If you are not a "Barber Fan" this might put you to sleep, but here is my Everyman dime set. The 97-O is genuine/ AU details, the balance is AU. Mike has been my mentor as well as former holder of many of these coins. As Peter has mentioned if you chose to view the "Set images" you will see the complete descriptions as well.
Nicely displayed set. Your inclusion of the Barber Collector's Society R ratings is a nice touch. I may add such designations to my set, too. PCGS provides relative rarities as part of their assignment of grade points, but they use a single number per coin issue, and as us Barber lovers know, the grade can affect the R rating for many of these coins.
That is a gorgeous set of Dimes, deserving of the #1 rank. Original, beautifully toned pieces and a lot of great PQ rarities in that set .. Also .. What a gorgeous micro O 92-O Half .. from the pix looks original to me .. reminds me of the 93-S I had that was 92'd that was at best controversial - Beauties JMW
Dr. Pete is right - they are loaded to the gill with mid grade Barbers - a lot of really nice coins there right now .. Dave was speaking of coins a majority of collectors may consider as the "ugly duckling coins" that he found the most beautiful - most original with a darker look .. I thought I was on an island considering those to be some of my most revered pieces in my own collection ... This is one I bought raw from the Texas State Department of Unclaimed Property. I was actually not going to submit it to PCGS as I was nearly certain it would get the ED designation. Much to my surprise, it was graded. I am a poor coin photographer to begin with and this coin was particularly "non-photogenic" so I apologize in advance for the poor photos. Guesses as to the grade are welcomed. Answer later tonight
Joe: NIce looking set - and looking forward to seeing it again next week when I am in Colorado !!
Peter: JJ Teaparty purchased most of my mid grade duplicates.
Scott & Vern: I gave a lot of thought to the other 05-O Half - I actually liked my VF 25 more than the XF 40.
Leaving for CO in the morning ; I dread going thru TSA Security at the airport - they'll want to open every box of coins - wipe them down for God knows what ...... I am just going to hand them my ELBESAAR business card ... maybe that will help ..... I have the bag packed perfectly so its not too thick for the overhead compartment.
Mike Hayes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
Have fun in CO Mike - I think the 25 is a nicer coin (and a candidate for an upgrade to 30 - wise decision if you backed off their 40 - IMO) ... JJT added 5 of my own coins to their recent inventories as well including the newly posted 97-O VF 35 and 11-D VF30 quarters ..Don't get me started on the TSA .. The airport has become a dreaded p[lace for me to go.. Just another waste of money ... More Big Government .. Totally useless.. Wear sandals!
The micro O was fairly graded, and I have no complaints with the Genuine holder. You should have seen the look on Mike's face when he first saw the coin in the 2x2 holder. He was ready to call the ANA and have me arrested for coin endangerment and or illegal use of a stapler.
I'm looking forward to seeing Mike with the case of Barbers. My wife and kids will now have two coin guys to make fun of, and they most likely will. Colorado Springs will be the epicenter of Barber coinage for the next two weeks, with Glenn and Mike leading the group.
Joe, Absolutely the best Barber Dime Collection ever! I love that 95-S! You have soooo many dimes I could comment on but to sum it up...YOU DID GOOD! Premium collection.
Mike, Would love to be out there...would be great if ANA could video-tape some or all of the instruction and stream it to members...or have it available for later viewing...even if ANA charged a premium...I still think it would be worth it. The depth of knowledge you and Glenn (national treasures) will impart to your students should be recorded for posterity's sake...that type of knowledge doesn't come easy...only through years of study and observation...documenting the sessions would benefit all present and future collector's of the Barber series.
Well, I went a little forward in the world. Even though I went down kicking and screaming, I bought an iPhone. So I decided to try it out imaging some of my Barbers that I kept that are not imaged in my registry set. I think it does pretty well. I probably could have captured the 05-O and the 01-O a little better, but oh well. And yes, there is a hair on the reverse slab of the 05-O. I am too lazy to re-image it. Enjoy.
