My first barber dime
Desert Moon
Posts: 5,914 ✭✭✭✭✭
And probably going to be my only barber dime. The key date 1895-O. This is one of my rare ventures away from my current collecting emphasis on bust, seated, and barber quarters. I could not find any other 95-O's in auction records that were worn with this kind of color, most are shades of gray. What interested me in expanding into barber dimes was first, it has a look that fits with many of my toned earlier dimes, 2nd, I favor the New Orleans mint for the collection when available, and 3rd it is the key date far less available than any other barber dime (there is the 94-S proof of course but it is 'non-collectable'), so it has multiple levels of demand (to quote DWN).
CAC has beaned more 95-O dimes (n=91) than any other with the exception of the 1892 (n=219) for which scads were saved and lots are in MS grades. This is not surprising since it is the key date and a bean will thus add strong value. There are no 95-O dimes with gold stickers, maybe I should crack out and resubmit until I get VF35 and send it back to CAC, LOL. The majority of the beaned 95-O's are in G-VF grades only 3 in XF45, 5 in AU, and 9 in MS. To find one with an MS grade with color or just plain lustrous grey is going to cost multiples of what this one cost, so within the circulated grades with such toning, this is very hard to find.
Here is the NEWP along with some of my other toned dimes across the years.
Best, SH
Comments
Watched this sell at DLRC and then show up soon after in a prominent dealer’s inventory. I’ve been focused on Barber dimes in XF40-45 for about 10 years and had never seen one in XF with color - just couldn’t wrap my head around it without seeing it in person. I’d love to see it in person and I’m glad you like it!
Hadn't thought about that! Does PCGS have a "cross only at lower grade" option?
Ruh Row! Is this the one Liz had? The Ruh Row is because the Barber fever is getting a hold of you, not because it was Liz's!
PS Nice 95-O!
Love your 95-O!
I rarely see mid-grade examples with that kind of color, esp on both sides.
Key date as well. Geez, what's not to like? I'm guessing that set you back few dollars. Well done!
Dave
Don't crack that 95-O in hopes of a gold sticker as it may not straight grade again.
That psychedelic color is secondary but might not be natural as I've never seen "tree branch" like toning progression.
I didn't get it from Liz, but it would not surprise me that she had it, she has an eye for great coins after all. As noted above, it was in a DL auction a couple years back, and probably cycled through a couple dealers each with their mark up before it got to me. I paid for that but after doing research on availability and the toning I figured it is still a great coin for the money. Would I have wanted to buy it at the DL auction price? Of course, but I seem to always miss the great coins in auctions these days.
And yes, I have 2 new quarters in P45 just imaged that I will post soon
, so I have acquired a bit if an interest in Barbers.......
I like all of them! I'm a Barber guy, love the dimes-through Halves, mainly in proof but I can certainly see why you loved the dime. Happy collecting.
Those tree branches with blue tone are very very light scratches that filled in with the toning differently, perfectly acceptable for the grade. I have no doubt PCGS and JA noticed that as well, JA finds every surface issue on every dang coin I have ever sent to CAC (LOL)...... And decided that they and the tone was ok on this one........
I could see myself picking up a nice barber dime proof in 65 or 66, I just need to see them in hand and start understanding them before deciding which to buy, same for a quarter and a halve...... Those are on my wish list for sure.
Here's one of my favorites regardless of grade. It's PF-65+ CAC....Purchased from Legend. Really super coin, and as far as dates go , the 1915 is highly desirable. It's very tough to find proof Barber's in PF-65 these days that look fantastic AND have really flashy mirrors, but if you do, they are bargains....My 2 cents.
There's no explicable reason, but I have a certain affinity for Barber dimes. That 85-O is not ugly. It will feel right at home in your remarkable collection.
Thanks folks for all of the nice comments (Broadie excepted LOL
)
95-O is a great coin!
jom
Your collection shows consistency. Often, I have felt, that certain collections, when viewed, tend to identify the collector.... Cheers, RickO