That 1904 Phila is at least a 64.... I also hate to grade by images but from what I saw, I see no reason it's not in a 65+ holder. It's the luster that will end up determine the actual grade. Hard to capture the luster even by the most seasoned professional photographer. Nice coin.
As far as the 07-S date, it's not an easy find, in either the Quarter or the Half Dollar. My Quarter is just a place holder until I can locate an AU example. My Half - although a 50 - is a tad off color for my liking .... too bluish an Obverse. I'd replace it in a heart beat if I ever found a better look to match up with the coins surrounding it. As Vern mentioned, he's been looking for 4 years. ( I am assuming you meant Halves, Vern ).
The few placeholders I have in my Quarter set may very well stay there for a few years; those semi key dates in AU just are not available. I guess, by the time I actually find them, it'll be time to sell off the set. { This time, however, I plan on cherry pick out coins I have no intention of ever selling for as long as possible. }.
Mike Hayes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
A $77 raw eBay find came back from PCGS yesterday, a 1908 Liberty Nickel:
PCGS calls this one a MS 65. I'm not certain it's worthy of that grade, but it is a nice coin. The PCGS Price Guide says this one's worth $1,100 in this slab. Not bad for a $77 investment.
Another new addition for my Everyman's Barber Half set, this time a slight downgrade.
As some of you may recall I submitted a 1907 O NGC AU 58 for crossover at PCGS earlier this year. The coin crossed as a 58+; the only one out there. It was fun to have, but I didn't think the coin was a stunner, and since I'll never be competitive with the top 3 sets the "+" points did little for me. I decided to trade it on a multi-coin deal with one of the top players for a coin I needed and a replacement coin for my 1907 O. The replacement was in an ANACS Yellow AU 58 holder. I cracked the coin out and submitted it raw to PCGS:
It came back a few days ago in a PCGS AU 58 holder. Even though it's not a plus I still think it's an attractive coin.
Jeff - I think I guessed 64 before on your '04, and I don't see how your V nickel recd a 65 with that mark on the neck/field. It must have some serious luster. Also, good look on your 07-O.
Pics for this AM, from Paesan's Stash, PC58:
Vern l It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Vern, I agree on the 65 5C; I was expecting a 64. I was also expecting a 64 on my '04 Half, but it fell short:
I just don't see this coin in a 62 holder. The reverse is mark free and there are only very minor marks on the obverse. There's loads of bright luster and just a hint of golden toning. Oh well, that's the grading game.
The grade on the 04 doesn't surprise me. In my experience the main focal point seems to be the cheek. There is a lot going on on the cheek of that coin. Clean cheek and a few marks in the field with good luster ='s 63 usually.
Vern, I agree on the 65 5C; I was expecting a 64. I was also expecting a 64 on my '04 Half, but it fell short:
I just don't see this coin in a 62 holder. The reverse is mark free and there are only very minor marks on the obverse. There's loads of bright luster and just a hint of golden toning. Oh well, that's the grading game. >>
I agree, that 04-O is really special. Love it.
That V Nickel was a terrible strike, and the hit on the Obverse, did it no favors. How in God's Green Earth did it receive a 65 is well beyond me. Even saying its a 64 is wishful thinking.
I studied that 1904 Half for quite some time. I do not see any real disturbance on the cheek ( and, I do agree, the cheek is the highest point on the Obverse.) The Reverse is pristine. Well struck, and no deficiencies that I can see. I've seen a lot worse in 65 holders. Calling that a 62 is unconscionable. I'd send it back for another regrade. Raw.
Mike Hayes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
My comments about the 1904 Half were based on this image, not the holdered image ( my iPad kept the holdered image from me until I quoted the post from Jeff. ) now that I see the coin in the new holder, where did those cheek marks come from. I recind my last comment, and fully agree with Darrell, the 62 grade does not surprise me either. I'm surprised it got to 62, and not a 61!!
EDIT: For once and for all time, I am through trying to grade MS coins thru images. This 1904 Half is a perfect example of ( what I like to call ) Image Fraud. In the future, all I'll say is "It's MS"... No more grades from images for MS coins !!
Mike Hayes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
There are small marks on the cheek, but they're not visable to my naked eyes. Magnified they do appear, but very small.
And the '08 MS 65 Liberty Nickel for comparison:
The Nickel does have fewer marks on the cheek, but I still see marks (and some larger).
