I can only speak to dime varieties, but as many here can attest there are a TON of varieties to be found (and new ones are still being discovered, often by people on this thread). That said, from the standpoint of raising value I can really only think of five where collector demand and/or rarity have had a substantial impact on price:
If you haven't already I'd highly recommend checking out Kevin Flynn's "Authoritative Reference" books on the Barber series. The AR for Barber dimes has been a very helpful go-to when hunting for/identifying varieties from among my collection.
Barring that, I suspect @DIMEMAN and others here would be more than happy to assist in assessing those boxes and rolls...
@scodal said:
I can only speak to dime varieties, but as many here can attest there are a TON of varieties to be found (and new ones are still being discovered, often by people on this thread). That said, from the standpoint of raising value I can really only think of five where collector demand and/or rarity have had a substantial impact on price:
If you haven't already I'd highly recommend checking out Kevin Flynn's "Authoritative Reference" books on the Barber series. The AR for Barber dimes has been a very helpful go-to when hunting for/identifying varieties from among my collection.
Barring that, I suspect @DIMEMAN and others here would be more than happy to assist in assessing those boxes and rolls...
On those dimes, I especially agree on these:
1901-O (over horizontal O)
1905-O (micro)
... nice starter list
One example of @DIMEMAN (Jon) where he was interested was when I came across original rolls of '47-P and D dimes... looking into varieties. In another instance, I was able to help Jon with a Barber Dime 1908-P AU certified as variety 303 from PCGS.
Jeff M. has been on top of 1909-S over Inverted S specimens in halves. Quarters... really like VF or better 1897-S Centered S's. No on seems to agree with me yet that there truly is an 1899-S over S repunching so I am on the lookout for evidence. Look up David Lange's "Those Shifty Mintmarks" article I believe you can locate off of N.G,,C's website for the quarters.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
If you do look, you might try checking for 1909-O/Os and O/Ds, too. Breen describes an "O over reversed D." Lawrence corroborates it and adds a "O/O West," although he also speculates that they may be one and the same given a lack of available photo records. A dealer/Barber enthusiast at a local show had one last year, which he identified as a '1909 -O over horizontal O.' It was a nice specimen all around and the error had a cool appearance (fairly vivid, too, especially for an issue with a notoriously weak strike). What I recall seeing tracks with Lawrence's photo of the O/D (101).
With three exceptions I haven't aimed at varieties in my collecting although I have stumbled on some fun ones along the way, more or less by happy accident. From my limited vantage, though, seem like it is (or they are) a bit of a sleeper; it's a true RPM (from two mints!), never receives mention among the 'premier' varieties and, in any event, remains the only one I've ever seen.
Thanks guys - I'll start with the dimes and spend some time going through them looking for different varities before just boxing them up again. I really have to start going through stuff, as I've accumulated tons of random coins over the years that I know nothing about - so I figured I'd start with something I'm familiar with at least.
@Yacorie1 said:
Thanks guys - I'll start with the dimes and spend some time going through them looking for different varities before just boxing them up again. I really have to start going through stuff, as I've accumulated tons of random coins over the years that I know nothing about - so I figured I'd start with something I'm familiar with at least.
I found a lower grade O over Horiz O the way you are attempting... very rewarding!
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
I'm beginning to think Milo has an AU58 minting machine in his basement. LOL!
My current coin collecting interests are: (1) British coins 1838-1970 in XF-AU-UNC, (2) silver type coins in XF-AU with that classic medium gray coloration and exceptional eye appeal.
Tim - Thanks, I've been on a string of good luck with the available AU58s. I'm trying to continue the voyage, but man it can put a little pressure on the discretionary money. You're also oh so right with Vern's amazing ability to take such consistent photos. We're lucky to have a guy like that helping drive the thread.
Cary and Jim - Well, if someone is printing them, they aren't making too many of them!! LOL
Milo
*****
What?!?! No Barber quarters in the mail today!?!? ... "heavy sigh" ...
