Need Barber Half advice

Blade

I am looking for a 1907 Barber Half and my target grade is MS62 PQ to MS63. A super great MS64 could find it's way in my collection, but is more than I want to spend unless it is a really special coin.

I came across this one graded PCGS MS63, and would like thoughts from the Barber experts. First, how hard are these to find in MS63? The example below looks nice, but the first thing I think of when I see a 100 year old blast white coin is a recent dip. At least the luster is frosty and doesn't have that "dipped out" look like some coins. Is this coin one to jump on or would you recommend that I keep looking? Thanks for any advice you can also provide on this date. I am working on a 1907 type set.

Elcontador

Blade,

Don't be in a hurry to buy one of these. For some reason, most mint state Barber coinage has problems in pretty much all grades. I eventually gave up trying to find nice ones & got PF Barber coinage instead.

That being said, the lighting on the image is not good, and could be hiding some problems. The strike seems to be good, but I see numerous scratches all over the obverse of the coin. With better lighting, there may be more of them, I don't know. Is a coin with scratches all over the obverse acceptable to you? I don't know if they would not look as bad, or look worse if you actually saw the coin with proper lighting.

Baley

Love the strike, especially on the stars. Looks like a few small marks about the obverse, the reverse is close to gem if not there already.

A coin in this grade is not going to be perfect, I'd suggest you evaluate the imperfections and decide if they are the ones you can live with. If your eye is drawn to a little mark or blemish you will still be shopping for an upgrade even if you have the space filled, if you know what I mean.

The coin you posted has a stronger reverse, if the date is what's important to you that might be the side you look at more. I'll bet you can find one with a 64 obverse and a 63 or 62 reverse that you'd like better? Or maybe not, these are probably fairly scarce, can't help you on the date specific part..

just a few random thoughts.

roadrunner

Barbers in anything less than MS65 tend to look marked up. That's the way they grade them. This one seems ok as a 63, and not low end imo. 63's tend to be pretty baggy overall. POP-wise 1907's are fairly available. In fact the pops of the MS63 are the same as the MS64's. And the pops of the MS62 are lower than both. Tends to say the PQ62 coin is the best deal but a 63 seems to gather more interest from collectors and investors alike. I would not pay any premium over CDN ask unless the coin was really PQ+. I think an original coin with more color would have more overall appeal. Dipped coins (like this one) will slowly tone negatively over time.
If it were me, I'd crack it out and stick it in a WR holder for the next 5-10 years.

roadrunner

roadrunner

MS63 Barbers are not all that special.....I'd wait for one that knocks your socks off. Eventually it will come. But this one is ok imo.

roadrunner

Blade

Thanks all. I was on the fence, and you know when that happens, 90% of the time it's better to wait and see if something better comes your way. I have been trying to buy original coins lately, and they are getting ever harder to find. Just wondered if this one was really choice for the grade. Sounds nice, but probably better to wait for something that blows me away.

El contador - I wouldn't mind the scratches if they aren't too distracting. I'm putting together a 1792 to current major type set on a limited budget, so there are always tradeoffs to be made. My personal criteria within a grade are (1) luster (2) strike (3) surface preservation.

Thanks for your comments. If anyone is interested, this coin is for sale at David Lawrence. $795 less a current promo of 5% off for about $750.

chiefbob

I've never had a problem with DLRC, and would be real surprised if they tried to sell a dipped-out coin.

Bob



In Memory of BigIndie (Mike Dalzell) 1974 -2004

roadrunner

You've got to be kidding me. 95+% of the white coins on the market are dipped out. Why do you think DLRC would be exempt?

$795 seems on the steep side unless you're talking a slightly better date or a 63++ coin.

roadrunner

Merc

Yep, it has been dipped. It looks ok for a MS63. I have two in 63 but both are toned like they had been stored in rolls. I have found the Barber half reverse tend to be great and free from marks. The obverse tends to get banged up and scuffed -just like on the Morgan dollars. I like Barbers with some origional toning.

Dave99B

I'd pass too.

Too much $$$ too. I don't like dipped material, and this one seems baggy, especially on the cheek. Looks like they dipped off a disturbance of some kind on the cheek and neck. Seems to have left a bit of brownish-haze. Long term, this one could end up ugly.

Barber halves do indeed get dinged up a bit, given their large size, but I think you can find a better 63.

Good luck!

Dave

dorkkarl

e-z to find in 63, but that coin's been dipped to shreds. PASS

K S