Which would you choose to collect, and why? Barber Half Dollars, Indian Head Cents, or both?
Rampage
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I do not have to make this decision, but I want to. I have contemplated whether or not to focus on my Barbers or my IHCs. Then it struck me, why not focus on better date/grades from both and leave out the common "stuff"? If you had to make this choice, what would you do? And, why?
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I like both series personally. Your definitions are difficult for me to decide as you could get common coins in uncommon condition or you could go with the better dates in the respective sets. Each would have their own merits. Good luck tossing this around!
I would choose the IHC as I prefer that design over the Barber, but neither is a series I would choose due to the number of expensive stopper coins.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Barber halves.
I simply just prefer half dollars overall and definitely prefer silver over copper.
Check out the listed prices to complete the Barber set vs the IHC set, in all grades. The IHC set is way more affordable and can be completed in proof, other than the two S dates.
IMO the IHC is uniquely American and a more striking design, although I'm one who likes the Barber design as well.
After the Lincoln cent series was nearly over and patiently waiting for the right 1909 S V.D.B to fall into my lap, I jumped on to the IHP bandwagon in the interim. Filled my Dansco for a total of 1300$ with all raw coins, including the 1877 from my LCS and only slab version is the 1909 S. The below link has a very realistic ballpark amount.
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/indian-head-penny-values-4050537
The liberty half dollars set me back by 2100$ with none in slabs (had posted some pics earlier).
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/13181489#Comment_13181489
Am not that big a fan of the worn out circulated Barber coins because Liberty look very manly in those, but my wife and wallet would not permit me to go with slabbed in higher mint state route.
Bottomline is that my choice would be 50-50 equally since the quest to complete the Dansco was a real fun journey while it lasted, but would not hesitate to sell both of these sets if the price is right.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/quarters/PCGS-2020-quarter-quest/album/247091
What grades? I did Barber set in VF+ and IHC in AU. I'd probably do Barbers again, but you'll overpay for decent quality...lot's of trash in graded holders.
A set is hard for me, I just see a nice coin key or not and I want it. But I do try to buy the key’s first they will always be needed for others to complete there sets, if I need to or want to sell at a later date it’s a easy out.
Hoard the keys.
I chose both. I still have the IHC set with a few varieties and the flying eagles as well. The Barber halves were fun to complete, and cheaper in much lower grades, so also easier to part with. I like collecting silver and copper, so both it was.
I guess my first question is in the long run, how much money are you comfortable spending ? I'm not a fan of IHC in MS because of the B/RB/R question and also spotting. It seems the halves are popular because they are big coins. While there is strong demand, I think keys are overrated, If I were to be selective, I would look for the undervalued coins in terms of their population versus the price. However, it may take years for the market to recognize them as undervalued.
I don't really have the stomach for big sets, but they're both cool series -- I think if it were me I'd probably set some kind of a target where I think about my budget and my time frame and some reason why these 8 coins from this series and these 10 from that, or whatever, are going to be the project -- could be one dynamite example from each mint in the halves, for instance, or maybe that plus the keys in the best condition you can swing, plus maybe a killer proof or two ... in the IHC's maybe the handful of key and semi-key coins and a killer unc from each decade, plus a few great proofs or something? I'd rather have a small group in which each coin knocks my socks off than a broader set if not all of them do.
I do basically that method with Barber Halves and Quarters, as well as Seated Quarters.
So I would answer- choose both.
Why be obligated to buy common dates to complete a set unless you find something knock out gorgeous.
I really like the ‘better dates’ angle, should you decide to go that way.
Both are great sets, but copper worries me a bit, so I’d lean toward the halves.
Dave
What grade range and aesthetics are you looking for in your coins? That will go a long way toward telling you the final price and how difficult the series can be to complete.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Agreed... The halves are easier to see, being larger and brighter. A nice chunk of silver just had more gravitas than a bit of old copper.
I never attempted Barber Halves at any grade. I've gotten close to completing the IHC set a couple of times (minus the 1877), but mostly in lower grades. The 2nd time around I had the date run from 1880 to 1909-S in XF-AU. I sold most of these around 10 years ago. I still like the series though and will likely look for a nice 1890's dated coin in MS for my Box of 20... it's one of the series that sparked my interest in coin collecting in the first place!
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The Barber half key is 1892-s, $300 in G-4 in the PCGS Price guide.
