Circulated Coins in Original Condition

ARCO

Just thought I would drop a line and see who out there loves the circulated coin with great eye appeal? Sure I love a beautiful Unc, but seems finding an original coin that has survived the rigors of circulation and has become beautifully toned in the process is much like a treasure hunt, more so if the coin is relatively scarce.

I wanted to share my partial VF-XF set of Barber Halves with a smattering of different denominations for any one who isn't put to sleep by these timeless beauties. I am sure Dave99 will agree how hard Midgrade Barbers are to find all original. Some of the coins perhaps aren't 100% original, but hell, lets see you put a perfect original Barber set together!

If you have a virtual set you would like to share please drop a link, as I have no life and would love to look at others treasures!


Take Care,
Tyler

Virtual coin collection

coynclecter

Tyler,
Those are some really nice coins! I'll bet they've been around and Liberty could probably tell some real stories. 50 Cents bought a lot back then. To me the coin and the history together make the collectable. Thanks you for sharing with us and welcome to the board.
Mark

hookooekoo

I understand what you are saying.

Some of the most beautiful coins are coins in VF to XF condition with that ground in dirt that shows off the details.

And as for moderns, I buy bags of the new State Quarters, and I must say that there are may time I have found a coin from the Coke machine that had alot more eye-appeal than many of the Mint State coins from the Mint.

lordmarcovan

Circulated Barber halves sound like a fun set. There is some numismatic author (forget who it is) that has done the set several times, and not in as high a grade as yours. Sounds kinda fun. Circulated coins have plenty of appeal, and are easier to grade. You can enjoy them without excessive magnification. (When somebody besides an error or die variety specialist decides he needs to use a microscope on his coins, I think there is someone in need of a new hobby).

I just deleted the pictures on all my Registry type sets to rework them. So no "virtual coin collections" here, just lists on the Registry. The new pics will take a while. Speaking of Barber halves, though, I do need to image my one-and-only type coin. My icon was taken from it long before I ever saw the coin in person. It is an 1898 PCGS PR63 CAM, Benson pedigree, with a near- DCAM reverse. Not circulated, but those are nice, too. I also have an 1894-O in G/AG that is the first and only Barber half I ever found with my metal detector.

If you are that bored and in need of further boredom, I have some stories and treasure hunting tales on my eBay page (link below).

PS- you have some nice stuff, there.

supercoin

This one is a coin any collector could appreciate. Nice!


[Edited to note: That's a link to one of ARCO's coins.]

lordmarcovan

That is a helluva nice Barber.

(I'm still seduced by the "flash" of my proof, though).

hookedoncoins

I have a beatiful merc that I bought for $0.15 that has toned nicely since I got it. It has very nice rainbow... however it is in fine condition. I always like to think... if only it had been uncirculated, but it pleases me fine. Its the only rainbow toned coin I own, and it only cost me 15 pennies.

-Jarrett Roberts

hookedoncoins

edit.

coynclecter

hookedoncoins

that 1902 is part of ARCO's virtual set. And you thought it was another of Supercoins six figure specials, didn't ya??

So anyone PM'd ARCO with an offer yet??

lordmarcovan

Hmm. You should make that your icon, Arco.

A crude attempt is attached below. Cosmicdebris or a number of others could do better, of course, but my shrinkage of your pic looks better than the icon you have now, if only because it's a bit bigger.

Arco, GA, is a small town just north of here. A wide spot in the road, really. Once my Dad picked up a stray tabby cat there, who had been hit by a car. She recovered, and naturally her name was "Arco" from then on. LOL.

Jarrett- I believe 15 cents is less than spot silver price. At that price, I wouldn't care if a Merc was worn slick and spray-painted with rainbow colors!

hookedoncoins

lol... thats why I edited... I thought I had caught myself before anybody saw it.

-Jarrett Roberts

hookedoncoins

LM... that cat story sounds a lot like what happened to my aunt... she found an abused dog while passing by in crockett, tx and she kept it, and named it crockett. She still has it, but she has to cage it up because it is mean (because of its passed abuse. There is even a cigar burn permantly embeded in the skin). Anyway... this has nothing to do with coins, so I'll stop rambling on.

-Jarrett Roberts

Blackhawk

I hear ya on this one! I just received a 1884-S Morgan in VF that is really nice. Like a previous poster said, the dirt and toning in the fields makes the detail look good. If you can find an original coin that's not scratched or rim damaged, you've got yourself a winner.

Geoff

And I was beginning to think that concentrating on circulated coins made me a minority!

Those are beautiful coins!

Thanks for sharing!

Geoff

newbiecollector

ARCO,

I am pretty new to collecting but please accpet my appreciation of your coins. Really nice and I envy (sp?) you.

I do truely like your selections.


D*ma I need to learn to spell and type....sorry about that!

UncleJoe

Another circulated coin collector here. Those are super coins. I really do like the look of a problem free circulated coin in all grades. Joe.

Spooly

I have a MS Lincoln Registry set, but to be honest I like my circulated Large Cents better. All my circulated Large Cents look different, all my high grade Lincolns look the same.