<< <i>Joe, Absolutely the best Barber Half Dime Collection ever! I love that 95-S! You have soooo many dimes I could comment on but to sum it up...YOU DID GOOD! Premium collection.
Mike, Would love to be out there...would be great if ANA could video-tape some or all of the instruction and stream it to members...or have it available for later viewing...even if ANA charged a premium...I still think it would be worth it. The depth of knowledge you and Glenn (national treasures) will impart to your students should be recorded for posterity's sake...that type of knowledge doesn't come easy...only through years of study and observation...documenting the sessions would benefit all present and future collector's of the Barber series. >>
Dave - Barber Half Dimes ? Joe does have a great V Nickel collection as well .... .... Don't be upset about giving away your age with the Video Tape comment, you did that in your set description of your Half Dollar collection... An homage to your parents who were born between 1892 & 1915 !! LOL
Justin- Nice images - good lighting as well.
Joe - Those staples were way too close to that coin, I was surprised the coin wasn't damaged.
Heard from Glenn, he is already in CO. @ ANA. I leave at 6AM tomorrow... Can't wait.
Mike Hayes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
Mike, Okay, I edited my comment for Joe's collection...my brain fart. And yes, I did give my age away didn't I? But then again, I'm not old...I'm just wise and seasoned...and I'm also interested in V-nickels...so I'll have to converse with Joe and get his insight.
Joe - Great barber dime collection, and your presentation is first class.
Scott - I'll guess they graded it 45.
LP - Nice pics with the iPhone, and very nice coins. How did you get the lighting just right?
I was at a small show in a southern suburb of Chicago yesterday. Very slim pickings on barbers. My only purchase was a proof Indian Cent (my other main collecting passion), so no pic for this thread.
Vern
Vern l It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Now that I think of it, at the show yesterday was an absolutely stunning 1893 PCGS-67 DCAM, barber half. It looked as good as any modern proof. But at $18K it was not a consideration.......Vern
Vern l It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
I meant to say all of my pix come via my iPhone as well .. I find it better than the 2 digital cameras I have in terms of the macro lens and the lighting .. I know very little about digital photography. I have read a lot of blogs, and various articles and parts of books.. the blog I go back to periodically the most is from someone called CameraJim. Website here:
I can not seem to get the link to work properly - my amateur computer skills are not limited to photography !!
<< <i>As Alex Trebek says, "And the answer is..." >>
Classic example of PCGS punishing an original coin because of heavy toning or crust, ie market grade vs technical grade (but that is old news to anyone submitting to PCGS). Even old school XF45 at a minimum on technical details as Dave said on previous page, and perhaps AU50 but my monitor right now is suffering a bit. If you put in your pocket for a *few*(edit) weeks and it shinied up real nice on the high points, PCGS would likely give it XF 45 (DON'T DO IT THOUGH). In my experience of submitting Barber halves, and looking at a few midgraders, PCGS rewards and prefers a lightly cleaned coin (not too shiny, but obvious hairlines at 5 to10 x). moo, ymmv, etc. Nice better date that 96s, you done good.
Do your best to avoid circular arguments, as it will help you reason better, because better reasoning is often a result of avoiding circular arguments.
Is it time for a Barber Mega Thread Part 2 with a link to the original in the new OP, or a cut and paste of the original OP with said link, so as to not have a sticking problem? Just a thought. Lots of data to haul around when I doubt many go back more than a few pages to catch up. It would remain archived.
We're all born MS70. I'm about a Fine 15 right now.
A little upgrade from a forum member to my poor man eye appeal type set. Now all my Barbers are 63cam. Yes I would like to know what's wrong with the above coin
<< <i>Liz called me 2 weeks ago asking if I wanted the 12905-O xf40 as I failed to update my want list. I had showed he the AU50 puirchased from Dave Coates the week before when we did the 50 coin submission .. I don't think I would have paid the $1500+ JJT wanted for it even if I had not run across Dave's coin.
