Eye Appealing Barber Coin Poll

DisneyFan

Barber dimes,, quarters, and half dollars were minted between 1892 and 1916. A twenty four year run. The early years often come toned and many times the later years blast white. A MS65 CAC example of each is shown. Which look do you prefer and do both looks belong in the same set.

Mr_Spud

I think both have strong eye appeal

Are those dark lines on the toned one on the coin itself? If so, I don’t think it has good eye appeal even though I like toned Barbers better than blast white

pursuitofliberty

I prefer the toned look

I prefer toned for Barber silver and long ago when I was building a ChAU set of Quarters, I tried to find pieces that matched/complimented each other. They're both nice, but I'd be trying for toned ones like the '94

Lines are shadows from the plastic @Mr_Spud ... almost 100% for sure

Jinx86

Both types belong in a set

Never really cared to do an all white or all toned set. My set stretches from blast white to randiant neon toning. Its has always been about collecting coins I find stunning.

Barberian

I see no problems having them in the same set. It gives the set variety rather than all coins looking similar.

coinbuf

I think both have strong eye appeal

I personally prefer a blast white coin, but both can be attractive. As to what belongs in a set, that is up to each collector to decide

airplanenut

It may be the photo, but I don’t like the toned one, and I can’t really tell about the white one. I have a few Barbers that I really like, but I would pass on these coins.

DisneyFan

@airplanenut said:
It may be the photo, but I don’t like the toned one, and I can’t really tell about the white one. I have a few Barbers that I really like, but I would pass on these coins.

I'm glad you weren't bidding on them. : )

Copperindian

Both types belong in a set

White or toned, it’s about eye appeal. I think both would belong in a set.

Mr_Spud

I think both have strong eye appeal

Since pursuitofliberty said that the lines were shadows, I voted that both have strong eye appeal. I do prefer all toned or all blast white in a set, if possible, but an evenly mixed set is nice too.

TomB

Both types belong in a set

I have no issues with blast white coins being in the same set as moderately, heavily or monster toned coins. However, I can't really give you insight into how much I like or dislike the two coins in the OP since I believe they are both photographically challenged as presented in the thread.

jesbroken

I would normally select the toned, but with the line marks on the toned coin, I would pass and select the white Barber.
I think that mixed toned and white coins can coexist in an a collection/album and feel an all white coin collection would be very difficult to garner.
I remember when I made a digital album for Mike Hayes(MFH) all white Commemoratives. As I recall, all of his Commem's were nearly white. Beautiful collection. I wonder what ever happened to it?
Jim

ShaunBC5

Both types belong in a set

The only good one I have is white. I like the toned ones, too, though. I’m starting to get more and more picky (at least trying) but won’t pass a good looking coin because it does or doesn’t have toning.

airplanenut

@DisneyFan said:

@airplanenut said:
It may be the photo, but I don’t like the toned one, and I can’t really tell about the white one. I have a few Barbers that I really like, but I would pass on these coins.

I'm glad you weren't bidding on them. : )

Me, too

david3142

I prefer the blast white appearance

It seems like you are asking three questions.
1 - Which of the two coins above do we prefer?
2 - Do we prefer toned or blast white coins?
3 - Do we think it’s fine to mix toned and white coins?

I do not like the first coin so I selected the white one (and that was my poll answer). The color is neutral at best and it has what seem to be large streaks.

I prefer toned coins but I like white ones just fine.

I think it’s completely fine to mix them, and in fact, I think it makes for a more interesting set.

291fifth

The toning on the 1894 is nothing special. The blast white 1916 was probably dipped. If I had the money to collect MS Barber halves I would probably pass on both.

steve_richardson

I prefer the toned look

@coinbuf said:

I love this! Did you make it?

JerseyB

I prefer the blast white appearance

If I was buying 1 coin for a type set I'd want blast white. If i was set collecting I would predominantly buy blast white with a few toners sprinkled in.

Barbercoin

Blast white is gorgeous beyond words in MS and takes my breath away. However, XF grades are my focus and will take them just about any way I can get em!

Toning has a wide spectrum from just a tinge of color to covering the entire surface. I’d prefer toning that enhances the beauty of the coin rather than overwhelm it. Sometimes just a steel grey patina with good skin on it makes me happy too.
A slight peripheral patina I like:


A steel grey appearance I like too, not the best example


A dark toning that doesn’t appeal that much to me.

divecchia

I prefer the blast white appearance

I prefer Ricko approved "Blast White" with all my silver coins, not just Barber coins.

Donato

hummingbird_coins

Both types belong in a set

@DisneyFan said:
Barber dimes,, quarters, and half dollars were minted between 1892 and 1916.

Erm actually Barber half dollars were only minted until 1915. 🤓

jesbroken

1915 falls between 1892 and 1916.
Jim

lkenefic

Both types belong in a set

I think the toning pattern or blast white... and all points in between... goes directly to storage and wrapping. If a coin was stored unmolested in a bank bag, it's going to depend where in the bag... against other coins, its likely to be blast white. If stored against the fabric then toning (good or bad) may become the issue. I'm partial to "bag toning" but it really comes down to the eye appeal of each individual coin. Wrappers didn't come out until 1913 and I'm not sure if Barber Halfs were wrapped... but nice subtle peripheral toning is nice too...

Just my 2c...

Edited to add
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin_wrapper#:~:text=In 1913 the Federal Reserve,Wrapped Rolls" (OBW).

