Barber Halves Vs. Bust Halves

erwindoc

Lots of avid collectors in both series. Which series is more popular currently?

OKbustchaser

My guess would be busties. Barber collectors seem to be a smaller, but rabid group.

amwldcoin

I would say they are pretty even. In Basic registry sets there are 28 Capped Bust Everyman Sets and 29 Barber Everyman sets. In regular registry there are 60 Capped Bust Half and 73 Barber Half sets.

TomB

As a collector, I collected both sets and had all the early half dollars at one point (except the 1796 and 1797 coins) in mid-grades with original surfaces and good eye appeal. I also put together a complete Barber half dollar set in VF-EF with similar requirements. I found the early halves to be easier in the sense that they were always available if you had the funds, but the Barber halves were tougher in that some issues just seemed to be hiding. It made it more fun to work on the Barber halves since it wasn't simply a matter of sinking funds into buying the coins and there was a distinct goal with them (a complete set) vs. just sort of hoarding or acquiring expensive early halves without doing a set. I sold virtually all of these coins, but retain one DBH as a type coin and a half-dozen or so superb Barber half dollars I simply cannot part with at this time.

If someone were to ask me what set they might want to pursue, which is not the same as asking which is more popular; as long as the person had enough experience to already be through the beginner and middling phases of collecting, I would suggest Barber half dollars. There is a definite finish point, they can be collected raw in albums kept at home, they can be handled raw if desired, they can be collected certified for a registry set to share, the coins are large, silver is a metal that does not have the same stability or striking problems as copper or nickel and is much less of an investment than gold, they are good looking coins when original, every coin is available eventually even on a relatively small budget, one or two may be purchased in gem proof or gem MS as type examples to be companions with a circulated set, there is an avid collector base for them, the BCCS is a rather vibrant niche coin society with a good journal and regional meetings and it won't be an easy or quick task-it will be a slogging, sometimes painful and eventually quire rewarding marathon.

Sonorandesertrat

I finished a set of Barber halves in ChAU and sold the coins a decade ago. There is indeed a 'finish point,' but the number of coins needed for a full set is nonetheless considerable and would tax your patience and wallet if you want nice coins. Bust halves, IMO, are more interesting because of the many interesting die varieties that are popular enough to get into the Red Book (in contrast with just one Barber half---the 1892 micro-O). One could do a date set of CBHs, and pick visually interesting varieties.

Walkerfan

Personally, I like Draped Bust and Capped Bust Halves better but Barbers seem to be about equally as popular with collectors, in general.

Busties are much more cost prohibitive than Barbers.

Barbers are a very do-able set, even in choice mint state grades.

cameonut2011

I don't pretend to know the tastes of other collectors, but I think the market for Bust halves is stronger IMHO. That should be a big clue.

No Headlights

Just finished my Barber half set yesterday. Seven years. I would second Tom's comments on the difficulty. If you are looking for original relatively problem free coins in vf-au it will be an extended search. Lots more BU material available than high grade circulated. Most coins even in slabs have problems.
Jim

JeffMTampa

I collect both, but I'll admit my first passion is Barber Halves. I recently completed my AU set; it took about 7 years. I'm fascinated by the Barbers because of the American History they were part of; inventions such as electricity, automobiles, planes, telephones, etc. It's the period in time when the US became a global economic powerhouse.

And my little collection was part of all that.

shorecoll

I have completed 3 circ Barber sets in my collecting history, I have no delusions of ever finishing a CBH set. I have gotten to 90+ varieties twice in prior years and had to sell, I'm back up to 79 and moving slowly. I think Barbers have more variation in pricing, CBH's just tend to change the speed of how fast they go up.

ricko

There seems to be 'fever' for both... and the amount of posts (as well as the long running one's) regarding these coins would substantiate that conclusion. Between the two, it seems they would be dominant if thread counts were tabulated. Very, very popular coins...both types. Cheers, RickO

oih82w8

As a Type collector I would need one of each major type.

JohnF

There is a much bigger collector base for Bust halves than Barber halves. I say this with bias towards the Barbers as we feel they've always been undervalued. Bust halves benefit from the long-time collector base which started with Overton's reference and has stayed strong ever since. Coincidently, the April Monthly Supplement article (headed to the printer today) is specifically about Bust halves...