Barber Dimes...Difficult (or Not Difficult) in XF??
OneCent
Posts: 3,561 ✭
After I'm done with my Lincoln Wheat circulated set I may work on a Barber series. Not a real big fan of dimes in general, but the Liberty Head barber dimes has some attractive attributes, at least in my eyes. 10 or so dates with mintages under 1M (another thread pointed this out the other day...This Thread) and I love the big fat "O" and "S" mintmarks on a small coin.
So, is a set of Barber Dimes in true XF-40 a pretty decent challenge? Not just average coins for the grade, but solid eye-appealing XF's. What do you think? Anyone "do" and complete a Barber Dime set in this grade? Thoughts and experiences appreciated. Also, feel free to post an XF example.
So, is a set of Barber Dimes in true XF-40 a pretty decent challenge? Not just average coins for the grade, but solid eye-appealing XF's. What do you think? Anyone "do" and complete a Barber Dime set in this grade? Thoughts and experiences appreciated. Also, feel free to post an XF example.
Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
ANA Member R-3147111
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<< <i>couple toughies, the 94s is a hurdle >>
Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
ANA Member R-3147111
<< <i>After I'm done with my Lincoln Wheat circulated set I may work on a Barber series. Not a real big fan of dimes in general, but the Liberty Head barber dimes has some attractive attributes, at least in my eyes. 10 or so dates with mintages under 1M (another thread pointed this out the other day...This Thread) and I love the big fat "O" and "S" mintmarks on a small coin.
So, is a set of Barber Dimes in true XF-40 a pretty decent challenge? Not just average coins for the grade, but solid eye-appealing XF's. What do you think? Anyone "do" and complete a Barber Dime set in this grade? Thoughts and experiences appreciated. Also, feel free to post an XF example.
immensely challenging to find original coins that are solid XF. You will find some slabbed XF coins that are "optimistically graded" in just about anyone's holder. If you stick to your standards and look for a consistent, eye appealing set, report back in a few years when you hit the halfway point. Barber coin collectors will chime in and wish you luck!
Probably harder in some ways than ChAU/Unc, which is a bear of a challenge in itself
As far as the comment from centmaster, I would further include the P mints back to 1900
as ones you think you should be able to find, but often can not.
Consider trying to hook up with both casey and boyhowdy on these boards if you really
get the bug as I know they are both very involved with Barber Dimes (far more than I am)
and also have a knack for killer EF's.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
I was working on a PCGS graded set of XF45s as my set number two following my AU collection, but I recently sold some of the tougher dates I had (03-S, 96-S, 97-S, 98-O). It will be a challenge to complete the series in solid eye-appealing XFs but it can be done. It will take you awhile.
My preference for perfect eye appeal includes darker toning with the "circulated cameo" look. My favorite 45s are shown below. A few of these were also posted in another thread a few days ago focusing on nice looking 45s. Sorry for the duplication!
1905 micro o PCGS XF45
1900-O PCGS XF45
1892-O PCGS XF45
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Ken
to distract me from the blues after selling most of my slabs. It took 3 years to finish and
probably 85% were bought raw on eBay. Only a couple I suspect as having been cleaned.
Biggest pitfall will be finding original coins. Good luck finding even commoner dates that
haven't been at least dipped. Many of the XF-looking dimes on the 'bay have even been
cleaned mechanically where you get a polishing effect.
Dimes are small. Learn to be good at manipulating photos found in auctions. If I'm trying
to determine grade from a poor picture I kick it into a photo-manipulation app and blow it up.
If I need to see hidden mintmarks or more detail on darker coins I kick the photo into Paint
and use the <reverse image> function. Gives me an X-ray view of the coin.
Get to know the sellers who specialize in Barber dimes that are ALSO COLLECTORS. <Aneji>
and <CCEX> are both very knowledgable and honest. Me too, I'm sjt*ucla on eBay.
Pick up nice XF-AU coins that don't seem difficult. Coins like the 1897-S, 1900-O, 1902-S,
and 1904-S might be semi-keys in the book but they are some of the most difficult to locate
uninjured. More common dates such as 1902-O, 1906-S and 1908-S are not easy in XF+.
