Little spin on a barber dime

I got hooked on looking for these a few years ago when a fellow collector (Joe Garbinini) shared his set of mercuries that he had accumulated over the years. Yes, a complete set of Mercs like the following.



Notice the ring in the center of the coin, yea I know, its an 1896S, what a shame. This ring was caused by a little silver bank people used to use to save up a roll of dimes. The top coin when compressed would get the special ring. What does this bank look like? Well, I have also purchased one of them for my little off the wall collection and thought I would share that with you as well. Notice the little knob on the top? its a little screw that keeps the dimes in the bank so they don't fall out. Watch at flea markets for these.. I paid a buck for mine. : )



Can you imagine what the odds are of completing a full set of dimes that had been the top dime in one of these banks? WOW

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Thanks for sharing!

I've seen plenty of those Barbers (may even still have some of them) and wondered what would cause that kind of damage.

 

[quote:

I got hooked on looking for these a few years ago when a fellow collector (Joe Garbinini) shared his set of mercuries that he had accumulated over the years. Yes, a complete set of Mercs like the following.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...s/1896sobv.jpg

Notice the ring in the center of the coin, yea I know, its an 1896S, what a shame. This ring was caused by a little silver bank people used to use to save up a roll of dimes. The top coin when compressed would get the special ring. What does this bank look like? Well, I have also purchased one of them for my little off the wall collection and thought I would share that with you as well. Notice the little knob on the top? its a little screw that keeps the dimes in the bank so they don't fall out. Watch at flea markets for these.. I paid a buck for mine. : )

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...mes/6f92_1.jpg

Can you imagine what the odds are of completing a full set of dimes that had been the top dime in one of these banks? WOW end quote)


Thanks for enlightening us...


Clinker

 

Just curios, do you have an annotation for this?

Ruben

 

No Ruben I don't. Should I publish this tidbit of information? :rolling:

 

I'm not questioning that, but I'm trying to measure the validity of the information. I have no reason not to believe it but its an Urban legend until I see some annotation from the time period

it is interesting...


Ruben

 

Jim
If you ever see another one for sale, at a reasonable price, please let me know.

I really want one of those banks.
Frank

 

Interesting facts Jim, I don't know what Rubin is talking about as you have the bank which can be compared to the mark? I don't need an annotation at this point to tell me this is how the mark was made. Next time I am at a flee market I will have to keep an eye out for one. Thanks for sharing this little tibit of information!

Best Regards ~ Darryl

 

How many of those banks existed? Who made them? When were they used, what dates? There are a lot of questions about it. Have you ever done research. This is interesting but undocumented evidence.

really... nobody is knocking the post, just asking for more information other than, Hey I heard this from a friend..

Ruben

 

I haven't a clue how many of these banks were made and by whom because I really don't care. I do know they were used in the 50's and as far as documentation, yes I have taken a silver Roosevelt and loaded the bank to test the "theory" as your calling it, it does not score the clad dimes as I guess they are harder perhaps.

Guess this teaches me a lesson about posting something of interest (at least to a few) in Cointalk.

 

I always look for them at flea markets and have to find another. once in a while I see them on ebay but they usually go for more than I am willing to pay. ~15-20 bucks. Should I find another it will have your name on it my friend.

 

I've seen those banks before, I always thought they were a bit earlier than the 50s tho, I had assumed 30s.

Didn't know about the mark in the coin, thanks for posting the info!

 

Or you could just take the inquire for more background as the reasonable question it is. If you want to be crabie, then your right. its not worth posting. I'd repeat that this was interesting again, but I doubt your have heard that any better than the first 2 times I said it.

Ruben

 

My Dad had one of those dime banks! Now I have to find it.....

 

I have never seen one of those banks before...that's really cool. Too bad it's a 1896-S though, but it makes a interesting set to have both the coin and the bank.

 

I think I have a couple Mercs with the circle on them. I have heard of this bank also, it was mentioned in a previous thread here also.

 

Joe Garbarini

Background of the source was good. I'm not going to get anywhere with this. It's become emotional and all I was asking was a normal research route for investigating further this matter, and to learn more. There was no desire to soil anyone reputation, living or deceased.

The memory and legacy of Joe Garbarini is worthy telling outside this subject. But if I had been aware that the real topic of this thread was the remembrance of a beloved figure in the community and his oral history rather than the a hypothesis of historical damage to coins and a probable explanation, then I'd had never asked the question as to what other data was available to substantiate the oral history.

My apologies to all. I let my academic investigative training infringe on a matter of the heart in a venue that was inappropriate for it.

So maybe folks can tell me more about Joe Garbarini and some of his legendary attributes and stores if his life.


Ruben

 

Very cool Jim. I'm always interested in learning what avenues others choose in pursuit of their hobby.