Background
Barber was born in London in 1840, the son of William Barber.
Chief Engraver of the United States Mint
Barber was born in London in 1840, the son of William Barber.
Although Barber"s coins were met with mixed reviews, he had a long and fruitful career in coinage, designing most of the coins used at the mint during his time as Chief Engraver. Barber did full coin designs and also reverse designs. In 1869, he was an assistant engraver at the United States Mint.
In 1879, he succeeded his father, in the position as chief engraver.
Barber"s best-known designs are the eponymous "Barber" Barber dime, Barber quarter, and Barber half dollar, as well as the so-called "V" Liberty Head nickel. Some lesser known pattern coin designs by Barber include the trial copper-nickel cent, trial three-cent piece, and the $4 Stella "Flowing Hair" pieces.
Citing the impracticality of the design, he was strongly critical of Augustus Saint Gaudens" proposed high relief pattern for a new double eagle in 1908, and tried hard to stop them being produced. Barber was succeeded as Chief Engraver by George T. Morgan.
Public Issues
Barber half dollar
Barber quarter
Barber dime
Liberty Head nickel
Commemoratives
Flowing Hair Stella
The obverse (front) of the Columbian Exposition half dollar
Isabella Quarter
Silver Lafayette Dollar
Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar
Lewis and Clark Exposition gold dollar
Panama-Pacific Exposition half dollar
William McKinley Memorial gold dollar
Pattern coins
"Washlady" silver pattern quarter.