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~*~*~ Lord Marcovan's Barber Halves (collection retired 9/1/11) ~*~*~

lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
UPDATE, 9/1/11: I had some hefty bills after a minor surgery which was only partially covered by insurance, so I did some soul-searching over what to sell. This collection ended up on the block. I am proud to say that it sold as a set, within about 24 hours. That tells me I did my work well, and assembled a desirable collection in just ten months. I didn't finish it, but I did make good headway and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Learned a little, too. I'll leave the images up, for posterity. Obviously the "WANTED" tags no longer apply now.




This raw VG-F Barber half collection in a Dansco #7150 album was begun around Christmas of 2010. My minimum grade for this set is Very Good (VG8), with at least a letter or two in "LIBERTY" visible. When I can, I will also try to get as close to Fine (F12) condition (with a full "LIBERTY" on the headband) as possible, without actually paying the premium for F12 coins.

Another goal is to limit myself to original grey or grey-brown coins. I'm after coins with "The Look". It's hard to explain exactly what "The Look" is, but you collectors of circulated Barber coinage will know what I mean by that. It's sort of like what I refer to as "Circulation Cameo" (CircCam) coins, with darker fields and lighter devices, but these aren't always true CircCams. Let's just say it's the wholesome look of a coin that did plenty of time in circulation, but was otherwise not messed with too much. Not all of my coins below have "The Look", but this is a work in progress.

One added bonus besides the relative affordability of VG coins is that circulated silver like this actually comes out OK on my scanner, so I don't have the photography woes my substandard camera skills usually cause. All of these images were done on a scanner, though in a few cases I'll also post the original seller's photos.

The numbers in the first set of parentheses after each coin are the 2011 Red Book dollar values for G4, VG8, and F12 grades, respectively.

For slightly more up to date values, here are the Numismedia FMV trends for Barber half dollars.

And, with a tip o' the hat to our sponsors, here are the PCGS/Photograde benchmark pictures for Barber halves. (The PCGS price guide isn't very relevant to my particular collection since it skips the VG grade entirely and I collect raw coins anyway).




Photobucket album & slideshow



PAGE 1

image1892-P
Mintage 934,000. (27-40-70).

image1892-O
Mintage 390,000. (300-380-450).

image1892-S
Mintage 1,029,028. (225-325-400).

image1893-P
Mintage 1,826,000. (20-30-75). "L....TY" shows. Ex-"Collectorcoins" (CU).

image1893-O
Mintage 1,389,000. (35-60-120).

image1893-S
Mintage 740,000. (155-200-275).

image1894-P
Mintage 1,148,000. (30-50-110).

image1894-O
Mintage 2,138,000. (25-35-90).

image1894-S
Mintage 4,048,690. (18-25-70). ".....TY" shows. Ex-"thecoinlook" (CU).

image1895-P
Mintage 1,834,338. (18-25-70).
image1895-O
Mintage 1,766,000. (25-35-120).

image1895-S
Mintage 1,108,086. (30-55-140).

image1896-P
Mintage 950,000. (20-25-90).

image1896-O
Mintage 924,000. (45-60-180).

image1896-S
Mintage 1,140,948. (90-140-200). Full "LIBERTY" shows but "..BER.." is soft. Ex-"dogwood" (CU).

image1897-P
Mintage 2,480,000. (13-14-45).

image1897-O
Mintage 632,000. (160-230-475).

image1897-S
Mintage 933,900. (150-220-350).

image1898-P
Mintage 2,956,000. (12-15-38). "L....TY" shows. Ex-"thecoinlook" (CU).

image1898-O
Mintage 874,000. (35-70-220).


