I've been trying to pick up a few Barber Half Dollars as the prices are off the hook! Anyways, I am wondering if I should just wait until I have time to go to some coin shops or pick some off of ebay. I've already gotten a couple off of the bay but I know how it can be a great place to buy some coins and other's you're paying way too much!! Anyone got an opinion on buying Barber's off of the bay?? :thumb:
I have been putting together a complete set of Barber halves in a new Dansco album. I only need eight more to finish. Then there are several upgrades left to be done. My purchases from eBay have mostly been less than wonderful. One seller must have tweaked the photos because when I got the coin it had a big scratch on the cheek. Needless to say you have to really pick and choose what's available on eBay. I have returned a few and kept a few. Also one I kept and the seller got a neg. for misrepresentation. Most of the pre 1900 halves don't even have a reverse rim and the sellers are grading them G+ or even VG. According to sellers all Barber halves are *RARE* or key dates. The best place to buy them is at a coin show.
Yeah I've gotten a couple off of ebay and both times it was a "ho hum" experience, luckily both times it was less than $20. I'm actually just starting to learn about Barber Halves so I appreciate the insight! :thumb:
It is very difficult to generalize on any venue. Show me a coin, and I'll be happy to comment on it. If I were in the OP's shoes (and presuming high priced mint state coins are not your thing), a coin show, a local dealer, eBay and TT would be where I would look. By way of example, I found my Barber quarter at a coin show: I overpaid for this coin (at least according to price guides and auction records) -- and I was more than happy to do so. It took a lot of work to find one I liked.
I have assembled a full set of these guys in VF with about 6 of them in XF40. A few things to consider.... 1) There really are no "rare" Barber halves up to and including VG8. Tough VG coins would be the usual suspects such as the 05-O, 93-S, 96-O, 96-S, 98-O, 04-S, etc but none of them are truly rare. 2) Really none of the Barber Halves in VG or less should bring multiples of price guide/sheet. Once they hit Fine? Grab on tight. Very Fine? Hold on for your life. XF? I hope you're wearing a harness. So it all depends on what grade we're talking... I can think of a half a dozen dates that in VF-XF are worth double to even triple what the Red Book or Greysheet or PCGS says they're worth, assuming that they are truly original and graded by PCGS. Be very careful when buying these coins raw for a number of reasons... First, any F+ Better date Barber Half that's still raw is either a rarity or raw because it's never getting in a graded PCGS holder (I get some flack on here for PCGS, but the truth is, most of the top Barber collections, either circ or high end, are in PCGS plastic and these coins tend to trade with much greater liquidity in their holders). I thought that the insanity had to stop when I was assembling my set, after watching Craig Peterson's old set of XF45 halves sell at fun... these coins are only getting more and more expensive. My advice? Start buying em in VF-XF if you can while you can, the market is starting to really appreciate the true rarity of these coins in higher mid grades. When they were issued these guys entered circulation and flat out stayed there until the very end, that's why the populations of them fall off a cliff past VG.
everything that rld14 said. Barber $1/2's were a lot of money back then, and not generally saved. Try finding mid grade circs at a show? You'll be lucky to find a few of them. Good luck, I started at G-4 and then have been upgrading for years, a slow process. Same for dimes & quarters. But, that said, there are some great bargains out there.
I had the only table in all of FUN with a huge selection of Barber Halves - 99% PCGS most graded VF 25- XF 45 - a few nice AU's - some F12-15's. At Dealer Set Up, I sold a 1901-S in AU 50 - which was striking - and a 1905-O in XF 40 - both PCGS graded. The pair netted $2800 to the same customer. Also had a great 1904-S in PCGS 50 out of the case a dozen times - but the asking price was very high - and rightfully so as it was the best looking AU 50 out there - bar none. I'm holding out for the right money on it. I also sold my triplicate 1915-P in PCGS 58 - with sreaming luster - it went for a little more than my AU 55 sold for last year. Still very strong money though. The consignor of the XF 45 set at FUN is a friend of mine and he advised me to sit on my sets for a few more years - the price increases are about to hit - and "they're a better investment than Gold ". The XF 45 set was a quadrupple set of his - and as I already sold off three other VF-AU sets this year - the demand is there - the supply is drying up for the keys in VF-AU. Another friend has just started a nice VG 10 - F-15 set - all PCGS certified - all nice crusty coins - and all cracked out for a Dansco - and he's having a ball - for not alot of money. My advice is to start a set in your grade range of choice - all with the same look - regardless of the grade range - it'll be a fantastic assembledge - and a lot of fun to boot.
one point to add! to disagree with rld, there is ONE rare (and I am careful with the use of the word) Barber $1/2. the 1892 O micro O in any grade is truly rare.
Hi, You might want to try Scotsman coin auction out of Saint Louis. They run good auctions with lots of raw coins with true info about the coins. They have around 4 auctions a year. Barber halfs with full rims front and back are not that hard to find if you contact different dealers and let them know what you want. I also use J&J coins out of Sioux City, Iowa ( GREAT DEALERS ). Lots of dealers take want list. Good luck, Boxeldercoin
I've been hitting up antique shops they've had barber half dollars from $10 - $15 and I've been buying all they have for near spot or less $13 or less. Those are some good looking coins, it's just hard to find barbers that aren't worn down.
