The 1894-S Barber Dime is a very rare and desired coin in the entire U.S numismatic as there is a cloak of mystery around it and it is highly revered because of its high level of authenticity and its elitism. It ranks as rare and historic with little hundred mints produced at the San Francisco Mint.
Origins and Mystery
– Struck during the first half of 1894 as pattern coins only, the prove being coined consists of 24 coins, purportedly being presented as gifts to key bankers or as a result of identifying a 24 cent discrepancy in the annual survey of the mint, which would be similar to deceiving in striking a 24 dime.
Of this 24, only 9 are known to survive to-day, 2 being in a very battered condition. The fact that they are few and their location is not known gives them an element of mystery.
– Other folklore involves a tale of the daughter of the mint superintendent who was said to have inherited three coins and had been caught spending one on an ice cream treat and the remaining two were sold off later.
Design and Rarity
– The dime contains the well known Barber style: on the obverse we can see liberty with cap and date 1894.
– Its rarity is enhanced by the limited number of coins of this type and their great care in preservation, only a certain number of which have survived.
– Being an ultra-low mintage proof coin, the 1894-S Barber Dime is listed on the highest level of the U.S. coins regarding their rarity and value.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Mintage | 24 proof coins |
| Known Surviving Coins | 9 |
| Auction High Price | $1.9 million (2007) |
| Design | Classic Barber Liberty cap |
| Rarity | One of rarest U.S. coins |
| Historical Anecdote | Mint discrepancy compensation |
Auction Records and Value
The coin is currently one of the most expensive American dimes to be sold and was sold in 2007 at a price of more than 1,900,000 dollars.
Other sales have prices of 1.3 million in 2005, which indicates the consistent high demand of the coin.
– These precious coins are owned by few collectors or institutions which highlights its elitism.
The reason why Collectors fascinate is in their desire to enrich their world.<|human|>The need to add to the world made by collectors makes them desire it.
– Machiavellian scarcity: The small amount that was minted and survived to us.
– Historical Situation: Granted of archaea irregularities and individual occurrences.
– Prestige: The purchase of one gives much prestige to the collector.
– Investment: History of appreciation at auction of multi-million-dollar valuation.
Considering the incredible rarity of rare coins, the incredible rise of without cost of the 1894-S Barber Dime to one of the most elusive numismatic bonuses in America sums up the fascination and romance the pursuits of numismatics bear. The fact that it already holds the record price in the auction block and continues to be cloaked in mystery makes it a crown jewel in American coin collecting.