Personally, I find the O mint coins that much more challenging to grade, differentiating the typical strike weakness from ciirculation wear on a coin moderately circulated. I understand how to differentiate strike weakness from wear .. but I think the area becomes that much more grey when you enter a mid grade coin that was struck weakly to begin with. then if a coin is net graded due to a nick, scratch or bagmarks, it can really become challenging.
I would have landed in the middle if I were grading it and called the 05-O a 30. I really think they weigh the obverse much more than the reverse and concentrate a lot on the area around Liberty and the upper and lower band detail . Just my observation. >>
The 05-O is a tough 1! I know of a recent trade of a raw XF that is better struck. It was sold for 2K! There are not many XF's out there. I also think I might have a tag for an XF further reducing the POP!
Not disagreeing .. But as I'veproposed the last few months, it appears the market has softened in general with only the choicest keys selling at the prices realized in early 2011.. An observation I have noted and backed up with research and archived prices realized the past 12 months or so. AU coins are auctioning as low as $300 in PCGS holders and some XF coins as low as $150.
The auction was either 7 or 10 days; ended at a premium time, Sunday evening with all the other highlight pieces and was advertised on numerous CU forums.
The 05-0 AU50 was a nice originals gun metal lustrous coin professionally images by Mark Goodman and sold to me for $1300 ... Mike Hayes had a snipe set (lower than my snipe of $2100+).. The coin was under $1000 in the final hour and Mikes snipe brought it to the low 1300's. Without it, the coin may have sold for south of $1150.
<< <i>Not disagreeing .. But as I'veproposed the last few months, it appears the market has softened in general with only the choicest keys selling at the prices realized in early 2011.. An observation I have noted and backed up with research and archived prices realized the past 12 months or so. AU coins are auctioning as low as $300 in PCGS holders and some XF coins as low as $150.
The auction was either 7 or 10 days; ended at a premium time, Sunday evening with all the other highlight pieces and was advertised on numerous CU forums.
The 05-0 AU50 was a nice originals gun metal lustrous coin professionally images by Mark Goodman and sold to me for $1300 ... Mike Hayes had a snipe set (lower than my snipe of $2100+).. The coin was under $1000 in the final hour and Mikes snipe brought it to the low 1300's. Without it, the coin may have sold for south of $1150.
Just listing the facts. >>
If my cannons had been reloaded at the time it wouldda cost ya 2K!
Followed this thread for long time, my first post. A modest accomplishment compared to a lot of coins/sets I have seen here but the coin below completes the Dansco Liberty Head Half Dollars Album #7150, started in July 2004 - completed June 2012.
InWH - Couldn't agree more, but who has the final say? The slabbing gods.
Mike - Just be glad the forest fires are north.
LP - More great pics and coins.
Dave - I'd say there must be hairlines, the gods usually like that look.
66Tbird - Beautiful quarter. Glad to see it.
Scott/Darrell - Hard to pick a date that could jump next. All it takes is a couple well-heeled determined collectors who need a specific date to get the ball rolling. I know a couple of barber quarters that would go crazy if the right AU came along (in addition to the two I was out bid on in Mike's auction last August).
Allegri - Congrats on the complete collection, no easy task, especially if they are all as nice as your last one.
Here's a common coin. Appropriately graded by PCGS. Care to guess?
--------------- Vern
Vern l It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Looks like an AU55 to me maybe even 58 Vern .. I think Dave was implying there is something actually "incorrect" with the coin - as in counterfeit or mint error wrong I am guessing .. I could be wrong but I think that was his intention.
My nomination to start a new thread (which is necessary) is Mike Hayes.
There is no one who been more supportive to both new members as well as the members with well established collections. Mike loves the Barber series and is as dialed in as they get. He offers opinions, which sometimes can be painfully honest (04-s dime for me). He also does a great job putting buyers and sellers together, for no personal profit. He introduced me to Glenn, Lenny, Vern (a long time internet friend), Peter, and Dale, in addition to a great internet network of collectors.
When the Monster Barber thread got a bit too carried with the MS material, he was the guy who proposed the "Mega Barber Thread" to recognize all Barber collectors no matter what the grade.
