Designer: Charles E. Barber. Weight: 6.25
grams. Composition: .900 silver, .100 copper. Approx diameter:
24.3 mm. Reeded edge. Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, New Orleans,
San Francisco.
Charles E. Barber designed the Liberty Head or Barber quarter,
which was issued from 1892 to 1916. It shows a close profile
of Liberty facing right. She wears a Phrygian cap with a
laurel wreath around the edge of the cap. The ends of the
wreath are tied with a ribbon, the ends of which extend
to the first star. On her brow is a LIBERTY inscribed ribbon.
Above her head is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Six six-pointed
stars are to the left and seven are to the right with the
date below the truncation.
The reverse shows an heraldic eagle with
wings spread holding a scroll in its beak. The scroll is
inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM. The eagle has a Union shield
on its chest. Its right talon holds a thirteen-leaved olive
branch; its left holds a bundle of thirteen arrows. Above
its head is a galaxy of thirteen five-pointed stars. The
denomination QUARTER DOLLAR is below the eagle.
Charles E. Barber was the sixth Chief Engraver of the United
States Mint. He became Chief Engraver after the death of
his father, William. He served from 1879 to 1917. He is
best known for his designs of the "Barber" dime, quarter,
and half dollar. In addition he designed the Liberty Head
nickel, several commemoratives, and the Flowing Hair Stella
pattern. Barber was born in London in 1840.
He came to the United States in 1852 with
his family. His father became an engraver at the Mint in
Philadelphia. Following Longacre's death, William Barber
became the Chief Engraver and made his son, Charles, his
assistant. In 1879, Charles Barber became the Chief Engraver
despite the fact the George T. Morgan may have been more
qualified or at least more talented.