[The following excerpt is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its author, David Lawrence. This information was originally published in 1994 in The Complete Guide to Barber Quarters.]
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Major Hub Changes
The Barber quarter hubs were changed in 1892 to allow the coins to stack better and again in 1900 because the type II coins were thinner than the originals (Julian). The type 1, II and III quarters can be distinguished as follows:
TYPE I (1892)
Obverse — According to Julian, quarters from the first hub should have thinner borders, the words “In 
God We Trust” in a larger radius and the stars closer to the border than quarters from the second hub. However, I have been unable to notice a difference in the obverse of 1892 quarters. Nor is this obverse hub change mentioned by Breen or Lange. If changes in fact exist, the difference is hardly discernible.
Reverse—The eagle’s left wing (left side of the coin) crosses the letter E in UNITED below the middle serif, leaving most of the letter exposed.
TYPE II (1892-1900)
Obverse —There is no center cartilage in Liberty’s ear and the end of the inner ribbon is deeply forked. 
Also see Type I obverse comments.
Reverse — The eagle’s left wing crosses through the middle of the letter E in UNITED. The center serif of the E does not show
TYPE III (1900-1916)
Obverse —Liberty’s ear dearly shows a center cartilage. The end of the inner ribbon has a shallow fork 
(see illustration).
Reverse—The eagle’s left wing extends beyond the E in UNITED.
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