1901S Barber quarters…..Grades?
safari_dude
Posts: 748 ✭✭✭✭✭
I purchased a 1901S Barber quarter at the Orlando Fun Show last year (2025). I am really happy with my coin as it was on my ‘want list’! Today I saw two for sale on eBay, both with a higher grade and beaned. I think my coin looks just as good as the two that are G06’s. So my questions are: 1. Are the two that are G06’s and beaned better than my G04 (also a green bean)? 2. Am I missing something on my coin that would cause it to not grade a G06? 3. Should I be happy with my grade and keep it as it is or resubmit for a possibly higher grade? The difference between a G04 and G06 is about $3,500 on the PCGS valuation (straight grade with no bean). I welcome everyone’s opinion and expertise. My coin is the one with the two black tick marks on the upper right in the photos. 
Comments
I’d resubmit it under the Reconsideration option, so as not to lose the CAC sticker if it fails to upgrade.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Thanks Mark. Would you think it’d be best to stay with PCGS or try CACG?
I’d resubmit it.> @safari_dude said:
You replied to my post as I was editing it to add “under the Reconsideration option, so as not to lose the CAC sticker if it fails to upgrade.” I’d stay with PCGS in this case.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Yours is easily the superior coin from the images IMO.
PCGS/CAC is probably still the defacto highest price packaging, and the fact it is already PCGS I would send for reconsideration to PCGS (as I believe @MFeld was suggesting), and then send it back to CAC if it upgrades (I think it will, and I think it is the right kind of wholesome to get a bean again).
My 50c worth ...
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
What if it upgrades to G06, but then fails to Bean? Would you be ok with that?
I’d believe I’d take the upgrade over the bean. Do you believe that would be the wrong choice? The valuation difference is fairly large even without the bean…..
I like your coin. It has an original look, and the rims are strong.
I don’t like second coin at all as a G-6. It appears to have small pits on the obverse, and the rims are worn into the tops of the letters on the reverse. I don’t understand what CAC saw in it.
The third coin has a tiny bit more detail, but it’s been cleaned. White is not the right color for a heavily circulated coin.
I don’t play the regrade game any more. I think that reconsideration might be the best option.
I agree that it’s the superior coin to the others, would have a shot at G6, so is another worthy option to send back to CAC as-is and ask to consider a gold bean? Just wondering.
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Chris
If it was mine, I would submit it to CACG first, with a minimum Grade of G06. If it fails, then try PCGS Reconsideration for G06.
I usually side with keeping the Bean, unless the valuation difference clearly negates that. However, if the Bean Pop is very small, I would keep the Bean regardless. 1901-s Beans are common in lower grades, so submitting to PCGS Reconsideration first, makes sense too. You can then try for a Bean, if it comes back G06. That will just cost more than one trip to CACG.
I also agree with the others, yours is the nicest of the three coins!
I would send it to CACG with a minimum Grade of G06.
While PCGSs with CACs currently appear to bring stronger prices than CACGs, I'm not willing to risk losing the CAC if PCGS upgrades your coin.
In the long run, CACG coins may bring stronger prices. CACG has an advantage of not needing to pay for two grading services. In this case I don't like the cost of multiple sendings of a coin; i.e., to PCGS for reconsideration and then to CAC for confirmation.
Even if CAC thinks the coin should grade G6, I doubt they’d award it a gold sticker. As that wouldn’t be a significant enough of a difference in grade/condition.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
..Without the bean PCGS values it at $5250 for G04……and $8750 for G06. Do you think the bean adds that much value to a G04? Cheers, karl
This is it now
As an generalization, at auction, I expect CAC coins to sell around or more than price guides and non CAC coins to sell as little as half of price guides. The exception might be unique coins. To add to the confusion, there is the PCGS price guide and then there is the CAC price guide of 35 : 2 GO4 @ $5,500 & 36 : 1 GO6 @ $8,000.
While it is even further confusing, It might be helpful to look at Great Collections past sales. Fourteen GO6s sold ranging from $3,659 to $7,875 & only two GO4s at $4,781 & $5.083
Having said all of that, I think you have a really nice coin and I hope you will enjoy it "as is" in the years to come. If CACG values strengthen, I would then send it to CACG..
In case by some chance, GC isn't the only auction company to have auctioned such coins, 😉 it might also be helpful to look at past sales of other auction houses.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I’d like a better pic, but yours looks like a nice original example. I prefer the third coin to yours, but both are very nice. When looking at low-grade examples, originally is everything to me. You have a beautiful example. I’d leave it as-is.
Dave
I don't think the third coin has been cleaned. I suspect it is just the photo.
My own opinion, based on the photos:
Coin one: Solid Good 4 but not Good 6.
Coin two: Very low end Good 4.
Coin three: Good 6, nice mark free surfaces and somewhat less wear than either of the other two coins.