Crazy Money for Barber Halves
Cratylus
Posts: 871 ✭
Did anybody else besides me follow the complete set of midgrade Barber Halves that was just auctioned off on Ebay? Of the 73 coins being offered, at most only a dozen were original and uncleaned. The rest were obviously wiped, cleaned, scratched, and otherwise junky and shiny (polished) looking coins. Sorry to offend the seller if he's a member here, I'm just calling them like I see them. I did manage to win one of the original looking pieces for a slightly inflated price. Nonetheless, the entire set (auctioned off coin by coin) went for almost $15,600! Has the coin collecting crowd on Ebay just gone nuts??? What is the fascination with obvious problem coins???
What's really sad is that if I were to break up my complete set (which looks WORLDS better than the stuff that just sold), I'd probably make less than what this guy just made.
What's really sad is that if I were to break up my complete set (which looks WORLDS better than the stuff that just sold), I'd probably make less than what this guy just made.
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Comments
Cary,
Missed the ebay group you mentioned. Nothing surprises me anymore about what sells on ebay. Now, don't discount the Barbers new level of pricing; your set ( which most of us know is very choice ) has appreciated far beyond your wildest dreams, but that realization must not have sunk in yet. I know you are always looking for original Barber halves, and I'm sure you've noticed that the new coins you're buying are costing you double what they did last year.
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Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Most collectors of circulated Barbers focus on level of detail
when surfing the bay. They know that 7 letters of LIBERTY is
Fine and that full rims are G+. I think they are more interested in filling a hole
with quantity rather than quality. If most of the coins they see have some
sort of problem they become used to it. That's why they bid real strong for
run of the mill coins that don't have a problem. To them that is PQ.
I was the same way and I bet most advanced collectors went through that stage before
they saw enough coins to develop an educated eye. I've got a 1869 IHC I bought 30
years ago because I was thrilled with the date. Today I cringe when I look at it.
Steve
But it was the only original piece he had, and it was priced just like all the other coins in his case - Red Book.
So I am happy with what I got, but it made me think that everyone else is looking for something else.
Yes, I did notice them, and looked at them all with great anticipation. Most, as you say, were not that nice, so I passed on them. But I had no idea that they brought that much in total. Amazing!
I did watch the tougher dates getting chased hard, problems or not. Seems as though collectors putting together complete sets will really “reach” when it comes to the tough dates. Not me. I just wait until Tyler upgrades. Of course, he has a strong following on FeeBay, and his “junk”
Amazing…
Dave
<< <i>I see the same thing in Barber dimes. This is my theory --
Most collectors of circulated Barbers focus on level of detail
when surfing the bay. They know that 7 letters of LIBERTY is
Fine and that full rims are G+. I think they are more interested in filling a hole
with quantity rather than quality. If most of the coins they see have some
sort of problem they become used to it. That's why they bid real strong for
run of the mill coins that don't have a problem. To them that is PQ.
I was the same way and I bet most advanced collectors went through that stage before
they saw enough coins to develop an educated eye. I've got a 1869 IHC I bought 30
years ago because I was thrilled with the date. Today I cringe when I look at it.
Steve >>
Steve, I think you nailed it.
Greg Hansen, Melbourne, FL Click here for any current EBAY auctions Multiple "Circle of Trust" transactions over 14 years on forum
Barbers are very popular in the midgrade, and if not completely dipped out and ugly they still command fairly healthy premiums from bidders. I have seen a number of complete sets of Barber halves and all but the rarest of collectors has cleaned Barbers either as a large percentage or as a majority of the collection.
I think that is what really attracted me to the series. They are hard enough to find in mid-grade as it is, but finding them wholly original and with great appeal is very difficult for all but a half dozen of the most common dates. That is what makes the series so challenging and so rewarding to complete. An all original set CANNOT be completed by anyone except the long term dedicated collector. Big money won't do it, nor will connections to the biggest dealers across the country. TIME is what you must have to do the set original, matched and with nice eye appeal.
A certain, undying fanaticism doesn't hurt either.
Tyler
Finding nice coins is much more difficult then I figured, but it is fun and relaxing to do.....
I can't think of the last coin I bid on, and won, on Ebay. On the rare occasion, that I bid on a choice coin on Ebay, (Tyler's 1896-o Barber half in VF-30 was my last), bids are going thru the roof. I was the under bidder, on Tyler's coin, and I have no clue as to how much it would have taken to snag that beauty. In many instances, IMO, prices paid for coins, won on Ebay, are much higher, than similar coins offered by reputable dealers (thru mail order or at shows).
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