PAGE 2

image1898-S
Mintage 2,358,000. (28-45-80).

image1899-P
Mintage 5,538,000. (14-19-35). "LI...TY" shows. Ex-"Ajia" (CU).

image1899-O
Mintage 1,724,000. (24-35-75).

image1899-S
Mintage 1,686,411. (24-40-80).

image1900-P
Mintage 4,762,000. (13-16-38). "LI...TY" shows. Ex-"Collectorcoins" (CU).

image1900-O
Mintage 2,744,000. (16-25-55).

image1900-S
Mintage 2,560,322. (15-19-45).

image1901-P
Mintage 4,268,000. (13-16-38). "LI...TY" shows, with "..BER.." partial. Ex-"guitarwes" (CU).

image1901-O
Mintage 1,124,000. (16-25-75).

image1901-S
Mintage 847,044. (32-55-165). I had a decent 1901-S but it wasn't quite "crusty" enough to match the others, so I sold it.*

image1902-P
Mintage 4,922,000. (12-14-30). "LI...TY" shows, with "..BER.." partial. Ex-"Collectorcoins" (CU).

image1902-O
Mintage 2,526,000. (14-18-55). "L....TY" shows. Ex-"thecoinlook" (CU).

image1902-S
Mintage 1,460,670. (16-25-60). "LI...TY" shows, with "..BER.." partial. Ex-"Ajia" (CU).

image1903-P
Mintage 2,278,000. (12-14-30).

image1903-O
Mintage 2,100,000. (14-18-55).

image1903-S
Mintage 1,920,772. (15-18-58). "Y" shows, with "L" and "T" partial. Ex-"guitarwes" (CU).

image1904-P
Mintage 2,992,000. (13-14-35).

image1904-O
Mintage 1,117,600. (20-30-80).

image1904-S
Mintage 553,038. (38-70-250).

image1905-P
Mintage 662,000. (24-28-85).


PAGE 3

image1905-O
Mintage 505,000. (30-45-115).

image1905-S
Mintage 2,494,000. (15-18-50). "LI...TY" shows, with "..BER.." partial. Ex-"Ajia" (CU).

image1906-P
Mintage 2,638,000. (12-14-30). "LI...TY" shows, with "B" and "R" partial. Ex-"Collectorcoins" (CU).

image1906-D
Mintage 4,028,000. (12-14-35).

image1906-O
Mintage 2,446,000. (12-14-40).

image1906-S
Mintage 1,740,154. (12-16-55).

image1907-P
Mintage 2,598,000. (12-14-30). Full "LIBERTY" shows, but "BER" is weak. Ex-"thecoinlook" (CU).

image1907-D
Mintage 3,856,000. (12-14-35). "LI...TY" shows, with "R" partial. Ex-"Ajia" (CU).

image1907-O
Mintage 3,946,600. (12-14-35). "LI...TY" shows, with "R" partial. Ex-"guitarwes" (CU).

image1907-S
Mintage 1,250,000. (16-25-80). "L....TY" shows, with "I" partial. Ex-"thecoinlook" (CU).

image1908-P
Mintage 1,354,000. (12-14-30).

image1908-D
Mintage 3,280,000. (12-14-30). "LI...TY" shows, with "ER" partial. Ex-"Collectorcoins" (CU).

image1908-O
Mintage 5,360,000. (12-14-30). "LI...TY" shows. Ex-"thecoinlook" (CU).

image1908-S
Mintage 1,644,828. (16-25-70).

image1909-P
Mintage 2,368,000. (12-14-30). Full "LIBERTY" shows but "R" is a bit soft at the bottom. Ex-"Filamcoins" (CU). Sold to "guitarwes", later repurchased.

image1909-O
Mintage 925,400. (17-22-55). "LI...TY" shows, with "R" partial. Ex-"robkool" (CU).

image1909-S
Mintage 1,764,000. (12-14-38). Full "LIBERTY" shows, but "BER" is weak. Ex-"SurfinxHI" (CU).

image1910-P
Mintage 418,000. (20-28-85). "LI...TY" shows, with "R" partial. Ex-"Collectorcoins" (CU).

image1910-S
Mintage 1,948,000. (14-18-35). "LI...TY" shows, with "BER" partial. Ex-"mightyhunter" (CU).

image1911-P
Mintage 1,406,000. (12-14-30). "LI...TY" shows. Ex-"emaustreasures" (eBay).


