Well since I re-started collecting coins again around june... I have been an avid bidder/buyer left and right....buying VG's to VF's Barber Halves....I already have up to 53 (with 8 extras) but I could never seem to get my hands on "THE ONE" coin I covet the most....a "High Grade Slabbed Barber Half Dollar" it seems wherever I look...I always come up empty-handed....I tried ebay but I get outbid alot.....it seems easy for most people but with a budget of around $300-$450...it seems nearly impossible...now I know I am asking for too much but is there like an online store in my price range that sells high grade examples of barber halves....preferably low mintage barbers... they are really hard to come by nowadays....but when I do... it will be the picasso or monet of my collection.... that's number one on my christmas wishlist.... if anyone could give me any information about sites/dealers that has what I'm looking for...it would be fantastic.... thanks again -acsf89
High grade Barber Halves have always been on the expensive side. What grade(s) are you looking for? Any special date? I might be able to help.
anything with mintages less than two million... if anything....a high extra fine but...I really like low to high AU pcgs/ngc holders...nothing less...maybe anacs...if the coins are cheaper....thanks -acsf89
if you want specific dates: 1913-D/S 1899-O/S 1905-P/O/S 1910 and maybe these coins: 1893-P/O 1894-P/O/S 1895-P/O/S 1896 and if it aint those dates...since most of them carry a premium for low mintages....I would settle for a high grade barber AU...$350 or under if its a common date -acsf89
pretty much if there are any sellers/dealers/websites who won't charge me $200+ premium, for coins that you could get less on other places....i've asked dealers in my area..and its simply not a common coin to obtain.....the specs im looking for that is... -acsf89
Depends on the date...it would be nice but if i can find an unslabbed version of the dates i want im sure ill give in... -acsf89
Yes, that's true. What's more, I have found no one with a large selection of Barber Halves AU and up. Heck, I find tons of people with a mountain of MS65 Saints but nobody with a stack of higher grade Barber halves. Recently, we had three nice lustrous AU coins which sold for $300 each. That's a great price for a collector. That's obtainable, but requires a search. I suggest hitting a nice size coin show.
Great deals to be had at coin shows. Got my second most expensive coin thus far at the Philly Whitman show, about $40 less (20%) than they were going for on ebay at the time.
I mean yeah, it would be great to be able to get to a coin show.... but there's little to no coin shows in washington....but thanks to everyone who has been helping me out....special mention to Elbesaar and WingedLiberty for taking the extra time find nice examples for me....much appreciated=) -acsf89
If you can't make it to shows then you can always find a good dealer to work with. They can take your want list to the next show they attend and maybe they can find something you need. I know 900fine has done this for others(and I can certainly recommend him) and I am sure he might find something you need or want.
There are a few dealers who are members right here on CT also.....most would be happy to help you out and sell you a nice coin and get good feed back here in the forum. I can't post names but I bet if you dug alittle you find one who would be of service.
I just upgraded my 1906-S Half : ...with this PCGS 64... If you have an interest in the AU 58 - send me a PM
acs - while it may not be much consolation there were many coins that I searched for for several years before finding one that suited me. Patience is a key ingredient in coin collecting ! Never rush finding a coin that suits you. If you do, you will almost always end up regretting it.
I agree fully with GDJMSP's post above; never rush into any purchase. Over the last 40+ years, I have assembled a number of mid range BarberHalf collections and have learned something new in every set I assembled. Hasty decisions on purchasing a coin [ especially at a coin show where the return policy is next to Zero; reasoning ... once you've inspected the coin in hand, and you've agreed to buy it, the coin is yours. Period.] { At least it is 90+% of the time ! } I have found that if you locate a dealer [ I use dealers out of state and have for years ] that gets to know you - your taste levels - your budget - then, you'll be so far ahead of the game. You asked about choice AU ++ and MS Barber Halves - they are a passion of mine. I also have a deep rooted love for all circulated mid range grade Barber Halves as well. Recently, I consigned a set of VF/AU Halves to a dealer friend in California. In two weeks sixty two of the seventy three coins in the set sold. So, you can see, he has a large client base who seek his help with their collections. He specializes in Barbers - and I have bought and sold to him for years. This is the type of dealer-collector arrangement you should seek. Good luck in your quest and if I can be of any help, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am always on the prowl looking for "just that right coin" for other collectors as well. Last week I steered another Barber Quarter collector towards two upgrades in PCGS AU 58 that he ended up buying at auction. [ An auction that was completely held with out fan fare in any publication or on any coin web site. I stumbled accross it the evening before the auction - and I threw in a bid myself - and won - an 1893-P Half in ANACS 58 with a TDR.] My Barber Quarter collector friend was thrilled to have me as his point gaurd. Best of luck !!
