Semi-Numismatic

1904-O Barber Quarter Good

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In 1904, the New Orleans Mint struck this silver quarter dollar, which carries the distinctive design work of Charles Barber. This piece contains 0.17875 troy ounces of silver, minted with a purity of 90 percent. Surviving in Good condition, it represents a tangible connection to the turn of the twentieth century, displaying the honest wear of a coin that circulated widely in daily commerce. The front of the coin features a classical profile of Lady Liberty. She wears a laurel wreath atop her head, which is also adorned with a Phrygian cap. Above her image, the national motto reads "IN GOD WE TRUST," while the year 1904 is stamped directly below her portrait. On the reverse side, a heraldic eagle stretches its wings wide. A protective shield covers the bird's chest, and its beak secures a folding banner. In its talons, the eagle grasps both a bundle of arrows and an olive branch, symbolizing the dual concepts of strength and peace. The surrounding inscription identifies the issuing nation as the United States of America alongside the denomination of one quarter dollar.