Barber experts - 1893/2 proof dime

tincup

Got a question for the barber dime experts.... I just attended a local coin auction, where there was an 1893 PCGS PF61 dime for auction. I've never seen a picture of the 1893/2, but looking at this coin, there was definitely a strong diagonal line that would match a '2' under the 3. Very apparent inside the lower loop of the 3. I tried looking up pricing info for the variety, but the greysheet only shows a 'tilde' meaning no pricing information.

How common is this variety, and anyone have an approximate value if anything above a regular proof? Thanx....

STONE

My Red Book says $900 for a PF-63. I have only seen or know (recently) that they struck these as PF overdates and I have only seen one other that was jsut up for auction.

Good luck on your 1893 though.

MikeInFL

Breen says there is:

- B-3 Normal date. There may be two minute positional variants. This is the variety usually seen.
- *B-4. Die file marks in 93, especially the 3, very strongly -- to obliterate traces of overdate? Ed Piontkowski collection, and no duplicate seen despite examination of many dozens of specimens since. This one is evidently rare. I bring up the suspicion of why the die file marks, because several plain overdates exist.
- *B-5. 1893/92. Heavily repunced date, some traces of 2, mostly effaced, 93 filled. (1) Ruby I: 1051 @ $2,500. (2) Hirt (1975 GENA II): 1163. Two others reported.

Hope this helps...Mike

tincup

Thanks for the info.... from the descriptions given, it appears that it may actually be the B-4! The 93 is not filled as mentioned for the B-5.... and there is a strong diagonal line through the lower loop of the 3, and a very faint line through the lower part of the 9.

Thanks again for the info.... I appreciate the help.

RichieURich

Heritage has one in their auction in a few days which is a PR-64 NGC with a minimum bid of $18K + juice. There are only a few proofs certified as PCGS doesn't certify this variety and I think NGC has certified only 3. For NGC to certify it, the date must match a picture in the David Lawrence Barber Dimes book, which is out of print and few people have. I believe the auction record is $23K incl. the juice in an ANR auction last year. I do have a line on one, if you have an interest, please PM me.

ccex

For those of you who don't have David Lawrence's 1991 "Complete Guide to Barber Dimes", the following appears:

"The 1893/2 is the best knwon overdate in the series, though not discernable in low grades. Breen reports at least 4 varieities of this overdate, which exists in both proof and business strikes. A repunched 3 with several positional varieties is also reported by Breen.

No. 101 -- 1893/2-P (photo here and in Breen). The overdate is visible in the bottom of the 9 and the lower loop of the 3. The validity of this overdate has sometimes been questioned. Much of the skepticism was eliminated when 6 sharply struck, high-grade pieces were discovered in 1990 (one graded MS-66 at PCGS). The overdate is now recognized by PCGS."

MFH

I got the image of my 93/2 dime resized; the coin is in an ANACS 58 holder.

RichieURich

Mike Hayes, nice 1893/2 dime! I have an ANACS AU details 1893/2 but it has been harshly cleaned. The 1893/2 business strike dime has a horizontal line through the bottom loop of the 3, while the proof 1893/2 dime has a diagonal line through the bottom loop of the 3. Both of them are tough coins in 60 or better grade. The Richmond sale Part 3 had a MS-66 and I think a PR-61 and both went over $15K. I don't have these records but am going from memory - does anyone have the exact prices realized?

Casey

Really like your 1893/2 Mike! Almost impossible to find that nice.