Hi All, I'm a novice in the Barber series but this past week I've learned a lot about looking at low grade Barber half dollars from a few users on the forum and I really appreciate it. Why a barber half and quarter? Well I am sort of working on a type set I guess you could say. I also realize that just having 1 or 2 coins I want to buy and waiting for it means I could be waiting forever and never add anything to my collection. Since I am into barber halves right now, I figure why not quarters too? The design is warming up on me. I am eyeing these 2 quarters, I think they both have pictures that really show a nice looking coin compared to all the other ones I saw. One of them is priced higher than the price guide and subsequent auction results and the other one is lower than the price guide but still higher than past auction results. The first 2 images are 1 coin and the second 2 are the second. I know the grade of these 2 coins and I am asking about what the users here think because I like them and want to learn why you think they are what you think they are. So if you think each coin is X grade, could you give me a sentence or 2 as to why so that I can learn something? . In a day or 2 I will post the actual grades - although I am sure you can find them if you really want to know. Thanks for your knowledge!
AU58 AU50 I wouldn't buy either of these coins. They are both unattractive to my eye and there are plenty of AU Barber Quarters that are beautiful and so close to MS64. If you really are type set hunting, you should really be looking for a 1916-D which are much easier to find.
Why 1916-D? Is that the most common date? I like 1914 and 1896 because they are both significant to me and in a perfect world my type coin from this series would be one of those 2 dates. But I understand that it's not a perfect world.
Yes, the 1916-D is the common date, but 1914 shouldn't be too hard to find. Just have some patience and a good example will show itself. Check the Heritage weekly auctions, a good place to find Barber material.
I'm not too far off from @Lehigh96 on grades. 1. AU-55 negative eye appeal. The crud around the devices and the color are just a turn off for me. 2. AU-53 again negative eye appeal. Both of these are not great coins to look at, personally I would pass on them. A Type coin is something that should represent that series in a positive manner. You should really like the coin that you choose to represent the series and denomination. As @Lehigh96 mentioned above, you can find spectacular looking AU-55 and AU-58 coins if you have the patients for the hunt. The more common a coin is, typically means a shorter hunt for a good example, which is why he suggested the 1916-D. But we understand that the two dates you mentioned have a significance to you and that is very understandable. We wish you luck on your hunt. The two coins above, is this the type of look you're looking for? Or are they just in the ballpark of your budget? Some of us have differing opinions on eye appeal and your's may differ from ours, so don't take our opinions on the coins above to heart. We are only stating our opinions.
So I put those 2 here because I appreciate a little bit of toning as apposed to just a blast white coin because I think it gives it some character. The 2 coins actually are listed for different prices. But both do fit a budget. Ideally its $200-$400 for a nice one.
For that price range, you should be able to get an MS62 or MS63 example. The difference between a mint state barber and an AU is significant. I wouldn't settle for an AU type coin if I could afford a mint state example. I don't have a 1914 to show you but compare this 1897 to the coins you are considering purchasing. I purchased this coin raw for $350 and sold it graded for $400.
I'll just spill the grades. Coin #1 was in an NGC 64 slab when it was sold by heritage about 2 years ago. I then later saw that it was sold again by heritage 3 months ago in a PCGS 64 + CAC slab. And it is currenly on eBay in the same PCGS 64 + CAC slab. It sold for more as an NGC 64 than it did as a PCGS 64 + CAC. The second one is in an ANACS 55 slab.
Ok, I found the listing, here it is. Don't worry totally, nobody is gonna buy this thing out from under you. 1914 Barber Quarter PCGS MS64 CAC The incomplete detail on the reverse on the claws and arrows is related to the strike, not wear. The reason I called this coin AU58 is because their appears to be friction on the cheek, hair, and right obverse field. Not having seen the coin in hand, it is perfectly feasible that those discolorations are related to toning and not wear. Since both PCGS and CAC have seen the coin and graded it MS64, we should probably accept their grade. That said, it is still a deplorable example in terms of eye appeal and certainly not something I would want as a type coin in my collection.
When you point those things out, I do see them. The arrow and claws is interesting. I compared Coin #1 to the image @Lehigh96 posted up there. And the one you posted definitely has more detail on the bottom part of the arrows and the claws. In otherwords I should look for one with full detail so to speak on the bottom part of the arrows as that would help to indicate a nice strike.
Yes, but also be aware that weakness in that area of the coin should not be used to determine if the coin is mint state or AU since mint state coins will present strike weakness that mimics wear.
I would pass on both as well. Search hard. You will find nice coins if you look hard enough, but the fact that they are nice will make them few and far between.
