Barber halves?

My new interest is collecting Barber half dollars. I have completed a Walker, Franklin and Kennedy collection. Started duplicate sets of each but found it to be redundant and boring. I like silver half dollars.
So what's next? Bust halves are just too expensive. Even though I like them
I don't own any. I have one seated half with a hole in it.
Guess I will embark on a new adventure with Barber half dollars. So far I have 13 of them grading G to G+. Probably have about $135 into the set right now. Picked up some O minted halves today. Got the 1909-O and the 1908-O.
I will stick to the low grades for now. Trying for intact rims and most of the E Pluribus Unum readable.
My question is addressed to those of you who collect Barber halves.
Is this a difficult series? I'd like to hear your experiences. Is it an enjoyable set to put together. I still have not accepted totally how the eye looks so sunken in the low grades. Some have said it is an ugly coin. Any thoughts?

 

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According to Grey Sheet a complete set of Barber Halves will cost you over $2,000 in G-VG. There are a few key dates that account for much of the total cost.

Good luck on your new venture.

 

Victor:
I collect them, and have a few of them.
The entire set is reasonable, and doable.
The only one that is near impossible is the 1892 O micro O.

Aside from that, if interest in the sets ever picks up you will be very glad that you moved now.

Go for it.
Buy the keys first, if you can afford them and they are nice.
I prefer full rims, but the 1892 O & S are tough in any grade.

 

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder.

Personally, I think the Goddess of Liberty looks masculine and the eagle looks like a chicken. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the design. I do. The Liberty portrait has a marvelous classical Greek look to it.

Masculinity is every bit is magnificent as feminity, yet only female figures had ever adorned a regular issue US coin. Perhaps the sculptor was trying to make a statement, similar to Rembrandt's Return of the Prodigal Son in which he so famously gave the father one strong, masculine hand and one slender, feminine hand.

Interesting to have a masculine look, following the very feminine Seated Liberty series.

 

There are many rare coins in the Barber series for one reason. They are ugly and not many were saved in high grades!( not my opinion)
I too have a set going for the dime, quarter, and half. All with full rims. ( not sure if that full rims is a G4,or G8, or in between.
I have been watching prices on the "KEYS". They can be expensive even in low grades Poor-AG.
I agree. Be patient and purchase your keys first. The few on ebay seem to be going for more than they are probably worth. Coin shops charge way too much for their coins.

Just my two cents worth
CLAW

 

thanks

Thanks for the response people. As often happens when I start out a set I bought a 1912 in G for $12.00 today. Got home and you know I already have a 1912. Drat. Well the one I bought is better than the one I already had.
So I guess I'm upgrading early in the game; that gives a total of 12 different coins now.
Yes I have been reading where some collectors think Barber half dollars are due for a price jump. A couple years ago they were all over the place for $8.00 each. Today they seem to be running around $12 to $15 each.

 

i thought each coin would cost more than that if you collect it in high end mint states

 

I like the barber series and that is how i started collectign the halves...i finished the threee most recent half $ series.

for ag-g range, I have found several in bulk silver bins in antique stores and dealers....in fact probably about 40% of my half collection was filled this way

 

I do not collect them, but I do not think they are ugly. I like them better than some other half designs. I do not know what you consider a set - but I am working on a date set for the bust halves - then I think I might work on the red book varieties. So to have a complete set you could just get 1 for each date - just a thought.

 

I don't think Barbers are ugly at all , I,m currently looking for one , for my type set in MS-61-62 , that looks nice . The problem with finding Barber halves in MS is that they represented a lot of money in there day , so most circulated till they were completely worn . Even a VG set that is nice looking is hard to find in all MMs & dates . Good luck in your collecting , the pretty Greek looking coin as my wife calls them .
rzage

 

What would you call keys/ semi keys. I know that the mintages are VERY low on some coins yet they are not that expensive.

 

Well one I picked up today is the 1909-O. New Orleans minted under a million that year. Another interesting tidbit according to the Barber Collectors is that in 1909 the dies were different [for all mints], so you can't use the same grading standards you use for all other years.
I don't have one but the 1914 P was a very low mintage 124,610. A 1914 in VG-8 goes for $175.

 

I may make a long term project of a low grade set with slabbed keys. If anyone know of a good book to get me started I'd appreciate it.

 

Your right, although, I think this is intended for higher grades. Lower grades are nearly impossible to tell the difference!

 

There has never been ( or will probably ever be) a complete set of GEM Barber halfs. If there was , probably would cost millions of dollars!

 

The Authoritative Reference on Barber Half Dollars by Kevin Flynn 2005

The Complete Guide to Certified Barber Coinage by David & John Feigenbaum 1999

 

I have a few and the 1913, 14 and 15 Philly mint are all tough to find. 1914 has really been going up.
Treashunt can fill you in more I'm sure.

clembo

 

Thanks Clembo.

The following dates are all pretty difficult:

1892 O
1892 O Micro O ( I lost out on a bid for an AG, at $1500 when the trends was less than that for a G-4) Very difficult.

1892 S.

1893 S

1897 O
1897 S

Many other dates are very low mintages and are a steal.

Look up the mintage for the 1910 P, 418,000 and it lists for $22 in good, vs $13 for a common date. Good DeaL, huh? Now find a nice one.

There are others, but, don't rush, have fun.

And, read, read, read.
Lawrence's book is old, there are a few mistakes (actually changes, due to more knowledge), but it is still great.

 

Forgot about the 1910. On my list of sleepers.

 

thanks much