Newest Barber Half Dollar

MFH

A few months back, I opted to get Coin World On Line, thinking that I'd get first shot at an advertised coin. Most of the dealers I use are linked with PCGS as Authorized Dealers, whose inventories I check frequently, and up and until today I have had no luck of getting in a "snipe" on a C/W ad.

Today, I had a chance to read the most recent issue of Coin World, and Jack Beymer had a 1903-P Barber Half Dollar in an NGC 55 holder. This date has eluded me for quite awhile and I'm more than happy to say that its now on its way to me. According to Jack, the coin is basically white and very lusterous.

maddogale

congrats, Mike.....give us pics when she gets in !!!!!

dimples

Congrats Mike!!! What a rush when you find one that fits. Just a few more left.

Dan

itsnotjustme

Nice. I feel like I read the DLRC web flashes the moment I see them, and twice the coin I wanted was gone.

MFH

I've been sandbagged too many times on the DLRC web flashes. I lost out on a 1901-O in an NGC 58 holder a few months ago. The coin was purchased by another Forum member and submitted it to PCGS and it crossed. Its a stunning coin; he doesn't want to sell it ....

TomB

In my experience, the 1903 is a much more difficult coin to get in problem-free mid-grades than one might expect, I just don't see them. Oddly enough, I recently purchased an original, attractive VF for my F-VF set of Barbers halves.

The DLRC web site does pretty well if you list the coins you are looking for in their Want List section. I have done this and over the last year have received notification of five coins that I was looking for before they were listed on their site. I ended up buying three of them before they were ever offered to the general community.

ARCO

The 1903 in AU is a nice feather in the cap. A much better P mint date and in my opinion as tough as the big three P mints (1913-1915) to find in Fine and VF and perhaps a bit easier in AU. Great find nonetheless.

I am eyeballing a raw 1904-S that will cost me some real dinero, so I have to go back and really look at it. It looks almost Unc, probably AU58 with a very light obverse cleaning that left some light hairlines. Reverse is hairline free and glistening with luster. I won't get it unless I feel confident it will holder at NGC or PCGS. Why buy it if I don't get the bragging rights and show it off right?

Tyler

MFH

The more people I speak with, the more convinced I am that an AU 1903 is right up there with the 1913-15-P's. I also feel that the 1908 is almost as tough to come by.

I am on DLRC's want list program, plus a half dozen dealers, plus Teletrade Want List Program, and today Jack Beymer and I discussed a few of the dates I'm still missing. He asked why the 1892 Micro O wasn't on my list.....told him I already have a bead on one...but the collector doesn't want to sell... yet. I asked him to go check his stock and look for the 1898-Micro O...he laughed, and said he'd pay me a finder's fee if he found one in his stock !

Thanks all for the congrats !

DrPete

Mike,

The 03 in AU 55-58 is a great find. It is still the toughest P mint in mint state, and AU coins are harder to find, at least those that are worth of being graded by a reputable TPG.

I'll keep my eyes open for the other dates you need. None of them come around very often. It sometimes is easier to buy a raw coin and "make" it than to buy one already holdered.

Stay out of the way of that hurricane now, will you?

ziggy29

<< <i>I am on DLRC's want list program, plus a half dozen dealers, plus Teletrade Want List Program, and today Jack Beymer and I discussed a few of the dates I'm still missing. He asked why the 1892 Micro O wasn't on my list.....told him I already have a bead on one...but the collector doesn't want to sell... yet. I asked him to go check his stock and look for the 1898-Micro O...he laughed, and said he'd pay me a finder's fee if he found one in his stock ! >>

Sounds about right. I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years, and I recall looking with lust at Jack Beymer's table at many local shows. He's a straight-shooter if ever there was one.

MFH

Earlier I mentioned that I have had little luck getting items from the DLRC want list, as they are usually sold by the time I get home. Tonight I received an email from DLRC and they had a half dollar I needed.
It was still available, so I placed an order for a nice medium toned 1894-O in NGC 55. Its a little darker than what I usually go after, but the surfaces don't show any ticks what so ever and the coin really looks AU 58. Hard to believe that NGC undergrades a coin.

I can't believe that in one days period of time, I've been able to add two coins to this Barber half set. I wish the remaining five should be so "easy".

Thanks everyone for the well wishes, and for your thoughts on the impending hurricane. Its going north of us and it'll hit land on the east coast, sparing us in Naples. We do expect about 5" of rain however and high winds tomorrow.

Glad my collection is safe and sound in the bank vault.

Cratylus

Congrats, Mike.

MFH

One more down tonight ...

Thanks to the head's up by other fellow Barber collectors, I was the winning bidder on Teletrade's auction of a 1901-O in an NGC 58 holder.

Thanks, Larry and Tyler !

ARCO

Good show Mike!! The 1901-O in XF and higher is very elusive. It is one of my favorite dates of the series in all grades (fine and better). It has a low mint state pop., It is scarce in all circulated grades, and it rarely gets any attention for as scarce as it is. Along with the 1903, probably the best sleeper in the series.

1903 or 1901-O in XF or AU...and I would take the 01-O everytime.

Tyler