Charles E. Barber

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Charles E. Barber
Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint
In office
August 31, 1879 – February 18, 1917
President
Preceded byWilliam Barber
Succeeded byGeorge T. Morgan
Personal details
Born
Charles Edward Barber

(1840-11-16)November 16, 1840[1]
London, England, United Kingdom
DiedFebruary 18, 1917(1917-02-18) (aged 76)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Resting placeMount Peace Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
OccupationEngraver

Charles Edward Barber (November 16, 1840 – February 18, 1917) was an English Engraver and the sixth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1879 until his death in 1917.

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.

History

Barber was born in London in 1840, the son of William Barber. In 1869, he was an assistant engraver at the United States Mint.[2] 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 St. Gaudens' proposed high relief pattern for a new double eagle in 1908, and tried hard to stop them being produced.[3] Barber was succeeded as Chief Engraver by George T. Morgan.

Coins Designed

Public Issues

Commemoratives

Pattern coins

References

  1. ^ "Charles E. Barber". Nps.gov.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ American Journal of Numismatics, Volumes 17-18, 1883.
  3. ^ Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. "St. Gaudens $20 (1907-1933)". Numismatic Guaranty Corporation |. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  4. ^ "So-Called Dollar". so-calleddollar.com. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
Government offices
Preceded by Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint
1879–1917
Succeeded by

External links