I believe I have shared this before but I don't remember the dialog... is this PC50 1899-P quarter an off-center strike? what is the rule of thumb to consider a strike "off-center"? how far off-center do you need to be? Check out the lower edge of this obverse:
T
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Stay the course Jeff. I wouldn't be concerned about Hansen. Paraphrasing Vern, "buy what you like, like what you buy". I've been there - see Classic Head $5 Gold sets.
Home in Maine for the weekend and came across a pile of 8x10 prints. Back in 2016, I ordered prints for Mike Hayes, there was a shipping error, and we ended up with two sets, one of which he gave me as he had no use for them (he would print out the 8x10s and put them in a binder in sheet protectors) Theres about 150 prints ranging from dimes to halfs (maybe some lib nickels too?) of photos of his barber sets (just a fraction of all the coins he had), cropped in his preferred side by side with label orientation. I really don't know what to do with these? Is there any interest by anyone on the forum in them? It'd be cool if they could somehow be used to raise money for a cancer charity, but also if they can't be monetized and someone on here is interested in them/has a personal use for them, I'd be happy to send them your way.
Mike V - Neat to come across such a remembrance. Perhaps John Frost, President of the BCCS, would like them for use in the exhibits he puts together for the BCCS table at coin shows.
Pics for this AM, from Mike Hayes' 2011 Heritage Auction, PC58:
Vern l It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Here is a semi-key date Barber Half picked up from Ebay in 2003 for $100. Anacs considered it cleaned, but it was just for the spot on the neck that someone had tried to remove. Otherwise, looks uncleaned everywhere else. Struck through debris almost obliterating the 1 in the date. It is the only one I have seen on the Barber Halves.
Hi Mike,
I hope your first year in medical school went well and that you're well on your way. Your idea to use the second set of 150 images for a worthy charity is an excellent idea. I suspect a number of the images are from the Elbesaar Collection as is the 1896-O Barber Quarter that Vern imaged above. I have a copy of Mike's auction "black book" (a wonderful keepsake) that we discussed at my breakfast table. Here are three of his favorites:
@Labelman87 said:
Hi Mike,
I hope your first year in medical school went well and that you're well on your way. Your idea to use the second set of 150 images for a worthy charity is an excellent idea. I suspect a number of the images are from the Elbesaar Collection as is the 1896-O Barber Quarter that Vern imaged above. I have a copy of Mike's auction "black book" (a wonderful keepsake) that we discussed at my breakfast table. Here are three of his favorites:
I am sensing a bound book should be created, with help from John Frost / BCCS, that can include perhaps things like Mike remembrance stories, BCCS notes on varieties, or other related Barber tidbits, etc. I think that would be a hot seller.
T
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Craig - I remember viewing Mike's two error coins in hand. Both really neat and it never ceased to amaze me that one happened to be a 95-O.
Tim - I'd buy that book in a second. As it stands, the closest we'll get to that is the quarterly BCCS journal, and IMO, it's worth every penny of the $15 annual membership fee.
Pics for this PM, very happy to have this baby return home, thanks Lenny and Jim. PC40:
Vern l It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
I haven't had time to image this one myself so I'm using the seller's images. Interesting story with this coin... I owned it about a year and a half ago and ended up selling it (and one other Barber quarter) in one of those fits of madness where you look back afterward and scream at yourself for your shortsightedness. When the coin came up for sale again very recently I knew what it was the second I saw the photos. She's now back in my collection. Yay! Now... if I can just get that other Barber quarter back.
My current coin collecting interests are: (1) British coins 1838-1970 in XF-AU-UNC, (2) silver type coins in XF-AU with that classic medium gray coloration and exceptional eye appeal.
Comments
I can only speak to dime varieties, but as many here can attest there are a TON of varieties to be found (and new ones are still being discovered, often by people on this thread). That said, from the standpoint of raising value I can really only think of five where collector demand and/or rarity have had a substantial impact on price:
1892-O RPD
1893/2
1893-S/S/S RPM
1901-O (over horizontal O)
1905-O (micro)
If you haven't already I'd highly recommend checking out Kevin Flynn's "Authoritative Reference" books on the Barber series. The AR for Barber dimes has been a very helpful go-to when hunting for/identifying varieties from among my collection.