The typical 62 that I see looks like it's bumped it's neighbors quite a bit in the coin bag; my 1904 looks to me like it received special attention to avoid contact.
I recently had 2 Liberty Nickels that I thought were severely undergraded; an '07 MS 61 (previous post) and a '02 MS 62. I thought they should both be 64's. I cracked them out and submitted them raw. They recently came bach; the '07 went up to a 62 and the '02 graded as a 62 again. PCGS proved to be very consistent on grading those coins. Something tells me I don't look for the same things they do when I grade a coin. I guess the good news I still have new things to learn!!
Not much action on this thread- am I the only Barber collector left?
You are not alone. Many of us have little to post, and enjoy the great photos being posted.
I was amazed about the 1904 half that graded MS 62. Depending on the image it looked anywhere from MS 62 to MS65. It is difficult to capture all aspects of a coin in a single view. Marks and luster can be hard to pick up without having the coin in hand. I am a firm believer in buying sight-seen. Digital images are very helpful, give an overall idea of strike and color (given a reasonable picture that hasn't been "juiced"), but may not show some important features.
I hear what DrPete says, but with his permission, I'd like to post some of his amazing Halves - just to add color to this Thread.
What do you say, Pete ? I can copy your TrueView images and post them here. I know you like showing off your coins at shows, but still have some trouble posting. Trying to post thru the PCGS system is (or, can be ) a nightmare.
Since I opened up my Photobucket account, posting images is just a matter of a right click to capture the photo, and a left click to post it. Could not be any easier.
I could also post other coins side by side as well: ie: Perfection; Shireman; Gardner; Duckor; Friend, Elbesaar ( who ever he is ) and my current set, GinjaMax. DJ's set only has two images and George's set has none.
I could just post a collage of just one date, ie: 1892-Phila issues, and work my way down. A nice "retirement project". Ha ha
Mike Hayes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
Jeff - Grading fom images is even more of a crapshoot than guessing what a grading service will say, but with that said, your 04 half looks better than a 62.
Pics for this AM, my only MS half, PC62:
Vern l It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Feel free to post any of my coins' images. All the True View images are copyrighted by PCGS, but I don't think they have any issue with us posting them in this forum. If I ever hear otherwise I will certainly let everyone know.
Here's the True View policy I just copied: - Note that PCGS retains the image rights to the coin and may use the imagery as we see fit. That said, you are free to use the TrueView images however you like. This may include online sales or Set Registry listings, personal photo albums, or the creation of wall art or other décor that feature your coins.Text
<< <i>Not much action on this thread- am I the only Barber collector left? ....... >>
From what I am seeing elsewhere, the simple answer is no. I personally haven't bought a barber since July. I've bid on a few but haven't really gone after anything like I normally do. Fall brings other hobbies that grab my interest more.
I bought this believing it was an MS coin. It came back from PCGS as a Proof 64! I was surprised; I guess the toning hid the mirror fields, but the poor strike threw me off as well. Oh well, a nice coin purchased at a reasonable price.
Jeff! I liked your discussion about Barber Half's so much in your registry set I thought it was well worthy of being posted here!
About this set: Assembling a complete set of Barber Half Dollars in VF to AU graded coins presents quite a challenge, typically taking many years to complete. The series is full of rarities, both due to original mintage and low survival rates. In fact, the entire mintage of all Barber Half Dollars over a 23 year span is less the current cent production at one mint for one month.
At the turn of the 20th Century the Half Dollar represented a large sum of money and was a workhorse in daily commerce. Credit/ debit cards didn’t exist and personal checks were rare. Cash was King, and few transactions required more than a few coins to complete. The Half Dollar rarely sat in one place long, and because of its purchasing power was rarely saved. The number of surviving Barber Halves in grades above VG is small- no early hoards were discovered.
In the Twenties and Thirties coin collecting popularized, but few people made the effort to remove the Barber Half dollars from circulation (too much money and no perceived return). Most halves went on to serve commerce into the 40’s and even the 50’s before being retired. Thankfully a small supply of better condition Barber Halves survived by collectors of the day. Back in the 40’s and 50’s coin collecting was not as sophisticated as today. People viewed their coins with a naked eye, and often cleaned/ polished their silver pieces to remove the never ending tarnish. As the 50’s and 60’s arrived unscrupulous collectors/ dealers developed methods to “improve” the appearance of slightly impaired coins by mechanical means, thus destroying the coins originality forever. Very few nice Barber Halves made it to 1985 without mechanical or chemical intervention of some sort.
