By: Mobin
The 1893-O Barber dime is a famous key date that numismatists have prized over the years for its low mintage and scarcity.
Struck at the New Orleans Mint, only 300,000 examples of the 1893-O dime were made before the facility abruptly shut down that year.
With so few coins struck and the humid climate, very few 1893-O dimes survived in high grades over the decades.
Until recent times, numismatists were unaware of any examples that merited the elite MS-68PL grade classification.
When numismatic legend Stewart Blay revealed an MS-68PL example, it created major waves in the coin collecting community.
Blay's 1893-O recently sold at auction for $140,625, setting a new world record price paid for the date/grade.
Decades from now, the special Blay 1893-O dime will still be remembered for its numismatic significance.