1897-S Quarter Grade About Good

The Barber Quarter, also known as the Liberty Head Quarter, is a type of U.S. quarter dollar that was minted from 1892 to 1916. It was designed by Charles E. Barber, the Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint at the time, and features a head of Liberty on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse.

The Barber Quarter is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. It has a diameter of 24.3 millimeters and a weight of 6.25 grams. This makes it the same size as modern quarters, but heavier due to its silver content.

The value of a Barber Quarter can vary significantly depending on its year, mint mark, and condition. Because it is composed of 90% silver, it has a minimum value based on the current price of silver. However, Barber Quarters in good condition or with rare mint marks can be worth significantly more. For example, the 1901-S Barber Quarter is one of the rarest and most valuable, with values into the tens of thousands of dollars for high-grade specimens. For a precise valuation, a professional coin grading service should be consulted.

Current United States quarters, minted from 1965 onwards, are composed of a core of pure copper, with a layer of a nickel-copper alloy on the outside. This gives them their distinctive silver color. The composition is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. Prior to 1965, quarters were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper.

The United States quarter has undergone several design changes since its inception. The most significant modern program was the 50 State Quarters program, which ran from 1999 to 2008. Each quarter released during this period honored one of the U.S. states with a unique reverse design. This was followed by the D.C. and U.S. territories quarters in 2009. From 2010 onwards, the America the Beautiful Quarters program has released quarters featuring designs honoring national parks and other national sites.

Yes, all U.S. quarters minted since 1828 are approximately the same size. They have a diameter of about 24.26 millimeters, a thickness of 1.75 millimeters, and a weight of 5.67 grams. The specifications have remained constant even as the design and composition of the quarter have changed over the years.