As Third Party Graders popularized the small number of surviving market acceptable Barber Halves was slowly revealed. Although raw original XF to AU coins periodically surface (I have many of them represented in my set), most raw coins available in the marketplace (above Fine condition) have been cleaned or are damaged and will not straight grade. For me the coin collecting thrill of my youth returns when I happen to discover a raw XF to AU Barber Half that grades.
This set began around 1980 when I was a young college graduate. I purchased many dates in the early ‘80s, some of them key dates in nice collectable condition. I also unknowingly managed to find many cleaned and damaged pieces as well. As the complexity of life developed these pieces sat in my Dansco Album untouched for 25 years until the collecting bug returned. There are only 2 surviving coins in my set from those early days; the 1892 S and 1896 S. My original goal was to assemble a XF to AU set.
In 2011 I began collecting in earnest again and proceeded to submit my coins for grading at ICG. This was both an eye opening and learning experience; only about half my collection graded. My goal was modified; I now wanted to complete a XF to AU graded set. After discovering that my spare ICG graded slabs garnered little to no market respect I switched to NGC for grading raw coins and crossed my ICG slabs to NGC.
In 2012 I discovered the NGC Registry sets, and completed my set with about 75% NGC and 25% PCGS coins. I stayed active, constantly seeking upgrades (raw or graded). By 2013 my set had established itself as one of the better ones out there, but I discovered the market had little respect for anything but PCGS graded coins at the level I was seeking. I began the task of slowly crossing my collection into PCGS graded holders (with a lot of success). By January 2015 the task was complete; I had a complete PCGS set.
My goal has now shifted to an AU set; at this time I’m 4 coins short. Although it’s obvious I like AU 58 coins, I don’t believe in spending MS money for an AU coin. This thought process will keep me from being competitive in the Everyman’s Registry unless I happen to stumble upon hidden treasures (which has happened). Both my AU 58 1905 O and 1914 were purchased as raw coins WAY below market value. My current set is comprised of about 33% raw purchases, 33% coins crossed from NGC or ANACS slabs, and 33% purchased in their current PCGS holder.
Completing an AU graded set of Barber Halves takes not only time and money, but luck and persistence as well. There are VERY few coins in existence for some dates and they rarely become available. Finding them takes hard work and dedication, but that’s what makes this set so fun and rewarding.
Darrell, Thanks for copying Jeff's forward in the Virtual Album. Good background - and it sounds all to similar to my own story.
My story varies somewhat, I first selected ANACS to grade my raw coins. I thought if they pass muster at ANACS - back in the early to mid 90's - I should be okay when I wanted to start a Registry set. About 20% Did Not Grade at all... for one reason or another - a great learning experience. I resubmitted my non graded coins to NGC and a few actually holdered. These coins suffered their expected fate when they went to PCGS. DNC and lower grades were the norm. That was ok, its all a learning experience.
Soon afterwards, I discovered ICG. I liked the idea of ICG - just not their grading - I have always thought the people at NGC are great - but many of my coins were over graded - which I discovered when I tried crossing to PCGS. I read a comment from someone who obviously knows more about the game than I do, " If you want a coin in a PCGS holder, buy the coin in a PCGS holder." Wise words.
I have watched Jeff over the last few years assemble a top flight AU set of Halves. I, who is no slouch in buying Barbers, am amazed at the width and depth of his collection. He is expanding into the other Barber areas as well and has put together some very attractive sets [ some are still "in the works" ]
Congratulations, Jeff. You've done a bang up job - and look forward to your finishing the sets to your satisfaction. I know, its not an easy task. Finding those key dates raw and having them grade AU 58 is nothing short of a numismatic miracle.
I am also looking forward to seeing the other AU 55-58 sets open up { Ahem, DW & DK } so we can oooh and ahhh and see how your coins stack up with the Dealers' collections.
My current set of Halves does not hold a candle to yours, but I have a few beauties included that I have no intentions of ever parting with - at least while I have all my senses !! LOL
I have been posting Peter's, Steve's and Dale's coins - for a comparison - as Peter has given me permission to post his coins - and the other two gentlemen no longer have their collections [ unless they held onto a souvenir or two ...ie: 1892-O Micro O PCGS 68, Dale.]
