[The following excerpt is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its author, David & John Feigenbaum. This information was originally published in 1991 in The Complete Guide Certified Barber Coinage]

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Scarcity:

1909-P (10,240,000) ranks 59th in total mint state population with 311 certified (R1). By mintage it ranks 53rd.

1909-D (954,000) is R4 in total mint state (no change since ’91), ranking 16th with 60 certified. By mintage it ranks 12th.

1909-O (2,287,000) is R3 in total mint state (no change since ’91), ranking 28th with 88 certified. By mintage it ranks 15th.

1909-S (1,000,000) is R5 in total mint state (no change since ’91), ranking 12th (tied) with 56 certified. By mintage it ranks 45th.

Comments: Despite the 10 million dimes produced at Philadelphia, dime production dropped significantly this year. The 1909-D&S are both very scarce dates and 1909-O is also a better date.

1909 is a very strange year in all three Barber series. For some reason, all issues of the dimes, quarters and half-dollars are strangely struck (or is it a change in the master die?). This shows most clearly at the word LIBERTY, where the middle letters appear to be shorter in a high percentage of the coin produced.While not always apparent in mint state coins, this is easily noted in grades Fine and Very Fine. 1909-S dimes, 1909-O quarters and all three half-dollar issues display this most frequently.

1909-P comes with the best strike of the four, and 1909-O is the softest. The 1909-S is somewhat of a mystery because its strike is completely unpredictable. We have seen this issue with a decent – almost full – strike, and also with a horrible strike.

Values: There are several undervalued coins in this year: 1909-P in low mint state grades (MS 63 PI ranking 13th); 1909-O in all mint state grades (PI rankings 15th and 12th in MS 63 and 65). Considering demand, the 1909-D&S are very fairly priced. Nice specimens are well worth current levels and sharply struck 1909- S’s command a strong premium among knowledgeable buyers.

Tips: Prioritize the 1909-D&S when putting this set together.