Compare with the 1877 IHC, $625 in G-4.
So I'd say the Barber halves are more affordable than IHC in low grade.
The IHC key is cheaper than the Barber dime key (1894-s $1.5m in PR-lowest)
or the Barber quarter key (1901-s $4,750 in G-4);
maybe those were the expensive stoppers you were thinking of?
Although $300 can also be a stopper.
It certainly stopped me, as I have all the Barber halves except the key.
Ditto for the Barber dimes.
My choice is easy, Barber Half Dollars. I have not had any interest in many years for coins that do not contain gold or silver. Just my preference. Not trying to complete a set of the Barber Half Dollars.. I just buy them when I like them, and when the price is right.
My avatar says it all!
Indian head cents are a dime a dozen compared to nice original Barbers. I'm bullish on Barbers and pretty much would bet the farm the nicer Barbers will outperform the Indians on the scale of a Porshe compared to a VW!
I will add that Barbers are common in low grade...it's when you step up to F and better is where they shine.
When I was a young collector, I was drawn specifically to Indian Cents because there were only two mint marked coins to collect. One of the first coins I bought from a dealer was a 1908-S Indian Cent to fill that slot early in the process. I started collecting Barber Dimes but was quickly discouraged because of all the mint marked coins I had to buy. As an old collector, I feel the same way today.
As for the common dates, I want them. Date runs are cool because they give you numismatic historical sign posts.
I know a lot of collectors think that only the key dates are worth collecting. It goes with this unfortunate attitude that you are collector in large part to make money. Key dates are all that seem to go up in price partly because of that attitude. Buying only key dates feeds the market which increases prices.
It frustrates me when I work hard on a historical presentation, and few people attend at a major convention. If your title is “How to Make Money with Your Coin Collection,” they fill the room.
Halves. A set of VF-XF halves is a lot more impressive, to me, than the same of indian head cents.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
I have always preferred big silver and big gold coins. That being said, I have dimes and cents and nickels in my collection as well. I do not do series anymore, now I just acquire neat coins that appeal to me, and of course gold at good price levels.
Cheers, RickO
I'd chose barber halves.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Leaning towards Barber halves if you get nice examples.
There are a lot of “it depends” factors here, but for me, the answer is neither. I can like both designs (as far as Barbers go, nice ones can be really nice, but too worn or average or worse examples do nothing for me), but not enough that I’d want to do either set. I’d rather one or a few nice representative examples. It also depends on grade. I think Indians stay attractive much longer than Barbers as they wear down, though a mid or upper grade circulated Barber with great original color can be very appealing. And not that you asked, but at least for uncirculated examples, I think I prefer the Barber quarters to the halves based on how the lustre presents itself.
So my unhelpful vote: get a few nice ones and call it a day. (And to be clear, there are very, very few series where I’d have an interest in putting together a full set, especially if the coins command much if any premium over melt).
I'd choose Barber because it's silver.
Unless circulated I would always wonder if the IHC would mellow out or lose any red color.
I am working on a Barber Half proof set currently, and they are certainly one of my favorite coins in US Numismatics. So that would be my vote. The proofs are a nice set, as there are 24 coins, and they are all obtainable, no stoppers.
I feel just the opposite. The Barber Half set only covers from 1892 to 1915. The Flying Eagle and Indian Cent set (1857 to 1909, forget the expensive 1856 Flyer) covers the antebellum period, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Gay 90s and the beginning of the 20th century. That's the way I viewed the set when I was a kid.
SHHH!!!
Someday you will get old and you'll still be able to see the Barbers.
I think I'm there already...
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Ive done a set of Indians in Ms-62-64 , wasn't too hard, few dates had to look a bit, and not the dates you think.
I have never tried completing a set of barber halves, but I would love to assemble a set of xf/au barber halves, would be very tough!!
Charles Barber designed utilitarian dimes, quarters and half dollars that were fairly easy to strike and survived well in circulation. The sad part is, after they wear down to something less than VF, they are unattractive.
A really nicely toned Mint State or Proof Barber coin is pretty. Once it gets some wear, not so much.
I think I have to disagree. A nice original full rim G-VG Barber coin is quite wholesome to me! They are really no different appearance and eye appeal wise to a Morgan dollar with the same amount of wear.
Here ya go! I need to add my new 13-S and have a nicer 01-S to add!
