Numismatic

1896-O Barber Dime Good

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This ten-cent piece from 1896 represents a fascinating era of American coinage, struck at the historic New Orleans Mint. Crafted from 90% silver, the coin contains 0.0715 troy ounces of precious metal. It belongs to the celebrated series named after its creator, Charles Barber, whose artistic vision defined United States silver coinage at the turn of the twentieth century. The obverse presents a profile of Lady Liberty. In this design, she wears a laurel wreath atop a Phrygian cap. On specimens in this well-circulated condition, the word Liberty is no longer visible, though a complete rim frames the portrait. The surrounding inscription reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, anchored by the date 1896 at the bottom. On the reverse, a traditional wreath encircles the denomination, which is boldly stated as ONE DIME. The mint mark O is positioned below the wreath, indicating its origin in New Orleans. While the rim on this side may show slight weakness from its time in circulation, the coin remains a captivating artifact of late nineteenth-century commerce.