Many consider the 1901-S Barber Quarter to be the rarest non-gold coin of the 20th century. The issue also ranks as the second rarest of all Barber type coins struck from 1892 to 1916, after the unusual 1894-S dime. The 1901-S quarter is scarce and desirable at all grade levels, with even barely recognizable survivors commanding prices in the thousands of dollars. Virtually all examples of this rare issue are found in well circulated condition, an indication that nearly the entire original mintage was immediately released into circulation after production. The few survivors in uncirculated condition generate substantial interest at auction and sell for large sums.
The Barber Quarter series was introduced in 1892 and struck at various Mints until 1916. During this period, the dime, quarter, and half dollar all shared the same basic design created by Charles Barber. The obverse of all three coins featured the head of Liberty wearing a cap adorned with a wreath of laurel and a headband carrying the inscription “Liberty”. The image is surrounded by thirteen stars and the motto “In God We Trust”. The reverse design for both the quarter and half dollar features a heraldic eagle with a shield at its chest and its talons grasping an olive branch and bundle of arrows. A ribbon in the eagle’s beak reads “E Pluribus Unum” and thirteen stars appear in the field above. The dime carried a different reverse design featuring an agricultural wreath.
There are a number of rarities that stand out when exploring the three series of Barber coinage. This includes the 1894-S dime which was created under mysterious circumstances with an original mintage believed to be a mere 24 pieces, the low mintage 1896-S and 1913-S quarters, and the 1902-O “Micro O” half dollar. Among the issues, the 1901-S quarter stands apart as the most elusive regular issue which leads to its frequent identification as the “King of Barber Coinage.”
As can be expected with such a rare and prized coin, some counterfeits do exist. Genuine examples of the 1901-S quarter exhibit a number of unique features which makes identification possible for experienced collectors, although certification is still recommended. Only two die pairs were used to strike the full mintage. They are identified by the placement of the date on the obverse (in particular the placement of the 1’s above the denticles) and the placement of the mintmark on the reverse. The style of the mintmark is also important, as added mintmarks are always from a slightly different punch than the one which was originally used.
When identifying the genuineness of a 1901-S Barber Quarter, the date placement and mint mark are both important to remember, but neither can be used as the sole indication of a genuine coin. As an example, there are some 1901 quarters from the Philadelphia Mint with the obverse date placement very similar to one of the two 1901-S obverse dies. Forgeries are known to have been made from coins struck from this obverse die with an added “S” mintmark. Both obverses developed a number of small die cracks to the right of the date which can also be used for identification purposes, although the die crack is not visible on all coins.