Are There any 1894-S Barber Dimes Unaccounted For?

OneCent

If so, I'll start to more diligently check my change!



Seriously though, are there any unaccounted for?

savoyspecial

from a mintage of 24 we know of approximately half of them; so yes, there are some unaccounted for

OneCent

Didn't little Hallie buy an ice cream with one back in like 1910?

savoyspecial

>>Didn't little Hallie buy an ice cream with one back in like 1910?>>


i am familiar with the story, but it has always sounded like hyperbolae to me (even before RWB made it popular to claim such)

savoyspecial

one was purchased over the counter in a Gimball's Dept. Store in the 1950's as part of a bulk lot

coindeuce

There is an unaccounted for example in a private collection near me. EOM.

originalisbest

Very cool, coindeuce! I guess the owner wants little publicity/attention? It would be cool to see it come to light one day.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

I can forsee a few more popping up within the coming decades, but I'm quite confident that we'll never have all 24 accounted for.

coindeuce

Some people just have so much wealth that these little discs are merely "widgets" that they don't need to part with or broadcast. Apologies to L.S.

RWB

One went to the Annual Assay Commission in the pyx.

lathmach

I got mine from Ebay seller Won Lameduk.
Took 3 weeks for delivery from China.
But it was worth it. Looks like it was just made.

Ray

BillJones

Yes some of them might be unaccounted for and there is a remote chance that more examples could be found. Back in the early 1960s one of them popped up at the Gimbels department store coin counter in New York City. A person off the street showed up with an 1894-S dime in Good. Jack Friedberg who headed up the Coin and Currency Company at that time verified the coin and paid $2,000 for it. During that period a Mint State example had sold for $13,500 at auction. There is at least one other example that is known in well worn condition.

LanLord

Were there any found in the great NY subway hoard?

Maybe this is somewhat tangential, but still, that would have been an amazing find if so.

rhedden

Back in 2006, I bought a complete AU/BU Barber dime set (which now forms the bulk of my Registry set) from a personal friend who had it since 1986. The previous owner, who collected the coins from the 1930s to 1960s, reputedly had an 1894-S dime that was broken out of the set and sold privately in the 1980s. I never saw it, sadly, but I don't doubt the story based on the contents of his collection. Some people just don't want anyone to know they own a $1 million+ coin, so they don't advertise it. That is the prime reason for the several "unaccounted for" 1894-S dimes out there.

Walkerguy21D

Met an 85 yr old dealer at a small show in FL back in Nov.....I bought a number of decent Barber dimes from him, at very reasonable prices, including things like an 09S in VF+ for $20, etc....he said they were just extras from the multiple sets of these he had, and just wanted to get rid of them. He said his best set was all AU/BU, except for the 94S, which was only a VG.....I said wait a second, you have a 94S in your set? He said yes, (and he has since recounted this story several times), that he acquired it in the early '60's in Alabama for $4, and he 'has shown it to several people', whoever they are, and knows it's authentic.

MFH

<< <i>Back in 2006, I bought a complete AU/BU Barber dime set (which now forms the bulk of my Registry set) from a personal friend who had it since 1986. The previous owner, who collected the coins from the 1930s to 1960s, reputedly had an 1894-S dime that was broken out of the set and sold privately in the 1980s. I never saw it, sadly, but I don't doubt the story based on the contents of his collection. Some people just don't want anyone to know they own a $1 million+ coin, so they don't advertise it. That is the prime reason for the several "unaccounted for" 1894-S dimes out there. >>



Ron,

I saved that Thread and enjoy looking at it often. Very nice coins and I would have loved
to have seen them raw as well - what album were they in ? I thought my raw set was nice
but your's was amazing !!

I'm still scratching my head how you located that 93/2 overdate - nice pick up.

There is an image of an 1894-S Dime [ PCGS SP64BM ] in PCGS's new calendar.

It is exactly what I'd buy if I ever won Lotto...

STEWARTBLAYNUMIS

Mike

Legend bought that coin for $1,500,000 out of the Stack's auction. It looks very nice.

How many lottery tickets do you think yo need to buy to win the "Big Prize" ?

Stewart

SanctionII

Someone recently found [in So. Cal. I believe] an 1870 CC quarter while metal detecting. Amazing find.

I was at a local No. Cal. show last year and some scouts had a display at the entrance to the show of coins that they had found while metal detecting over in San Francisco [parks in the City I presume since lots of the City is paved over]. Amazing finds, including barber and seated liberty coinage, one or two of which were in very high grade for being found in the ground [VF-EF].

Who knows, maybe an 1894 S dime is just waiting somewhere in the SF Bay Area, inches under the ground, for a MD to find it.