Sorry for not running this one by you first Mike, but you are da man
So Liz just emailed me that the coins that were submitted regular service have come back. Included in that batch was the Barber Half 1897-O ANACS XF40 which crossed at XF40 - amazing. Sadly, they would not cross the gorgeous XF45 1897-S ANACS coin - they said for cleaning !! .. Oh well .. It is a phenomenal coin so what can you do. The other crossed coins, I am unsure of as Liz has not advised of anything further.. I guess I will wait to be surprised !
Scott, first of all, congratulations on the 97-O ANACS XF-40 crossing over to PCGS...that in itself is an accomplishment! The 97-O is one of the most highly desired coins out there...especially in mid-grade. However, I am severely disappointed the 97-S did not cross...PM sent.
For those of you wondering about the 12-P Genuine...I bought it raw at a coin show in Central Florida...and believe me, it was nice in hand. Thinking I had a real jewel I submitted it to PCGS for grading...but it came back as "altered surfaces"...was very disappointed. After much study and inquiring (and review by some pretty reputable coin viewers) I was told the coin must have been "whizzed"...yet I can't see any evidence of whizzing. It's a mystery to me how PCGS graders can determine the fate or future of such nice coins.
Well Vern - you were certainly on the right path .. I think it would be difficult to detect whizzed or altered surfaces, especially from a clear view picture .. but then again, I have a hard time in the past with the coin in hand. There are different levels of proficiency I suppose and just going by the picture of the 1912, it looks "expertly done" .. Where there is money, there will be greed and corruption. It's too bad there are so many pitfalls we collectors must avoid and educate ourselves about to avoid learning the hard way.
I compare my path of learning about coins to my lessons at the poker table .. Education through experience or learning the hard way yields the most effective results
Hi... I had a full day in Colorado Springs today...
the highlight of today's part of the grading seminar [ at least for a Barberphile ] was the 1897-O Barber Quarter in PCGS MS 66.
I missed the grade as I thought it was a lock 67... but I was told it was too dark... it was the best looking 66 I have ever seen - especially for an 1897-O. I first thought it was a Proof - until I saw the REV. I almost said it was a BMP... it was that nice !!
Scott, sorry about the 97-S... but congrats on the 97-O.
Mike Hayes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
So this is the 1897-S XF coin PCGS prefers to holder - Nice and Shiny
The longer I collect and the more coins I submit, the more confused I become. You would think experience would teach, but either I am a poor student, or I am stubbornly refusing to learn the basic fibers of the grading process. It could be driven by market acceptability (I hate to use cliche terms) and pressures from a majority. It could also be the danger of over-grading your own coins (perception of "your" coins being better than they are psychology). Perhaps I am attracted to cleaned coins .. In all seriousness, that now makes two coins that I was very fond of in higher circulated grades - the 1893-S Half (which Teaparty now has on their website reholdered in another slab so it has now gone to PCGS twice as the cert. number is different but the coin has the exact same marks and toning spots so I have confirmed it is the coin I sold to them 2 months or so ago. You can see Liz' comments on the coin - how they are convinced there is very little evidence of cleaning - far less than many coins residing in inert plastic) and now the 97-S ANACS XF45 (which I still think has the surfaces and luster of a 50 - particularly the reverse).
Maybe they are very careful with the key dates after the coin doctor law suits .. but even still, the coin's value is not equivalent to some major rarity worth 6 figures .. They are both coins valued at under $2k so I doubt that is a factor.
PS Has anyone else noticed that the 1897-S AU58 is now a pop. 2 coin? Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Well, the link is not working properly so cut & paste if interested - I tried the http and https and neither bring you to the page.. Going back to telegraphs and phonographs
Comments
Enjoy
Beancounter I
Nicely displayed set. Your inclusion of the Barber Collector's Society R ratings is a nice touch. I may add such designations to my set, too. PCGS provides relative rarities as part of their assignment of grade points, but they use a single number per coin issue, and as us Barber lovers know, the grade can affect the R rating for many of these coins.
