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LordM goes Barber half shopping again (never mind-it's done-check it out)
lordmarcovan
Posts: 43,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
Update: Scroll down for my final choice... it was the fourth one I looked at...
Since the Barber dime and quarter in my type set are white PCGS MS64's, I'm looking for a good match in the half (a common-date, white MS64). As some of you know, I had bought an MS64 1907 from Larry Rice ("DaBigKahuna"), but returned it because it didn't quite meet my eye appeal criteria (had nice luster but a few black spots). Let me take a moment to say that I believe the deal with Larry was a very good one and his price was fair- he even refunded my money via PayPal before the coin made it back to him in the mail! So though I didn't keep his coin, here is a free plug for Larry. He bent over backwards to accomodate me and I would deal with him anytime, anywhere. He is a prince among coin dealers. Many of you probably already knew this.
Now, to the quest at hand: my usual hunting grounds (eBay, Heritage, Teletrade, etc.) have not produced any coins that fit my needs and/or budget. Last night I came across two possibilities:
Behind Curtain #1: a 1915-D, PCGS MS64, from Hanks and Associates, at $875. (Third coin down on the page- click to enlarge the pics). I am unfamiliar with the dealer, but the name slightly rings a bell. The coin, while not blast white, looks at least 95% white (enough for my purposes) and 100% original to me. I also like mintmarked coins, and this one, while still a common date, has a slightly lower mintage than the next coin...
Behind Curtain #2: a 1911, PCGS MS64, from David Lawrence, at $1,085. This dealer gets good word-of-mouth from folks on this forum, so at some of y'all's recommendation, I checked him out. The coin is blast white (got DL's "1" rating for whitest possible, in fact). The picture is a tad bright, but I'm sure the coin is as white as they claim. What concerns me a little is some apparent "chatter" in the field in front of Liberty's face. No screaming bargains here on the price (only $15 below PCGS trends), but it looks like a helluva coin with tons of eye appeal, and is probably worth the money. I just wonder if the eye appeal is worth the $210 more dollars than the coin in the first link. DL also accepts PayPal, which is a plus, as that account is where my funds are at the moment.
So: ladies and gentlemen in the studio audience- what do you think? Should I choose from behind Curtain #1, take what is behind Curtain #2, or keep on shopping? At this particular moment I am leaning slightly toward Curtain #1 as a better deal but am not totally sure. I welcome your input.
Since the Barber dime and quarter in my type set are white PCGS MS64's, I'm looking for a good match in the half (a common-date, white MS64). As some of you know, I had bought an MS64 1907 from Larry Rice ("DaBigKahuna"), but returned it because it didn't quite meet my eye appeal criteria (had nice luster but a few black spots). Let me take a moment to say that I believe the deal with Larry was a very good one and his price was fair- he even refunded my money via PayPal before the coin made it back to him in the mail! So though I didn't keep his coin, here is a free plug for Larry. He bent over backwards to accomodate me and I would deal with him anytime, anywhere. He is a prince among coin dealers. Many of you probably already knew this.
Now, to the quest at hand: my usual hunting grounds (eBay, Heritage, Teletrade, etc.) have not produced any coins that fit my needs and/or budget. Last night I came across two possibilities:
Behind Curtain #1: a 1915-D, PCGS MS64, from Hanks and Associates, at $875. (Third coin down on the page- click to enlarge the pics). I am unfamiliar with the dealer, but the name slightly rings a bell. The coin, while not blast white, looks at least 95% white (enough for my purposes) and 100% original to me. I also like mintmarked coins, and this one, while still a common date, has a slightly lower mintage than the next coin...
Behind Curtain #2: a 1911, PCGS MS64, from David Lawrence, at $1,085. This dealer gets good word-of-mouth from folks on this forum, so at some of y'all's recommendation, I checked him out. The coin is blast white (got DL's "1" rating for whitest possible, in fact). The picture is a tad bright, but I'm sure the coin is as white as they claim. What concerns me a little is some apparent "chatter" in the field in front of Liberty's face. No screaming bargains here on the price (only $15 below PCGS trends), but it looks like a helluva coin with tons of eye appeal, and is probably worth the money. I just wonder if the eye appeal is worth the $210 more dollars than the coin in the first link. DL also accepts PayPal, which is a plus, as that account is where my funds are at the moment.
