1900 Barber Dime

1900 Barber dimes are widely considered common-date coins on the surface, but a closer look will reveal that the 1900-O (New Orleans) Barber dime is, in fact, a tough-date. Still, the 1900 Barber dime is a coin that is readily obtainable at most coin dealers, largely thanks to large mintages.

wHere’s a look at the mintages and values of the 1900 Barber dime:

• 1900 – 17,600,000; $5

• 1900-O – 2,010,000; $24

• 1900-S – 5,168,270; $11

• 1900 proof – 912; $600 

*Values are for coins in a grade of Good-4, unless otherwise noted.

The 1900 Philadelphia issue is quite common and can be bought from most any coin dealer for a small premium above intrinsic silver value in a grade of Good. Because that issue is so readily available, there is little reason to purchase a “filler” version or anything below a grade of Good unless you are buying it simply for bullion purposes.

The branch-mint dimes from 1900 are somewhat scarcer than the Philadelphia issue, owing primarily to smaller mintages but also the fact that fewer were saved – often the reason certain branch-mint coins are hard to find in collectible grades. The O-mint dime, as earlier referenced, is the scarcest of the business-strike dimes, while the San Francisco-mint 1900 dime is more common than the New Orleans piece but still fairly difficult to locate. The proof issue is mainly sought by Barber dime enthusiasts and is not necessary to completing a business-strike collection.