
Coin collectors are known to be a meticulous bunch, preferring only those coins that have been well-preserved over the years. Collectors of coins pay close attention to the condition of every coin. The Barber Quarter is no exception to that, and though it is difficult to find in excellent condition, that much can definitely still be done.
Judging the condition of a coin is something known as grading, and is typically a process performed by a professional company. We know that not everyone has the time and/or money to send their coin(s) away for grading, so we have provided below a listing of the different coin grades and their associated characteristics.
Uncirculated: A Barber Quarter that has been graded as being Uncirculated is one that spent absolutely no time exchanging hands on the open market. Instead, these coins were kept away from sources of damage and wear, and appear today almost identical to the way they would have appeared in 1906. Quarters that have remained in this type of excellent condition are also those that investors are readily trying to get their hands on.
Extremely Fine: If a Barber Quarter is graded to be Extremely Fine, it is a coin that has spent only a small amount of time in circulating. These coins will show some light wear under close inspection, but will, for the most part, appear to be mostly pristine. Extremely Fine Barber Quarters are no easy find, and the price tag generally proves this.
Fine: A coin that is graded to be Fine is one that spent a few years being circulated, but was taken out of circulation before too long. These coins will show plenty of wear, but the overall integrity of the imagery and text will have been preserved. The heaviest wear will almost always be present near or on the raised parts of the coin.
Good: A coin that is graded to be Good is one that saw more circulation than any other type of Barber Quarter. Thanks to all these years being exchanged on the open market, Good Barber Quarters will have plenty of scratching, chipping, and, on occasion, bending. While these coins are in somewhat poor shape, they are still sought after by collectors.
When it comes to Barber Quarters, there are a few different factors that play into how much you will pay for one. First, because there were typically at least two of these coins produced annually, the type of Barber Quarter will be the first factor in determining price. The second factor will definitely be the condition which the coin is in. Coins in excellent condition sell for much more than those in poor condition, that much is an almost universal fact. The chart below will give you a better idea as to what you might pay for a graded 1906 Barber Quarter.
Barber Quarters
DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
---|---|---|---|---|
1906 Barber Quarter | $9 | $26 | $70 | $120 |
1906 Barber Quarter (D) | $9 | $30 | $70 | $145 |
1906 Barber Quarter (O) | $9 | $40 | $100 | $200 |
Source: Red Book |