1901 S barber quarter. Is it over-rated or under-rated
partagas
Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭
Was at the local dealers shop today. He had a very nice problem free raw AG03 1901-S barber for a very nice price. I am mulling it over. What is your opinion of this date.
If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around. Am I still wrong?
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My signiture line shows other coins that I am looking for; these dates are in my collection but are either net graded ANACS coins or NGC coins that can't be included in the PCGS registry.
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The 13-S quarter has a much lower mintage, (even lower than the 16 slq), but is available MUCH cheaper......
There's the one you want..... the 13-S !!!
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Seated Half set by date/mm COMPLETE !
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Thanks to all whom have replied.
Right now I know of two 1901-S quarters for sale in higher grades: PCGS VF30 or 35, and an NGC AU 55.
PM me if you want to know where and how much.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
One might argue that every collectible in the world is "over-rated." Another collector might say "my coin is under-rated because I have one of 3 in existence", but the term is meaningless without the more important word, POPULARITY.
I know the frustration of almost completing a date/mintmark set, missing the monster stopper date, but the 1901-s Barber quarter, for me, is an unusually scary date for several reasons:
Firstly, as others have said, it is so rare above VG, that the majority of collectors are forced to settle for a very low grade. This wouldn't be too bad if your entire set was in the grade range of AG-VG, but what if you had a nicely matched set of FINES? A complete set of Fines and one 1901-s in AG? Not too pretty and it will haunt you forever.
Secondly, THE PRICE! And for an AG, no less!
Finally, low grade Barbers in AG-G grade range tend to turn up much more than the more desirable grade of FINE. The strategy for many, is to upgrade their heavily worn coins to a better grade. With the 1901-s quarter, this might mean upgrading to a VG which is much much more attractive than an AG. Many collectors would be thrilled to have a complete Fine-12 set with only one date, the 01-s in VG. But, even in that grade, a problem-free 01-s rarely turns up. Again, it is very expensive.
The 1901-s quarter is the main reason I would not even start a Barber Quarter set. The lack of availability in higher grades and the out of this world price for low grades make me run for the hills!
The market goes in cycles. It shouldn't be too hard to tell if we're closer to the top or bottom right now.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I always try to keep in mind that the 1901-S in THE key date in a series that doesn't see much demand, it always has been and it always will be. If I ever get a chance (including having the $$$) to buy a nice example, I'll probably do it. Ditto for the 1913-S. I can't come close to saying the same for a 1909-SVDB Lincoln, however.
I would vote grossly underrated in anything VG or higher.
Dave
The price for a FINE or VF is astronomically higher than other dates WITHIN ITS OWN SERIES. It is misleading to compare that date to a VF 1916 standing liberty quarter, a key date that has always been popular for a whole host of reasons.
At what point will collectors say, yes, the 01-s quarter is rare above VG, but I won't pay that price for that status? I can't answer that, and nobody can, but if the price gets much higher, many just might switch to another series.
Barber halves are challenging and no dates are unreasonably high. After all, it's the exact same design.
I remember the cost of a 96 s quarter was less than 20k in ms 65 about 2 years ago.Now it is priced above 50 K in ms 65
stewart
Connor Numismatics Website
<< <i>I agree, overpriced and over hyped in AG-3 and G-4. Alot smaller numbers are available in G-6 and VG-8, forget about the numbers in F-12 and above. The reason I bought a 01-s in VG-8, was because the VG-8 has quite a bit more detail compared to a G-4, and as such, the coin is alot more attractive in this grade. In addition, a 01-s in VG-8 is proportionately much scarcer than one in AG-3 or G-4. To me it made alot more sense to spend $9,000.00 for a really nice certified VG-8, than spend $4,500.00 for a G-4. >>
I think your VG-8 purchase was a very smart move. If I started a Barber quarter set, my goal for the 01-s would also be in that grade. A VG-8 is significantly more attractive and much scarcer than an AG or G-4. In the rare event that a FINE or higher does turn up, the VG-8 is going to look even more attractive. I say this because the price for that higher grade will make us faint!
Oh, please!!!!!
Standing Liberty quarters are very popular, especially when compared to the earlier Barber quarter series. The 1916-P is hyped, yet is easily available is any grade. One could argue a good case that they are both hyped, yet the price of the 01-S vs. the 16-P clearly indicates the true rarity of the 01-S.
If the small number of Barber collectors were to expand much, I would expect the gap in price between the 1916-P and 1901-S would wider much further.
Bottom line, the 01-S is tough in any grade above G4. A killer date, which effectively stops most date/mm collectors from ever tackling the quarters.
Dave
<< <i>It is misleading to compare that date to a VF 1916 standing liberty quarter, a key date that has always been popular for a whole host of reasons.
Oh, please!!!!!
Standing Liberty quarters are very popular, especially when compared to the earlier Barber quarter series. The 1916-P is hyped, yet is easily available is any grade. One could argue a good case that they are both hyped, yet the price of the 01-S vs. the 16-P clearly indicates the true rarity of the 01-S.
If the small number of Barber collectors were to expand much, I would expect the gap in price between the 1916-P and 1901-S would wider much further.
