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Official hello to Barber collectors
InYHWHWeTrust
Posts: 1,451 ✭✭✭
I would like to apologize for recently jumping in on the Barber threads, without introducing myself. My name is Don and I officially joined this forum last year but never posted much, just lurking trying to get educated on general coin issues. I am definitely a collector, not investor. I spent last year on CoinPeople as dsoles, most of the time in their wonderful political Debates section and occasionally in the US coin forum, asking/learning more than anything. Great site, Stujoe, if you are reading. We moved our residence in March, and I stopped posting there not too long thereafter. I started back into coin collecting about 3 years ago, was a childhood Lincoln cent collector from the 70s, and never finished my Whitmans.
Anyways, I started a G/aG Barber quarter set about 2 years ago in attempt to get sets of all the 20th century or thereabouts US coins in low grade, nothing fancy, just decent well worn coins at the quarterly club shows (this has since morphed into a US Type set project in VF-XF). Within a short time, I had almost finished the quarters (minus the big 3), when a local dealer known as a Barber expert of sorts, was selling off a bunch of G Halves at way low prices. About every other one had this dark peripheral tone rim around the stars, I had to have them, cannot explain it. After about 6 months, VG wasn't too much more $ and extra detail was pleasing, so I started "upgrading" (didn't know that was what is called at the time). The other US coin issues were being neglected, especially the Lincolns, and the kids started noting I was becoming a 'specialist.' I found it very difficult to finish the set in VG-- to find nice original coins, or I was getting way too picky. The local shows and coin shop were tapped dry. I became impatient I had to 'resort' to Ebay, and there some VG-Fs were showing up to fill the holes--then the G6s started to look, well, ...so you know where this going by now? ..........yep, .....tchild2 's auctions.... and another addict was officially born.
I would like to thank Tyler for his patience in answering recent questions and extra friendliness. I didn't get hooked reading magazine articles, of self fulfilling prophecies about undervalued coins, etc or posts here about Barbers. I would like to think it was the "if there's one coin I KNOW I'll never collect, it's them ugly Barbers" statement I made when getting back into collecting that doomed me.
Thanks to many others, I have learned a great deal from reading your posts and visiting your websites in recent weeks re: your Barber collections.
My other hobby is speckled trout fishing (salt-water) here on the east coast, and the similarities to mid grade Barber collecting are frightening: Beautiful to look at, Wondeful to 'own' and Appreciation by fellow chasers, are just starters. Whenever a new trout fisherman shows up near our 'secret' holes, it takes a lot patience and restraint to remember we were all once were newbies-- even if it was our parents teaching us and we 'inherited' such enchanting hobbies as angling and numismatics from the womb.
For every coin I have sniped, I 've lost at least 3 more, so don't get mad at me .. and I've paid way mroe than I ever thought for these derned things. They just have to STAY POPULAR forever now.
Don S
PS: I know there is no hyphen in salt-water, but the filter keeps reading T-W-A-T in salt-water as a forbidden word and won't let me post
Anyways, I started a G/aG Barber quarter set about 2 years ago in attempt to get sets of all the 20th century or thereabouts US coins in low grade, nothing fancy, just decent well worn coins at the quarterly club shows (this has since morphed into a US Type set project in VF-XF). Within a short time, I had almost finished the quarters (minus the big 3), when a local dealer known as a Barber expert of sorts, was selling off a bunch of G Halves at way low prices. About every other one had this dark peripheral tone rim around the stars, I had to have them, cannot explain it. After about 6 months, VG wasn't too much more $ and extra detail was pleasing, so I started "upgrading" (didn't know that was what is called at the time). The other US coin issues were being neglected, especially the Lincolns, and the kids started noting I was becoming a 'specialist.' I found it very difficult to finish the set in VG-- to find nice original coins, or I was getting way too picky. The local shows and coin shop were tapped dry. I became impatient I had to 'resort' to Ebay, and there some VG-Fs were showing up to fill the holes--then the G6s started to look, well, ...so you know where this going by now? ..........yep, .....tchild2 's auctions.... and another addict was officially born.
I would like to thank Tyler for his patience in answering recent questions and extra friendliness. I didn't get hooked reading magazine articles, of self fulfilling prophecies about undervalued coins, etc or posts here about Barbers. I would like to think it was the "if there's one coin I KNOW I'll never collect, it's them ugly Barbers" statement I made when getting back into collecting that doomed me.
