1897 Barber Dime-Help needed with grade and value please.

Discussion in 'What's it Worth' started by Rosalita, May 31, 2020.

  1. Rosalita

    Rosalita Active Member

    Hi guys,

    I am new to coin collecting. Found this one in my grandfather's collection. Would like some help determining the grade and the value of this coin so I can determine if it's worth sending to a Third Party Grading company. 1897 Barber Dime Obverse.jpg

    Thanks very much. 1897 Barber Dime Reverse.jpg
     
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  3. Robert Ransom

    Robert Ransom Well-Known Member

    F-VF @ $10/15.00 Not worth grading.
     
  4. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    What a wonderful gift your grandpa left you! I agree with @Robert Ransom on the intrinsic value. However the connection to your family is priceless.
     
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  5. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I agree with @Randy Abercrombie on the actual value, but have to disagree with @Robert Ransom on the grade -- I don't see any trace of LIBERTY on the headband, which limits it to a grade of Good, right? It's surprising to see that much leaf detail with no letters appearing, but I don't think that can carry the grade any higher.
     
  6. toned_morgan

    toned_morgan Toning Lover

    Welcome to the hobby! This coin isn't in the best shape it could be, and I would say it is around VG08, making it a low value coin. Although everyone is saying not to grade it, it depends on what you want out of it. If you want to resell it and make a profit, then don't grade it. If you want to resell it and you're ok with losing money, you could grade it but you should still resell it raw. If you want memories out of it, you could keep it raw, but I would grade it, just to keep the coin safe and to be able to remember your grandpa with a coin that is kept safe and will always stay in the same condition. It does seem that you want it for memories, so I would say spend the money to keep the memories. NGC is usually cheaper than PCGS, and ANACS is even cheaper. I would stay with PCGS or NGC because they have the best experience at keeping super valuable coins in their same condition.
     
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  7. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Welcome to CT. Not worth grading as you'd never get your money back. The coins grade will be low but keep it tucked away as the value from your source, your grandfather, is priceless.
     
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  8. longshot

    longshot Enthusiast Supporter

  9. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    But buying a do-it-yourself slab or plastic holder is cheaper still. And if you do that, you can label it with the coin's provenance (Grandfather's Collection), and your family will know its story.
     
  10. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    I once watched a YouTube video of @lordmarcovan doing a metal detector hunt under a tree that was rumored to have been where lovers would congregate in a bygone era. He dug a Barber dome much like this one. I always have viewed history through my coins. But since I watched his dig, for some reason when I see an old Barber dime I really feel connected to an earlier generation that worked, cried, hoped and dreamed just as we do today. Yeah, that is one special dime.
     
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  11. john65999

    john65999 Well-Known Member

    g-4..and numismedia price is: $4.00 def not worth grading or slabbing as cost prohibitive
     
  12. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I'm finding that "the coin isn't worth slabbing" rubs me the wrong way after the rest of the comments. I prefer "slabbing isn't worth it for this coin". Points any disrespect in a more appropriate direction. ;)
     
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  13. Coinman since 1957

    Coinman since 1957 New Member

    No letters of liberty so it's a g6. Maybe 6-8 dollars. Keep it it as a memento or pocket piece.
     
  14. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Here is that video. The dime find happens around the 5-minute mark. It is nothing very special (not even as nice as the one posted here), but I was excited because I hadn't found a Barber coin for several years.



    @Rosalita- I concur with those who called your coin G6. It is better than G4, and on the borderline with VG8. It is also a pleasing CircCam example for the grade. So there's certainly nothing wrong with it. Indeed, I like it. But it's not very monetarily valuable, is all.

    Numismedia says $4 in G4 and $6 in VG8, so a G6 like yours is in the range of $5. And you wouldn't want to spend $40+ to certify a $5 coin. But as five-dollar coins go, that is quite a nice example, and a worthy keepsake, as @Randy Abercrombie mentioned. Hang onto it. Maybe even use it to start a collection if you feel the urge.
     
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  15. JeffC

    JeffC Go explore something and think a happy thought!

    @Rosalita , I totally agree with @-jeffB's suggestion. Since he took the words right out of my mouth, all I need to do is to add a picture of what your Grandpa's Barber dime might look like in a DIY holder. These come in Black or White mostly, some in green or red (Yikes!) And you can do your own design and words.

    Barber Dime Slab copy.jpg
     
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