New collecting directions
Desert Moon
Posts: 5,971 ✭✭✭✭✭
Hello folks,
There are several series where I have pretty much collected what I can do without spending ridiculous amounts of money. Since the coin market has been in a funk for at least 5 years, I am not interested in spending alot more money because it becomes a losing proposition when it is time to sell. I will still focus on bust quarters targeting getting as many die marriages as possible and mostly in the 45-62 grade range, but this is going to be very slow progress in this area from hereon given I am getting up there in number, with very hard ones left. Thought about bust and seated dollars for an additional challenge but I am going to go very slow with these because they count as 'lots of money' in my world of the 99%, and because they are almost all messed with and it is extremely hard to find original coins in my price range. So I need a another challenge. What I have decided is to go towards first, a complete set of O mint Barber quarters in 25-45 grades, all CAC, plus any others I can pick up along the way from the other mints. Even the few keys when combined over say 5-10 year time span, can be done without too much major funding. So this will be a nice extension to what I am doing in my bust quarter set.
So why on Earth would anyone collect the lowly grades of 25-45 in a series with very few rarities? We are all told 'buy the best you can afford'. I can afford alot more, but, there is beauty in a worn coin that did its work but came out without being too destroyed and has just honest wear - this is where CAC comes in, they really pay attention to 'original' surfaces. And even better - for any given year and mint, there are typically 10 CACed Barber quarters in 25-45 and I don't necessarily like all of the beaned ones I see, maybe I like 30-50% of them if that. So this is going to be hard which makes it challenging. I can of course buy non-CACed quarters, but to do that, I am going to have to raise my level of understanding for what counts for unmessed with surfaces (hard to impossible to judge with most online images) or buy from dealers who know what they are doing with non-CAC coins they buy, not to waste alot of effort because my requirement I am giving myself is that they will be CAC - so I better up my game. I have been getting great advice from one of the best graders and surface evaluators in the buisness, and that should help. So we will see.............
So this is going to take some time to do, and won't be too painful in the pocket, keeping me active at reasonable cost. And again, I like a worn coin with good surfaces. And hey grey is a nice color. 
Here is the latest addition, bought from Reeded Edge, who went the extra mile to straighten it out when I accidently had them ship to an incorrect address. Good dealer for sure.
Best, SH
Comments
Yes-a good dealer AND a nice coin!
You threw me when I read “O” mint Bust quarters... then I saw the pic and realized it should read Barber. I like your idea... pursue what you love. That ‘03-O is a gorgeous start!
‘dude
+1
That is a great grade range for Barber Quarters!
Be very selective.
Best wishes in your collecting efforts
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I like what you are doing for you Spacehayduke and hope you end up with a nice collection of coins. For the grade, I think that is a very nice looking coin too. Good luck to you!
Happy Coin Hunting!
Joe
Doh! Corrected - bust on the mind........ Thanks.
agreed, there is alot of modified coins coins out there in Barber land.
From a pure design standpoint, I prefer bust coinage over all else, but mid grade circulated barbers with just the right amount of ‘circ-cam’ are really nice looking. A well matched set with just the right original look would be quite impressive. I look forward to seeing updates on your progress.
Got any nice $5’s to move?
Latin American Collection
I am not a big fan of the Barber design - until it is circulated. Somehow, a bit of wear transforms what seems to me to be a fairly static and uptight design into something classical and elegant. Best wishes on your new collecting direction, and please keep sharing your acquisitions here!
Tough coins to find with terrific surfaces and lots of meat. I enjoy them immensely and they can keep one involved in the chase while other pursuits are dry. Good luck!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
The motto should NOT be "buy the best you can afford".
The motto - at least the primary motto - should always be "buy what makes you happy".
If and when my box of 40 gold is sold, it will go through DWN . I will give you a heads up but it looks like at least a few years before that happens. However, I am looking to sell the HTT's..........
Best, SH
I can't quit looking at your Bust Quarter collection. Wow, pretty collection.
Very nice coin and a great project.... Circulated coins have an attraction that says 'history'...and in good condition are really nice to look at. Cheers, RickO
Good for you SH. Glad you’ve found a new challenge!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I pretty much agree with this. But colorful proofs and MS65-67's are pretty darn nice. I just don't want to spend the money, I am happy with honest wear and instead focus the dinero on the bust quarters.
Best, SH