Barring that, I suspect @DIMEMAN and others here would be more than happy to assist in assessing those boxes and rolls...
On those dimes, I especially agree on these:
1901-O (over horizontal O)
1905-O (micro)
... nice starter list
One example of @DIMEMAN (Jon) where he was interested was when I came across original rolls of '47-P and D dimes... looking into varieties. In another instance, I was able to help Jon with a Barber Dime 1908-P AU certified as variety 303 from PCGS.
Jeff M. has been on top of 1909-S over Inverted S specimens in halves. Quarters... really like VF or better 1897-S Centered S's. No on seems to agree with me yet that there truly is an 1899-S over S repunching so I am on the lookout for evidence. Look up David Lange's "Those Shifty Mintmarks" article I believe you can locate off of N.G,,C's website for the quarters.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
If you do look, you might try checking for 1909-O/Os and O/Ds, too. Breen describes an "O over reversed D." Lawrence corroborates it and adds a "O/O West," although he also speculates that they may be one and the same given a lack of available photo records. A dealer/Barber enthusiast at a local show had one last year, which he identified as a '1909 -O over horizontal O.' It was a nice specimen all around and the error had a cool appearance (fairly vivid, too, especially for an issue with a notoriously weak strike). What I recall seeing tracks with Lawrence's photo of the O/D (101).
With three exceptions I haven't aimed at varieties in my collecting although I have stumbled on some fun ones along the way, more or less by happy accident. From my limited vantage, though, seem like it is (or they are) a bit of a sleeper; it's a true RPM (from two mints!), never receives mention among the 'premier' varieties and, in any event, remains the only one I've ever seen.
Thanks guys - I'll start with the dimes and spend some time going through them looking for different varities before just boxing them up again. I really have to start going through stuff, as I've accumulated tons of random coins over the years that I know nothing about - so I figured I'd start with something I'm familiar with at least.
I found a lower grade O over Horiz O the way you are attempting... very rewarding!
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
I have a couple of 1914-D Dimes to send in to Wiles for RPM attribution.
Yacorie - I'm not a variety guy, but the BCCS (barbercoins.org) website might provide some guidance.
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Pics for this PM, newp into Milo's collection, PC58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Consistently nice pictures Vern (@barberkeys). Great job Milo!
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
I'm beginning to think Milo has an AU58 minting machine in his basement. LOL!
Tim - thanks.
Cary - I wish he did (01-S in 58, yum).
Pics for this PM, another of Milo's newps, PC58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Anyone that has any blank silver planchette please let Milo know🙂
Tim - Thanks, I've been on a string of good luck with the available AU58s. I'm trying to continue the voyage, but man it can put a little pressure on the discretionary money. You're also oh so right with Vern's amazing ability to take such consistent photos. We're lucky to have a guy like that helping drive the thread.
Cary and Jim - Well, if someone is printing them, they aren't making too many of them!! LOL
*****
What?!?! No Barber quarters in the mail today!?!? ... "heavy sigh" ...
Has anyone else noticed that D. L. Hansen now has the top two Barber Half sets? I feel insignificant...….
I believe I have shared this before but I don't remember the dialog... is this PC50 1899-P quarter an off-center strike? what is the rule of thumb to consider a strike "off-center"? how far off-center do you need to be? Check out the lower edge of this obverse:
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
I believe this would be considered broadstruck not off center
oops
Jeff - I wonder why one set wasn't enough. It must be nice to have unlimited money.
Tim - Interesting, either way.
Pics for this PM, another newp for Milo, PC55:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Stay the course Jeff. I wouldn't be concerned about Hansen. Paraphrasing Vern, "buy what you like, like what you buy". I've been there - see Classic Head $5 Gold sets.
Home in Maine for the weekend and came across a pile of 8x10 prints. Back in 2016, I ordered prints for Mike Hayes, there was a shipping error, and we ended up with two sets, one of which he gave me as he had no use for them (he would print out the 8x10s and put them in a binder in sheet protectors) Theres about 150 prints ranging from dimes to halfs (maybe some lib nickels too?) of photos of his barber sets (just a fraction of all the coins he had), cropped in his preferred side by side with label orientation. I really don't know what to do with these? Is there any interest by anyone on the forum in them? It'd be cool if they could somehow be used to raise money for a cancer charity, but also if they can't be monetized and someone on here is interested in them/has a personal use for them, I'd be happy to send them your way.