Dr. Pete is right - they are loaded to the gill with mid grade Barbers - a lot of really nice coins there right now .. Dave was speaking of coins a majority of collectors may consider as the "ugly duckling coins" that he found the most beautiful - most original with a darker look .. I thought I was on an island considering those to be some of my most revered pieces in my own collection ... This is one I bought raw from the Texas State Department of Unclaimed Property. I was actually not going to submit it to PCGS as I was nearly certain it would get the ED designation. Much to my surprise, it was graded. I am a poor coin photographer to begin with and this coin was particularly "non-photogenic" so I apologize in advance for the poor photos. Guesses as to the grade are welcomed. Answer later tonight
Joe: NIce looking set - and looking forward to seeing it again next week when I am in Colorado !!
Peter: JJ Teaparty purchased most of my mid grade duplicates.
Scott & Vern: I gave a lot of thought to the other 05-O Half - I actually liked my VF 25 more than the XF 40.
Leaving for CO in the morning ; I dread going thru TSA Security at the airport - they'll want to open every box of coins - wipe them down for God knows what ......
I am just going to hand them my ELBESAAR business card ... maybe that will help ..... I have the bag packed perfectly so its not too thick for the overhead
compartment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
The micro O was fairly graded, and I have no complaints with the Genuine holder. You should have seen the look on Mike's face when he first saw the coin in the 2x2 holder. He was ready to call the ANA and have me arrested for coin endangerment and or illegal use of a stapler.
I'm looking forward to seeing Mike with the case of Barbers. My wife and kids will now have two coin guys to make fun of, and they most likely will. Colorado Springs will be the epicenter of Barber coinage for the next two weeks, with Glenn and Mike leading the group.
Absolutely the best Barber Dime Collection ever! I love that 95-S! You have soooo many dimes I could comment on but to sum it up...YOU DID GOOD! Premium collection.
Mike,
Would love to be out there...would be great if ANA could video-tape some or all of the instruction and stream it to members...or have it available for later viewing...even if ANA charged a premium...I still think it would be worth it. The depth of knowledge you and Glenn (national treasures) will impart to your students should be recorded for posterity's sake...that type of knowledge doesn't come easy...only through years of study and observation...documenting the sessions would benefit all present and future collector's of the Barber series.
Scott, on that 96-S...at least XF-45...but would lean more toward AU-50...and love the crust!
<< <i>Joe,
Absolutely the best Barber Half Dime Collection ever! I love that 95-S! You have soooo many dimes I could comment on but to sum it up...YOU DID GOOD! Premium collection.
Mike,
Would love to be out there...would be great if ANA could video-tape some or all of the instruction and stream it to members...or have it available for later viewing...even if ANA charged a premium...I still think it would be worth it. The depth of knowledge you and Glenn (national treasures) will impart to your students should be recorded for posterity's sake...that type of knowledge doesn't come easy...only through years of study and observation...documenting the sessions would benefit all present and future collector's of the Barber series. >>
Dave - Barber Half Dimes ? Joe does have a great V Nickel collection as well ....
.... Don't be upset about giving away your age with the Video Tape comment, you
did that in your set description of your Half Dollar collection... An homage to your
parents who were born between 1892 & 1915 !! LOL
Justin- Nice images - good lighting as well.
Joe - Those staples were way too close to that coin, I was surprised the coin wasn't damaged.
Heard from Glenn, he is already in CO. @ ANA. I leave at 6AM tomorrow... Can't wait.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Okay, I edited my comment for Joe's collection...my brain fart. And yes, I did give my age away didn't I? But then again, I'm not old...I'm just wise and seasoned...and I'm also interested in V-nickels...so I'll have to converse with Joe and get his insight.
Scott - I'll guess they graded it 45.
LP - Nice pics with the iPhone, and very nice coins. How did you get the lighting just right?
I was at a small show in a southern suburb of Chicago yesterday. Very slim pickings on barbers. My only purchase was a proof Indian Cent (my other main collecting passion), so no pic for this thread.
