Description
1911 10C Barber Dime PCGS PR68
PCGS # 4895
Grading Service PCGS
Grade PR68
Mint Location Philadelphia
Year 1911
Designation NONE
Strike Proof
Grade Add On NONE
1911 10C Barber Dime PCGS PR68
1911 10C
SKU: 35320083
Superb Gem Proof quality and exceptional multicolored eye appeal define this 1911 Barber Dime, certified PR68 by PCGS and preserved at a condition level reached by only a tiny fraction of the original proof issue. Struck at Philadelphia as part of an exceedingly limited proof delivery of just 543 pieces, this is a low-mintage and highly desirable advanced collector coin. PCGS reports a population of only 6 examples in PR68, with none certified finer, placing this piece at the absolute top of the published census.
Designed by Charles E. Barber, the obverse presents the familiar Liberty Head facing right, wearing a Phrygian cap, laurel wreath, and ribboned headband inscribed LIBERTY, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounding and the date 1911 below. The reverse carries the denomination ONE DIME within an agricultural wreath of corn, wheat, maple, and oak, a composition that has become one of the most recognizable motifs in classic American silver coinage. As a proof striking, the issue was produced with specially prepared dies and polished planchets, yielding the sharp definition and reflective fields expected of the format.
The present specimen is especially notable for its extraordinary visual presence. Both sides display vivid iridescent toning, with electric cobalt, turquoise, violet, rose-gold, and fiery amber accents enlivening deeply mirrored fields and sharply impressed design elements. The strike is full and crisp throughout, as befits the issue, while the surfaces appear impressively well preserved for the assigned PR68 grade. The overall effect is one of elite quality and immediate visual distinction, the kind of proof Barber dime that commands attention in any cabinet of toned type or high-grade Barber coinage.
Within the Barber dime series of 1892 to 1916, proof issues have long enjoyed a special place among collectors for their combination of classic late-19th- and early-20th-century artistry, limited mintages, and strong crossover appeal to both type buyers and series specialists. The 1911 proof is a late-series Philadelphia striking from the final years before the denomination gave way to the Winged Liberty Head design. While business-strike 1911 Philadelphia dimes are readily obtainable, the proof issue is an entirely different matter, produced only for collectors in very small numbers and cherished today for its refinement and scarcity.
In terms of rarity and collectibility, this piece stands on especially firm ground. A proof mintage of 543 confirms its status as a low-mintage issue, and the combination of top-tier preservation, dramatic natural color, and none-finer PCGS census standing gives it added importance in the marketplace. Although not considered a key date in the business-strike sense, the proof 1911 dime is unquestionably scarce as produced and rare in this grade tier, making it a compelling acquisition for the collector assembling a top-end proof Barber set, an elite type set, or a cabinet focused on beautifully toned classic United States silver coinage.
A top-population 1911 Barber Dime with magnificent color and undeniable proof quality, this PR68 PCGS example represents a premium opportunity for the discerning numismatist.