Mike V - Neat to come across such a remembrance. Perhaps John Frost, President of the BCCS, would like them for use in the exhibits he puts together for the BCCS table at coin shows.
Pics for this AM, from Mike Hayes' 2011 Heritage Auction, PC58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Common date Barber Half - PCGS AU55, but in all the years collecting Halves, I have not been able to find an AU coin that I liked.
Just photographed this half. I May be boring some with common dates, but now that I have improved my photography skills, I am excited to share.
Nice photos!
Thank you Jeff,
Here is a semi-key date Barber Half picked up from Ebay in 2003 for $100. Anacs considered it cleaned, but it was just for the spot on the neck that someone had tried to remove. Otherwise, looks uncleaned everywhere else. Struck through debris almost obliterating the 1 in the date. It is the only one I have seen on the Barber Halves.
Tyler - Not bored at all, keep them coming.
Pics for this PM, newp into Milo's collection, PC58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Pics for this PM, another newp from Milo. Tough date in 58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Really neat quarter collection highlighted in this quarter's BCCS journal centerfold.
Pics fir this PM, another newp from Milo, PC55:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
My newest
A nice recent pick-up of an AU+ 1892-O Barber dime. An upgrade to my quality VF specimen. Purchased locally here in the midwest.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
From the photos it looks nice
Congry
Sharp new pick up! Great overall look and very nice strike.
I'm guessing you meant to say "Until this one came along!" Is that right? 'Coz I think this one's a really nice looker.
Hi Mike,
I hope your first year in medical school went well and that you're well on your way. Your idea to use the second set of 150 images for a worthy charity is an excellent idea. I suspect a number of the images are from the Elbesaar Collection as is the 1896-O Barber Quarter that Vern imaged above. I have a copy of Mike's auction "black book" (a wonderful keepsake) that we discussed at my breakfast table. Here are three of his favorites:
I am sensing a bound book should be created, with help from John Frost / BCCS, that can include perhaps things like Mike remembrance stories, BCCS notes on varieties, or other related Barber tidbits, etc. I think that would be a hot seller.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Craig - I remember viewing Mike's two error coins in hand. Both really neat and it never ceased to amaze me that one happened to be a 95-O.
Tim - I'd buy that book in a second. As it stands, the closest we'll get to that is the quarterly BCCS journal, and IMO, it's worth every penny of the $15 annual membership fee.
Pics for this PM, very happy to have this baby return home, thanks Lenny and Jim. PC40:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Thanks for letting it come for an extended visit Vern. Good friends make the hobby!!!
Pics for this PM, tough date in Paesan's Stash, PC53:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
I haven't had time to image this one myself so I'm using the seller's images. Interesting story with this coin... I owned it about a year and a half ago and ended up selling it (and one other Barber quarter) in one of those fits of madness where you look back afterward and scream at yourself for your shortsightedness.
When the coin came up for sale again very recently I knew what it was the second I saw the photos. 
She's now back in my collection. Yay! Now... if I can just get that other Barber quarter back. 
Cary - Congratulations on getting a wonderful quarter back.
Pics for this AM, newp into Milo's collection, PC58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Cary's successful recovery reminds me of some of my regrets that I recovered:
And one that I did not (as I cry!)
Craig - I don't blame you at all for getting those four gems back. Nice recovery.
*****
What?!?! No Barber quarters in the mail today!?!? ... "heavy sigh" ...
That 01-O is similar to a UFO sighting.....what monster coin.
That '96 O is a killer!
BHNC #203
Craig - It's good when things work out well.
Pics for this PM, from Paesan's Stash, PC40:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Pics for this PM, newp into Milo's collection, PC58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Very nice Lenny
Pics for this PM, newp into Milo's collection, PC58:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.
Another newp
1906-P dime. Minor obverse scratching but I like the color and mid-grade detail.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.
Pics for this PM, from Paesan's Stash, PC45:
l
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.