Bottom line, the 01-S is tough in any grade above G4. A killer date, which effectively stops most date/mm collectors from ever tackling the quarters.
Dave >>
HUH???
And why is the 1916 "hyped" so much? WHY???? Gee, I just don't have a clue. Could it be that it is a first year issue that was only produced at one mint? Could it be that it has an unusually low mintage for a twentieth century Philadephia issue? Could it be that it is a one year type, differing very much from the 1917 type1? Could it be that it was designed to replace and improve upon your beloved Barber quarter?
Yep, the 1901-s is much harder to find and more expensive than the 16 slq, but SO WHAT. There are 19th Century issues that are much harder to find than the 1901-s and are valued less. The 16 is valuable for different reasons than the 1901-s, reasons that you are well aware of.
You say that an increase in the number of Barber quarter collectors would widen the price gap between the two. But, what if there's an increase in popularity of Standing Liberty quarters? What if the 1916 is officially recognized and promoted as a separate type by the grading services?
I have a question for you. Why isn't the 18/7-s Standing Liberty quarter valued much higher than the 16 in circulated grades? After all, the overdate is much rarer, very popular and "hyped" as you like to say. You cannot use the argument that overdates aren't as popular because the Buffalo nickel overdate price would shatter that point.
And why is the 1916 "hyped" so much? WHY???? Gee, I just don't have a clue. Could it be that it is a first year issue that was only produced at one mint? Could it be that it has an unusually low mintage for a twentieth century Philadephia issue? Could it be that it is a one year type, differing very much from the 1917 type1? Could it be that it was designed to replace and improve upon your beloved Barber quarter?
Irrelevent points. So what? And your point would be…...that you like the SLQ series? Neat...and "that it impoved upon the design oif the Barber series"? Okay....interesting logic. Did the Franklin half improve upon the Walking Liberty half? Again, irrelevant points.
Yep, the 1901-s is much harder to find and more expensive than the 16 slq
I think you are finally "getting it". We’re making progress here.
But, what if there's an increase in popularity of Standing Liberty quarters?
Unless it was a fairly large increase, it wouldn’t matter much, since the 16-P is readily available. I know this stings a little, but it's reality.
What if the 1916 is officially recognized and promoted as a separate type by the grading services?
Put down the crack pipe. They may recognize it as a new variety of a Seated Half, but I doubt that too.
Why isn't the 18/7-s Standing Liberty quarter valued much higher than the 16 in circulated grades?
No idea, but I’m sure you’ll educate me.
Dave
> an increase in the number of Barber quarter collectors would widen the price gap between the two (01-S and 16-P)
Folks made this assumption in the last 30 years (or even longer), it never happened. Most likely, it won't happen in the next 30 years, IMO.
In short, making this hype to further hype some coins' prices is not a smart move. Just my two cents
<< <i>Hmmmm, your attraction to the classic SLQ series is obvious, and it’s frankly clouding your judgment.
Why isn't the 18/7-s Standing Liberty quarter valued much higher than the 16 in circulated grades?
No idea, but I’m sure you’ll educate me.
Dave. >>
Does the word popularity go in on ear and out the other? Do you really need to ask?
Dave, life is so unfair, so illogical, especially when rare items don't get the amount attention they deserve. I feel for you. After all, given the careful research, we simply must conclude that the 1901-s Barber quarter should be much more expensive than the "overrated hyped" key dates. Maybe the 1901-s quarter should be $100,000 in VF-20.
Dave, all sarcasm aside, I want you to know that I am not dimishing the importance of the 1901-s Barber quarter. I would love to own one in any grade, VG and up. I just feel that to compare two very different issues based on availability is a no win situation. There is no conclusion, no right or wrong. Sometimes a certain degree of availability increases the desire to start and realistically finish a set. Sometimes a set has a coin to dream about, such as the 1901-s in Fine-12. In this case, the collector has patience and feels that it's worth the wait. Both are valid reasons to collect what we like
In my opinion, the cyclical nature of the market will create dropping prices for the 1901-S Barber quarter in all grades, but the highest percentage correction will probably be the AG-G coins and the higher end spectrum of the mint state grades. This doesn't mean that prices will crash, but that percentage-wise, you might see the bigger potential losses in those grades that are most available, if and when prices correct some.
The 1901-S has been a well known and very popular date for decades now and it is unlikely many more survivors will turn up. Even with the higher number of AG-Good coins, its numbers are limited and quite restricted even in those lowly grades, so no matter what, you are buying a very scarce coin no matter how you shake it. The price does seem high to me and currently this presents quite a connundrum. Probably the reason quite a few coins have come on the market recently is because of its skyrocketing price, otherwise, they would be stashed away never to see the light of day under normal market conditions.
It is a tough call, and one to make if you truly love the series. If you are just looking to fill a hole, that is some serious dough to shell out, in a market that has risen quite high of late. Good luck on your decision
Tyler
Edited to add. No matter who the seller, what the coin looks like, or the assurances you might get....have the coin AUTHENTICATED first as as a condition to buy the coin. Save yourself a world of disappointment!