Another top flight set is in the making, my friend, Dave Wollinka, is almost finished with his Half Dollar Barber set. He has a few NGC coins that need to cross - to finish off his set. The GPA is quite high - and should rank very close to Peter when completed. Once Dave has his Half Set imaged professionally, by my friend and former student, Valente151, I will be more than happy to include those images among the likes of Duckor, Shireman and Friend. I'd like to add a few of my coins in the mix as well, if they meet the standards surrounding them. I'm still more of an AU 58 kind of collector. { A la Easton Collection - Barry Sunshine }
Not to finish with the better Halves so quickly, yet another set is in the making, who very well may displace Peter's set from the number One Spot. A new player has published a number of sets under the name of " Perfection ' .
I have no idea who this collector is, but his Quarters and Dimes are amazing. I assume his Halves will be as well.
Okay - Happy Hunting !!
Mike Hayes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
A nice coin- hopefully a 58. At NGC a lock; PCGS a maybe. Two schools of thought- wear vs. marks. I have a nice white 58; this may or may not become part of my set.
I managed to win an auction on a nice coin to upgrade my Barber Half sets last week, a 1904 O PCGS AU 58:
I purchased this one already in a holder. It's not my preferred way to acquire a coin, but I've found this to be a very difficult date to find in a nice AU condition. It upgrades my 53, and compliments my PC 58 '04 S Half:
Comments
That 1904 Phila is at least a 64.... I also hate to grade by images but
from what I saw, I see no reason it's not in a 65+ holder. It's the luster
that will end up determine the actual grade. Hard to capture the luster
even by the most seasoned professional photographer. Nice coin.
As far as the 07-S date, it's not an easy find, in either the Quarter or the Half Dollar.
My Quarter is just a place holder until I can locate an AU example. My Half - although
a 50 - is a tad off color for my liking .... too bluish an Obverse. I'd replace it in a
heart beat if I ever found a better look to match up with the coins surrounding it.
As Vern mentioned, he's been looking for 4 years. ( I am assuming you meant Halves,
Vern ).
The few placeholders I have in my Quarter set may very well stay there for a few years;
those semi key dates in AU just are not available. I guess, by the time I actually find them,
it'll be time to sell off the set. { This time, however, I plan on cherry pick out coins I have
no intention of ever selling for as long as possible. }.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
PCGS calls this one a MS 65. I'm not certain it's worthy of that grade, but it is a nice coin. The PCGS Price Guide says this one's worth $1,100 in this slab. Not bad for a $77 investment.
As some of you may recall I submitted a 1907 O NGC AU 58 for crossover at PCGS earlier this year. The coin crossed as a 58+; the only one out there. It was fun to have, but I didn't think the coin was a stunner, and since I'll never be competitive with the top 3 sets the "+" points did little for me. I decided to trade it on a multi-coin deal with one of the top players for a coin I needed and a replacement coin for my 1907 O. The replacement was in an ANACS Yellow AU 58 holder. I cracked the coin out and submitted it raw to PCGS:
It came back a few days ago in a PCGS AU 58 holder. Even though it's not a plus I still think it's an attractive coin.
<< <i>Glad you got a 58! I didn't see any reason why it wouldn't! >>
OK Darrell, you just played your hand- I was trying to be discreet. But you are making an advance.
Pics for this AM, from Paesan's Stash, PC58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Vern, I agree on the 65 5C; I was expecting a 64. I was also expecting a 64 on my '04 Half, but it fell short:
I just don't see this coin in a 62 holder. The reverse is mark free and there are only very minor marks on the obverse. There's loads of bright luster and just a hint of golden toning. Oh well, that's the grading game.
This was another raw purchase, and repalces another PC 58 in the set. No points upgrade for me, but a real stunning coin to me!
<< <i>OOOh, that 1904 O Half is NICE!
Vern, I agree on the 65 5C; I was expecting a 64. I was also expecting a 64 on my '04 Half, but it fell short:
I just don't see this coin in a 62 holder. The reverse is mark free and there are only very minor marks on the obverse. There's loads of bright luster and just a hint of golden toning. Oh well, that's the grading game.
I agree, that 04-O is really special. Love it.