Thanks to many others, I have learned a great deal from reading your posts and visiting your websites in recent weeks re: your Barber collections.
My other hobby is speckled trout fishing (salt-water) here on the east coast, and the similarities to mid grade Barber collecting are frightening: Beautiful to look at, Wondeful to 'own' and Appreciation by fellow chasers, are just starters. Whenever a new trout fisherman shows up near our 'secret' holes, it takes a lot patience and restraint to remember we were all once were newbies-- even if it was our parents teaching us and we 'inherited' such enchanting hobbies as angling and numismatics from the womb.
For every coin I have sniped, I 've lost at least 3 more, so don't get mad at me .. and I've paid way mroe than I ever thought for these derned things. They just have to STAY POPULAR forever now.
Don S
PS: I know there is no hyphen in salt-water, but the filter keeps reading T-W-A-T in salt-water as a forbidden word and won't let me post
Do your best to avoid circular arguments, as it will help you reason better, because better reasoning is often a result of avoiding circular arguments.
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BTW, welcome and take off your shoes, enjoy yourself.
Lots of buy-side pressure is forcing prices higher in FINE and better material. Much higher.... But if you are patient, you’ll find a nice, original piece here and there. It’s a very rewarding series to collect in F-XF. I’m more interested in the Quarters, but I’ve been warming up to the Halves as well.
Again, welcome!
Dave
siliconvalleycoins.com
Dave
Now, fishing is another matter entirely!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Looking for Denmark 1874 20-Kroner. Please offer.
There's a great bunch of guys on this forum, (of course I'm referring to the Barber folks), that will be a great resource for you. Alot of the Barber collectors on this forum are members of the BCCS (Barber Coin Collector's Society). Membership in the BCCS is inexpensive, and it's a great way to gain added knowledge about Barber coinage (current information on Barber coins is quite limited).
It's always nice to have another Barber nut joining the ranks.......you'll have fun collecting them.
Connor Numismatics Website
Yes, the thrill of the chase and relative scarcity that can drive you crazy, to the point of despair, and then you .... hook one-- I mean find a nice Half that matches the set-- I think it's the same adrenaline rush. Well, then you're fixed for a little while; until you start praying again, 'just one more, just one more!'
Nice one, MikeinFL! Craig must have the fish:coin connection, too!
The BCCS sounds like a great idea, Dan F.-- will google them up when I sign out here in a few minutes.
Thank you all again and look forward to seeing you around here.
Don S
Connor Numismatics Website
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
<< <i>I just went to my bookmarked link for the BCCS and it was gone!
Tom,
The BCCS website is currently undergoing changes, the new website should be up and running around November, 2005.
Don - I sent you a PM regarding the BCCS website.
Connor Numismatics Website
Another Barberite !
You're starting where I started. You'll enjoy the series in that grade.
Once you've gotten the hang of things; ( BTW: Stay with top three TPG's) ; you'll more than likely go for VF/XF examples.
We're all here for you !
Mike
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Welcome !!! Thought you'd like this matched pair of toned Barbers (1892 25c PCGS MS66 and 1892 50c PCGS MS66).
Sunnywood
Sunnywood's Rainbow-Toned Morgans (Retired)
Sunnywood's Barber Quarters (Retired)
When I first started posting here, Barbers were the ugly ducklings of the forum, which featured many posts about Franklins and Morgans. Now Barber threads are common here, and it's considered hip to rise to the challenge of collecting these.
Let me make it up to you all with some real eye candy.
Tyler
Now you're talking......
If that's your wife, or girlfriend, you're spending way too much time collecting Barbers.
Connor Numismatics Website
Dan,
That's Tyler, I recognise the belly-button "bar-bells".
Nice "pecs" Tyler !
Glad you're still "working out" !
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
That is an amazing pair of '92 Barbers, with matching original toning. Wild! But where’s the poor dime ???
(but I do like the girl more)
Dave
<< <i>I would like to thank Tyler for his patience in answering recent questions and extra friendliness. >>
Don - You are sooo in trouble.. that's the bum
They are beautiful.
I've been collecting them for years and don't intend to change a thing.
Welcome fellow Barber collector!
Interesting that you make an analogy between fishing and collecting coins. Another
board member and I have been exchanging notes about trolling for coins and landing
the big one. We will watch a big-ticket Barber dime on the bay and wonder who is going
to bite. It's not hard to guess what we mean by "throw it back".
Steve