My local coin shop had some recently acquired Barber Half rolls (formed a long time ago). You would never guess what I was able to cherrypick out of those rolls yesterday:
1896-O Barber Half (less than G4 raw)
1896-S Barber Half (less than G4 raw)
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
A year ago, I did a toughness analysis for Everyman Barber Half Dollars. Here is approximately the Top 20 Toughest Barber Half Dollars data:
The lower the number the tougher the coin.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
The 1914 Barber Half has the lowest mintage of the series, but many XF to Au pieces exist. It's likely that the series end in 1915 incented people to save the nicer ones they came across Barber Halves were replaced. Here's my 1914, found raw 10 years ago:
@JeffMTampa As Jeff knows, I have only more recently been collecting Barber Halves (a few every so often) as I get to the end of my quarter pursuits. The '14-P is one I actually have:
EDIT: This is what StacksBowers said about this coin in March 2023: "Handsomely original surfaces exhibit gently mottled overtones of reddish-russet to a base of antique silver-gray. Sharply defined with a smooth, satiny texture. This is a challenging issue to collect in all grades save for the very lowest, as the mintage is a mere 124,230 circulation strikes, and few were spared the rigors of heavy commercial use. Provenance: From the Abigail Collection"
T
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
@sedulous said: @JeffMTampa As Jeff knows, I have only more recently been collecting Barber Halves (a few every so often) as I get to the end of my quarter pursuits. The '14-P is one I actually have:
EDIT: This is what StacksBowers said about this coin in March 2023: "Handsomely original surfaces exhibit gently mottled overtones of reddish-russet to a base of antique silver-gray. Sharply defined with a smooth, satiny texture. This is a challenging issue to collect in all grades save for the very lowest, as the mintage is a mere 124,230 circulation strikes, and few were spared the rigors of heavy commercial use. Provenance: From the Abigail Collection"
T
Tim, the 14P is spectacular ; takes it's place alongside the 97S. Are you building an AU58 set ?
@Barberian Nice color on the '10-S Half! it does have the more common slight-right-of-center mintmark placement.
@stevefromne Hi Steve, good question. There are a number of great Everyman Barber Half sets out there already (including yours). I don't know if that sort of pursuit would be something of a successful reality when there are so few specimens available to collect (if I were to pursue 58's). I love the design and value of a 58 over unc... and I do have 50's to 55's that I am happy with. Overall, I am happy and content with what I have been able to find to date. Thank you all for your kind words related to the key or important pieces I have been able to glean out of the numismatic circuit thus far. I appreciate the mentoring received from @JeffMTampa as well.
My concentration and energy is currently with BCCS Varieties and building more knowledge around Barber collecting in general. I care about advancing our Barber community and their people who collect, like all of you. I will be at the CSNS BCCS table (May), WFoM in August, and FUN come January 2025.
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
@sedulous said:
My re-imaged 1903 Philadelphia quarter. I like it...
Sourced from @paesan January 2021.
It is getting harder to find nice coins like this:
@sedulous said:
A year ago, I did a toughness analysis for Everyman Barber Half Dollars. Here is approximately the Top 20 Toughest Barber Half Dollars data:
The lower the number the tougher the coin.
Thanks for posting this. This is a nice, quick reference guide to the harder dates.
@JeffMTampa said:
A new pickup arrived in the mail today- a 1900 S Barber Quarter. This coin features a Type I OBV paired with a Type III REV, This hub combination is quite scarce. I've found a few lower grade examples, but prior to this acquisition my set had an AU Details coin in this slot. Now it's an AU 58!
Thanks Tim for finding this coin for me!
Still mesmerized by this Type I/III Jeff. It is just as rare in this configuration as the following year issue yet no attention was put on the 1900-S I / III 25c. We are only recently rediscovering these characteristics along with Charles Rose, et.al. Not many people understand the importance of this find Jeff!
Amazing, amazing coin!
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
@sedulous said:
A year ago, I did a toughness analysis for Everyman Barber Half Dollars. Here is approximately the Top 20 Toughest Barber Half Dollars data:
The lower the number the tougher the coin.
I don't see the 1893-S, 1892-S, and 1892-O for that matter.
@sedulous said:
A year ago, I did a toughness analysis for Everyman Barber Half Dollars. Here is approximately the Top 20 Toughest Barber Half Dollars data:
The lower the number the tougher the coin.
I don't see the 1893-S, 1892-S, and 1892-O for that matter.