That V Nickel was a terrible strike, and the hit on the Obverse, did it no favors. How in God's Green Earth
did it receive a 65 is well beyond me. Even saying its a 64 is wishful thinking.
I studied that 1904 Half for quite some time. I do not see any real disturbance on the cheek ( and, I do agree,
the cheek is the highest point on the Obverse.) The Reverse is pristine. Well struck, and no deficiencies that I can see.
I've seen a lot worse in 65 holders. Calling that a 62 is unconscionable. I'd send it back for another regrade. Raw.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
<< <i>It's time to GUESS THE GRADE!!!
This coin came back from PCGS yesterday:
Guesses?? >>
My comments about the 1904 Half were based on this image, not the holdered image ( my iPad kept the holdered
image from me until I quoted the post from Jeff. ) now that I see the coin in the new holder, where did those cheek
marks come from. I recind my last comment, and fully agree with Darrell, the 62 grade does not surprise me either.
I'm surprised it got to 62, and not a 61!!
EDIT:
For once and for all time, I am through trying to grade MS coins thru images.
This 1904 Half is a perfect example of ( what I like to call ) Image Fraud. In
the future, all I'll say is "It's MS"... No more grades from images for MS coins !!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
And the '08 MS 65 Liberty Nickel for comparison:
The Nickel does have fewer marks on the cheek, but I still see marks (and some larger).
The typical 62 that I see looks like it's bumped it's neighbors quite a bit in the coin bag; my 1904 looks to me like it received special attention to avoid contact.
I recently had 2 Liberty Nickels that I thought were severely undergraded; an '07 MS 61 (previous post) and a '02 MS 62. I thought they should both be 64's. I cracked them out and submitted them raw. They recently came bach; the '07 went up to a 62 and the '02 graded as a 62 again. PCGS proved to be very consistent on grading those coins. Something tells me I don't look for the same things they do when I grade a coin. I guess the good news I still have new things to learn!!
Last month I purchased a raw 1907 Liberty Nickel with nice color. It came back from PCGS earlier this week:
This is a nice coin; really clean surfaces. To me this coin is a solid 64; I agree with our hosts.
You are not alone. Many of us have little to post, and enjoy the great photos being posted.
I was amazed about the 1904 half that graded MS 62. Depending on the image it looked anywhere from MS 62 to MS65. It is difficult to capture all aspects of a coin in a single view. Marks and luster can be hard to pick up without having the coin in hand. I am a firm believer in buying sight-seen. Digital images are very helpful, give an overall idea of strike and color (given a reasonable picture that hasn't been "juiced"), but may not show some important features.
I hear what DrPete says, but with his permission, I'd like to post
some of his amazing Halves - just to add color to this Thread.
What do you say, Pete ? I can copy your TrueView images and
post them here. I know you like showing off your coins at shows,
but still have some trouble posting. Trying to post thru the PCGS
system is (or, can be ) a nightmare.
Since I opened up my Photobucket account, posting images is
just a matter of a right click to capture the photo, and a left click
to post it. Could not be any easier.
I could also post other coins side by side as well: ie: Perfection; Shireman;
Gardner; Duckor; Friend, Elbesaar ( who ever he is ) and my current set,
GinjaMax. DJ's set only has two images and George's set has none.
I could just post a collage of just one date, ie: 1892-Phila issues, and work
my way down. A nice "retirement project". Ha ha
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Pics for this AM, my only MS half, PC62:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Feel free to post any of my coins' images. All the True View images are copyrighted by PCGS, but I don't think they have any issue with us posting them in this forum. If I ever hear otherwise I will certainly let everyone know.
Here's the True View policy I just copied: -
Note that PCGS retains the image rights to the coin and may use the imagery as we see fit. That said, you are free to use the TrueView images however you like. This may include online sales or Set Registry listings, personal photo albums, or the creation of wall art or other décor that feature your coins.Text
<< <i>Not much action on this thread- am I the only Barber collector left? ....... >>
From what I am seeing elsewhere, the simple answer is no. I personally haven't bought a barber since July. I've bid on a few but haven't really gone after anything like I normally do. Fall brings other hobbies that grab my interest more.
<< <i>It looks like my hopes of a '97 O 50C PC AU 58 at an eBay "Buy It Now" for $0.99 is out the window......
I am not so curious how it happened, but more curious about an AU58 97-O making it to ebay. Unless it was supposed to be a .99 start.