Walkerfan

I think both have strong eye appeal

And both belong in a set together. I love looking at a set in which each coin is unique yet beautiful.

coinbuf

I think both have strong eye appeal

@steve_richardson said:
I love this! Did you make it?

No, it was made by another forum member for the now deceased forum member ricko who was a blast white collector through and through. But as a fan of blast white coins myself I also love this "sticker".

Cougar1978

I prefer the blast white appearance

Prefer blast white, PQ. Pass on the tarnished material, will get worse over time. In addition the blast white sell better on bourse for me.

ARCO

I prefer lighter, whiter / lustered Uncs than those uniformly toned. My favorite is natural toning, that does not hide much of the luster and gives a contrasting look to the fields and devices:
.
.

Eldorado9

I like em blast white, toned and everything in between as long as they have great luster.

DisneyFan

Thank you everyone for participating and encouraging a mixed set of blast white and toned Barbers. It wasn't my intention to have the individual pictured coins judged. There were 52 participants. Only three contributors felt the set should be one way or the other. Twenty preferred toned Barbers as opposed to ten preferring white Barbers.

The pictures posted from past auction listings shows how difficult it is to judge a coin by a picture. I own and am happy with both posted coins; but, am in the minority preferring white coins. So many toned Barbers are really DARK. A larger picture of the 1911 was available from GC and for the record it was a 65+ PCGS CAC quarter with 11 bidders and 29 bids five years ago which was before the increased interest in coins after the beginning of covid,

The most interesting comment was
. > @JerseyB said:

If I was buying 1 coin for a type set I'd want blast white. If i was set collecting I would predominantly buy blast white with a few toners sprinkled in.

Koinsarefun

@DisneyFan said:
Barber dimes,, quarters, and half dollars were minted between 1892 and 1916. A twenty four year run. The early years often come toned and many times the later years blast white. A MS65 CAC example of each is shown. Which look do you prefer and do both looks belong in the same set.

I’ll send you a bill from my drs for straining & damaging my eyes to view your tiny images.

Elcontador

I prefer the toned look

I looked five years for an acceptable MS 65 Barber Half for my type set before I bought an 05 O from Brandon Kelley. Several years after that, I started seeing quite a few nice MS 65s that I would have been happy to have in my collection. You can find nicely toned dimes and quarters, Halves are another matter.

I would distinguish between a blast white coin with original skin (or dipped just to get the gunk off of the surfaces, while leaving the original skin intact) and a moderately attractive toned coins (there are some monster toned Barber Halves, but they are quite scarce). Most toned Barber Halves I've seen have been to coin a phrase, whooped by the ugly stick.

DisneyFan

@Elcontador said:
I looked five years for an acceptable MS 65 Barber Half for my type set before I bought an 05 O from Brandon Kelley. Several years after that, I started seeing quite a few nice MS 65s that I would have been happy to have in my collection. You can find nicely toned dimes and quarters, Halves are another matter.

I would distinguish between a blast white coin with original skin (or dipped just to get the gunk off of the surfaces, while leaving the original skin intact) and a moderately attractive toned coins (there are some monster toned Barber Halves, but they are quite scarce). Most toned Barber Halves I've seen have been to coin a phrase, whooped by the ugly stick.

Can you share a picture of your 1905-O?

TomB

Both types belong in a set

Similar to @Elcontador I spent nearly a decade looking for the right MS65 or better Barber half for myself and ended up with a superb MS66 example. My coin is moderately toned, but if the right coin were largely untoned then I would have purchased that coin, instead. Since then I have only added one other MS Barber half to my collection and it has some areas of toning, but other parts of it are untoned.

Sometimes it just takes a while to find the right coin.

pmh1nic

I prefer the toned look

I prefer toned because I think it’s much more likely you can build a set of coins that all have some toning than a blast white set.

DisneyFan

@TomB said:
Similar to @Elcontador I spent nearly a decade looking for the right MS65 or better Barber half for myself and ended up with a superb MS66 example. My coin is moderately toned, but if the right coin were largely untoned then I would have purchased that coin, instead. Since then I have only added one other MS Barber half to my collection and it has some areas of toning, but other parts of it are untoned.

Sometimes it just takes a while to find the right coin.

Love to see both of your coins!

TomB

Both types belong in a set

Here's my second MS Barber half. It is only MS65. Both of the coins I purchased for myself are in OGHs with the other being an MS66-

DisneyFan

@TomB said:
Here's my second MS Barber half. It is only MS65. Both of the coins I purchased for myself are in OGHs with the other being an MS66

Spectacular toning! Would you believe mine too is a 1909 PCGS MS65 blast white bought exactly 20 years ago! It recently received a green CAC; but, unfortunately has lost value over those 20 years. Sorry, no picture as I am not a camera bluff and it's in my SDB.

Elcontador

I prefer the toned look

@DisneyFan said:

@Elcontador said:
I looked five years for an acceptable MS 65 Barber Half for my type set before I bought an 05 O from Brandon Kelley. Several years after that, I started seeing quite a few nice MS 65s that I would have been happy to have in my collection. You can find nicely toned dimes and quarters, Halves are another matter.

I would distinguish between a blast white coin with original skin (or dipped just to get the gunk off of the surfaces, while leaving the original skin intact) and a moderately attractive toned coins (there are some monster toned Barber Halves, but they are quite scarce). Most toned Barber Halves I've seen have been to coin a phrase, whooped by the ugly stick.

Can you share a picture of your 1905-O?

I don't have pics of anything I own.