Your Opinion Of This Barber Half Please

JMOORE · November 22, 2003 7:31AM

I am thinking about bidding on this one. It is graded PCGS MS64

What do you think of it?

Thanks,

Jim

Placid · November 22, 2003 7:33AM

Looks like a 64 to me.

XpipedreamR · November 22, 2003 7:34AM

I think it looks decent.

jdimmick · November 22, 2003 7:36AM

Jim,

I like the coin. I think it has a nice pleasing look and looks like a solid 4. A much better date in MS. (65 will run 10k)

jim d

darktone · November 22, 2003 7:40AM

It looks nice but I think it's the kind of toning that could have a very different appearence in person. mike

nwcs · November 22, 2003 7:43AM

It's saying it's rather plain looking to me.

Dog97 · November 22, 2003 7:51AM

I don't think much of it. If it had pretty or even at least original tone it would be better but since it's ugly & spotted and obviously suffering from a bad dip job I think it's a really rotten coin.

lordmarcovan · November 22, 2003 7:51AM

What darktone just said. The lighting in the photo might be boosted, and the coin could have a dull appearance in person.

However, if there is a return policy, I say go for it- it is better looking than most, to my point of view. In my type set days I went through a coupla MS64 Barber halves and never found the right one. I ended up buying an ex-Benson PCGS PR63 CAM instead. Had I found an MS64 that looked like "your" coin there looks in the picture, I might have stayed with a business strike. On both, there seem to be so many blotchy or streaky or spotted or just plain ugly-toned pieces- it's hard to find a nice looking one.

The proof I bought has led me down the road to perdition- now business strikes just don't hold a candle to proofs in my eyes.

Note that I sacrificed some "originality" for eye appeal, in the end- not everyone would do that. It's pretty certain that my coin was lacquered and later "curated" at one point. I don't care, though.

The coin you posted, on the other hand, looks like a decent original to me, and "original" and "decent" are two words I seldom use when talking about Barber halves. Coins that are both original AND OK-looking are definitely in the minority. Go for it.

PS- Now I see that Dog97 says it's dipped. Oh well. Goes to show you how much I know. I have always stunk at being able to detect retoned coins. Who cares, I think your coin there is OK. Maybe you should hold out for a nicer one, but it'll be a while before you find one.

Dog97 · November 22, 2003 8:26AM

lordmarcovan mentions his Proof Barber- In his case it has nice cameo & frost which will allow me to overlook a few hairlines, which is why his is a 63. Nowdays you got to trade off & compromise a neg attribute for a positive one but the ½ in this thread has NOTHING going for it.
I agree with PCGS's 64 grade assignment and I know it won't look so brown & retoned in person & a novice collector will be happy with it and won't know any better but on a $2,000 coin I would hold out for one without any such obvious problems.

JMOORE · November 22, 2003 8:28AM

Everyone,

As always, I appreciate your comments!!

Thanks,

Jim

Your Opinion Of This Barber Half Please

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