Another photo by Jeff
<< <i>It's time to GUESS THE GRADE!!!
Guesses?? >>
Not my series, but I'll guess 64.
EDIT: Oh, I now see the grade was already posted as 62.
A 97-O in 58 on ebay....might beat Heritage!
Justin....Nice 30?
Justin - Nice 92-S.
No pics, photobucket just locked up.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
I bought this believing it was an MS coin. It came back from PCGS as a Proof 64! I was surprised; I guess the toning hid the mirror fields, but the poor strike threw me off as well. Oh well, a nice coin purchased at a reasonable price.
Jeff, not knowing Lib nickels, is the PR worth more or less than an MS in the save numerical grade?
1892- Phila
MS 67 Shireman
MS 67+ Duckor
MS 67 - Friend - Heritage Galleries Auction Images
1892-O - Micro O
MS 65 - Shireman
MS 65 - Duckor
MS 68 - Friend - POP TOP - POP ONE
1892-O - Normal O MM
MS 66 - Shireman
MS 66 - Duckor
MS 65 - Superior Gallery Images
1892-S
MS 66 - Shireman
MS 67+ - POP TOP - POP ONE - Duckor
MS 66 - Friend - Superior Gallery Images
As I start collecting images from other sets, I will slip them into these post.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Mike & Dr Pete - Love that micro O.
Pics for this AM, an MS '89 V nickel, PC63:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Justin- the MS coin has greater value than a Proof. There don't seem to be many collectors of proof Liberty Nickels from what I see.
<< <i>I captured images from Peter, Steve and Dale's Half Sets - enjoy the show: - As coins are added - I will bump this Post:
1892- Phila
MS 67 Shireman
MS 67+ Duckor
MS 67 - Friend - Heritage Galleries Auction Images
1892-O - Micro O
MS 65 - Shireman
MS 65 - Duckor
MS 68 - Friend - POP TOP - POP ONE
1892-O - Normal O MM
MS 66 - Shireman
MS 66 - Duckor
MS 65 - Superior Gallery Images
1892-S
MS 66 - Shireman
MS 67+ - POP TOP - POP ONE - Duckor
MS 66 - Friend - Superior Gallery Images
As I start collecting images from other sets, I will slip them into these post. >>
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
<< <i>
Pics for this AM, an MS '89 V nickel, PC63:
For another side by side comparison: my latest 1898 V Nickel - PCGS 65 - { Just received a Green Bean from CAC }
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Pics for this AM, from Paesan's Stash, PC62 TDR:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
About this set: Assembling a complete set of Barber Half Dollars in VF to AU graded coins presents quite a challenge, typically taking many years to complete. The series is full of rarities, both due to original mintage and low survival rates. In fact, the entire mintage of all Barber Half Dollars over a 23 year span is less the current cent production at one mint for one month.
At the turn of the 20th Century the Half Dollar represented a large sum of money and was a workhorse in daily commerce. Credit/ debit cards didn’t exist and personal checks were rare. Cash was King, and few transactions required more than a few coins to complete. The Half Dollar rarely sat in one place long, and because of its purchasing power was rarely saved. The number of surviving Barber Halves in grades above VG is small- no early hoards were discovered.
In the Twenties and Thirties coin collecting popularized, but few people made the effort to remove the Barber Half dollars from circulation (too much money and no perceived return). Most halves went on to serve commerce into the 40’s and even the 50’s before being retired. Thankfully a small supply of better condition Barber Halves survived by collectors of the day. Back in the 40’s and 50’s coin collecting was not as sophisticated as today. People viewed their coins with a naked eye, and often cleaned/ polished their silver pieces to remove the never ending tarnish. As the 50’s and 60’s arrived unscrupulous collectors/ dealers developed methods to “improve” the appearance of slightly impaired coins by mechanical means, thus destroying the coins originality forever. Very few nice Barber Halves made it to 1985 without mechanical or chemical intervention of some sort.
As Third Party Graders popularized the small number of surviving market acceptable Barber Halves was slowly revealed. Although raw original XF to AU coins periodically surface (I have many of them represented in my set), most raw coins available in the marketplace (above Fine condition) have been cleaned or are damaged and will not straight grade. For me the coin collecting thrill of my youth returns when I happen to discover a raw XF to AU Barber Half that grades.
