What do you think of this barber quarter? Edited and grade posted

stman

Granted we can't tell everything from the image. This is a scarcer date 1908s with red and purple peripheral on the obverse and gold and lighter red peripheral on the reverse. Thanks for looking and any comments.

stman




Reverse

kryptonitecomics

Tough to grade from the scans.....the obverse looks lifeless and dull, like their is 0% luster. I am sure that is not the case, but it almost looks cleaned and it looks like their could be some light wear on the cheek???? The reverse scan is much better and looks like a mid grade MS to me, maybe a 64 or 65. This is one that would have to be looked at in person to make an accurate assessment in my humble opinion.

lordmarcovan

As it looks in the picture, I would say "not too bad". An attractive coin.

However, something tells me that that one looks a lot better in person. I would guess that the toning subdues the luster to the point that it gets the flat look in the picture.

stman

I agree it doesn't show the coin in it's best light. And I'm not looking to hold anybody to an opinion. Like I've seen here before. Just having a little fun and curious what people might think. But I am asking questions to the seller about this piece.

stman

DIMEMAN

Looks like a very nice coin. The hits on the neck keep it from being a 65. I grade it 64. I love Barber coins, and this is a very tuff date.

IMHO, Jon

wingedliberty

Rock solid 64 and gorgeous!!!!, Buy it!!!!!


Brian.

darktone

The obverse looks hazy from the picture? and the toning looks odd. Maybe ask the seller for more pictures because thats a big price difference to be off a couple of grades on a coin like this. mike

BigD5

From the scan, I'd say it's a nice ms/63. The claws are flat, and there seems to be some softness in the Eagle's neck. A bit soft in the obv. hair, and some marks here and there. If there is luster, the coin must look real nice with the tone. As mentioned, tough date. Looks pretty.

stman

Darktone, you are soooo right about if the grading is off only one point even. This image was one the seller sent after me requesting better in the first place. It is better than the first one though. On scans like this it's tough. But I try to imagine what the best and worst it can look like in person.

I did put my disclaimer above that I'm not going to hold anyone to an opinion. And nobody ever should on here. But felt a need to mention it.

thanks stman

darktone

stman- That's the way I do it too. I will figure what the coin will grade at it's best and worst possibilities. And I always try to buy at the low end when I have suspect a problem might be present. I think it's good to get opinions before buying coins. I know forumn members have picked things out in scans that I never noticed before. mike

stman

Just if anyones interested, this coin here is the same date as the other image posted. This coin here is white and grades ms64 pcgs.

You can see the luster but I don't care for the coin. But it's 64.




Here is the coin I asked your opinion on

MS65 pcgs

Placid

? Looks like 1903.
Funny I was looking thru a bunch of peace dollars I hadn't looked at in years and was all excited I thought it was a 1928 but later I determined it was a 1923

I like the look of the toning on the coin but no idea what it would grade.
I would wonder why no one has sent it in for grading already.

stman

Placid you might be right about the pcgsms64 being 1903 rather than 1908. I just copied out of this guys inventory real quick to compare the two. But it said 1908s

stman

Dog97

It's decent. I would had said 64. If that is a print in front of the forehead near stars 6 & 7 I wouldn't fool with it though.

lordmarcovan

Why don't you like the '03? Aside from an apparent hairline or slide mark on the neck, I like it. But I'm one of those strange "white" coin lovers. I'm maturing a little into finding some kinds of toning attractive. I'm not totally converted, though. The toning on the first coin you posted wasn't bad, to my eye. It was nice looking, too. But any darker and it wouldn't do for me. My icon half is all white. ("Black and White", if one considers the contrast).

Edit- that is a 1903, right? I can't really tell! Small wonder I stink at grading coins from pictures, when I can't even be sure of the date! LOL

stman

Well Dog97 I wondered when you would get to this. I also noticed what you mentioned about the possible print in front of forhead. I'm assuming it's not and maybe some skin or something. I don't know if I could afford this piece. But I would like to get just 1 scarcer date.

Lordmarcovan, The reason I don't like the 1903 is I'm just getting too picky on grading. And a lot of times my checkbook doesn't like it.
It wasn't a toning vs white thing. But I will admit when I look at these type of pieces to purchace originality is the key factor for me.

Edited to add: there is more than a hairline and slidemark on the 03.
quite a bit of chatter in the cheek that may go with the grade.

stman

Dog97

Hahaha you know if it's a Barber or Morgan I have to put in my 2¢ worth. I'm picky anyway and when it comes to high priced or rare coins I'm even more so because at selling time I don't want to have to explain or justify any problems.

stman

Yes dog I was expecting you, in fact earlier this afternoon I stated on the heading of thread okay dog have at it!!!

