My Set of VF Barber Halves is Complete! (Updated 5/25/10)
rld14
Posts: 2,390 ✭✭✭
I did it!
It's time for an update... tonight, I picked up the last coin I needed for the set, courtesy of Mike Hayes (MFH), a beautiful VF35 01-S, the set is done and in JUST shy of a year. I did it, and as I said before (Below), it's thanks to some wonderful people. I am tickled pink!
As we speak I have a box on its' way to me, containing what's basically every coin needed to complete my registry set of Barber Halves in PCGS VF with the exception of the 1901-S. However a dealer who shall remain nameless does in fact appear to have located one of those for me and it's at our hosts for grading.
So even though I am cointing my chickens before they have hatched, I've done it. I've also done it in barely 10 months. And if I do say so myself, there's really only one coin in the set that I am not proud of, my 1897-O in VF25 so that will need to be upgraded.
A good number of these coins are just flat-out RARE in VF/XF, it's not a matter of paying for them, which can be painful at times until you realize the actual market value on them, but it's also an awful lot of being in the right place at the right time. Thanks to this forum, I have met the following wonderful people:
Larry (SeaEagleCoins) who has probably sold me easily 20 of the coins in this set, including on of the monster rarities, the 1905-O.
Glenn (PonyExpress8) Who has sold me a number of VERY tough coins, including my 1907-S which came back from our hosts as a VF35.
Dan (Barberman55) who found me a wonderful 1895-S and a stunning 1901-O in XF40, both very original and tough coins.
Manorcourtman Who sold me a coin or two on eBay and also found me an absolutely stunning 1904-O in VF35 recently to upgrade my F15
Greg (Walkerguy21D) who found me several tougher dates.
Mike (MFH) Who has spotted a couple of coins and brought them to my attention, and, most recently, located me 9 very tough to find coins for my set.
Another dealer who has been very helpful are the girls at JJ Teaparty, they've filled some very tough holes for me as well.
I've been hunting these down like a fiend, Heritage, Teletrade, shows, etc... and I've also made a good number of the coins in the set too and learned an awful lot about submitting coins to PCGS in the process. I've had a LOT of fun and learned an awful lot.
I am quite proud of my set and very thankful to some wonderful people who made this possible, truthfully I am amazed that I have pulled this off in less than a year!
Bill
It's time for an update... tonight, I picked up the last coin I needed for the set, courtesy of Mike Hayes (MFH), a beautiful VF35 01-S, the set is done and in JUST shy of a year. I did it, and as I said before (Below), it's thanks to some wonderful people. I am tickled pink!
As we speak I have a box on its' way to me, containing what's basically every coin needed to complete my registry set of Barber Halves in PCGS VF with the exception of the 1901-S. However a dealer who shall remain nameless does in fact appear to have located one of those for me and it's at our hosts for grading.
So even though I am cointing my chickens before they have hatched, I've done it. I've also done it in barely 10 months. And if I do say so myself, there's really only one coin in the set that I am not proud of, my 1897-O in VF25 so that will need to be upgraded.
A good number of these coins are just flat-out RARE in VF/XF, it's not a matter of paying for them, which can be painful at times until you realize the actual market value on them, but it's also an awful lot of being in the right place at the right time. Thanks to this forum, I have met the following wonderful people:
Larry (SeaEagleCoins) who has probably sold me easily 20 of the coins in this set, including on of the monster rarities, the 1905-O.
Glenn (PonyExpress8) Who has sold me a number of VERY tough coins, including my 1907-S which came back from our hosts as a VF35.
Dan (Barberman55) who found me a wonderful 1895-S and a stunning 1901-O in XF40, both very original and tough coins.
Manorcourtman Who sold me a coin or two on eBay and also found me an absolutely stunning 1904-O in VF35 recently to upgrade my F15
Greg (Walkerguy21D) who found me several tougher dates.
Mike (MFH) Who has spotted a couple of coins and brought them to my attention, and, most recently, located me 9 very tough to find coins for my set.
Another dealer who has been very helpful are the girls at JJ Teaparty, they've filled some very tough holes for me as well.
I've been hunting these down like a fiend, Heritage, Teletrade, shows, etc... and I've also made a good number of the coins in the set too and learned an awful lot about submitting coins to PCGS in the process. I've had a LOT of fun and learned an awful lot.
I am quite proud of my set and very thankful to some wonderful people who made this possible, truthfully I am amazed that I have pulled this off in less than a year!
Bill
Bear's "Growl of Approval" award 10/09 & 3/10 | "YOU SUCK" - PonyExpress8|"F the doctors!" - homerunhall | I hate my car
0
Comments
Pour yourself a cold one... you earned it.
Now crack em and put them in a blue set book so the value will rise faster.
Congratulations on the near complete set of VF ++
Barber Halves... let me know if you tire of the 96-S in 58
that I made you buy while we were at FUN.
You should have the box I sent you within the week;
its usually a 6 or 7 day turn around from Naples to NY.
All I can say is that if it were not for this Forum, many
of us would be scratching our heads wondering where
to locate the next tough coin.
I am more than happy to introduce two collectors who
can be beneficial to each other. I was thrilled to help you
complete your set [ sans the 1901-S - I had to keep that
one in VF 35 for myself - considering I was the one who
sold it to the other collector to begin with. ]
I'm sure your dealer / friend will have good luck with
the one he submitted to PCGS for grading.