So: ladies and gentlemen in the studio audience- what do you think? Should I choose from behind Curtain #1, take what is behind Curtain #2, or keep on shopping? At this particular moment I am leaning slightly toward Curtain #1 as a better deal but am not totally sure. I welcome your input.
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Comments
Cameron Kiefer
#1 obv is UGLY
#2 rev is nice
#2 obv is nice
C. Id keep shopping
Re-elect Bush in 2004... Dont let the Socialists brainwash you.
Bush 2004
Jeb 2008
KK 2016
09/07/2006
Cameron Kiefer
Seriously coin #1 is a better overall buy and Larry Hanks is top flight so no problems there.
I think #1 may be a better deal, especially if NCS can "fix" it for you. If you're not satisfied with either, you may just want to keep your money. I've let myself get too excited and bought a few coins I should have passed on. These both look decent for the grade, though.
Obscurum per obscurius
Or maybe I'm not? Is this really a dream?
Thanks for the opinions. I'll listen to some more before I jump. I'm very eager, but need to wait another 10 days or so anyway, so that the 7-day return I offered the buyer on that $1,100 SLQ can be fulfilled. (That sale and the refund from Larry are the source of the funds in my PayPal account). I bought a No Motto Saint from keithdagen last night, and while there is plenty of moolah left, I need to cool my jets a bit and make a good choice on the Barber half, as it will be the biggest and most important of my upcoming purchases...
#1 obv needs it
Re-elect Bush in 2004... Dont let the Socialists brainwash you.
Bush 2004
Jeb 2008
KK 2016
Keith
Keith- I wouldn't worry much. With all the type sets seemingly in flux, there is no telling what will happen.
Thanks to your opinions stated above, and a PM or two, I am now leaning in favor of the David Lawrence 1911 coin, which I just noticed is on sale for 5% off. (Tempting, but I still am gonna wait a week or so, if I can curb my eagerness...)
PS- I see the 1915-D just got another vote, and somebody else noticed the chatter on the 1911. I guess I have a tough choice ahead of me, even if no other coins come into consideration in the near future.
09/07/2006
09/07/2006
Fat chance for me to wait a year. You wish!
This is a very hard question!
Both look like nice coins, very solid 64s. I have bought many coins from DL, and have never been disappointed with a five star coin. With that said, my vote is somewhat in favor of # 1. I am not sure why people dislike the obverse of #1 -- I think the toning is neutral, but it certainly doesn't look dipped out! The surfaces look nice, and it feels quite original. The DH coin is clearly nice also, with great luster and a very nice reverse. The marks in the obverse field bother me -- they are certainly consistent with the grade, but to me a little too in sync with the primary focal areas -- in the image at least they detract. Also, is that a fairly big hit on Miss Liberty's nose? It is possible that these do no detract as much when you see the actual coin. DL is a dealer of high integrity, and they don't try to doctor their images in any way -- coins I have purchased from them invariably look as nice, and sometimes nicer than the image.
By the way, if you ask DL very specific questions about eye appear, marks, strike, etc, you will get a frank and detailed answer. If you are torn between the coins, give them a call! (Or drop by, compared to Tokyo, you are just next door!)
I could go look at it if you like.I almost would bet it looks better in hand than the scan.Al
Higashiyama- compared to Tokyo, I think the moon is practically around the corner from me. At least, it looked pretty close last night.
In the meantime, this might sound a bit off-the-wall, but here's an alternate trade offer: If any of you have a comparable coin or can lay your hands on one, and you are located in the Southeast, I am possibly willing to swap my 1984 Ford E-150 conversion van for it. It would be a great work vehicle and I have driven it to 3 different coin shows (including the last FUN in Orlando)...a very comfy travelin' vehicle. Looks good, has low miles for an '84 (134K), runs strong, has two front swivel/reclining captains chairs in front (I sold the middle two to create a large cargo area in the middle), and has a rear set that folds into a bed. It has the normal roof profile, not a high top. 351-W engine with a recently rebuilt Holley 4-bbl carb, Kenwood Hi-Power AM/FM/CD player with a detachable face and 4 speakers, dual gas tanks with a 600-mile highway range, new battery, decent tires, aircraft-style interior lighting plus 2 flourescent tubes, etc. Has a long hairline crack across the top of the windshield about halfway across, but this does not leak or affect visibility. There is a missing chrome trim piece at the top outside the windshield that needs to be replaced, though. The van looks great and has been a reliable daily-driven vehicle for me for over 3 years. I just got a newer one and need to sell it. It has some nickel-and-dime issues consistent with an 18 year old vehicle, but overall is in decent shape. (Color is a conservative 2-tone brown and beige with pinstriping/ brown and tan interior-paint and upholstery are pretty good). There is a TV hookup in the back but I have never tried it. Also has a trailer hitch if you use it for a work vehicle. The cruise control and A/C need work.
