Barber Half Dollars Skyrocket

As the entire Barber series goes, halves, quarters, dimes and nickels
represented real purchasing power. People spent them. The series circulated throughout the second world war and perhaps even the early fifties in rural areas.
This leaves an interesting gap when it comes to grading. Uncirculated examples
outnumber the higher circulated examples. Coins worn slick are abundant.
In the case of halves, the scarcity affects all coins from fine to au.
Quarters, dimes and nickels vf and above.
As for any recent surge in popularity, would you please explain how you arrived at this conclusion? I suspect that as more and more 7070 collectors seek nice looking, high grade examples, the price will go higher still.
Those of us who specialize in these coins often pay well above any published price in a guide. Some examples are just not to be found! When they are found, bidding
can be intense.

HAH!
cinemabon, many of my high grade Barbers came to me from my Great Aunt Tootsie.
Born about 1899 or 1900, she worked in the coin counting room at the Bell Telephone Company in New York City.
Given her, how to say, tight-fisted approach to coin collecting she NEVER bought a coin.
I, in turn, have bought several high grade Barber dimes throughout the years.
The set is complete, 74 coins, but it will never be finished. Next task is to find a common 1908 Philadelphia dime in a decent grade. The one I have from her is B**t
ugly!
There is one additional point I'd like to share:
Years ago, I remember reading something which said,
"It will only take a slight, increased interest in the Barber coins to make
them increase in price."
If you do want to obtain a few nice examples, we can continue to discuss
a possible course of action. I am at your service. Matthew
Visit our site:
barbercoins.org
Free to all and a source of a LOT of info.

Hmmm I think I should have filled those 7070 slots earlier.

Are the keys in lower grade going up as well? I have a VG 1893 S Half that I got for melt!

To back up what cpfull said about uncirculated Morgans, well it was only in the 1970s that the Fed released a HUGE hoard back to the public. All unspent. Barber coins in G grade are melt value, though.

I'm slowly realizing that in order to complete my 7070 with all AU coins, I'm gonna have to shell out a pretty penny for a Barber 50c.

For what it is worth,

The is the best Barber Half that I own.
Well, not own, but rather I am the current custodian.
It came to me from my Great Aunt.







These are HARD to find, no question about it.
One reason why I decided not to specialize in Barber halves.

"Barber series of coin from what I have read we used. Most didnt just sit in the sock drawer."

How TRUE, Captain!
From 1892 to at least 1950, they were and abused.
The halves, because they had real value, could not sit in a sock drawer.

Dimes paid for a Trolley ride, a quarter bought a very decent lunch.
Even the lowly nickel was the price of a phone call.
No wonder so MANY are worn slick.

Those of we masochists who dream of putting together a complete set spend YEARS in the quest. And when we at last find a nice example, we DO NOT use the Greysheet.
We buy, because we know that years may pass before we find another.