Looking at PCGS-graded
SUM of XF45,AU50,AU53,AU55,AU58
1892-O has 223 grading events
1892-S has 145 grading events
1893-S has 101 grading events
SUM of XF45 Only
1892-O has 39 grading events
1892-S has 39 grading events
1893-S has 22 grading events
SUM of AU50 Only
1892-O has 28 grading events
1892-S has 19 grading events
1893-S has 14 grading events
SUM of AU53 Only
1892-O has 32 grading events
1892-S has 17 grading events
1893-S has 14 grading events
SUM of AU55 Only
1892-O has 55 grading events
1892-S has 27 grading events
1893-S has 24 grading events
SUM of AU58 Only
1892-O has 68 grading events
1892-S has 42 grading events
1893-S has 26 grading events
Each of these is much more than the "Top-20" dates. Of course, this analysis limits NGC, ANACS, etc. It is directional, however and gives an estimate of toughness. I am challenging traditional knowledge with this data, I know. The 1892-O, 1892-S, and 1893-S seems less tough than other dates.
Tim
EDIT: Considering Everyman XF to AU.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
@sedulous said:
My re-imaged 1903 Philadelphia quarter. I like it...
Sourced from @paesan January 2021.
It is getting harder to find nice coins like this:
1903-P Barber Quarter PCGS XF45
Nice. The scarcest "P" mint Barber Quarter
As a younger collector, the 2nd Barber Quarter I ever collected was a 1903-P in F12. The first one was an 1898-P in F12.
This coin, mentioned by @ Disney
Fancame from @paesan Lenny in January 2021:
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
@sedulous said:
My re-imaged 1903 Philadelphia quarter. I like it...
Sourced from @paesan January 2021.
It is getting harder to find nice coins like this:
1903-P Barber Quarter PCGS XF45
Nice. The scarcest "P" mint Barber Quarter
As a younger collector, the 2nd Barber Quarter I ever collected was a 1903-P in F12. The first one was an 1898-P in F12.
It was my father's birth year so I'm always on the lookout for 1903s. I had to get this one.
Bumping this thread to the top in Mike's honor, with one of his former coins in his favorite grade and favorite toning style.
Not only is a beautiful coin, but it’s also the rare Type I OBV paired with the Type III REV. There are very few of those left in collectible condition. Thanks for posting it!
Here is a newp that arrived today. The reason for obtaining it is for the possibility it is the first "non"-RPM I have ever encountered of a 1907-S Barber Quarter. I want to reserve judgement until @JeffMTampa Jeff gets a more microscopic look at the mintmark with his extreme macro set-up.
1907-S Barber Quarter ANACS VF35
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Edited because my initial comment was on an auction currently in progress, but on second thought I think it's best to wait till all the bids are in and auction is over.
A 1916-P in PCGS (in the grade of VF30) just sold for over $590 after BP considered on GC tonight! Wow, that is way over CoinFacts value estimate. POP in that grade is 6. It made me think about re-imaging my 1916-P in VF - so I did that. If I sent this coin to PCGS, think I could get a VF30 grade?
1916-P Barber Quarter in VF
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
I noticed that 1916-P when it was bid up to $100. A real head scratcher, for sure. No way I expected it to end up anywhere near $600. Goofy. Maybe just a case of three bidders in a battle to the death?
Dave
Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
@Dave99B said:
I noticed that 1916-P when it was bid up to $100. A real head scratcher, for sure. No way I expected it to end up anywhere near $600. Goofy. Maybe just a case of three bidders in a battle to the death?
Dave
Dave, It is making me think the coins in average circulated grades (the nice coins out there) are increasingly getting more scarce or harder to acquire. $600. is crazy money vs. value guides. @jedm and I were wondering if there is something about that specific coin we are missing - say a variety or equivalent? - Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
@JeffMTampa Jeff, that '92-P BQ is 🔥! I love the way that edge toning plays near the periphery of that reverse.
Here is another re-image. A 1900-O Barber Quarter in NGC XF45. Where do you think the '00-O sits in the overall relative ranking of rarity for the BQ series? middle of the pack? more rare? or more common?
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Tim, oddly enough, I had trouble locating a nice original 16-P for my PCGS VF set. Mine is a VF20. Most PCGS examples I found were dipped white. Unattractive examples. I think it was one the final coins I found for my set. Crazy!
Dave
Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
@Dave99B said:
Tim, oddly enough, I had trouble locating a nice original 16-P for my PCGS VF set. Mine is a VF20. Most PCGS examples I found were dipped white. Unattractive examples. I think it was one the final coins I found for my set. Crazy!
Dave
I agree with you on the 1916-P quarter being elusive. I don't see the VF grade up for sale hardly at all. Perhaps the GC auction cost this evening was an "opportunity buy".
