Barber Quarter Melt Value Today
Current melt value: $11.85 per coin
Last updated: 8/11/2026, 4:51:42 AM · Live data
Barber Quarter Melt Value Calculator
Prices last updated: 8/11/2026, 4:51:42 AM
Dealers typically pay 80–95% of melt for common silver coins.
| Barber Quarter Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Years Minted | 1892–1916 |
| Composition | 90% Silver, 10% Copper |
| Fineness | 0.9 |
| Total Weight | 6.25 g |
| ASW (Silver Content) | 5.625 g (0.1808 ozt) |
| Face Value | $0.25 |
| Current Melt Value | $11.85 |
How to Identify the Silver Version
All Barber Quarters are 90% silver. The edge is reeded. The obverse shows a Liberty head facing right with a Phrygian cap and wreath — distinct from the later Standing Liberty and Washington designs. The mintmark is on the reverse, below the eagle: "D" for Denver, "O" for New Orleans (through 1909), "S" for San Francisco.
Key Dates — Do Not Sell for Melt
1901-S (key date), 1896-S, 1909-O, 1913-S. The 1901-S is one of the rarest US silver coins in circulated grades. Do not sell Barber Quarters without checking the date and mintmark.
About the Barber Quarter
The Barber Quarter was minted from 1892 to 1916, designed by Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. The obverse features a Liberty head wearing a Phrygian cap and a wreath, and the reverse shows a heraldic eagle. The design was selected after a public competition failed to produce a satisfactory design, and Barber's own work was used instead.
Each Barber Quarter contains 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver — the same as the Standing Liberty and Washington Quarters that followed. The total weight is 6.25 grams at 90% silver. The melt value is the silver content multiplied by the current spot price, shown in the spec table above.
Barber Quarters are heavily collected, but the series is challenging because many coins saw heavy circulation. Finding a complete set in circulated grades is difficult because several dates had low mintages and are scarce even in worn condition. The 1901-S is the key date and one of the rarest US silver coins in circulated grades.
Common-date circulated Barber Quarters trade close to melt value, but the series has more "tough dates" than most. The 1896-S, 1901-S, 1909-O, and 1913-S are all scarce in any grade. If you have Barber Quarters, check the date and mintmark before selling for melt — some are worth many times their silver content.
Barber Quarter FAQ
What is the melt value of a Barber Quarter?
The melt value is 0.1808 troy ounces of silver multiplied by the current spot price. Use the calculator on this page for the exact value.
Are all Barber Quarters 90% silver?
Yes. Every Barber Quarter minted from 1892 to 1916 is 90% silver. The series ended before the 1965 switch to clad coinage.
Which Barber Quarters are worth more than melt?
The 1901-S is the key date and one of the rarest US silver coins. The 1896-S, 1909-O, and 1913-S are also scarce. Many Barber Quarters are worth more than melt in any grade — check the date and mintmark before selling.
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