PAGE 4

image1911-D
Mintage 695,080. (12-17-40). "LI...TY" shows, with "ER" partial. Ex-"Ajia" (CU).

image1911-S
Mintage 1,272,000. (12-16-40). "LI....Y" shows, with "T" partial. Purchased in an ANACS VG8 slab. Ex-"allegri" (CU).

image1912-P
Mintage 1,550,000. (12-14-30). "LI...TY" shows. Ex-"Collectorcoins" (CU).

image1912-D
Mintage 2,300,800. (12-14-30). "LI...TY" shows, with "BER" partial. Ex-"guitarwes" (CU).

image1912-S
Mintage 1,370,000. (12-14-30). Full "LIBERTY" shows. Ex-"guitarwes" (CU).

image1913-P
Mintage 188,000. (80-95-220). "L" shows. Ex-"Collectorcoins" (CU).

image1913-D
Mintage 534,000. (12-15-40). "L....TY" shows, with "I" partial. Ex-"dmpl70" (eBay).

image1913-S
Mintage 604,000. (18-25-50). "LI....Y" shows. Ex-"lcmud" (eBay).

image1914-P
Mintage 124,230. (160-180-320). "LI...TY" shows, with "BER" partial. Ex-"SullyFan" (CU, aka "sage5" on eBay).*

image1914-S
Mintage 992,000. (15-18-40). "LI...TY" shows, with "BER" partial. Ex-"Collectorcoins" (CU).

image1915-P
Mintage 138,000. (120-170-300). "LI...TY" shows. Ex-"29957blue" (eBay).

image1915-D
Mintage 1,170,400. (12-14-30). "LI...TY" shows, with "BER" partial. Ex-"thecoinlook" (CU).

image1915-S
Mintage 1,604,000. (12-14-30). "LI...TY" shows. Ex-"guitarwes" (CU).




Master index of my collections, treasure hunting tales, and other stuff.






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Comments

  • GRANDAMGRANDAM Posts: 8,353 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A nice matched eyeappealing set image

    GrandAm image
    GrandAm :)
  • BBNBBN Posts: 3,761 ✭✭✭
    I'm starting to do what you are except with the quarters. I'm starting to fall for raw circulated coins. Shooting for very high grades and paying a big price began to take the simple enjoyment out of it. Circulated cameo was the word I was looking for in the toning thread. I love that look.

    Positive BST Transactions (buyers and sellers): wondercoin, blu62vette, BAJJERFAN, privatecoin, blu62vette, AlanLastufka, privatecoin

    #1 1951 Bowman Los Angeles Rams Team Set
    #2 1980 Topps Los Angeles Rams Team Set
    #8 (and climbing) 1972 Topps Los Angeles Rams Team Set
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Since I try to keep a $500/coin ceiling (at the very most) for most if not all of my collections, I'd never be able to complete a Barber quarter set.

    The 1896-S, 1901-S, and 1913-S keys in that set would be real "stoppers" for a person of my means.

    I like that the halves are theoretically "doable" for me in these grades. Granted, there will be challenges along the way, but as of this posting I've got the three late keys (1913, 1914, and 1915-P), and a couple of better date pieces like the 1896-O and 1896-S out of the way.

    Plus, the halves are bigger. That means not only more bullion, but less eye strain for me- I'll soon be having to wear glasses all the time instead of just readers- middle age is taking its toll. I can't read the date on a dime anymore without glasses, and it's getting tougher to see even bigger coins than that. But with half dollars, I can still read the dates and see the mintmarks with my naked eyes.

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice set LordM.... and still a lot left to acquire even without the 'super' coins. I like the circam look as well. Cheers, RickO
  • smallchangesmallchange Posts: 192 ✭✭✭
    Beautiful set there Lord M. i am also amazed by your computer skills. It takes me awhile to figure out how to get one picture linked let alone how you have presented your collection here.

