New Additions to my Barber Half Set

PonyExpress8

Well it was an exciting few days.

Added one of the big 3, an 1896-O PCGS MS63 with beautiful prooflike surfaces and a much better than typical "O" mint strike. This is one of the toughest dates along with the 1901-S and 1904-S in the Barber Half series. Harry Laibstain worked with me in acquiring this piece and I can't say enough about his assistance, eye for quality pieces and flexibility as this was a major acquisition for me.

I also added a beautiful somewhat prooflike 1892-S in PCGS MS64 from Jack Beymer. Jack also worked with me on this piece, it has such a great look. Thank you Jack.

I have some pics of the 92-S and am in the process of photgraphing all the halves soon to post the images on the registry set.

Needless to say it was a very happy past few days.

Glenn

p8nt

Super coin! Youre collection is shaping up nicely!

morgannut2

That's a lovely original 1892-S with nice light powder/gold-tint white toning. The prooflike surfaces are just super framing the central devices.

PonyExpress8

I found a picture of the 96-O guys so here it is.



Thanks for the kind remarks. Now imagine this it is more prooflike than the 92-S and you get the whole picture. Tough to capture that in a camera lense though.

DrPete

Ponyexpress,

That is an amazing 96-O in Proof-like and it's hard to believe it only grades MS 63 with that look. Congratulations on obtaining such a great coin with outstanding eye appeal, and good look on acquiring additional pieces for your set.

The 92-S is a beautiful coin, too.

I once was trying to buy EVERY proof-like barber half in mint state that I could find, and that included at least four graded as PL by NGC. Unfortunately, this accessory set was sold off to buy other coins for my registry set, but I would pose an educated guess that less than one-half of a percent of all mint state barber half dollars are proof-like. I really like the look and they don't always carry much of a premium.

MFH

Glenn,

I just stumbled upon your thread. As DrPete mentioned, that is an amazing 1896-O. Harry sure does have an eye for these halves. ( Good work Harry ). I also like your PL 1892-S; Jack is also good to work with.

Proof Like Barber halves are scarce, and I only have one, my 1901-S in an NGC 63 holder, which came to me indirectly thru Harry via Liz at JJ Teaparty.

Great additions to your set. Keep up the good work !!!

USCGCraig

Glenn,

WOW. Let me say that backwards. WOW. You picked up three toughies. I wish i had the resources to put together a top shelf mint state set of Barber Halves. Alas, I must suffer through my XF45 set.

Craig

PonyExpress8

First of all thank you so much for all your kind words. I have had a lot of fun working on this and enjoyment with each addition.

I have added two more pieces, one of them a biggie.

I have added another of the big three, a 1901-S in PCGS 63 from Harry Laibstain. A really pretty piece and as nice as a 63 could be. I also upgraded my 1898 from a 62 to a 64 provided by Legend, thank you. I will attempt to add pictures tonight of these on this thread.

I now have 32 of the 73 coin set. There are 4 coins not listed on the set. 3 NGC pieces, 1894-S NGC 63 with some nice original toning, an 1896-S in NGC 63 also with original toning, an 1899 NGC 66 more darkly toned on both sides, and a really nice ANACS AU-55 1900-S which I will eventually upgrade one of these days but a pretty tough date in AU as well as MS.

USCGCraig

Glenn,

Slowly but surely you are putting togther a nice set. One to be proud of for the ages. Great job.

MFH

Glenn,

You sure have been busy since I was away. You mentioned the 01-S from Harry; I looked at this coin as well, and really liked it ...and as you said: ..." and as nice as a 63 could be. " ( I couldn't agree more ). As a matter of fact, I liked it enough to at least save the image ( which regretably is too large an image to be attached ) but decided against buying it as I already own another NGC 63 ( also, originally from Harry, as mentioned previously ).

If you don't have the image, I'd be more than happy to forward it onto you via email. Just PM me with your email address.

DrPete

Harry helped me pick off two very nice coins recently for my registry set, the 97-O in 66 and the 97-S in 67. No coincidence that Harry has my former coins for these two dates. Both my new coins came from the recent Stack's auction of the North Bay collection. All were sold raw at auction and some brough incredible prices including the 93-s and 04-S, and the 00-O.

There's quite a run of high grade coins in the upcoming ANA sale by Heritage, too. I will be going to Denver and viewing the coins. Not sure I'll buy any, but the 99-S in 68 is a must see as is the 06-S in NGC 69.

USCGCraig

All of these beautiful Mint State Barber Halves and nary an XF/AU.

Dr. Pete, I look forward to your reports about these gems.

DrPete

Wasn't able to personally view any of the auction coins of Heritage prior to the sale, but had the opportunity to pick up an EXTREMELY nice 1911-P in PCGS 66. There are currently 11 in 66 and none finer in the PCGS population, and this one has to be one of the best if not the best of the whole bunch. Compared it to an NGC 67 that was very nice and my coin looks better to me (our own coins always look better, don't they?).

Met PonyExpress and several other barber collectors at ANA as I was working as a Numismatic assistant with Harry Laibstain. Always a great experience.

USCGCraig

Dr. Pete,

Always a fun experience working on that side of the table. I did it for free a couple of times when I was in Seattle. I was usually given a "courtesy coin" based upon the amount of business I conducted. You also get treated a bit differently walking around with a dealer badge then you do as an attendant.

Congrats on the new pickup BTW.

MFH

Congratulations, Peter. Id' love to see the image of your new 11-P in 66.

PonyExpress8

I poseted images of my new half additions from the Denver ANA. Here is the link as I posted it in the main US Coin Forum.

My New Additions from Denver

I had the honor to meet Dr. Pete and Tahoe Dale in person at the show and it was a personal thrill to see some of Dr. Pete's Barbers he brought for display at Harry Laibstain's table.

Had the good fortune to meet some forum members there as well including Brandon from Anaconda who had that nice 1908 I bought.

For all the years I have collected it was my first ANA. A wonderful experience, and I guarantee it won't be my last.

Glenn