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/half-dollars/barber-half-dollars-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1892-1915/album/119049
I have been working on the barber halves in F12 - F15 for over 10 years. There is a huge spread in price and availability for dreck vs. original CAC-worthy examples. Be ready to pay more than price guide. Many of the earlier dates are much harder to find in F-XF than price guides would suggest. Might have to wait multiple years for an example to show up if your eye is discerning. On the contrary, if you are okay with raw AG examples, you could probably fill the album off of EBay today.
@BillJones said: “The sad part is, after they wear down to something less than VF, they are unattractive.”
I guess this is a “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” type situation.
I’m working on a VG-F set of Barber halves, and think they can be very attractive. In particular, I’m looking for pieces that have a smooth gunmetal gray color, with charcoal highlights around the devices. I like them a lot, and they require quite a bit of patience to assemble, even if they appear common at first glance.
"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder."
Barber coins in Good, which is the grade one encounters constantly, are boring and unattractive. The coins in the middle grades are scarce because people could not save them during The Great Depression.
Different strokes for different folks.
My collection habit was kicked off four decades ago with Lincoln cents and had fun accruing whatever the wallet permitted, during the journey. The trade dollar set was my ultimate dream (and cannot even imagine having the 1884 or 1885 because even if it was affordable, someone with deeper pockets would waltz in and outbid).
Ditto with the 1895 king of Morgans which means both these sets would remain incomplete.
So the strategies changed and finished whatever Dansco albums were doable (their Trade dollar #6172 does not have slots for proofs though Vol. II of the Morgans has the slot for the 1895). Neither of these sets gave the satisfaction that was derived from completing the Dansco 7100 Lincoln Cents 1909-2009 BU Only album. Many Proofs were then sought for an 8100 but then it went into cold storage.
Similarly the Porsche was also a bucket list item and the itch was scratched about a decade ago. Truth be told, it cost almost as much as a monthly mortgage and was not exactly fun to go on long drives with my back problems (stemming from a motorcycle accident thirty years ago) since the car has about three inches ground clearence. Plus each oil change at the dealership was 400$. Very comfortable with the family van now because it feels like am sitting on my dining chair and driving
Anyways the point is that it is not always the monetary returns on the coins fueling the trip as much as cobbling them together because it is the journey that is most pleasurable and not the destination since the euphoria lasts very briefly and then it is onwards to the next goal.
Just my two cents.
Cheers.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/quarters/PCGS-2020-quarter-quest/album/247091
@BillJones said: “ Barber coins in Good, which is the grade one encounters constantly, are boring and unattractive.”
Is that a fact or an opinion?
Not sure if this is going to be politically correct in the PC world of gender identity and sexuality spectrum, but atleast for me, Lady liberty sure has a problem since she looked like a Hermaphrodite in those G condition coins
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/quarters/PCGS-2020-quarter-quest/album/247091
True story. When I was a child, I thought the effigy of Liberty on the Barber coinage, was a gladiator.
That would be GREAT for a fortune cookie!
If you still see the Barbers when you are old, you are fortunate.
Don't let's be coy... Barber Liberty in just about any condition looks like a man.
Is anybody making the case for Barbers in MS67 as opposed to MS66 or MS65?
Here you go, a cover the Puck magazine issue dated March 14, 1900. Puck was a political and satirical magazine that had many great covers from established artists and illustrators and I have over the years picked off several original issue magazines with fabulous cover art and had them framed in my office. This is one of those originals that hangs in my office and it measures about 12 inches x 15 inches-
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Opinion, and I have a right to have one.
Only if you are fabulously wealthy. I have purchased very few older coins in MS-67, and they were small gold coins, like $1 or $2.50.
@BillJones - I absolutely agree you have the right to your opinion - I hope nothing I said suggests that I feel otherwise. In fact, it is not hard for me to imagine someone feeling that Barber coins at any grade (but especially well circulated) are not particularly attractive. The series seems to elicit a wide range of views, as does Barber’s work more generally.
One thing I find fascinating about the aesthetics, especially of the half dollars, is that there is almost a “discontinuity” in appearance as the coin wears from about VF25 to about F15. The lower grade coins take on a distinctive and different appearance, and I can understand why you and others aren’t fond of them.
On the other hand, I really like the 1896-O that @CoinHoarder posted above.
That 96-O is a G6 IMHO!
We have the new coin design for today's politically correct environment! Bring back the Barbers.