Frank. I plan on starting something new not sure if it will be Barber half or Barber quarters what is your opinion on the one I should start with and is ex-fine a good starting point? Bruce.
Bruce: Great question. (First: How deep are your pockets??) The quarters are achievable, with enough money. I really like the set, but monjo bucks for the three keys, and a nice bit for some of the semi-keys.). As for the half dollars, great set (also), more reasonable, but there are some dates that in XF are nearly impossible. I have a 1914 in XF-45 that is the ONLY one that I have ever seen, overpaid at the time, August, 1999 (paid a ton over bid $300 total) now bid is $575 ask= $625. And I have never seen another. Recently I was able to find another, in MS-63, and got it for bid -- and it is in an NGC slab. If you are patient, the half dollars are a great set to show off, and I really like to large seize. the eagle on the reverse looks great. Also, the quarters do have a number of varieties that are fun to look for, but I have discovered a number of them, and they are listed today. There are many more still to be found. The half dollars, if you enjoy varieties are the way to go. They are practically unexplored territory. There a Barber half variety book, but it stinks. If the author didn't have such a crappy attitude I could have doubled the number of listings that he had. So, in direct answer to your question: Why not both? Seriously, value wise, the half dollars seem to have more room for growth.
How deep are your pockets? Sorry, I'm not the other Frank was just waiting for his reply. Of course he hit it on the head. How deep are your pockets? XF is a lofty grade and would be a damn nice set of either. Halves are, of course, cheaper and fine looking coins. Whichever set you chose will only go up in value - that I'm confident in. Frank (as in the other) knows that I chase "sleeper" coins to an extent. Both sets have a good share of coins that qualify in my opinion. My local dealer has a 1913 Barber Half in AU. Priced at $850 but I think it may have been cleaned. Haven't taken a close look at it as it's not in MY budget and not in my current hunt. I know I could get him to drop the price but don't even want to be tempted at this point. Whichever set you choose you'll do fine and you did right by asking "the other Frank". clembo
Frank. Sorry I meant to say in very fine grade not ex-fine that is more in my price range I like the halfs and I was thinking of a set of all Philadelphia minted coins from 1892 to 1915. Bruce.
Bruce: Oh, only VF! That'll only cost 1/2 a body part. Nice collection, but remember, the 1913, 1914 and 1915 are in there. I would love to see it put together, and it is a great idea. However, remember, this is a set that will take you years to put together, not months. Some dates, like the 1905 (mintage 662,727) are very difficult to find in any grade from Fine or better. It lists at only $175 in VF, but I have never seen one at a show-- or I would have grabbed it. My best one is only a fine, and I got it in 1999. The best part of the set is that, in spite of the recent price increases, it still has a lot of sleepers, and you will do very good in the future with the increase in value for it. However, realize that you are entering the dark, addictive pit of Barber coins! I have been an acknowledged addict for several years now, and buy all dates, from good up (even some ag's) and can't control myself when I see a new piece. A dealer is currently holding a 1913 D, in AU-55 (PCGS) for me. Look at the mintage: 534,000! And it is priced as a common date. I started buying them years ago when I could get them for a bit above melt. Now, I have 13 pieces, from Good to Fine, and they have gone from a list of $5.00 to a current $15 in good. i even have a piece in VG that cost me $3.50 (12/13/98) and today it trends for 20. Do I believe that they are a great set? No question. Heck, I believe it enough to (currently) own nearly 2,000 pieces. And I am still buying. As for the quarters: if it were not for the 1901 S, I would say do that set. I only have a nice really poorly done fake. It is so bad that a three year old could tell that it was a fake. And I love it, especially since it plugs the hole in my album. But, the 1896 S is still a steal even at today's prices. In all of last year I was only able to buy two of them. (This year I nearly flipped two weeks ago, my dealer friend had two pieces for me, an AG+ and a G-4). I grabbed them. The same with the 1913 S. If it is any grade (from AG and up) buy it if it is at all reasonable, and without any problems. At a total mintage of 40,000 it is a steal at current prices, and I started with my first piece in 1996, a very high end AG (just misses a G-4) for $240.00! I still have it, and still buy them, when I find them without problems. But, problem coins are available, but how can you not like a coin with the lowest regular mintage of the 20th century. (it is far below the 1916 Standing Liberty with 52,000 minted.) Sorry that I went off like this, but you hit my favorite area. Again, watch for varieties. Example: the 1892 half has a wonderful doubled die reverse. Most dealers would not know it if it bit them, and you can cherry pick it, but it is scarce. Also, watch for the 1909 S, inverted mintmark, a great variety, and currently listed in Cherrypickers. (my pride, since I discovered it.) Good luck, but however you go, you can't go wrong.
Frank. Thank you for all the great info, I know how much you love Barber coinage and that you would be the one to ask. Bruce,
