1909-D Barber Dime

The story of the 1909-D

Production at Denver fell off a cliff in 1909. Only 954,000 were made, against 7.5 million the year before. That drop is why the 1909-D is the one people look for. In 1910 the figure was 3.5 million.

The other mints made far more that year: 1909 alone came to 10 million, roughly 11 for every 1909-D. If you're checking a pile of 1909 coins, the D is the one to look for. In the whole series, its mintage sits closest to the 1915-S (960,000) and the 1892-S (990,710).

Of the 8 Barber Dimes Denver struck between 1906 and 1914, this is the scarcest. Within the 1900s it's 4th smallest of 33, between the 1904-S (800,000) and the 1909-S (1 million).

More on the 1909-D

Denver struck only 954,000 dimes in 1909, the lowest Denver figure in the Barber series. Philadelphia made 10,240,000, New Orleans 2,287,000 and San Francisco 1,000,000 that year, so 1909 is a year with three better-date branch mint coins.

Look for the D below the bow of the wreath and make sure it is not a worn O, since both mints struck dimes in 1909 and the letters can look similar when worn. The 1909-D carries a premium in every grade over common Philadelphia dates. Most survivors are worn. Check LIBERTY on the headband and the date for clarity. Avoid cleaned coins. Uncirculated pieces are scarce.

Denver's mintage climbed quickly after this, to 3,490,000 in 1910 and more than 11 million in each of 1911 and 1912, so the 1909-D stands alone as the scarce Denver Barber dime. If you're building a set by mint, it is usually the hardest Denver coin to fill. The 1910-D comes next, followed by the 1906-D and 1907-D at just over four million each.

New Orleans bows out (1909 to 1912)

The New Orleans Mint struck its last dimes in 1909, a run of 2,287,000. New Orleans never struck coins again. Denver's 1909 output was only 954,000, the lowest Denver figure of the series, while San Francisco made exactly 1,000,000. Those three coins are the better dates of the period and each brings more than the Philadelphia dates in any grade.

From 1910 Denver took over much of the branch mint work. Its mintages rose from 3,490,000 in 1910 to 11,209,000 in 1911 and 11,760,000 in 1912, while San Francisco ranged from 1,240,000 to 3,520,000. Philadelphia stayed between 10,240,000 and 19,349,300 a year. The total for 1909 to 1912 came to 98,859,300 dimes. The 1910-S, with 1,240,000 struck, is the scarcest coin dated after 1909 in this group. By now the Barber dime had been the ordinary dime in every pocket for nearly two decades, so most of these coins wore down quickly.

Proof mintages in these years ran between 543 and 700 a year. Those proofs are listed on their own pages. For an ordinary circulated coin, focus on LIBERTY and the rims. Late Barber dimes circulated for decades and many reached About Good, where the rims run into the legend and only part of the date shows. A coin from these years with a sharp, complete LIBERTY is a cut above the typical survivor and deserves a better place in a collection.

Elsewhere in US coinage in 1909

The Lincoln cent replaced the Indian Head cent to mark the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Designer Victor David Brenner's initials V.D.B. on the reverse were removed within days after complaints. The New Orleans Mint struck its last coins that year.