1894-O Barber Dime

The story of the 1894-O

Output at New Orleans slipped to 720,000 in 1894, from 1.8 million the year before. In 1895 the figure was 440,000.

1894-S came to 24 and 1894 came to 1.3 million, so neither mint's 1894 coin is much scarcer than the other. In the whole series, its mintage sits closest to the 1895 (690,000) and the 1897-O (666,000).

Across New Orleans's 17 Barber Dime issues, the hardest to find is the 1895-O with 440,000 made. The 1894-O is on the scarcer side of the middle. Within the 1890s it's 7th smallest of 24, between the 1895 (690,000) and the 1892-S (990,710).

More on the 1894-O

New Orleans struck 720,000 dimes in 1894, while Philadelphia made 1,330,000 and San Francisco only 24. The 1894-O is a semi-key that is scarce even in well-worn Good condition, which sets it apart from most Barber dimes, where low grades are plentiful.

Expect a soft strike. Like many New Orleans Barber dimes, the 1894-O often shows weak detail in the wreath and hair, so look at LIBERTY on the headband when judging wear. A coin with a full LIBERTY is a scarce find. Uncirculated pieces are rare. Check that the O below the wreath is crisp and evenly spaced from the bow. If you have an 1894 dime and are hoping for the famous 1894-S, the O is the prize you can actually hope to find. It carries a collector premium in any grade. Buy better examples in holders from a major grading service.

A good way to use this page is as a checklist. Confirm the date, confirm the O, then judge LIBERTY. If all three look right and the surfaces are natural, the coin deserves a closer look from a specialist.

Hard times and the rarest dimes (1894 to 1897)

Demand for new coins was weak during the depression of the mid-1890s and Barber dime mintages show it. Philadelphia struck 1,330,000 in 1894, 690,000 in 1895 and 2,000,000 in 1896 before rebounding to 10,868,533 in 1897. New Orleans never reached a million in these four years, with 720,000 in 1894, 440,000 in 1895, 610,000 in 1896 and 666,000 in 1897. San Francisco made 1,120,000 in 1895 and 1,342,844 in 1897, so its coins of those years are scarce but not keys.

This is where the rarities of the series cluster. The 1895-O, with 440,000 struck, is the key among regular business strikes and is usually found heavily worn. The 1895 is the scarcest Philadelphia date. The 1894-O, 1896-O, 1896-S (575,056) and 1897-O are semi-keys. Above them all sits the 1894-S, of which San Francisco struck just 24 pieces in proof format for reasons that have never been fully explained. Only about ten are believed to survive.

Scarce dates attract altered and counterfeit coins, so a key date from these years deserves a slow, careful look. Check the mint mark under magnification for a clean outline, the right size and no seam where it meets the field. Then compare the date digits with each other for matching style and spacing. Worn examples of the key dates still carry a collector premium, while the Philadelphia 1897 is a common date that trades close to metal value in low grades.

Elsewhere in US coinage in 1894

The San Francisco Mint struck just 24 dimes dated 1894, one of the most famous rarities in American coinage.