And we need to be picky. but not too out of hand or we will own 0 coins.

stman

Bear

When dog runs out of biscuits, he eats his coins.

oreville

stman: The 1908 looks nice on the reverse. The obverse does not look all that exciting to me. Obverse 62-63 at best in look and reverse 64-65 in look from the pics. The cheek bothers me as it looks like it has that circulated look. Also hairlines appear to be present.

The toning can fool one into downgrading the coin as I have done on the obverse. You need to LOVE the coin when inspecting in person. Tilt the coin is all directions in a incadescent light and satisfy yourself that you LOVE this coin.

It you have mixed feelings send it back and get a better coin even if a little more expensive. Otherwise you will always mumble about the coin.

What generation is the PCGS MS65 slab?

The 1903 looks like it has a soft strike decent luster but possibilty of it being dipped hile back. It has a gash from the cheek to the top of the neck? A blend of positives and negatives. Even if a steal you will probably eventually become unhappy with the coin.

Sorry for the blunt opinion.

stman

Oreville, thanks for the input. the 03 I have no intention of buying. The 08 I'm just thinking and looking. I don't know which holder it's in. In fact I wrote the seller and asked and he thought I was afraid he'd switch the coin on me. So I told him why I asked.

I agree untill viewed in person you can't tell.

I did buy a pr66 1899 barber quarter a while back that I posted here. And from the scan it doesn't do justice. But if a person knows how to look at an original toned proof and thats what they like as I do it's a nice piece and has nice subtle colors and good mirrors when tilted.

edited to add: I only put the 03 up for a comparison in grade and color for some.

stman

lordmarcovan

It's easy to like high-end Barber coins, particularly proofs. I only have one- the half in my icon (PCGS PR63 CAM, ex-Benson), but they are tough to find in any attractive state, in my opinion. I've heard that the original packaging contained sulfur and caused so much of the blotchy green or black toning one sees (?)

I had a white 1916 quarter in PCGS MS64 that resembled the 1903 (?) above, but without the obvious marks. I used to tease people with a lame joke- I would swear to them that I had a 1916 quarter in PCGS MS64, with a Full Head, and let them jump to conclusions. Only after the gasps of amazement and admiration died down would I confess that it was a full Barber head.

I do like evenly-distributed peripheral toning, and if the coin you originally mentioned and posted does indeed have some reds and purples not visible in the picture, it sounds as though it might really be eye candy. Even without seeing its full range of colors, it looks very nice. At first my opinion of it was slightly positive, but reserved. Upon second and third looks, I found myself liking it a lot more.

When I saw my all-white half for the first time and noted the the cameo contrast, I could not resist. I threw all caution to the wind. Now I find myself really wanting a peripherally-toned Seated half with light pastel colors. If it also has cameo contrast, all the better. I will probably cause myself grievous injury and some agonizing pain in the checkbook region! My tastes are getting very expensive... I think 19th century proofs might become habit forming. But not a habit I can get a "fix" from every month- it'll take some scrimping and saving!

oreville

lordmarcovan: A dangerous path you are heading down in your taste of coins (marriage wise ).

Suggestion.....try to stick with just one or two denominations in proofs type coins at a time. This will kind of stop you for just long enough since the bust series would be a stopper anyway but then that could be purchased with a nice COPY at a very budget happy cost!

As I have mentioned to you many times, I have tried to stick with just dimes and $20 doublke eagles in mint state for as long as possible.

Another thought to ponder. Barber and seated and bust dimes, quarters and halves are similar enough in appearance that you can always rationalize that doing more than one of those denominations would be a duplication of collecting fine artwork until you have completed the cents, three centers and nickels which are affordable. Then only the dollars remain which can be solved by getting really nice mintstates or PL's.

It is a project that will take 25 years. Enjoy the ride! Consider patterns to fill in some areas as well!

stman

Lordmarcovan, yes on these old barbers and toned proofs you have to understand sometimes how to look at them. And it seems you are starting to. You mentioned looking a few times. On the proofs yes the original papers helped tone them. And if they sat in them for years.

On the proofs I don't know about black as you described. But when you first look at them they might not come out and get you. You need to understand it under a pinpoint light source and tilt them.

And believe it or not a coin that seems ugly you can tilt it right and see right through the toning and see deep mirrors and nice colors.

A lot of people don't understand this and thats ok.

When I started to appreciate original toning I was the same as you.

I liked the periph toning and only if it was all even. I still don't care for wild colors but nice subtle colors.

So the next time you see an original toned ms or pr coin try to imagine under a good light source what it looks like.
And I'm not trying to convert you just trying to help.

Thanks for your input
stman