1903-S Barber Quarter. MS-66+ (PCGS). CAC. This example displays exceptional quality for a 1903-S Barber quarter, as premium Gems are rare and seldom offered. Satiny surfaces are lightly toned in iridescent champagne-pink and powder blue. The striking detail is razor sharp to full over virtually all design elements, and the surfaces are suggestive of an even higher grade. The 1903-S tells a familiar story for a San Francisco Mint Barber quarter: a smaller mintage combined with heavy commercial use resulted in an issue that is scarce to rare in all but the lowest circulated grades. While Mint State coins do survive, undoubtedly set aside at the time of issue by numismatic dealers and (less so) collectors, few grade finer than MS-64. The Pogue specimen in MS-66+ is among the finest certified and will likely become part of another highly regarded Barber quarter set.