Problem free circulated classics get my vote!

ARCO

Thank you for setting up that Icon. I would very much like to use it, but am new to this site and am unfamiliar with how to edit my page to add it. I went to customize, but do not see any way to replace my icon, and add the nice one you have created.

any suggestions

Tyler Child

goldnuggets

What collector does not appreciate a nice original circulated piece and the history it contains (who knows who might have handled it 100+ years ago!! This picture is of an 1817/3 that is in the original old holder from the 1940's where it was atribbbuted to Hazeltin (probably spelled wrong) using an old style fountain pen by an old variety collector. It has beautiful blue and gold toning with a touch of violet (much brighter then the scan shows), the yellow and red are reflection from the way the holder is shaped they are not on the coin. It is an early die state with plenty of die rust lumps visible and sharp detail in all areas for the this normaly softly struck variety.

supercoin

I hear those 1940's flips were strictly graded, might be a tear-out candidate. Neat coin, now that's an overdate!

ARCO, right-click the icon and save it to your hard drive. Then go to your "Profile" and at the bottom there's a place to upload a custom icon from your hard drive.

______________

ARCO

Supercoin - thank you very much. Now that is much better! Just found this message room 3 days ago, and I really love it!

Tyler

supercoin

You're welcome -- now that you no longer need the actual coin, please send it to the address on my web site. Thanks.

ARCO

LOLOL Guess now I'm obligated to!!

Tyler

shirohniichan

Some of my favorite coins are in the VF to XF range. Since I collect chopmarked trade dollars, they are circulated by definition (even if they don't show wear). I think bust halves and seated coins in those grades can be a steal.

Dave99B

Hey Tyler -

WOW....let me say that again.........WWOOWW.

Eye candy, if I've ever seen it.

Thanks for sharing your set with us. Nice original examples, my man. Keep up the great work. So how long have you been collecting these gems?

I often go to large regional shows looking for original Barber material and come away completely empty handed. It's frustrating to say the least. Now I now why ---- you've cornered the damn market. As I'm sure you know, it's a heavily cleaned/doctored series. But you've managed to put some real nice pieces together - contrats. I know what a challenge you're facing.

I've been working on the half dollar set myself, in VF/XF, for about two years, and have only been able to locate 10 or 12 dates so far (all fairly common). I've been working on the quarters for 15 years (also VF) and am down to the 01-S and 13-S. I don't want to even think about the $$$ I've poured into that set.

Hey, I see you have a couple 14-P halves. Sell me one! Seriously, if you ever want to unload any, let me know. I'm a STRONG buyer of all Barber material.

Take care -
Dave

pmh1nic

Arco

Nice group of coins. It serves to show that there is something to appreciate and enjoy in the whole range from VF ~ MS (o.k. Braddick we'll include problem free PO1 ~ F also ).

shylock

Beautiful set of meticulously picked coins Arco, and equally nice imaging. It's obvious to all who browse through your collection the time & effort it must have taken to find these. Well done, and thanks for sharing them.

ARCO

Dave - Believe me I've shared your pain. Many of my key dates came from an old time collector who recently passed away (both 1914's came from him) He had amassed over $120,000 in barbers alone. His friend was selling them on Ebay, with buy it nows. Guess who was the first to see them? I struck up a friendship with him and he gave me first dibs before every Ebay auction, I was in Barber Heaven.

After a few months, he was contacted by a barber hoarder on the west coast who bought the whole lot of remaining Halves, quarters and dimes (over $100,000 worth). The material he was selling at first was just some loose stuff and not even part of his serious core set. I was in serious depression for a month!!

Before he was contacted by the west coast collector, he sent me a scan of 6 XF 1897-S quarters and asked me to take my pick of any or all, including a XF45 with a centered mintmark (that's an R7 coin according to Dave Lawrence). They were not cheap and since I didn't collect quarters I was a bit apprehensive, and none were 100% original. So I passed on all 6!! DAMMMMM, please just shoot me now!

Anyway, Many of those coins I picked up on Ebay. the VF30 92-S; the VF20 97-S; the VF20 1901-O, Both 1905-O's; and the 1904-S XF were all Ebay buys over the last 2 and half years.

Didn't you see this beautiful 1914 in VF35 that went for a measly $280.00?

1914 VF35

mrfred

Great thread!! I recently bought a whole slew of Barber halves in circulated condition, some in this range and many a bit lower. I really like that set of coins, and because they are circulated I am getting interested in the whole Barber half series -- I think it ages very nicely.

mrfred

P.S. I'd post a scan of my best circ Barber, but my scanner is down and out and the new one (HP 4470 w/ slide attachment, about $160 at Circuit City) has not arrived yet!

Dave99B

Tyler -

Great story. A Barber hoard? You are one lucky man. I only seem to come across "Estate Hoards" containing mainly 1958 wheat cents.

Ya, I completely missed that 14-P on eBay, which is odd, since I spends 10 to 20 hrs a week watching for nicer material. In my opinion, $280 is a very fair price, if it's a real VF, and is as original as it looks.