Mine is a VF25 in NGC and was purchased August 22, 2013 from DSS Coin and Bullion for $37.01 + $2.99 for shipping ($40 all in). Grateful.
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Comments
Yep, it’s a tougher one with a little over 600 K mintage. This example has an older weathered look- nice.
I like this recently arrived newp. It is a die with mumps showing there is not much life left in it:
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
I haven't posted recently; here's the 1908 S BQ from my set:
Wowww...very tough coin,don't see that grade very often.Congrats
Here is a little something purchased raw from my local shop. 1888 V Nickel Choice BU with blazing reverse luster. Light pastel tone.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
I like it Jeff, nice coin! Here is one of my '08-S quarters... a CAC specimen with more of a humble history than the laudy AU58:
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
My local coin shop had some recently acquired Barber Half rolls (formed a long time ago). You would never guess what I was able to cherrypick out of those rolls yesterday:
1896-O Barber Half (less than G4 raw)
1896-S Barber Half (less than G4 raw)
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Great find!
Was the lucky winner on this one tonight! Will fill the slot in my date set and full set!
Amazing 05-S Jason!!!!!
Dave
Thanks! I need to try and save up to find a nice 94, 95 and 96 for the date set!
Moving the thread, here is my 1905-S dime in XF45 PCGS CAC holder:
EDIT: a little bit of mintmark doubling visible at the top of the S serif.
@erwindoc exquisite color on your higher-graded Barber Dime Jason! I agree with Dave @Dave99B. - Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
A year ago, I did a toughness analysis for Everyman Barber Half Dollars. Here is approximately the Top 20 Toughest Barber Half Dollars data:
The lower the number the tougher the coin.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Here's one that didn't make Tim's list. It has a very low mintage but was apparently saved, a 1913 Barber Half:
Looks like it came from the bank last week. Some people like them that way.
New addition for my PCGS set:
I kinda like this date & mint mark, but I'm to the point where I let one go for the one that I add.
The 1914 Barber Half has the lowest mintage of the series, but many XF to Au pieces exist. It's likely that the series end in 1915 incented people to save the nicer ones they came across Barber Halves were replaced. Here's my 1914, found raw 10 years ago:
@JeffMTampa As Jeff knows, I have only more recently been collecting Barber Halves (a few every so often) as I get to the end of my quarter pursuits. The '14-P is one I actually have:
EDIT: This is what StacksBowers said about this coin in March 2023: "Handsomely original surfaces exhibit gently mottled overtones of reddish-russet to a base of antique silver-gray. Sharply defined with a smooth, satiny texture. This is a challenging issue to collect in all grades save for the very lowest, as the mintage is a mere 124,230 circulation strikes, and few were spared the rigors of heavy commercial use. Provenance: From the Abigail Collection"
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Just posted - 1910-S VF35
Tim, the 14P is spectacular ; takes it's place alongside the 97S. Are you building an AU58 set ?
Steve
@Barberian Nice color on the '10-S Half! it does have the more common slight-right-of-center mintmark placement.
@stevefromne Hi Steve, good question. There are a number of great Everyman Barber Half sets out there already (including yours). I don't know if that sort of pursuit would be something of a successful reality when there are so few specimens available to collect (if I were to pursue 58's). I love the design and value of a 58 over unc... and I do have 50's to 55's that I am happy with. Overall, I am happy and content with what I have been able to find to date. Thank you all for your kind words related to the key or important pieces I have been able to glean out of the numismatic circuit thus far. I appreciate the mentoring received from @JeffMTampa as well.
My concentration and energy is currently with BCCS Varieties and building more knowledge around Barber collecting in general. I care about advancing our Barber community and their people who collect, like all of you. I will be at the CSNS BCCS table (May), WFoM in August, and FUN come January 2025.
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Nice. The scarcest "P" mint Barber Quarter
Thanks for posting this. This is a nice, quick reference guide to the harder dates.
Still mesmerized by this Type I/III Jeff. It is just as rare in this configuration as the following year issue yet no attention was put on the 1900-S I / III 25c. We are only recently rediscovering these characteristics along with Charles Rose, et.al. Not many people understand the importance of this find Jeff!
Amazing, amazing coin!
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
I don't see the 1893-S, 1892-S, and 1892-O for that matter.
