The scans came out a little strange on this Barber, but using a 5x magnifier and photo grade I place it somewhere between F-12 and F-20. About 90% of the top and about 50% of the lower headband lines are present. Liberty is very faint but evenly plain with the exception of the Y, which I don't see. The reverse is very nice with great leaf detail and nice luster and I’m thinking VF-20+ for the reverse. As far as cleaning, I can't see any micro-abrasions or other telltale signs but I should really get a 10x loop To be more certain. What do you guy's think, I paid $20 for it.
i hate to say it but i think you got a little ripped off on that coin. the coin book i have here says it is worth $7 in VF20. i myself think you got ripped off. i'm not saying it's not a nice coin but you payed way too much for it. where did you get it at? at coin shops and flea markets i would probaly buy that same coin for around $4. i usually put a seperate coin value guide in my car because you never know when you are going to find a place with coins for sale. a long time ago i learnt my lesson with that when i went the a antique shop. he had two morgans for sale a 1921 and a 1896o. i had a feeling that the 1896o coin was worth more because he said he did not mean to put that one in the $18 bin. so i got it and i went home and looked it up in my coinbook. it said the 1921 was worth $8 and the 1896 was worth $18. i do not take chances like that anymore because i was thinking one of these days i am going to get ripped off. i would reccomend you getting a 2006 redbook guide to carry around with you when you are in your car. if you have a chance to buy coins just get it out and see what you are getting good deal on and what you arn't. alot of antique shop people always set too high of a price on their coins because they have no idea what's it worth. sometimes you can get a coin way below the value. you never know.
Actually, I think you did OK. Its hard to tell with the mylar reflection, but I think the grade is better than vf-20. This is a 1908S dime and I think the $20 would be about right for a vf-20 according to some I have seen for bid on ebay. If I remember right, the "S" mint small coins of that era were less sharp than the the 1908P. JMHO. If you expect to sell for a profit is one thing, but if you wanted it to keep for a collection or personal reason and it was worth $20 to you, then it is worth $20. JMHO.
i didnt know it was an s mintmark. i guess you did do pretty good on it. i thought it was just 1908 plain. it is worth $16 in VF20 and $35 in EF40.
Sorry forgot to mention it was a s mint,actually Red book has it at $22 in VF-20 and the coin shop guy that i deal with sells pretty close to greysheet ask prices. I'm a collector so im not in it to make a profit but that dosn't mean i wouldn't like to see my collection rise in value through the years. Although i don't collect Barber dimes, i wanted at least one decent example. Good idea,keeping a redbook in the car.
Coin looks too shiney or else my monitor is too bright. Did you get out the bigger magnification and look at the coin a bit closer for hairline scratches? Not really certain, but best I can make out, the coin has been cleaned, but I'm not the best at telling cleaned from uncleaned unless it's been harshly cleaned. Still, not a bad looking coin!
Coinlover----Don't go by the Red Book or any other printed coin price guide...the only good price guides are ended online auctions...or maybe the Gray Sheet..... Silver Surfer I think you did alrigth!....you might want to try to get your dealer to sell at BID....most of the time they buy coins about 10% or 15% back of BID and sell at BID or ASK.....if he does that then maybe he would be willing to not make as much proffit and sell at BID. The scans are pretty bad for grading the coin IMHO....but it might grade VF from what I can tell. Speedy
