Are Barber Half Dollars Popular?

I seem to recall the opinion being expressed that the surviving population of Barber halves consists of a great majority of uninspiringly low-grade specimens, and a small number of prohibitively expensive high-grade ones. I'm sure matthewvincent will offer us an opinion...

I've been working on a circulated set of Barber halves for a little while now. In general it depends on how picky you are. I've had little trouble picking up G coins on ebay for around $10-ish. I even find low grades in the junk bin. However, philadelphian is right. The moment you start seeing some clear "LIBERTY" letters in the headband, the price of a common date can pop tenfold+.

I don't mind coins that have seen some action, but that's where personal preference and goals kick in.

Certain ones are extremely hard to find in high grades for a reasonable price. If youre willing to pay it seems you could find most if not all in most grades. They do get expensive fast. The one thing that seems to be in short supply is graded ones anywhere close to book. Most seem to be priced for the next grade up for the harder dates.

But if you wanted to do a VG maybe even F set its doable. Youll probably have to put some time into finding a couple for a good price but it wont be impossible to complete like a true full dime set.

I guess that F roll you mentioned is APMEX's or other billion dealer.
I've ordered a few Barber rolls from them once (G-VG) and was disappointed.

Thanks supgog. That is what I saw. I would be disappointed if G-VG coins arrived. I will hold off and look around. We have a few shows coming up in the next month or two.

I just started buying some Barber halves. I've has a hard time finding listings near book value on ebay in the G/VG range.

I ordered a few and they have not come in yet.

If melt is $8.50 and the Red Book / grey sheet come in at $13-14 range, it seems like they're being offered for sale on ebay for up to $20 with shipping and a condition of not more than VG, for common dates. Of course there is lots of over grading going on.


I guess that makes them popular?!?


The first one I bought was from a local coin shop. It was $12 after negotiation. The guy claimed "I'm not making any money on this". Perhaps I should go back. He seemed to have a nice disposition and even if he is making a few dollars, at least I can see the coin in person.

All the Barber issues got heavy circulation. They coincided with the Industrial Revolution in America, when the real migration towards cities and manufacturing happened. More people than ever were using money (as opposed to farm barter), wages climbed, and the percentage of Americans engaging in monetary commerce skyrocketed. A snapshot of America in 1880 wouldn't look anything like the same shot in 1900.

That was the era when the Business of America became Business.

We'd done the "sea to sea" Manifest Destiny thing already, and the new goal - the new Manifest Destiny - was industry. The Machine that was America was running full-throttle.

Barber coinage was a microcosm of the times. Everybody was working. So was the currency. Meanwhile, Mr. Barber, who'd had time to consolidate his control over the operations and designs of the Mint (don't forget, he succeeded his father in the position, in dynasty fashion), was interested in making coins America could use. His wasn't the artistic license of Gobrecht or St. Gaudens; he wanted stuff that would stack, and provide superior seignorage when minted. He was the right guy for the times.

But his coins wore, easily. LIBERTY was prominent, and wore away quickly. Barber coins were for spending, not collecting. Then again, that's what America was about then, too.

Well SD you sold me on it. That was a great history lesson. I have many Morgans and Peace dollars that probably never saw a day outside a mint bag (MS63/64). If I get Barbers I'm getting some history too. I don't do ebay so those of you that are worried you have more competition can relax.