[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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The Barber quarter takes its design from the Barber half. The evolution of both designs can be seen in the pattern coinage of the half dollar, illustrated below.
Only one pattern (Judd #1761) exists for the Barber quarter. It is similar to the half dollar pattern Judd #1762. Three specimens are known of Judd #1766 and two each of all the other Barber patterns. Except for one specimen of Judd #1766, all are in the Smithsonian Institution and are dated 1891. (Photographs courtesy of Photographic Services, National Numismatic Collection, Smithsonian Institution. Reproduced with permission.)
JUDD 1766
Obverse: Columbia standing with Liberty pole and sword, in front of eagle. Stars have 6 points and are flat.
Reverse: Small eagle with shield on breast. Single olive branch in right claw, 13 arrows in left. Scroll, with E. PLURIBUS UNUM, passes in front of eagle’s neck. Clouds above eagle. Rays above clouds and behind eagle’s wings. The design is within an oak wreath. This was apparently the first Barber half pattern.
JUDD 1765
Obverse: Head of Liberty wearing Warty cap and laurel wreath. Stars are flat and 5-pointed.
Reverse: Similar to J-1766 above, but eagle is larger and rays are gone.
JUDD 1764
Obverses: Similar 10 J-1765 but stars are sharp and 6-pointed
Reverse: Similar to J-1765, but oak wreath is gone and design is larger. The olive branch is split.
JUDD 1762
Obverse: Similar to J-1764.
Reverse: Similar to J-1764, but design Is larger still and the scroll passes behind the eagle’s neck. Olive branch is single-stemmed.
JUDD 1763
Obverse: Similar to J-1764 and J-1765.
Reverse: Similar to J-1762, but clouds have been removed and stars are larger and entirely above the scroll. This design was chosen for the Barber halves: 1892-1915 and adopted for the Barber quarter also.
JUDD 1761
This is the only pattern created for the Barber quarter. It is similar to J-1762, however the pattern most similar to the actual Barber quarter coinage is J-1763.