What's up with Barbers?

cladking

There seem to be a greatly increasing number of buyers for these in
most all grades and goods can now bring up to $2, $4, and $8. The
periodicals are showing increasing numbers of buy ads.

Is this new demand coming from old timers or from newbies?

Baley

I think the demand for Goods is coming from newbies, I don't think "old timers" buy common Barber coins in Good.

Probably much of the demand for Unc. Barbers is coming from "old timers", or put another way, advanced collectors.

Probably intermediate collectors are the ones buying the Fine through AU coins.

coinlieutenant

I'd rather have a original good barber Half than an old modern....

lordmarcovan

I dunno who is buying them, as I am an absentee vendor in an antique mall, but for the last year and a half, I have been practically unable to keep low grade Barber dimes in my case. I think I was gettin' $1.35 for common-date G4 pieces, but I see the '04 Redbook now has them at $1.75, which would explain why my coins have gone "poof" so quickly. They have definitely been hot. And I can't seem to keep Bust halves, either, but that's a horse of a different color.

BigD5

With Barber coinage, it may be that collectors are looking to fill albums that have been partially filled for years, or finally complete sets that have been in hibernation for years, and while they search and search for nice vf or so coins (they are very tough to find), they grab lower grade coins as a temporary "fix" for the set. Once the album is filled, then they'll continue that endless search for problem free, slightly higher grade, examples.

Maybe.

291fifth

I have noted several people in my area who are buying Barbers on the speculation that they are "underpriced". Interestingly, they are not buying them to fill album spaces. They are just hoarding them. This is especially true of the lower mintage dates.

barberlover

matteproof

The recent interest in low grade Barbers seems to have coincided with the increase in silver prices. It might be related. matteproof

MFH

Glad to see increases in the lower end grades, ............ I also have to agree that the increases may also come from collectors whose sets laid dormant for years and they're plugging holes. Are "slicks" increasing in price too ?,.... does this have anything to do with the slow rise of silver bullion ?

cladking

In my experience there is very little interest in slicks and AG's. These are still
strictly bullion based at around a 10% premium on the slicks and 25% on AG's.

Nice G's are going for more than triple melt value and there is lots of interest in
the better grade coins.

Ten years ago G's usually only brought a 25% premium to melt and silver was
much lower. Even the higher grades were hard to sell unless they were a key.

bushmaster8

<< <i>... then they'll continue that endless search for problem free, slightly higher grade, examples.

Maybe. >>



eggzactly!

originalisbest

Glad to hear it. I've always enjoyed Barbers. Problem is, I don't have enough yet!