I've picked up a few nice ones on eBay myself, but what I've noticed is there are three or four other guys who are also chasing Barbers hard, and I mean VERY HARD (especially halves), and they will often drive up the price on tougher dates to 2 times Greysheet (or higher), right at the end of the auction. We're talking hardball! I've missed out on several that way.

I recall once putting in a max bid of $400 on an original 04-S half (VF), some $200 over the current bid, and then went on a weeks vacation. When I got back, I checked the auction (expecting to have won), and the dang thing went for almost $600 bucks. Man, guess ya gotta "Pay to play".

I keep thinking to myself "What is wrong with these guys, why aren't they collecting Morgan Dollars, or something dull like that!".

Dave

ARCO

Dave - yep it was a real barber hoard. I never thought they existed, as Barbers are soooo difficult to find. He had been at it for over 30 years and had been scouring the east coast shows for as long filling up. Of course the West coast collector has been at it for just as long, and had 40 complete barber half sets not including the $100,000 in barbers he recently bought. Barbers are out there, just not for sale!!

I agree with the Ebay competition, it can be downright depressing. My first year, I was king snipe and was as vicious as they come. I have since mellowed majorly. Seems that any coin I have overpaid in fierce auction, has been dissappointing. and maybe it is a bit of Karma or fate, but oddly my best purchases have been scarcely contested (both my 1905-O's had nary a second bidder). It almost seems like you are destined for certain coins and they come to you when they are ready. Seriously

I really wish all those other lame bidders would go to morgans, and me and you could divide up the Barbers!!! LOLOL

Dave99B

Here's some more SERIOUS bidding action on tougher mid-grade Barbers:

1904-S F Barber Half (Greysheet $110)

1902-S VF Barber Half (Greysheet $75)

Dave

JimD

Great thread ARCO. My contribution is an 1823 XF Bust Half. While I have a number in higher grades, this one just seems to stand out.
1823 Cap Bust Half

MrLee

Hey ARCO;

FYI

I was just checking out your Virtual Coin Collection and when I went into the Parent Directory.................well I'm just glad my daughter wasn't standing close by. Is there anyway you can block that? I would PM or email you but you have it turned off.

Thx

supercoin

Oh my, so that's why it's called a "parent" directory. Reason #157 to enable private messages.

Censored and iconized as a public service:

______________

ARCO

Mr Lee. My deepest apologies. I considered "warning' People, but thought that would only cause more people to go to the porn site. I put in the link, knowing that it would bring up my site and leave out the other. Again I am sorry.

I am working to change my host. My brother lives in Las Vegas and has become very proficient at exploiting the Internets biggest money-making service (internet Porn). He hosts it all for free, and since I am still unexperienced with hosting, I temporarily have it there.

I have many of my coins in a Yahoo Coin group called Barber-Halves most of the same coins are listed without the hassle (or pleasure) of the adult material.

Tyler

Yahoo coin photos

MrLee

No apologies necessary. I'm just not sure about the others. It takes more then that to offend me. I could use a site like that (without the PD )for my stuff. Just can't afford it right now.

You could do us a favor though and turn on your PM. It helps sometimes.

Thanks. Lee

PS. You're right about the warning. It's like wave a red flag.

ARCO

PM? a parental control? Can you please explain?

Thanks,
Tyler

shylock

LOL Supercoin. At first I thought that was one of Braddick's Ikes.

supercoin

PM = Private Messages, in your user profile on this forum.

Tell your brother to lose the multiple pop-up windows and maybe we'll forgive him.

If you put a text file named "index.htm" in that directory it should display that instead of the file listing, and you can put links to the photos or whatever in the index.htm file.

In the meantime, you can edit your first message to use this link instead:

ARCO's 100% Porn-Free Coins -- All Busts Draped

MrLee

Go to the top of the thread, between Customize and Search, you'll see profile. Click on it and then you can turn on the ability for others to email you (among other things). You should see the "glasses" icon appear on the right of your messages. After that, we can pester the heck out of you in private. Just kidding

Nice Naval Supercoin. You get off ARCO's web site?

supercoin

You get off ARCO's web site?

You know, I don't think I'm going to touch that one.

ARCO

LOLOL. Just a second I have to wipe this tear of laughter off my cheek!

Thanks for the help on that, just give me a few hours to absorb that dadburn, newfangled computer lingo.

Tyler

Darkhorse

I've always had this thread in mind. Here's a nice circulated coin I bought today:

sliderider

Somehow toned coins without full detail and luster don't really appeal to me. A nice AU-58 can sometimes look good, but below that they start to get ugly.

majorbigtime

<< <i> A nice AU-58 can sometimes look good, but below that they start to get ugly. >>



Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Original circulated coins tell a story, and are the only affordable option for many early and rare date coins! I'll take a mid-grade flowing hair anything over most MS66 Morgans.

majorbigtime

<< <i>

<< <i> I'll take a mid-grade flowing hair anything over most MS66 Morgans. >>




See what I mean (cropped from anther post):


>>

islemangu

circulated barber coinage rocks!! Arco for President