It took me 6 months to fill the final hole in my XF+ toner set, the elusive 1896-O. Greysheet
has it at $340 in XF and I had a standing offer of $500 for an original coin. I never collected.
Last winter I bought a 1896 Phillie from a Florida farmer. Flipped it over and saw the "O".
So the moral is -- even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while.
But hey -- give a shout-out if you have any questions. Also let me know if there is anything
in the series you are looking for. I'm not into it for anything but the joy. If I find something you
need I'll send you a link. Just don't go searching for 1905-O micro-O dimes. I'm hoarding them!
Steve
At some point I will embark on this series in original XF. I like the circ cam look of the coins that Casey presented.
I also appreciate the thoughts and comments by the specialists in the series (Casey, BoyHowdy, et al.). When the
time comes I sure that I will seek the expertise that you have gained.
Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
ANA Member R-3147111
<< <i>Me too, I'm sjt*ucla on eBay.
Just don't go searching for 1905-O micro-O dimes. I'm hoarding them!
>>
Man, I've been bidding against you for those micro-O dimes for years and I never knew you were a forum member. Do you have any idea how much money we've cost each other on those darn things?
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
dates are much tougher. This is from looking at a lot of raw coins over
the years. It was never too unusual to see the later years in XF and
this especially applies to 1912 and later but also anything after about
1902. There may be some tougher dates hidden in here but if there
are it would imply that there was a lot of collecting before the end of
the series. I doubt this was the case.
The reason is The Great Depression. Many coins that might have been set aside were spent to put food on the table. In addition my perception is that the Barber coins did not wear as well as Indian cents or even Liberty nickels. I think the "LIBERTY" wore off pretty fast on those coins because it was small and delecate.
Expect to pay a min. 15-35% premiums to bid from those who know what they have. A very underrated set that may not get its dues for another 10 years. Most VF-AU circs I see in slabs I would call lightly cleaned. The keys will set you back hundreds to over a thousand dollars each. Yet the real bargains are the semi keys and more unheralded dates that list for only $15-$100 each. Buy as many of them as you can as you can always trade them towards ones you do need. Money in the bank.
roadrunner
A forum member and collector built a complete XF45 set of halves. Craig spent a lot of time, if I recall 4 or 5 years and the 1905 was that last coin to complete his set. A great set to work on as it is possible to do, but it will be challenging and over time, likely rewarding too.
Website-Americana Rare Coin Inc
Challenge indeed. You will find that some of the dates are almost impossible to find even if you have the money for them and you will need plenty of money. These make for a very nice looking set. Look for originals that haven't been worked on and I recommend that you get some color matching going on for your set. The color from one piece to another can vary a great deal.
I included the 1905 O 'micro O' as part of my set to make 75 pieces total. About half of my set was XF and half was VF. A few of the pieces were AU. It took me 10 years to assemble this set from about 1985 to 1995. Unfortunately, plenty of money was not always there for me and I had to pass on some very nice coins. For example, Art Kagin once offered me a lovely '95 O in XF for about $500. This was in about 1985. I eventually bought a decent VF for my set.
Here's a few closeup pics of my 'micro O.' I bought it for $3 in about '85 or '86. I like the original look of this solid very fine grade coin alot. If all the barber dimes in my set had looked like this one it would have been a very satisfactory thing:
Technically, the '05 O 'micro O' is not considered to be part of a "complete set" but it's such a cool coin i couldn't resist putting it in my album to reside with the other 74. Good luck in your efforts to assemble an XF set of these.
“I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know that I am. When two expeditions of scientists, financed by the Royal Academy, went forth to test my theory of relativity, I was convinced that their conclusions would tally with my hypothesis. I was not surprised when the eclipse of May 29, 1919, confirmed my intuitions. I would have been surprised if I had been wrong.”
“Then you trust more to your imagination than to your knowledge?”
“I am enough of the artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
Albert Einstein- quoted in Saturday Evening Post interview (1929)