Vern
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
I can not seem to get the link to work properly - my amateur computer skills are not limited to photography !!
http://www.sigma-2.com/camerajim/cjgcoins.htm
Thanks for the comments. All the lighting I used is a desk lamp with a shade.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
<< <i>As Alex Trebek says, "And the answer is..."
Classic example of PCGS punishing an original coin because of heavy toning or crust, ie market grade vs technical grade (but that is old news to anyone submitting to PCGS). Even old school XF45 at a minimum on technical details as Dave said on previous page, and perhaps AU50 but my monitor right now is suffering a bit. If you put in your pocket for a *few*(edit) weeks and it shinied up real nice on the high points, PCGS would likely give it XF 45 (DON'T DO IT THOUGH). In my experience of submitting Barber halves, and looking at a few midgraders, PCGS rewards and prefers a lightly cleaned coin (not too shiny, but obvious hairlines at 5 to10 x). moo, ymmv, etc. Nice better date that 96s, you done good.
Just a thought. Lots of data to haul around when I doubt many go back more than a few pages to catch up. It would remain archived.
Clearly an AU 58 coin. But it was dark but had a cameo
looking obverse. The Eagle was lighter than the background.
I wanted that coin so badly, I could have tasted it !!
The consolation is thatt I get to see it in hand at JMW's home
next weekend.
BTW - Barberites - its hotter than Hades here in Colorado Springs...
...But, its a dry heat ...lol
BTW, Don, good seeing you post on the boards again.
Ok - Dennis - I also agree. I think the honor of starting the new Thread should go to ..... ?????.....
Nominations please !!
I vote for Peter Shireman - his Half Set is currently the # 1 set on the Registry;
his passion for Barbers has not found its equal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
I took pics of the rest of the few coins I kept. Enjoy.
Scott, I can't believe that 96-S came back as an XF-40...I would submit as a regrade.
Don, great to see you back! Hope all is well with you!
Dennis, a new thread sounds great...as long as this one can be archived...it has a wealth of information on it.
MFH, envious of your trip to CO...wish I were there!
<< <i>Liz called me 2 weeks ago asking if I wanted the 12905-O xf40 as I failed to update my want list. I had showed he the AU50 puirchased from Dave Coates the week before when we did the 50 coin submission .. I don't think I would have paid the $1500+ JJT wanted for it even if I had not run across Dave's coin.
Personally, I find the O mint coins that much more challenging to grade, differentiating the typical strike weakness from ciirculation wear on a coin moderately circulated. I understand how to differentiate strike weakness from wear .. but I think the area becomes that much more grey when you enter a mid grade coin that was struck weakly to begin with. then if a coin is net graded due to a nick, scratch or bagmarks, it can really become challenging.
I would have landed in the middle if I were grading it and called the 05-O a 30. I really think they weigh the obverse much more than the reverse and concentrate a lot on the area around Liberty and the upper and lower band detail . Just my observation. >>
The 05-O is a tough 1! I know of a recent trade of a raw XF that is better struck. It was sold for 2K! There are not many XF's out there. I also think I might have a tag for an XF further reducing the POP!
The auction was either 7 or 10 days; ended at a premium time, Sunday evening with all the other highlight pieces and was advertised on numerous CU forums.
The 05-0 AU50 was a nice originals gun metal lustrous coin professionally images by Mark Goodman and sold to me for $1300 ... Mike Hayes had a snipe set (lower than my snipe of $2100+).. The coin was under $1000 in the final hour and Mikes snipe brought it to the low 1300's. Without it, the coin may have sold for south of $1150.
Just listing the facts.
<< <i>Not disagreeing .. But as I'veproposed the last few months, it appears the market has softened in general with only the choicest keys selling at the prices realized in early 2011.. An observation I have noted and backed up with research and archived prices realized the past 12 months or so. AU coins are auctioning as low as $300 in PCGS holders and some XF coins as low as $150.
The auction was either 7 or 10 days; ended at a premium time, Sunday evening with all the other highlight pieces and was advertised on numerous CU forums.
