Barber coinage

1894-S Barber dime, San Francisco Mint. The San Francisco Mint struck only 24 dimes dated 1894, all as proofs, and nine or perhaps ten survive. Why they were made is still unclear. The best-known story has the Mint's superintendent, John Daggett, giving three to his daughter Hallie, who spent one on ice cream, but no one has been able to verify it. The tiny S mintmark sits below the wreath on the reverse, at right in this photo, and it is the only thing that separates this dime from the common Philadelphia coins of the same year.