William Barber
Encyclopedia
William Barber was the fifth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint
from 1869 until his death. He succeeded James B. Longacre in the position.
.
He resided in Boston for 10 years and was various employed in his line of work. His skill in this way came to the knowledge of Mr. Longacre, then Engraver of the Mint, and he secured his services as an assistant in 1865. In January 1869 upon the death of Mr. Longacre, he was appointed as his successor, and continued in that position for the rest of his life. His death which resulted from severe chills, brought on by bathing at the seashore.
Besides much original work on pattern coins, he also produced over 40 medals, public and private. The work on all of them very creditable.
Barber is best known for his "Britannia
"-inspired trade dollar
design, which was produced from 1873-1878 for circulation in the Far East, and in proof-only form thereafter until 1885. The 1884 and 1885 Trade Dollars are ultra-rarities, with ten and five coined, respectively. He also adapted the long-standing Seated Liberty design for use on the ill-fated 20-cent piece
, which saw circulation only in 1875 and 1876, with proofs struck in 1877 and 1878.
Barber was a prolific pattern
designer, and for a time engaged in a "pattern war" with fellow coin designer and future Chief Engraver George T. Morgan
. Barber was succeeded as Chief Engraver by his son Charles
.
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
from 1869 until his death. He succeeded James B. Longacre in the position.
Biography
Mr. Barber was born in London May 2, 1807. He learned his profession from his father, John Barber, and was employed on silver plate work, after his emigration to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He resided in Boston for 10 years and was various employed in his line of work. His skill in this way came to the knowledge of Mr. Longacre, then Engraver of the Mint, and he secured his services as an assistant in 1865. In January 1869 upon the death of Mr. Longacre, he was appointed as his successor, and continued in that position for the rest of his life. His death which resulted from severe chills, brought on by bathing at the seashore.
Besides much original work on pattern coins, he also produced over 40 medals, public and private. The work on all of them very creditable.
Barber is best known for his "Britannia
Britannia
Britannia is an ancient term for Great Britain, and also a female personification of the island. The name is Latin, and derives from the Greek form Prettanike or Brettaniai, which originally designated a collection of islands with individual names, including Albion or Great Britain. However, by the...
"-inspired trade dollar
Trade Dollar (United States coin)
The trade dollar was a United States dollar coin minted to compete with other large silver coins that were already popular in East Asia. The idea first came about in the 1860s, when the price of silver began to decline due to increased mining efforts in the western United States...
design, which was produced from 1873-1878 for circulation in the Far East, and in proof-only form thereafter until 1885. The 1884 and 1885 Trade Dollars are ultra-rarities, with ten and five coined, respectively. He also adapted the long-standing Seated Liberty design for use on the ill-fated 20-cent piece
Twenty-cent piece (United States coin)
The United States twenty cent coin was a unit of currency equalling 1/5 of a United States dollar....
, which saw circulation only in 1875 and 1876, with proofs struck in 1877 and 1878.
Barber was a prolific pattern
Pattern coin
A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, produced for the purpose of evaluating a proposed coin design. They are often off-metal strikes, to proof standard or piedforts...
designer, and for a time engaged in a "pattern war" with fellow coin designer and future Chief Engraver George T. Morgan
George T. Morgan
George T. Morgan was an English United States Mint engraver, who is famous for designing many popular coins, such as the Morgan Dollar, and the Columbian Exposition half dollar.-Biography:...
. Barber was succeeded as Chief Engraver by his son Charles
Charles E. Barber
Charles Edward Barber was the sixth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1879 until his death in 1917. He succeeded his father, William Barber, in the position...
.
Coins Designed
- Trade DollarTrade dollar-United States:The United States trade dollar is a silver dollar coin that was issued by the United States Mint and minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Carson City, and San Francisco from 1873 to 1885. Trade dollars intended for circulation were last produced in 1878 while proof coin production...
- Twenty Cent Piece
- Various patterns, including the Half-unionHalf-unionThe Half-Union was a gold United States coin minted as a pattern in 1877 with a face value of fifty US Dollars, weighing roughly 2.5 ounces. It was designed by Chief Engraver of the Mint, William Barber, who also designed several other pattern coins and the famous Trade Dollar...
, the "Sailor Head" Twenty Cent Piece, several 1877 half dollarHalf dollarHalf dollar may refer to a half-unit of several currencies that are named "dollar". Normally, $1 is divided into 100 cents, so a half dollar is equal to 50 cents...
s, Amazonian QuarterQuarterQuarter is one fourth, ¼, or 25%, and may refer to:*Quarter , a section or area, usually of a town*Quarter , valued at one-fourth of a U.S...
and Amazonian Three Dollar Coin.