When it comes to Barber Halves, I have become a accumulator

Bear · October 11, 2006 10:27AM

I cant help myself. Instead of attempting to complete

a circulated set, I just keep buying beautiful VF/XF halves,

with that natural look, color and nice surfaces. Do I need to see

Dr Phil?

sweetwilliet · October 11, 2006 10:37AM

I have the same problem with morgans, I get a date, then find a better one, then a better, and have many duplicates. Yes, go see Dr. Phil, and see him for me, too.

Bear · October 11, 2006 10:46AM

MFH · October 11, 2006 11:02AM

<< I cant help myself. Instead of attempting to complete

a circulated set, I just keep buying beautiful VF/XF halves,

with that natural look, color and nice surfaces. Do I need to see

Dr Phil? >>

Before you see Dr. Phil, I know that Dr. Don would like to see you first.

I was wondering what you were up to...and you've picked up quite a few very nice Barber halves along the way...havn't you ?? !!!!!!

Seems that you and I ( amoungst others ) have gone head to head more than a few times.

So...when are you planning on selling off a few of your duplicates ? [ I should talk ].

TheRaven · October 11, 2006 1:17PM

I don't find collecting nice barbers to be odd at all.....

MrBreeze · October 11, 2006 1:22PM

Bear,

Sickness begins when you want to put together "progression" sets. I am toying with the idea of completing three different sets - G/VG, F/VF & XF. I like something about each of those grade levels. I think I have caught a little Craigitis.

Bear · October 11, 2006 1:25PM

Mr Breeze, now that is indeed

a sickness. Three sets, WOW!

ccr · October 11, 2006 1:29PM

<< Do I need to see Dr Phil? >>

Why, does he have " beautiful VF/XF halves, with that natural look, color and nice surfaces " too !?

SkyMan · October 11, 2006 1:34PM

<< I cant help myself. Instead of attempting to complete

a circulated set, I just keep buying beautiful VF/XF halves,

with that natural look, color and nice surfaces. Do I need to see

Dr Phil? >>

Ummm, Bear, last I looked VF/XF halves were circulated. Are you saying you're trying to complete a full type set?

Anyhow, last I heard, Bears stocked up for the winter so they could sleep through it. Clearly you're just following your genetic destiny.

Bear · October 11, 2006 1:36PM

Coins trump, genetic destiny.

Casey · October 11, 2006 2:37PM

I'm working on two set of dimes. Yep, I'm sick.

Barberman55 · October 12, 2006 1:43AM

Bear,

I think that many of us hardcore Barber half fanatics, who collect in the circulated grades, find it very hard to pass on a circ Barber half when the price is right, and that "special" look is there. This becomes even more apparent with the semi-key/key date coins.

I initially started collecting Barber halves in AU grades, and since have expanded to include VF/XF coins. I love the look of nice VF/XF Barber halves so my half set may eventually be used to start a VF/XF set and an AU set too.

With this in mind........what do I do with the beautiful, raw, (I would grade them both F-15), 1901-S and 1901-O Barber halves that I couldn't pass on? Start another set in the fine range?

I had a dealer friend tell me one time, "don't worry so much about completing sets, concentrate more on picking up nice original coins with super eye appeal". At the rate that I'm going, I may never complete the set with all the coins being in the same grade range, like VF/XF. Hopefully though, my completed set will contain some really nice coins, albeit, covering a very wide range of circulated grades.

MFH · October 12, 2006 4:44AM

Dan,

Do what I do...just buy another Dansco album.

Better yet, do as Bear does...send them PCGS and get them certified; afterall, you're about to place your set on the Registry arn't you ?

I still buy eye appealing coins even though I may have a few duplicates - one of these days I have to stop and figure out what will be kept in their holders, what'll be cracked out for the Dansco(s) and what I'll sell off. Its a very difficult decision.

rhedden · October 12, 2006 5:05AM

A solution to your problem would be to buy all of your missing key dates as soon as possible. Then you will have no money left to buy duplicates of common dates. Works for me.

shirohniichan · October 12, 2006 5:21AM

Just how common are nice VF to EF Barber halves?

I see lots of them in AG to VG, a few in nice fine, but few in VF or EF that haven't been dipped and offered as the next grade up. For an example of this, look on eBay for "EF" Barbers and see what you find.

Is it really be so bad to be an accumulator of these coins if you rarely come across nice ones?

Dave99B · October 12, 2006 8:50AM

Nothing wrong accumulating nice original examples IF you can find any!

I commonly go to shows with 25 to 30 dealers. I feel lucky if I can locate one or two natural Barber halves in EF. Can't say the same for Morgan dollars, Lincoln cents, Buffalo nickels, Walking Liberties. etc, etc, blah, blah......you get the drift.

Dave

rays · October 12, 2006 8:51AM

How many are there? COuld one person hoard enough to affect the market?