This set began around 1980 when I was a young college graduate. I purchased many dates in the early ‘80s, some of them key dates in nice collectable condition. I also unknowingly managed to find many cleaned and damaged pieces as well. As the complexity of life developed these pieces sat in my Dansco Album untouched for 25 years until the collecting bug returned. There are only 2 surviving coins in my set from those early days; the 1892 S and 1896 S. My original goal was to assemble a XF to AU set.
In 2011 I began collecting in earnest again and proceeded to submit my coins for grading at ICG. This was both an eye opening and learning experience; only about half my collection graded. My goal was modified; I now wanted to complete a XF to AU graded set. After discovering that my spare ICG graded slabs garnered little to no market respect I switched to NGC for grading raw coins and crossed my ICG slabs to NGC.
In 2012 I discovered the NGC Registry sets, and completed my set with about 75% NGC and 25% PCGS coins. I stayed active, constantly seeking upgrades (raw or graded). By 2013 my set had established itself as one of the better ones out there, but I discovered the market had little respect for anything but PCGS graded coins at the level I was seeking. I began the task of slowly crossing my collection into PCGS graded holders (with a lot of success). By January 2015 the task was complete; I had a complete PCGS set.
My goal has now shifted to an AU set; at this time I’m 4 coins short. Although it’s obvious I like AU 58 coins, I don’t believe in spending MS money for an AU coin. This thought process will keep me from being competitive in the Everyman’s Registry unless I happen to stumble upon hidden treasures (which has happened). Both my AU 58 1905 O and 1914 were purchased as raw coins WAY below market value. My current set is comprised of about 33% raw purchases, 33% coins crossed from NGC or ANACS slabs, and 33% purchased in their current PCGS holder.
Completing an AU graded set of Barber Halves takes not only time and money, but luck and persistence as well. There are VERY few coins in existence for some dates and they rarely become available. Finding them takes hard work and dedication, but that’s what makes this set so fun and rewarding.
<< <i>I captured images from Peter's Half Set - this will be a long procedure - enjoy the show:
1892- Phila
MS 67 Shireman
MS 67+ Duckor
MS 67 - Friend - Heritage Galleries Auction Images
1892-O - Micro O
MS 65 - Shireman
MS 65 - Duckor
MS 68 - Friend - POP TOP - POP ONE
1892-O - Normal O MM
MS 66 - Shireman
MS 66 - Duckor
MS 65 - Superior Gallery Images
1892-S
MS 66 - Shireman
MS 67+ - POP TOP - POP ONE - Duckor
MS 66 - Friend - Superior Gallery Images
As I start collecting images from other sets, I will slip them into these post. >>
Adding in another year:
1893
Phila Issue: Shireman: MS 66
Phila Issue: Duckor : MS 66
Phila Issue: Friend : MS 66
New Orleans Issue: Shireman: MS 66...Yowza !!
New Orleans Issue: Duckor : MS 66
New Orleans Issue: Friend: MS 65
San Francisco Issue: Shireman: MS 65
San Francisco Issue: Duckor: MS 66
San Francisco Issue: Friend: MS 65
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Good background - and it sounds all to similar to my own story.
My story varies somewhat, I first selected ANACS to grade my raw coins.
I thought if they pass muster at ANACS - back in the early to mid 90's -
I should be okay when I wanted to start a Registry set. About 20% Did Not
Grade at all... for one reason or another - a great learning experience.
I resubmitted my non graded coins to NGC and a few actually holdered.
These coins suffered their expected fate when they went to PCGS. DNC
and lower grades were the norm. That was ok, its all a learning experience.
Soon afterwards, I discovered ICG. I liked the idea of ICG - just not their grading -
I have always thought the people at NGC are great - but many of my coins were
over graded - which I discovered when I tried crossing to PCGS. I read a comment
from someone who obviously knows more about the game than I do, " If you want a
coin in a PCGS holder, buy the coin in a PCGS holder." Wise words.
I have watched Jeff over the last few years assemble a top flight AU set of Halves.
I, who is no slouch in buying Barbers, am amazed at the width and depth of his
collection. He is expanding into the other Barber areas as well and has put together
some very attractive sets [ some are still "in the works" ]
Congratulations, Jeff. You've done a bang up job - and look forward to your finishing
the sets to your satisfaction. I know, its not an easy task. Finding those key dates raw
and having them grade AU 58 is nothing short of a numismatic miracle.
