Those who are now old enough to recall collecting coins in the late 1940s or early 1950s well remember the silver coins that collectors called Barber Money. These were well worn and frequently even the date or mintmark would be very difficult to see, but the only cost was sorting through bank rolls. With the special attention now being given to quarter-dollars, as a result of the commemorative State program as well as successor motifs, there will be renewed interest in the older coins. In the past several years the Barber coinage has become increasingly popular, but the next few years should show a strengthening of that interest.
The first Barber quarters were struck in January 1892 but the government had been trying to change the design for more than 15 years, beginning in the late 1870s.
As early as 1876, there were occasional official comments that the Seated Liberty design had been around too long and ought to be changed into something more modern. Mint Director Henry R. Linderman was in tune with these sentiments and brought engraver George Morgan from England for the specific purpose of creating new artwork for the minor silver coinage.
By the late summer of 1877, Morgan had created several very fine pattern pieces, but a silver crisis during the winter of 1877-1878
