1894-O Barber Quarter. MS-66+ (PCGS). CAC. This beautifully toned Gem exhibits silver-apricot central toning that gives way to more intense reddish-rose and powder blue iridescence at the borders. The luster is full and frosty throughout, and the strike is bold from the rims to the centers. Exceptionally smooth, as befits the assigned grade. This coin ranks among the finest 1894-O quarters known to PCGS.The New Orleans Mint produced 2,852,000 quarters in 1894. The Barber series was in its third year, by which time interest in the new design had waned considerably. Setting a trend that would continue through the end of this series in 1916, especially for the mintmarked issues, commercial use was immediate and extensive for the 1894-O. Indeed, the typical survivor is well worn and Mint State examples are scarce even in the MS-60 to MS-64 range. Gems such as the Pogue coin are rare, making this an important opportunity for the advanced collector of Barber and/or New Orleans Mint coinage.
