The 1901-S Barber Dime A Major Series Key

The Barber Dime series contains many scarce semi-keys and even a few rare keys, and among the coveted coins belonging to the latter is the 1901-S. That issue does not boast the lowest mintage of the series; for circulation strikes, that honor goes to the 1895-O, struck to the tune of 440,000 pieces. However, coming in with only 593,022 strikes, the 1901-S has the lowest output for any business strike made during the crux of the series – 1896 through 1912.

The 1901-S Barber Dime has proven difficult for many, and perhaps most especially for PCGS Set Registry collectors seeking the finest examples for their sets. This Barber Dime is a standout in many ways, perhaps mostly because it’s a lower-key rarity than, say, the 1895-O and isn’t quite as valuable. Yet, the 1901-S nevertheless ranks as decidedly rare, commanding respectful premiums and posing notable challenges that give some collectors pause.

Like so many key dates, the 1901-S Barber Dime is sought after across the grading spectrum, with even G4 examples retailing for more than $100. Interestingly, the premiums taper off (in the relative sense) as the coin reaches the Mint State grades, since there are dozens of graded examples available at that threshold for collectors to vie for. All told, PCGS estimates approximately 2,500 survivors across all grades, with about 150 believed to exist in the Mint State realm and 60 grading MS65 or better.

Collectors who want an example in F12 will need to pay close to $400 for the privilege, while XF40 specimens take $600 and those graded MS63 fetch nearly $3,000. The record price for this rarity was hammered in 2015 when a specimen graded PCGS MS67+ realized $25,850.