The '93 S, '92 S, and '92 O didn't make it onto the top 20 "tough" list, but here are my examples to view:
Looking at PCGS-graded
SUM of XF45,AU50,AU53,AU55,AU58
1892-O has 223 grading events
1892-S has 145 grading events
1893-S has 101 grading events
SUM of XF45 Only
1892-O has 39 grading events
1892-S has 39 grading events
1893-S has 22 grading events
SUM of AU50 Only
1892-O has 28 grading events
1892-S has 19 grading events
1893-S has 14 grading events
SUM of AU53 Only
1892-O has 32 grading events
1892-S has 17 grading events
1893-S has 14 grading events
SUM of AU55 Only
1892-O has 55 grading events
1892-S has 27 grading events
1893-S has 24 grading events
SUM of AU58 Only
1892-O has 68 grading events
1892-S has 42 grading events
1893-S has 26 grading events
Each of these is much more than the "Top-20" dates. Of course, this analysis limits NGC, ANACS, etc. It is directional, however and gives an estimate of toughness. I am challenging traditional knowledge with this data, I know. The 1892-O, 1892-S, and 1893-S seems less tough than other dates.
EDIT: Considering Everyman XF to AU.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Here is my '93-S which is prooflike, PC58, and showing a lower population than the '92-O and S:
I would rather have an '01-O than this coin in 58 if I had to choose for toughness.
Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Me too!
As a younger collector, the 2nd Barber Quarter I ever collected was a 1903-P in F12. The first one was an 1898-P in F12.
This coin, mentioned by @ Disney
Fancame from @paesan Lenny in January 2021:
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
It was my father's birth year so I'm always on the lookout for 1903s. I had to get this one.
New addition to the set....Really like this one. MS-65 CAC Ex Eliasberg
@Eldorado9 Eldo, sensational!
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Bumping this thread to the top in Mike's honor, with one of his former coins in his favorite grade and favorite toning style.
Not only is a beautiful coin, but it’s also the rare Type I OBV paired with the Type III REV. There are very few of those left in collectible condition. Thanks for posting it!
Any idea who’s collection it’s in?
I just conducted a transaction with @Redglobe to obtain these beauties. Thanks so much Rob!
1898-S PC45 BQ... Tough
1899-S PC30 BQ... scratch but straight-graded my other PC30 is CAC'd.
1906-O PC35 BQ... tough close to XF
I hope you all have a nice Easter! @valente151 Very tough to have a Type I / III in the '00-S. I will PM you!
Thanks everyone, Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Thanks Tim
Much appreciated!
Looked more closely at the 1898-S mintmarks (quarters) then compared them:
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Lower position on the MM on the one I sold to you
Here is a newp that arrived today. The reason for obtaining it is for the possibility it is the first "non"-RPM I have ever encountered of a 1907-S Barber Quarter. I want to reserve judgement until @JeffMTampa Jeff gets a more microscopic look at the mintmark with his extreme macro set-up.
1907-S Barber Quarter ANACS VF35
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Happy Easter!
Here's one of my latest finds in the "egg hunt":
Here's a Barber Quarter that I might not have previously posted from the first year of production:
Edited because my initial comment was on an auction currently in progress, but on second thought I think it's best to wait till all the bids are in and auction is over.
OOPS
A 1916-P in PCGS (in the grade of VF30) just sold for over $590 after BP considered on GC tonight! Wow, that is way over CoinFacts value estimate. POP in that grade is 6. It made me think about re-imaging my 1916-P in VF - so I did that. If I sent this coin to PCGS, think I could get a VF30 grade?
1916-P Barber Quarter in VF
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
I noticed that 1916-P when it was bid up to $100. A real head scratcher, for sure. No way I expected it to end up anywhere near $600. Goofy. Maybe just a case of three bidders in a battle to the death?
Dave
Possible thought of mistaken bidding on the wrong 1916 quarter
Dave, It is making me think the coins in average circulated grades (the nice coins out there) are increasingly getting more scarce or harder to acquire. $600. is crazy money vs. value guides. @jedm and I were wondering if there is something about that specific coin we are missing - say a variety or equivalent? - Tim
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
@JeffMTampa Jeff, that '92-P BQ is 🔥! I love the way that edge toning plays near the periphery of that reverse.
Here is another re-image. A 1900-O Barber Quarter in NGC XF45. Where do you think the '00-O sits in the overall relative ranking of rarity for the BQ series? middle of the pack? more rare? or more common?
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Tim, oddly enough, I had trouble locating a nice original 16-P for my PCGS VF set. Mine is a VF20. Most PCGS examples I found were dipped white. Unattractive examples. I think it was one the final coins I found for my set. Crazy!
Dave
I agree with you on the 1916-P quarter being elusive. I don't see the VF grade up for sale hardly at all. Perhaps the GC auction cost this evening was an "opportunity buy".
Mine is a VF25 in NGC and was purchased August 22, 2013 from DSS Coin and Bullion for $37.01 + $2.99 for shipping ($40 all in). Grateful.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.