Is this what I think it is? (1896 S Barber Quarter)

Picked this out of a junk bin yesterday (for melt value, due to condition.) Is it what I think it is?





Have to admit, the mint mark (at least, what I think I see as an S mint mark) is MUCH more difficult to see in hand. Really shows up a lot better in digital images (which is super helpful.)

It's worn. It's damaged. But is there enough detail left to attribute it as an 1896 S?

Side note: I do think I can see parallel lines in the ear on the obverse, which apparently is a diagnostic as many coins from both die pairs were clashed with the shield on the reverse.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

IMO…just barely. You would almost have to have it authenticated by a TPG. This is P02, in my humble estimation, and Numista has it listing at $740/G4.

So 2 grades less ( more less than less less )(?)…it would be a value of maybe $175.00 USD…not really the threshhold for grading and slabbing but maybe, just maybe worth the shot…imo…Spark

BTW…Very nice and lucky find!

 

I agree with most of your thinking - although I'd be significantly surprised if a TPG would straight grade it (guessing it would just come back as "authentic" due to the rim damage.) Like you said, not really valuable enough in this condition to spend the time/money involved sending it to a TPG (maybe ANACS?)

IMHO, if it's a genuine 1896 S, it's a nice cheap filler coin for someone putting together a set and missing the "Big 3." For my purposes, since I don't collect by sets, it's more just a super fun junk bin pickup.

Thanks for responding!

 

A shame that bend smashed one of the authentication pickup points (position of 1 and 8 relative to denticles)!

It sure looks like an S to me, but of course (like you) I'm primed to spot an S in the noise on any 1896 quarter. From these images, it's hard to imagine that it's not really there.

I'd send this one to @Insider at ICG in a heartbeat. Sure, it's the smallest of the Big 3 Barber quarters, but it's still one of the big 3.

 

Yeah, that crossed my mind too - keeping in mind that counterfeiters like to intentionally damage coins in just the right places to make it difficult to completely attribute.

Always this - you see what you want to see, and you hear what you want to hear...
(shoutout to Harry Nilsson)

Re: ICG/Insider, I think I've had him on ignore for years over a giveaway contest I tried to do here where he just wouldn't stop picking at it. If I were to ever send it to a TPG, it would probably be ANACS.

Thanks for responding!

 

I agree that is a "S". If it is , without doubt for me, nice find.

 

What in Heaven's name are you boys seeing, here, I'm not seeing anything, somebody please point out where this S is...

 

Although I do see the Mars face...

 

Slightly above and to the left of the D in DOLLAR. There is a small x scratched just to the left of the mint mark.

 

That's the low S position. OP's coin appears to be the high S, at least to me.

 

Yeah, I can't not see it now.

 

Crap. I just pulled an image off of NGC Coin Explorer and cropped it. I know nothing of the series or this particular date/mint.

Stupid dog.

At least I know my right from my left, though.

 

Bad dog.

 

Just for the authentication it might just barely be worth it; ANACS is cheap and doesn't require a membership. I'm thinking it would probably get Poor details, damaged. So the grade's not much help but the authentication might be.

 

Pareidolia.......

 

I see the Mars face in this but not the S.

 

I see what you're looking at, now. It's just above the Man from Mars.