MoneyCollector · October 12, 2006 9:08AM

I'm with Dave. When I go to a show I first look for acceptable coins. You won't find many. I then buy every one that is priced right. Occasionally you will get lucky and find the better dates that fit the criteria. Other times its the more common dates but your still happy as long as they have "the look." When you're unlucky, you bought something you later wished you hadn't just b/c you needed a fix and there was just nothing there.

I have many dupes but just keep accumulating. They are awesome coins.

Randy

seemyauction · October 12, 2006 9:18AM

Its called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder....we all have it

Bear · October 12, 2006 9:34AM

Obsessive / repulsive?

USCGCraig · October 12, 2006 10:20AM

Got some of my grade results back today. I now have 63 of the Barber Halves graded as XF45 in PCGS holders. A certain ex-Tyler Child 98-O in VF35 is now a dupe. Coin is at PCGS getting a Presidential Review along with a 95-P.

As for the news;

93-O Cleaned ANACS XF45-Cleaned (I don't believe so. I'll crack out and submit raw)
98-O XF45-ex NGC XF45
04-P XF45-ex NGC AU53
04-P AU50-ex NGC AU53
04-S VG10-ex NGC F12 (I new it was a VG10 but couldn't return coin)
05-P Cleaned-ex NGC XF45 (will crack out adn submit raw with 93-O
09-P AU53-ex ANACS AU55
14-S AU50-ex NGC AU55
1921 Missouri 2x4 ANACS MS63 Artificial Toning (my second time submitting. In first gen lettered ANACS holder. Coin is super gorgeous. I don't want to crack out of old holder and submit raw. Any ideas on this?)

Pretty darn happy. I hope to get the results of my Presidential Review tomorrow. I also have another 5 coins in but all are type coins.

When you see a beauty, you go for it especially with the halves. They just don't come available.

I have OCD. Works wonders in the military

MFH · October 12, 2006 10:45AM

Craig,

Most people might be a bit disappointed about getting an XF 45 out of an NGC 53 coin;
but I know you were tickled to death.

Congratulations on getting just much closer to your goal.
63 out of 73 ( 74 w/ micro O ) is great !

Yes, you have the right idea about submitting those two coins ( 93-O & 05-P )
in raw state. You might be better off.

The Tyler Child duplicate in VF 35, should be in an XF 40 holder
and good luck with the Presidential Review.

Images ?

MoneyCollector · October 12, 2006 10:54AM

Craig - only 10 more to go? You should be done in about 10 years!

Randy

USCGCraig · October 12, 2006 9:18PM

So Bear,

Do you have any dupes that I need?

Bear · October 13, 2006 1:16AM

Craig, you are too advanced a collector

for my coins to do you any good. I am just

accumulating nice coins, but unlike you, I am

going for a full set, including the really difficult coins.

JrGMan2004 · October 13, 2006 1:20AM

<< I cant help myself. Instead of attempting to complete

a circulated set, I just keep buying beautiful VF/XF halves,

with that natural look, color and nice surfaces. Do I need to see

Dr Phil? >>

I think it's good thing, Wise One! Those are tough coins... you should expand though and do Quarters and Dimes too, as they are just as tough, and will give you more variety

And you'd have to give up less jelly donuts for the dimes and quarters than the halves

BobaFett72 · October 13, 2006 1:21AM

Bear, where are all the photos?

Barberman55 · October 13, 2006 3:08AM

<< Dan,

Do what I do...just buy another Dansco album.

Better yet, do as Bear does...send them PCGS and get them certified; afterall, you're about to place your set on the Registry arn't you ?

I still buy eye appealing coins even though I may have a few duplicates - one of these days I have to stop and figure out what will be kept in their holders, what'll be cracked out for the Dansco(s) and what I'll sell off. Its a very difficult decision. >>

Mike,

I already bought an old album (it's not a Dansco or Whitman...... can't think of the brand name off hand) for my Barber quarters. I have quite a few raw, fine and VF quarters that can go into this album and I think the coins will look real nice in the old time album. The album is in mint condition and must be at least 40 years old or more. I'll look for a similar album for storing my Fine Barber halves. Besides the 01-S and 01-O, I've accumulated a number of Barber halves in Fine. What's good about the half album vs. the quarter album, is that at least I can eventually complete the half album and not have to worry about any missing coins, ie, "Big 3" Barber quarters.

I'll be paying a visit to my SDB tommorrow, getting all the certification numbers for my NGC and PCGS graded Barber quarters and halves. I'll probably put my coins on the NGC registry first, since a large amount of my Barber coins are in NGC holders and because they also accept PCGS graded coins too. I'll see how that goes........then tackle the PCGS Registry next. Looks like I'm in for a busy weekend!

When it comes to Barber Halves, I have become a accumulator

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