Rare U.S. Dime Sold for Nearly $2 million

An 1894 S-Barber dime sold for $1,997,500 at an auction in Tampa in 2016. The 1894 S-Barber dime is one of the most highly prized U.S. coins for collectors, along with the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty Head nickel.

"The 1894-S Barber dime is a classic rarity in American coinage, often grouped with the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty nickel as The Big Three of United States numismatic rarities," Heritage Auctions stated in a press release.

The San Francisco Mint struck about 2.5 million Barber dimes in 1893, and another substantial mintage was planned for 1894. However, the Panic of 1893 led to an economic recession, and there was little demand for small coinage. As a result, a mere 24 Barber dimes were struck at the San Francisco facility in 1894.

The 1894 S-Barber is one of the most valuable coins produced in the United States. In the late 1990s, an 1894 S-Barber dime sold for $825,000. Since then, they have sold for $1,035,000 in 2005; $1.3 million also in 2005; and $1.9 million in 2007.