Maybe I should get a detector

MFH

<< <i>Mike

Legend bought that coin for $1,500,000 out of the Stack's auction. It looks very nice.

How many lottery tickets do you think yo need to buy to win the "Big Prize" ?

Stewart >>



Stewart - It only takes one ticket - but based on the price of that coin - I'd like to win Lotto after
a few "roll - overs " - ...

Analyst

On 1894-S dimes, I did a good deal of research for my two articles that appeared in 2007. I have seen most of the nine or ten known. After I wrote the first of these two articles in July 2007, another 1894-S dime showed up. It is the one that Kagin’s handled years ago and it is the one that Stewart Blay mentioned in this thread. Stack’s auctioned it in October 2007. Laura Sperber was the successful bidder. Details may be found in my October 2007 article. Please see references below.

Of the ten that have been listed, the only one that is ‘unaccounted for’ is the so-called “Rappaport” piece. It has been reported that QDB handled it in the 1960s. Curiously, the cataloguer of the JAS-Richmond 1894-S, for the Richmond 3 sale in March 2005, said that the Rappaport piece probably would not qualify for a numerical grade from PCGS. Who is this cataloguer and how would he know?

Do any readers of this thread have information regarding the Rappaport piece?

Auction Record for an 1894-S Dime -- 10/07

Roster of 1894-S Dimes -- July 2007

rhedden

Hey Analyst, turn on your PM function. I'd like to discuss the Rappaport specimen with you.

RWB

Two 1894-S dimes were sent to Mint HQ for special asssay (June 19, 1894). This means that no more than 22 could exist.

Geoman

The 1894-S Barber Dime is my one "dream coin" that I would give up most of my collection to own. It would have to be a circulated example though - as I couldn't afford any in MS. Wait, the Powerball is at $130 Million, so just maybe I can buy one in MS assuming I win the PowerBall.

JupitarCoins

<< <i>The 1894-S Barber Dime is my one "dream coin" that I would give up most of my collection to own. It would have to be a circulated example though - as I couldn't afford any in MS. Wait, the Powerball is at $130 Million, so just maybe I can buy one in MS assuming I win the PowerBall. >>



Powerball is up to 149 million as of two hours ago.FYI

diamondman

i have a 94 s dime but the s keeps falling off the back, also have 1994-s dime somewhere.

I would guess there are 3 to 10 unaccounted for? never seen one in person sort of like 1913 v nickel seen pics but never in person.

I still get excited when a friend calls up and says I have a friend or relative that has a bunch of old coins can you come look at them and give a value. I have had this happen 3 times in the last month. saw 2 of lots so far nothing exciting except a 1896-s silver dollar, the next lot is sometime this coming week, the guy is like 82 (quit collecting in 1968) and has like 110 morgan and peace dollars and a few gold coins, can't wait to see them. haven't bought a coin yet this year, but who knows would love to see a 93-s dollar. heh heh.

90% of the fun is in the hunt.

Analyst

<< <i>Hey Analyst, turn on your PM function. I'd like to discuss the Rappaport specimen with you. >>


I just noticed your post. I must admit that I have never used the IM function on these Message Boards. Did you read my two articles on 1894-S dimes? Comments from you and all other contributors to this thread are welcome. Solid information regarding the Rappaport 1894-S dime would be especially welcome. If you have information that you prefer not to share publicly, please try to communicate with me via CoinLink. The publisher will forward messages. Thanks.

Auction Record for an 1894-S -- 10/07

Roster of 1894-S dimes -- 07/07

illini420

<< <i>never seen one in person sort of like 1913 v nickel seen pics but never in person.

>>



4 of the 5 1913 nickels were w/in 10 feet of one another at the last ANA show here in L.A. That was awesome to see!!!! Perhaps the powers that be can arrange a reunion of the 1894-S dimes, that would be very cool!!!

MFH

<< <i>

<< <i>never seen one in person sort of like 1913 v nickel seen pics but never in person.

>>



4 of the 5 1913 nickels were w/in 10 feet of one another at the last ANA show here in L.A. That was awesome to see!!!! Perhaps the powers that be can arrange a reunion of the 1894-S dimes, that would be very cool!!! >>



Mike,

I'd love to see them all together at the ANA this August in Boston.

rhedden

Hey Analyst,

I sent you a PM. Check the little messages button under the COLLECTORS UNIVERSE logo at the upper left of the screen.

coindeuce

<< <i>On 1894-S dimes, I did a good deal of research for my two articles that appeared in 2007. I have seen most of the nine or ten known. After I wrote the first of these two articles in July 2007, another 1894-S dime showed up. It is the one that Kagin’s handled years ago and it is the one that Stewart Blay mentioned in this thread. Stack’s auctioned it in October 2007. Laura Sperber was the successful bidder. Details may be found in my October 2007 article. Please see references below.

