In 1896, a series of pivotal events unfolded that significantly impacted politics, science, sports, and economic development, reflecting a period of profound transformation and innovation.
The U.S. presidential election of 1896 was a landmark political event, where Republican William McKinley defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan. This election was notably influenced by the intense economic debates of the time, particularly the controversy over the gold standard versus free silver, which was a proxy for broader economic anxieties in a rapidly industrializing society. McKinley's victory underscored the nation's preference for a conservative economic approach, setting the stage for a period of significant industrial growth and expansion in the United States.
In the realm of science, 1896 marked the year when Wilhelm Röntgen announced his discovery of X-rays, a groundbreaking achievement that revolutionized the medical field. This discovery not only opened new avenues in medical diagnosis and treatment but also symbolized the burgeoning era of scientific discovery and technological innovation that characterized the turn of the 20th century. Röntgen's work laid the foundation for the field of radiology, transforming the way diseases and injuries were diagnosed and treated, and earning him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
The year also witnessed the revival of the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, heralding the first modern Summer Olympics. This event marked the rebirth of the ancient tradition, aiming to promote peace and mutual understanding through sports. It brought together athletes from around the world, celebrating excellence, friendship, and respect across nations. The success of the 1896 Olympics rekindled international interest in the Games, establishing a quadrennial tradition that has become a cornerstone of global sporting culture.
Furthermore, 1896 saw the discovery of gold in the Klondike region of the Yukon, triggering one of the most famous gold rushes in history. This event attracted tens of thousands of prospectors to the region, symbolizing the enduring allure of the American frontier and the dream of sudden wealth. The Klondike Gold Rush had a profound impact on the economy and demographics of the Pacific Northwest, contributing to the development and settlement of the region.
Together, these events from 1896 illustrate a year of significant change and progress, highlighting the dynamic interplay between politics, science, culture, and economic development at the dawn of the 20th century.
In the last decade of the 19th century the United States was in the throes of transition. Economic depression raged. Unionism was defining its relationship both to management and to its own membership. Industrialist J.P. Morgan, labor advocate Samuel Gompers and Congressman William Jennings Bryan were familiar figures. The 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition unveiled the technical achievements of capitalism as well as America’s cultural sophistication. Piano player Scott Joplin introduced a new kind of music—ragtime. It was against this backdrop of names and events that the coinage of Charles E. Barber was introduced to the American public.
Coins are usually referred to by their design, not their designer. The Mercury dime, the Franklin half dollar, the Walking Liberty half dollar, the Lincoln cent and almost all other coins give no clues, except for initials hidden somewhere on the coin, to the designer’s identity. So when new collectors hear about “Barber Coinage” for the first time, they must think these coins have something to do with haircuts or barber poles. Only four U.S. coin designs are known solely by their designer’s names. Christian Gobrecht and George T. Morgan are famous for their beautiful dollars. Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the famous sculptor, designed the magnificent 20th Century twenty dollar gold coin. Charles Barber, however, achieved equal notoriety due more to the controversies of his office than for the beauty of his designs.
Charles Edward Barber was the latest generation in a family of engravers. Born in London in 1840, he came to the United States with his father William in 1852. The senior Barber worked as an engraver for private businesses in New England until, in 1869, he was appointed chief engraver of the United States Mint. Charles accompanied him and became an assistant engraver at the mint in Philadelphia. When William Barber passed away in 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed Charles to the position of chief engraver.
In 1887, Mint Director James P. Kimball noted in his annual report that, in his opinion, the coinage of the United States was out of date and should be changed. At his request, Senator Justin S. Morill introduced a bill authorizing the Treasury Department to redesign coins without the necessity of first obtaining Congressional approval, as long as the design had been in use for twenty-five or more years. The Seated Liberty dime, quarter and half dollar had remained virtually unchanged since 1837. So when the bill passed on September 26, 1890, these coins were first to be earmarked for change.
The Treasury Department, against the advice of Charles Barber, organized a competition to produce the new designs. Barber, Augustus Saint-Gaudens and engraver Henry Mitchell were chosen to judge the contest. The result was disastrous, mostly because the judges believed themselves to be better designers than the contestants. In the end, Charles Barber got what he had wanted all along. With the support of the new Mint Director Edward O. Leech, he was chosen to do the design work.
The Barber Quarter, as adopted in 1892, shows a bust of Liberty similar in style to that of the Morgan Dollar but facing right. She is wearing a Liberty cap with a laurel wreath, and a ribbon ties her hair in the back of her neck. IN GOD WE TRUST appears above her head, and the date is found below. Six stars on the left and seven stars on the right represent the original thirteen colonies. The designers initial (B) is at the base of Liberty’s neck. The reverse imitates the Great Seal of the United States and depicts an eagle with outstretched wings, holding an olive branch with thirteen leaves in its right claw and a bundle of thirteen arrows in its left. There is a ribbon with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM being held in the eagle’s beak and thirteen stars are in the field.
When the first Barber quarters were struck in January of 1892, it was discovered that the coins wouldn’t stack properly. This problem was resolved by altering the relief and design elements. Thus, there are two types of 1892 quarters. The easiest way to identify them is by the reverse. On Type I, the eagle’s left wing crosses the letter E in UNITED below the middle serif, leaving most of the letter exposed. With the Type II quarters, the eagle’s wing covers most of letter E, and the middle serif is hidden. There is also a third type, introduced during 1900, with the eagle’s wing extending beyond the top of the E.
The series has no major rarities, though 1901-S is a challenge even in low grades. There are two other “keys”; 1896-S and 1913-S, but even these are obtainable at a price. Almost 265 million pieces were minted between 1892 and 1916 at the mints in Philadelphia (no mintmark), San Francisco (S) and New Orleans (O). The mintmark can be found below the eagle’s tail. Proofs were minted every year except 1916 and totaled more than 17,000. “Type” collectors particularly favor the 1892 date, as it was the first year of issue, and 1909-O, as it was the last issue from the New Orleans Mint.
On high grade Barber quarters, look carefully for slide marks and light scratches, especially on the face. Check for traces of wear on Liberty’s cheek, forehead and the hair above her eye. Also, check carefully for wear on the “puff” of the Liberty cap. On the reverse, the eagle’s wing tips, head and tail are the points to first show wear.
Barber’s coinage coincided with an innovation in manufacturing master hubs. Large cameo models were made out of wax and a resinous gum, then electroplated. The model was placed in a pantograph or transfer lathe that transferred the design to a master hub of the size needed for a coin die. The new technique allowed for greater precision and allowed the artist easy introduction of more design elements. Of course, one of the criticisms of the Barber quarter was that the design was cluttered.
In 1916, a new contest was held to replace the Barber quarter design which had been in production the required minimum of 25 years. This contest was successful, and a new design by Hermon Atkins MacNeil, the Standing Liberty quarter, went into production in December of that year. With their low relief design, Barber quarters continued to circulate well into the 1950s, still retaining their dates, outlasting the more “artistic” but less practical Standing Liberty quarter. Whatever his limitations as an artist, Charles Barber did indeed know how to produce a coin that would serve the public well.
Coin Descriptions Provided by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC)