    Jim
    Successful BST transactions with lkenefic, AnkurJ, ajia, stephunter, No lawyer
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭
    Very attractive matched set... it's too bad you weren't able to complete this set. What a wonderful giveaway... thank you for the opportunity to win this set. We promise to love it and to feed it too! image
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Beautiful set there Lord M. i am also amazed by your computer skills. It takes me awhile to figure out how to get one picture linked let alone how you have presented your collection here.

    Jim >>



    To be sure, that was time-consuming and I've been drafting this list over the last week or so on the Testing forum. Got a little downtime at work last night so I finished it up at last.

    I think it will be worth the time invested, though. Practically everything I need for my own reference purposes is right here in this thread, so I can keep this open in one window while I cruise eBay or BST or elsewhere in the other. I started using this format with my old Roman coin collection a few years ago.

    After it sinks, I can periodically bump it TTT as I add newps.

    Thank y'all for the compliments.

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  • FlatwoodsFlatwoods Posts: 4,122 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice looking set. That's a great way to enjoy the hobby.
  • pontiacinfpontiacinf Posts: 8,915 ✭✭
    Nice presentation Rob, if I can find any for you I will give ya a shout.

    thing that bothers me is you cannot be doing much MD'in if you have the time to do these
    elaborate thread presentations-did you hang up your Garrett?
    image

    Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
  • MrSpudMrSpud Posts: 4,498 ✭✭✭
    Very nice! I'm very slowly working on the exact same set with the same criteria.
  • USMoneyloverUSMoneylover Posts: 1,672 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Very attractive matched set... it's too bad you weren't able to complete this set. What a wonderful giveaway... thank you for the opportunity to win this set. We promise to love it and to feed it too! image >>




    I'll guess :#42 on 4/25/2011

    image

    On a serious note: Great looking set you have there, I bet it will look great when all the holes are filled.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Finest Coins and Relics
  • joecopperjoecopper Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭
    Lord - great work and presentation. Frankly, it is what coin collecting is really about. Nice coins with cahracter.


  • Pretty cool, it looks like there may be a couple of tough ones in there, though.

    I wouldn't mind trying that with a set of IHCs.
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭
    Oh Lord it's hard to be humble, when your Barber collection is perfect in every way! image
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • scherscher Posts: 924
    What a great looking set, love the look..honest wear...
    am doing something similar with commems..
    and now considerring that barber set..looks like a real challenge!
    Wonder if a seated set this way would be doable..
    Bruce Scher
  • InYHWHWeTrustInYHWHWeTrust Posts: 1,448 ✭✭✭
    Rob,

    Thanks for taking the time to scan and post! We've had enough PMs onthe subject --and you are definitely sticking to your guns with an AWESOME set going! To see collections like this gladden my heart and remind me what I love about coin collecting (and you happen to pick my favorite series, too).

    You certainly have knocked out some tough dates already. My favorite lookers are the 15s, 12s, 09o and 96s, just to mention a few. You and Tydye have posted 15s coins in the past few weeks that I looked YEARS for and never found one as nice. FWIW, I think your 09s is inverted S. Keep updating and TTT when you add some!

    Don
    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.
  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,086 ✭✭✭✭✭
    BT,DT image

    That's just like the set I finished last year. It took me about three years to put together a raw Barber Half set. I think the most I spent for one coin was around $300 or so.

    I agree with you Lord M about "The Look". That's exactly what I went for with my Barbers.

    Good Luck with the hunt! image

    Steve
  • rooksmithrooksmith Posts: 972 ✭✭✭✭
    Marcovan is LORD!!
    “When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.” - Tommy Smothers
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I wouldn't mind trying that with a set of IHCs. >>

    I've had the same thought, actually. IHCs are one of the few examples of a date-and-mint collection I've attempted (and completed) in the past.

    Primarily my background has always been in type collecting, so building a well-matched date-and-mint set is actually a little bit alien to me. It's got its own set of challenges. I must admit that at least initially I found my enthusiasm flagging a little at the "monotony" involved in buying a lot of coins that look almost exactly alike. But viewed in the context of a challenge, it starts to look a bit more interesting. And it helps that I finally got this thread assembled and launched.