I believe there are approximately 40 more VF-20-35 Barber
Halves looking for a good home - all PCGS graded. PM me
if you need anything else upgraded...sorry, I bought the 1897-O
in PCGS 35 for myself.
Happy hunting for your Barber Dime set !!
Congratulations again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Speedy Gonzalez...
Wonderful set in record time...
Soooooo.... when ya gonna start collecting some "real" coins... like Buffalo Nickels?
grade set to complete. You are awarded "Bears Growl of Approval", for
excellence in accomplishing a most difficult numismatic goal.
Camelot
Way to go Bill! What's next??
merse
Excellent job
Rob
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
Great job. It has been a great pleasure to have helped you a bit along the way as well.
Congratulations on a job well done!
Website-Americana Rare Coin Inc
What really pushed me over the top was Mike (MFH). Basically, a number of these coins are relatively easy to locate (For some reason I seem to see 12-Ds in VF holders all the time) and some are out there for a price. I was lucky enough to find an 05-O early on for a good price (HUGE thanks to SeaEagleCoins for that one!) and got an 04-S from heritage for a good price as well.
The problem was, I was at a tricky spot with the set, a number of coins that I needed are just super super tough to find, my wantlist, with one or two exceptions, was R4 and R5 coins. I needed the 93-P, 93-S, 94-P, 96-O, 96-S, 98-O (I bought a raw 98-O that is now in for attempt #5 at grading.. it's dreck, I have regined myself to the fact that while it really doesn't look that bad, it's never gonna grade). These are just tough tough coins to find in VF/XF. Well, Mike to the rescue, he managed to find every coin on my list in a deal he was working on save the 01-S.
I mean, I can't even call it luck, this is beyond that! ANA Boston = Mike gets to pick the place for dinner
Once the set is assembled and complete, I am going to have it professionally imaged by Todd, I hope to be able to send him the coins within a month, I stink at photographing coins, and after seeing his pics of Mike's coins.... wow!
What's next? I am going to concentrate on the dimes. I have about 40 of those already, 20 are currently in for grading. I also have a few sets I am playing with...
Circ Cameo raw Morgans in Dansco albums.
Circ Camero XF Seated Halves
Lowball Walkers.
Raw walkers in F (Completing a set I started when I was 7)
Haven't totally figured it out... but I think I might want to get into C and D half eagles though... I'm starting to learn about those now.
Bill
Greg
<< <i>Bill ... now that you have had your little celebration... we all want our coins back
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heck, it took me around 4 years to complete my Barber Half set in F (did it last year)
Steve
EAC 6024
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
We look forward to seeing your set sometime.
Again, contrats!
Dave
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
I guess I like taking a beating. I did have some pleasant victories with Barber halves along the way, though, including scoring some nice coins (as well as dreck) from sellers who accepted no returns, the most feared of Ebay sellers. My encounters with the "mid-grade Barber hunters" on Ebay were both mindblowing (being outbid while bidding way beyond published price guides) and pleasant at the same time. The mid-grade Barber hunters are some true supurb gem BU people.
Connor Numismatics Website
I love barber halves and know how difficult they are in the upper mid-grades of VF and EF. I really enjoy the sharing of information and helpfullness of the fellow collectors that have met through these boards and the PCGS registry. It is the time for you to bask in the satisfaction of completion of your marvelous set. It is actually easier to complete a mint state set from available certified coins than it is the set you have done. These coins are truly rare in unmolested mid-upper grade and are high sought after.
Based on my experience, I really would not have thought it possible to complete the set as fast as you have, but given the resources you have listed, you did get lots of help, and that's wonderful.
So, when you get tired of the set, and consider selling, let me know, I'd like to have a shot at it, knowing how tough it is to get these coins. I might have to wrestle with MFH, or several others, though.
Again, congrats on a great accomplishment.
Interesting to note your displeasure with the 97-O. Just tends to get overlooked as a tough coin, because folks are really into the sleepers, of which there are boatloads, but I can honestly say I've never seen a good one in VF. Have seen a superb 45, and a stellar 15, but all of the VF's out there are dipped, cleaned or have that strange blotchy two-toned look.
See, you're done, but you're still not done!
Congrats.
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I did it!!!!
www.brunkauctions.com
<< <i>Bumpasaurus Rex
I did it!!!!
Here's your newp's image...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Over 60% on the dimes so far, and working on the quarters.... Although the quarters are going to cost a tad more than the Halves....
<< <i>
<< <i>Bumpasaurus Rex
I did it!!!!
Here's your newp's image...
Thank you again!
<< <i>Good work Bill, I have also been a beneficiary of your contacts, and your advice. I will be back east twice this summer June and August maybe we can meet up and
Let me know when you're in town, much as I am terrified of Red Sox Nation, there's some get together in Boston in August I keep hearing about
Now let's just hope that all of you "crazy Barber hunters" continue to maintain your numbers... so that the coin's values continue to maintain their numbers... or that Grey Sheet and the other price guides finally put up their white flags and surrender to reality...
It has taken me just under a decade to complete a 30 coin set, but I finally picked up the last date I needed a couple days ago.
Let the celebrations continue