[1] He learned his profession from his father, John Barber, and was employed on silver plate work, after his emigration to the United States.

[1] On January 20, 1869, upon the death of Mr. Longacre, he was appointed by President Andrew Johnson as his successor, and continued in that position for the rest of his life.

They are ultra-rarities, with ten and five coined, respectively, and despite their dubious origin, are highly valued) When preparations were made to create a new denomination, the double dime (twenty-cent piece), William Barber and Philadelphia Mint Superintendent James Pollock knew that the design needed to be significantly different from the Liberty Seated design used on the quarter dollar.

Linderman mandated that Barber instead use the Liberty Seated design with an eagle on the reverse, thus dooming the coin to failure.

This management decision by Linderman resulted in difficulties of Morgan fitting in with William Barber, the Engraving department, and Mint Superintendent James Pollock.

On September 2, 1879, two days after his death, a special meeting of the staff was held at the mint to discuss the life and passing of William Barber.

It includes the passages, Whereas, by the sovereign will of God, Mr. William Barber, Engraver of the Mint, has been removed by death, and we, the Officers, Clerks, and Workmen, have met to express our sentiments and sympathy on this sad and solemn occasion.

Resolved, that in parting with him, we lose the co- operation of an affable, active, pain-staking, and meritorious officer, skilful [sic] in one of the most difficult of all arts; and evincing progress and improvement continually;

Bosbyshell,[6] Following William's death, several of the assistant engravers wanted the top job, including Charles Barber, George Morgan, and others.

After a number of months of deliberation, President Rutherford B. Hayes made the decision, and Charles Barber succeeded his father as Chief Engraver on January 20, 1880.

William and Anna May Barber, along with their two daughters, are buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, on Cobbs Creek Parkway in Philadelphia.