    << <i>Oh Lord it's hard to be humble, when your Barber collection is perfect in every way! >>

    Thank you for that- high praise indeed- but it's far from "perfect" (or even complete, as of right now). I promise I won't start putting on airs until I've got at least an XF-AU or MS set. image (Which will never happen on my budget).

    For my fellow lower- to intermediate-budget "trinket buyers", I seek to prove that there are still plenty of opportunities out there to build a respectable "everyman" collection of classic coins.



    << <i>What a great looking set, love the look..honest wear...
    am doing something similar with commems..
    and now considerring that barber set..looks like a real challenge!
    Wonder if a seated set this way would be doable..
    Bruce Scher >>

    This is indeed a challenge, but I think I can do it in 2-4 years. Seated? Sounds like fun, but that's not completable for a peasant like myself. All four Seated denominations contain at least a few real "stoppers". Again, I try to pick a collection that can be completed without having to exceed $500 on any particular coin. In the classics, such series are getting fewer and fewer, as the key dates climb in value. Indian cents used to be one of those sets that could be done with those criteria, but now the 1877 and 1909-S Indians have risen above the $500 threshold, even in G4. A Liberty nickel set in G4 can just about be done without spending $500+ on anything, but who wants to collect those in G4, and the 1885 Liberty nickel is now $550 in G4 in the Red Book.

    Come to think of it, these VG Barber halves might be the final frontier of 19th century coins that are collectable as a set for under $500/coin.



    << <i>Rob,

    Thanks for taking the time to scan and post! We've had enough PMs onthe subject --and you are definitely sticking to your guns with an AWESOME set going! To see collections like this gladden my heart and remind me what I love about coin collecting (and you happen to pick my favorite series, too).

    You certainly have knocked out some tough dates already. My favorite lookers are the 15s, 12s, 09o and 96s, just to mention a few. You and Tydye have posted 15s coins in the past few weeks that I looked YEARS for and never found one as nice. FWIW, I think your 09s is inverted S. Keep updating and TTT when you add some!

    Don >>

    Don- I'm really glad you came along, as yours is an opinion that matters to me. (Well, everybody's opinion matters to me, to some extent, but you knowhutimean.) I can tell that you took the time to look at each of my coins individually, and I thank you for that attention. You mention Tydye- he and I have never swapped Barbers, but he is one of my absolute favorite people to buy Seated coins from, as he's a fellow "trinket buyer" and CircCam enthusiast. I thought that '15-S looked mighty nice, myself- it's easily my favorite among the commons in this set.

    An inverted "S" variety for the 1909-S? I was unaware of it, since Redbook doesn't list it and I haven't really opened the Breen encyclopedia since I started these. Interesting. I'll have to get out my album and a loupe.



    << <i>Marcovan is LORD!! >>

    Haha. Not really. Just a simple peasant masquerading as a lord, and sometimes the mask slips a bit. image

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  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Howdy, y'all. I've been dormant a while. Thought I'd update this. Sadly, I updated it to remove a coin, since the nice 1896-O I won on eBay (PCGS slabbed, for a nice price) went missing in the mail. I got my money back, but I'm still disappointed there.

    Haven't done anything with this collection since the spring, though.

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  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    TTT for August- finally updated.

    I added seven common-date pieces back in March, which I've just got 'round to imaging: 1894-S, 1898-P, 1902-O, 1907-P, 1907-S, 1908-O, and 1915-D. I also upgraded the 1912-S the other day.

    I guess it won't be long before the climb gets steeper and more challenging, eh?

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  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here's a bump fer old time's sake, since I'm breaking up this collection, now.

    It was fun and educational, but I need the money, I'm afraid. Maybe I'll pick up the 7070 again before long. I always was more of a type collector than a date-and-mint fella, like this. But I enjoyed these.

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