Of the ten that have been listed, the only one that is ‘unaccounted for’ is the so-called “Rappaport” piece. It has been reported that QDB handled it in the 1960s. Curiously, the cataloguer of the JAS-Richmond 1894-S, for the Richmond 3 sale in March 2005, said that the Rappaport piece probably would not qualify for a numerical grade from PCGS. Who is this cataloguer and how would he know?

Do any readers of this thread have information regarding the Rappaport piece?

I'm working on it. That is all.

Analyst

It is misleading and unfair for contributors to this thread to imply that twelve to twenty-four 1894-S dimes may exist. Even if the reported mintage figure of 24 is true, and it might not be, there has never been any solid evidence that more than ten survived.

It is unusual for a previously unknown representative of a 19th century Great Rarity to emerge. A newly discovered 1894-S dime has not been seen in decades. When Stack’s auctioned the Cass-Empire 1894-S dime in 1957, the event received a great deal of publicity in the general media. People then searched endlessly for 1894-S dimes.

Also, it is widely believed that a very large number of rare silver coins were melted in late 1979 and early 1980, at which time silver bullion prices reached astronomical levels. People searched attics and basements in order to find silver coins to sell for their precious metal value. Coin dealers were overwhelmed with bullion, and many others, who often knew nothing about rare coins, became involved in the business of buying bullion along with scrap silver and gold to be refined.

Besides, many past rosters of Great Rarities included double-counts of the same coins. From 1930 to 2000, auction plates tended to be of very low quality. Indeed, during this same period, it was very unusual for clear, high quality photographs of rare coins to be published. Because of such double-counts, the number of ‘known’ coins may sometimes go down rather than up.

As for 1894-S dimes, in July 2007, I put forth what I believe is the first serious attempt at a condition ranking. At the time, I, and also John Feigenbaum, believed that the 1894-S dime that Kagin’s sold years earlier was the same as one of the others on the list. Feigenbaum has handled the finest known 1894-S dime on three occasions, and sold another one as well. In the past, other 1894-S dime listings in auction catalogue rosters turned out to be duplicates. In a matter of weeks, however, the Kagin coin showed up and was sold in an October 2007 Stack’s auction. In a sense, it was a re-discovery of a coin that was already known. It was incorrectly thought to be the same as another 1894-S dime.

So, there are now ten known 1894-S dimes. Of course, there could be one or two others. It is very unlikely, though, that there exist more than a dozen. It does not make sense to openly suggest, without either evidence or sound reasoning, that there may be more than a dozen. It is unfair to the collectors who own them and to those who have spent considerable time researching 1894-S dimes.

Roster of 1894-S dimes -- 07/07

Auction Record for an 1894-S Dime -- 10/07

Auction of Olsen-Hawn 1913 Liberty Nickel

Walkerguy21D

The Roster was a great article and excellent research, Analyst.
However, if I ever get a chance to see this purported one for myself, I will certainly be reporting it. I don't doubt that this fellow THINKS he has one, however it could be a fake and it has had him fooled for these many years:


<< <i>Met an 85 yr old dealer at a small show in FL back in Nov.....I bought a number of decent Barber dimes from him, at very reasonable prices, including things like an 09S in VF+ for $20, etc....he said they were just extras from the multiple sets of these he had, and just wanted to get rid of them. He said his best set was all AU/BU, except for the 94S, which was only a VG.....I said wait a second, you have a 94S in your set? He said yes, (and he has since recounted this story several times), that he acquired it in the early '60's in Alabama for $4, and he 'has shown it to several people', whoever they are, and knows it's authentic. >>

RWB

See Kevin Flynn's books on the 1894-S dime, also research published in Coin World.

As for production, the quantity of 24 is clear and unambiguous, as are the two special assay specimens (destroyed during assay) and one Annual Assay coin (fate unknown). With no documented reason form making 24 dimes, there will always be dispute about this coin. However, it was certainly not to balance any account books – otherwise this kind of thing would have occurred many times.

coindeuce

<< <i>It is misleading and unfair for contributors to this thread to imply that twelve to twenty-four 1894-S dimes may exist. Even if the reported mintage figure of 24 is true, and it might not be, there has never been any solid evidence that more than ten survived. >>



My comments have been guarded to avoid just such an implication. The above was an oft used retort in similar fashion though by those who weren't aware of the existence of the 10 Switt / Langbord examples of the 1933 St. Gaudens Double Eagle.