The 05-0 AU50 was a nice originals gun metal lustrous coin professionally images by Mark Goodman and sold to me for $1300 ... Mike Hayes had a snipe set (lower than my snipe of $2100+).. The coin was under $1000 in the final hour and Mikes snipe brought it to the low 1300's. Without it, the coin may have sold for south of $1150.
Just listing the facts. >>
If my cannons had been reloaded at the time it wouldda cost ya 2K!
<< <i>Once again, JJ Teaparty has quite a nice selection of mid-range and better barber halves. >>
Well, it's the first time I have ever seen 2 pages on their site for Barber Halves. MFH must have made one heck of a horse trade.
Dave - I have looked at that 1912 for hours and can not pick up on what is wrong although I ask you not reveal the answer right yet .. Hmm
Darrel - glad there were no cannon balls left in the confederate army
Mike - Just be glad the forest fires are north.
LP - More great pics and coins.
Dave - I'd say there must be hairlines, the gods usually like that look.
66Tbird - Beautiful quarter. Glad to see it.
Scott/Darrell - Hard to pick a date that could jump next. All it takes is a couple well-heeled determined collectors who need a specific date to get the ball rolling. I know a couple of barber quarters that would go crazy if the right AU came along (in addition to the two I was out bid on in Mike's auction last August).
Allegri - Congrats on the complete collection, no easy task, especially if they are all as nice as your last one.
Here's a common coin. Appropriately graded by PCGS. Care to guess?
---------------
Vern
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
There is no one who been more supportive to both new members as well as the members with well established collections. Mike loves the Barber series and is as dialed in as they get. He offers opinions, which sometimes can be painfully honest (04-s dime for me). He also does a great job putting buyers and sellers together, for no personal profit. He introduced me to Glenn, Lenny, Vern (a long time internet friend), Peter, and Dale, in addition to a great internet network of collectors.
When the Monster Barber thread got a bit too carried with the MS material, he was the guy who proposed the "Mega Barber Thread" to recognize all Barber collectors no matter what the grade.
Sorry for not running this one by you first Mike, but you are da man
For those of you wondering about the 12-P Genuine...I bought it raw at a coin show in Central Florida...and believe me, it was nice in hand. Thinking I had a real jewel I submitted it to PCGS for grading...but it came back as "altered surfaces"...was very disappointed. After much study and inquiring (and review by some pretty reputable coin viewers) I was told the coin must have been "whizzed"...yet I can't see any evidence of whizzing. It's a mystery to me how PCGS graders can determine the fate or future of such nice coins.
I compare my path of learning about coins to my lessons at the poker table .. Education through experience or learning the hard way yields the most effective results
Hi... I had a full day in Colorado Springs today...
the highlight of today's part of the grading seminar [ at least for a Barberphile ]
was the 1897-O Barber Quarter in PCGS MS 66.
I missed the grade as I thought it was a lock 67... but I was told
it was too dark... it was the best looking 66 I have ever seen - especially
for an 1897-O. I first thought it was a Proof - until I saw the REV. I almost
said it was a BMP... it was that nice !!
Scott, sorry about the 97-S... but congrats on the 97-O.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
The longer I collect and the more coins I submit, the more confused I become. You would think experience would teach, but either I am a poor student, or I am stubbornly refusing to learn the basic fibers of the grading process. It could be driven by market acceptability (I hate to use cliche terms) and pressures from a majority. It could also be the danger of over-grading your own coins (perception of "your" coins being better than they are psychology). Perhaps I am attracted to cleaned coins
Maybe they are very careful with the key dates after the coin doctor law suits .. but even still, the coin's value is not equivalent to some major rarity worth 6 figures .. They are both coins valued at under $2k so I doubt that is a factor.
PS Has anyone else noticed that the 1897-S AU58 is now a pop. 2 coin? Hmmmmmmmmmmm
www.ebay.com/itm/1897-S-PCGS-XF-40-Barber-Half-Dollar-Nice-/221054020360?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item3377d8ab08
www.ebay.com/itm/1897-S-PCGS-XF-40-Barber-Half-Dollar-Nice-/221054020360?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item3377d8ab08