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The Philadelphia Mint was the first mint facility to be established in the US. In 1792, the Founding Fathers opened the Philadelphia Mint, in the nation's capital at the time, in order to commence international commerce and be an established nation. The Philadelphia Mint never created a mint-mark, since it was the only mint for over 40 years. The Barber series was ambitiously produced by the Philadelphia Mint for its entire time of being minted.
The 1898 Barber Quarter is in extra fine condition and has a mintage just over 11 million. The Barber Quarter was created by William Barber, the Chief Engraver at the US Mint. The Mint Director, Edward Leech, wanted to switch out the Seated Liberty for a more modern and updated coin design. Leech announced a competition, among local artists, to design the new coin and the winner would win a cash prize. Denied by the artists, Leech resorted to Barber, who came up with the new design, approved by Benjamin Harrison. Liberty is on the obverse, adorned with a Grecian leaf headband and is accompanied by the coin's date of mintage. The reverse displays the nation's seal: a heraldic eagle covered by a shield. The eagle holds olive branches, in one talon, and arrows in the other. The seal's symbolism reveals the strength of the US and the bravery it takes to hold onto the freedom it holds dear. There are also 13 stars above the eagle's head, accounting for the original 13 colonies.