Try finding a conversion van (even an old one) at a dealer in the $1,200-1,300 range! I can drive the van between Saint Augustine, FL and Charleston, SC to meet you if necessary- in the meantime, if you are interested, PM me.
PS- if I can ever figure out the digital camera we never use (I'm a scanner man), I'll snap some pics. If you could see them, I think you would be surprised at how sharp the van looks. I might do up a proper thread on the Buy/Sell/Trade forums later.
hold off as the barber fairy is planning on visiting soon
hey Ill ship you my babrbers and see if their worth slabbing...but I can deffinately say there isnt one over xf40
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
Those were some bodacious Brazilian coins you sent, among others.
Maybe you will get some nice grades for yourself out of those raw Barbers. Those halves are respectable in EF and up (for that matter, some are great in VF35 or any grade!)
Your half cent will hopefully be returning in a slab in the next week or two. I'll check in with Jim at the shop periodically.
anyhow I wanna slab some and Ill let you and Your guy decide where when and how. I have a few that might make po1 also I might wanna slab for someone here...
anyhow have a great easter Rob and everyone here also
bill
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
For the moment, Curtain #4 will remain closed until we see if I won it or not. I reckon my chances are around 40%.
Let's just say if it was good enough for Benson it's good enough for Lord Marcovan.
I hope I picked a winner. Might seem an obscene amount of money to some of you, but I am pleased. That reverse looks DCAM.
Is this a pop 1? I believe Heritage's database said so. I was also told that there are only 7 CAM coins graded for the series? Can that be right?
You can try to rain on my parade by pointing out that tiny bit of haze on the obverse, or the few faint hairlines- I saw 'em too- but they did not bother me. It is true that the reverse is superior to the obverse, both in surface quality and contrast, but that seems to be a Barber half thing, am I right?
So I went for a proof, and one point lower than I had been seeking in an MS coin. But I got a CAM and a pedigree (not that the pedigree counts for much, but it can't hurt).
It won't fit in my 1900-present set, but I am gonna retire that soon anyway. On to Complete Type.
Thanks to all for your help. In the end I used my own judgement, and time will tell on that, but all of your advice was educational. Education is never a waste.
The Barber half sure looks nice to me
Now you have finishied modern and all you have to do is......come back to classics!
09/07/2006
heheheh...just Kidding Bill...
no need to come down to west haven for a talk
HAPPY EASTER ONE AND ALL
BILL
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
EXCELLENT CHOICE
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
Happy Easter to you too.
09/07/2006
Great choice. I just bought one at the Baltimore show. I picked a date after 1900 so I could use it for both type sets. The photo of it looks nasty but the dark areas are irridescent blue when viewed at an angle. It's a PR67.
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My Other Hobby
09/07/2006
Billywls - I'll never catch up to you if you keep one upping me
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
Thank you for the kind words and the peek at that awesome PR67! I consider it high praise indeed if it comes from you. I saw lots of nice Barber halves with your pedigree when I was shopping the David Lawrence site. I will soon be one of your underlings on 1792-1964 Type.
CosmicBill: I have finished the 1900-Present set, or I will, as soon as I grab a WM Saint, probably this week. Some of the coins from my set have already been sold, but I am gonna hang on to the numbers just long enough to tally my final score. Then I will retire the 1900-Present set and let my buyers have the use of their cert numbers, LOL. Because that SLQ is gone, the coins will never have been all together in the same place at the same time, but I did own all of them within the span of a week or two, so I don't consider what I am doing to be unfair.
On to The Big Set!