As many of you undoubtedly know for the last few months I have been collecting barber dime and quarter semi-key coins. I have been to a local show with about 15-20 dealers and a few shops around where I live. I am surprised at the lack of availability on these dates. In talking with the dealers I know that anything that is in VG or better condition gets snapped up fairly quickly but they have also said they are having a hard time finding them. Outside of ebay, which I am extremely wary about buying ungraded key and semi key dates I have been nearly unable to find semi key dates (especially S and O mints) in better than AG/G. The ones few VG/F specimens I have come across are so outrageously overpriced (50%+ over current retail) that I have been loathe to purchase them. Now I know that due to the design barbers did not wear well so more than 80% of all available barbers are AG/G, but has anyone else had similar experiences or problems finding nice specimens in VG/F? I am really starting to get frustrated with the whole thing, and may have to start ranging further out to find better dates, but I don't want to have to drive all day to do it.
bq: Welcome to the world of Barbers. (Just wait until you start on Half dollars!). Yes, everything that you have said is true. Lately I have been unable to find anything in a decent grade, the one exception was a 1913 D half in PCGS AU-55. And, in December of last year a 1892 P in AU-58, also a half dollar. Aside from those in April of this year I got a 1893 P Dime, in AU 58, ANACS. But, pickings have been very slim. How far are you from Milwaukee? The ANA show is there in August, (and I am GOING!-- an early birthday present from my wife.) Perhaps we can meet there? Anyone else going?
They do get snatched up quick. I went to a shop yesterday that I haven't been to in a while. I'm not into the dimes but was perusing his quarters and all of the bigger holes were just that holes. The last time I was at his shop I picked up a 15-S quarter and 2 09-O. Yesterday I got a solid G4 15-S and a G/AG 09-O which cleaned him out. The nice surprise is that this dealer is now pricing all of his stuff at Greysheet ask NOT retail so I was happy to only spend $15. Another local dealer emails me when he gets a 14-S. Can't say I've heard from him in a while. THEY are getting tough to find. I have resorted to ebay on the 14-S but, as you mentioned, you have to be careful. Gotta keep digging as it were. I guess the lack of material supports our contention that the semi keys and sleepers will go up. Now, it's Franks turn if he hasn't posted while I was typing this.
Did I call that one or what? Frank beat me to the punch. ANA Milwaukee in August. Hmmm - just might make it there but it really does suck even driving AROUND Chicago these days.
Sorry Treas, I was planning to make Milwaukee, but the USAF has other plans for me. It was only an 8 hour drive away, but now I am prepping for another deployment for the sand box so I'll miss this convention, I had planned to root out an 1897-o in VG/F and 1895 in F and a 1909D in VF/XF (dimes that is) but will be unable to do so at this time, so bad luck for me. Do let me know what you find at the show there and whether or not barbers are trading at a significantly higher premium.
Clembo: Nice pieces, I really like both the 1915 S and the 1909 O, but watch for the 1913 P, really much tougher than it seems. bq: Sorry to hear about your deployment, perhaps next time around.
I understand you pain with the Barber coinage. Try finding Barber quarters and halves in VF/XF that haven't been dipped to death.
Good call Treashunt, I really didn't need to even spend $15 as it were. Just did out of courtesy as I do in my favorite shops. The 15-S and 09-O jumped out at me. Don't recall seeing a 13-P though. You would love this dealer. He doesn't have a huge selection but by far the most honest dealer I have EVER come across. 99% of his stuff is raw but ALWAYS properly graded and usually original. I've seen him turn down some tough coins that walked in the door because they were cleaned. Not many like that left. Reckon I may have to go back next weekend and start pilfering his Barbers. clembo
I started putting together a Barber dime set a couple months ago. The reason I started may seem funny. I really like the old brown cover Library of Coins albums. I have a partial set of BU Merc dimes in an old Library of Coins album which is really satisfying. Anyway one local dealer sells used coin albums and folders for a buck each. Down the bottom of his stack there was a very nice Library of Coins album for the Barber dimes. It looked unused for the most part. Maybe the former owner could not locate any dimes either. So I got the album for one dollar then picked up 16 dimes here and there. I find the pre 1900 Barber dimes hard to locate in any condition. But at a yard sale I scored big time by buying this funky collection mounted between two panes of glass in a picture frame for $40. The guy stuck masking tape on the back of the coins and then stuck them to the back glass. The front glass was just placed over the coins and the whole thing placed in a nice antique picture frame. It was a wall hanging. But my point is that one of the coins in there was an AU 1899 dime. That is my best Barber dime and I doubt that anything I find and buy will match the beauty of that 1899. I have fifty bucks into this series right now. I am debating if I should just sell it before I get too involved.
I have the 1899 as mentioned above and a 1898, that's it. The yard sale buy was a major deal. I got 9 Walkers (two I needed with S mintmarks) one Franklin, a Morgan, a very worn 1927S SLQ, a 1952S dime, a 1964D dime, a nice 1905 IHC, 1945P nickle and a couple other coins all for just $40. The antique wooden picture frame has swivels on the back to lock in the backing. At first it was a pain to take the tape off the coins but it went well with no damage at all.
Victor: Nice, a semi-key date-- the 1927 S quarter. check the reverse of the 1945 nickel, for a double die, on Monticello.
****************************************************************** You kind of have to turn the quarter around with a 10X loupe to really verify it is an S. But it is a 1927-S for sure. Nope the nickle isn't a double. But add this up: Antique pic frame $10 Ten half dollars $40.00 1941S dime $1.50 1962D dime $0.80 1905 IHC $3.50 1945 nickle $0.80 1927-S SLQ $10.00 1899 dime $15.00 1909 dime $1.75 1884 Morgan $15.00 1925 Buf nickle $2.00 1905 V-nickle $1.00 I figure at the least, I got $116 worth of stuff for $40.... love those yard sales!
