Why are Barbers so expensive?

BBN

Is it all the fine printing? I find that Bust halves are almost as affordable if not more.

TomB

Many Bust halves were saved as bank reserves and transfers thereby leaving a large (relatively) pool of decent coins to collect whereas Barber halves and quarters are probably the most worn coins, on average, I have even seen. These coins were heavily used and apparently scarcely saved when issued.

BBN

Thanks Tom!

ARCO

Barbers were created during a time of economic growth and were heavily used in day to day commerce, The halves in particular were used much more than the predecessors of the bust and seated series. Collectors at the time thought little of the design and they were not appreciated by the public to be saved or collected.

Secondly many of the bank holdings of barbers were cleaned out and spent during the depression of the thirties. Most (90-95%) are found as AG or G slicks. Some dates have less than 40 coins certified in MS!! We are talking about coins with mintages over 500,00.

1904-S Half
1896-O Half
1898-S Quarter to name a few.

That is why I love them so much, they are so damned hard to find above VG and original.

Tyler

Hoot

But God Almighty! The Liberty design of the Barber coinage makes Reich's capped bust Liberties look like beauty queens!!!

Hoot

Dog97

Barber dimes & quarters aren't too bad but Proof halves are cheaper than Mint State. Because there aint many around and the ones that are either show signs of dipping or are toned in the usual nasty Barber tone which is dark & ugly.