I am also looking forward to seeing the other AU 55-58 sets open up { Ahem, DW & DK }
so we can oooh and ahhh and see how your coins stack up with the Dealers' collections.
My current set of Halves does not hold a candle to yours, but I have a few beauties included
that I have no intentions of ever parting with - at least while I have all my senses !! LOL
I have been posting Peter's, Steve's and Dale's coins - for a comparison - as Peter has
given me permission to post his coins - and the other two gentlemen no longer have their
collections [ unless they held onto a souvenir or two ...ie: 1892-O Micro O PCGS 68, Dale.]
Another top flight set is in the making, my friend, Dave Wollinka, is almost finished with his
Half Dollar Barber set. He has a few NGC coins that need to cross - to finish off his set.
The GPA is quite high - and should rank very close to Peter when completed. Once Dave has
his Half Set imaged professionally, by my friend and former student, Valente151, I will be more
than happy to include those images among the likes of Duckor, Shireman and Friend. I'd like to
add a few of my coins in the mix as well, if they meet the standards surrounding them. I'm still
more of an AU 58 kind of collector. { A la Easton Collection - Barry Sunshine }
Not to finish with the better Halves so quickly, yet another set is in the making, who very well may
displace Peter's set from the number One Spot. A new player has published a number of sets under
the name of " Perfection ' .
I have no idea who this collector is, but his Quarters and Dimes are amazing. I assume his Halves
will be as well.
Okay - Happy Hunting !!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
<< <i>Jeff! I liked your discussion about Barber Half's so much in your registry set I thought it was well worthy of being posted here!
<< <i>
Thanks for the kind words, Darrell. I know you share the same passion.
A nice coin- hopefully a 58. At NGC a lock; PCGS a maybe. Two schools of thought- wear vs. marks. I have a nice white 58; this may or may not become part of my set.
<< <i>Jeff...my thoughts on that 07-D 55 or details(Obv. scratches might be called graffiti). >>
I guess I don't see the graffiti, but I do understand the 55.
Mike - Thanks for posting those gems, keep them coming.
Darrell - I don't think they'd call those marks graffiti, they look like random marks to me.
Pics for this AM, perhaps the first coin to join my collection from Paesan's Stash, PC58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
The marks look random to me, but what do I know?
<< <i>I agree Jeff. It is really hard to say if PCGS will be in picky mood or not!
I guess I should send it in a couple of weeks before Christmas.
<< <i>
<< <i>I captured images from Peter's Half Set - this will be a long procedure - enjoy the show:
1892- Phila
MS 67 Shireman
MS 67+ Duckor
MS 67 - Friend - Heritage Galleries Auction Images
1892-O - Micro O
MS 65 - Shireman
MS 65 - Duckor
MS 68 - Friend - POP TOP - POP ONE - EX: Eliasberg
1892-O - Normal O MM
MS 66 - Shireman
MS 66 - Duckor
MS 65 - Superior Gallery Images
1892-S
MS 66 - Shireman
MS 67+ - POP TOP - POP ONE - Duckor
MS 66 - Friend - Superior Gallery Images
As I start collecting images from other sets, I will slip them into these post. >>
Adding in another year:
1893
Phila Issue: Shireman: MS 66
Phila Issue: Duckor : MS 66
Phila Issue: Friend : MS 66
New Orleans Issue: Shireman: MS 66...Yowza !!
New Orleans Issue: Duckor : MS 66
New Orleans Issue: Friend: MS 65
San Francisco Issue: Shireman: MS 65
San Francisco Issue: Duckor: MS 66
San Francisco Issue: Friend: MS 65
Today's Additions - more eye candy !!!
###### 1894 #######
Philadelphia:
Shireman MS 66
Duckor MS 67+
Friend MS 66
New Orleans:
Shireman 66+
Duckor 67
Friend 67 - Auction Images by Heritage
San Francisco:
Shireman 66 Ex: Eliasberg
Duckor 66
Friend 66
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
I purchased this one already in a holder. It's not my preferred way to acquire a coin, but I've found this to be a very difficult date to find in a nice AU condition. It upgrades my 53, and compliments my PC 58 '04 S Half:
Jeff..... Those two 1904's make a nice pair of bookends !!
How'd you find them ? On Collectors Corner - new site ?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases