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 Replies: 14 / Views: 5,785 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
Seems like the Barber half dollars are really expensive for their age compared to the other denominations. What's the specific reason for their scarcity in better grades? It seems like the older seated liberty go for less in same condition and Walking Liberty halves just a year or two later are quite cheap. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
Barbers popularity I guess? Walkers haven't seem to caught on to collectors and are often looked at as bullion unless they are MS and Seated sets are not that doable since there are so many scarce coins.
Edited by buddy16cat
07/03/2014 05:29 am
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Valued Member
440 Posts |
Barber halves are relatively rare in higher grades. "Rarity. Barber coins are truly rare in Gem condition. For circulation strikes, coin collectors and dealers didn't begin to save Mint State coins in quantity until 1934. That's when saving uncirculated coins by the roll started. For Barber coins, there were only three individuals who saved uncirculated rolls, A.C. Gies, William Pukall, and coin dealer Wayte Raymond. Raymond had the idea to manufacture coin albums and he believed his coin rolls would become a source for individuals buying his coin albums. Most of these rolls were dispersed in the 1940's and 1950's. Not all dates in the Barber series were saved and today there are many issues that have very low populations in top grades. For proofs, rarity is a direct function of original mintage. And Barber proofs were made in much smaller quantities than later issues. Original mintages range from a high of 1,245 for the 1892 dimes, quarters, and halves, to a low of only 380 pieces for 1914 quarters and halves. The next proofs stuck by the mint were in 1936 and the mintages were three times that of the 1892 Barber coins. By the late 1950s, proof mintages were in the millions. Barber proofs started out rare." Walkers IMO are a good deal now. Kind of wonder if the American Silver Eagle design took the air out of the Walker series. If your a value collector now may be a good time to put together a set of high grade proof walkers.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
 with buddy16cat. I can get Walking Liberty halves for only a little over melt at my LCS. Barbers command a premium though! But still, in lower circulated grades Seateds are much more expensive than Barbers for me. |
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Valued Member
United States
453 Posts |
Good explanation! This site is a great education.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
I read somewhere that half dollars were the "workhorse" of coins in the first half of the 20th century, much as quarters are today. They went into circulation and stayed there. All in all the mintages were not very large and they were not saved.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1158 Posts |
Thanks for the detailed response! I really like Walking Liberty half dollars. My first "real" coin purchase was an uncirculated one. Affordable, with a classic design and easy to find in excellent condition. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1436 Posts |
It is estimated that 90% of each type of Barber coin (dime, quarter & half) are @ grade G4 or lower. This is due to the design being higher than the rim...
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Valued Member
United States
291 Posts |
They are expensive because I don't want anyone else to have them!  In all seriousness, it's mainly because of the surviving numbers. As stated above, most that are left today are G or worse. I really don't think it has anything to do with popularity. It's one of the most loathed Liberty designs by collectors. If they were as popular as Walking Liberty halves, only the very rich could afford them. Edited by LogPotato
07/03/2014 3:17 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
699 Posts |
Yup, blame LogPotato for the high price of VF 30-35 Barber halves. I always do... LOL.... You must remember what the coin represented back in 1890's through The mid teens ( 1915 ). The average worker made $5.00 per week. Only the wealthy could afford to save even one coin a week... Let alone any quantity of them. This denomination was the work horse of our coinage. As such, it got a good workout and as a result, wore down to below Fair condition. I have assembled a few sets over the years ( starting in college back in 1968 to 1970 ) and then again from 1994 to present. My primary set was sold in 2011 at the August ANA sale run by Heritage. Since then, I have assembled three more sets in VF, XF and AU. An occasional MS slips in if I like the toning . My advice to all beginners is make sure you buy the BEST you can afford. I started with VG 10 - as a target grade. The coin had to have a complete E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse, be original, unmolested surfaces, no rim dings, no scratches other than the normal day to day handling marks. Look for what is referred to as a Circulated Cameo look. It's very eye appealing and in the long run, an excellent investment. Remember you are not in a race... take your time... look at all the coins you can find... If you are unsure of your grading capabilities buy a precertified example ... TPG of choice is PCGS.... but there are good coins in NGC holders as well. The converse is also true ... There are some dogs in PCGS holders. Not all graders are 100% accurate .... Goofs slip in. So, buy the coin if you like it for the grade on the insert. If you don't like the coin for the grade on the insert, there is an excellent chance that the next person you sell it to will not like it either. So... be patient... another great coin in the right grade will come along. Also, remember, there are no Fire Sales in Numismatics. There are no bargains ... Pay up for good coins and ignore the problem coins as they are a complete waste of money - now and in the future. Most of all, have fun collecting. The best part of collecting is the hunt. So, take all the time you need to locate the right coins. You will have a lot more fun by going slowly. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
Quote:with buddy16cat. I can get Walking Liberty halves for only a little over melt at my LCS. Barbers command a premium though! But still, in lower circulated grades Seateds are much more expensive than Barbers for me. True, PM dealers sell common coins as junk, 41-45. I have had people offer me melt so I thought maybe they consider them worth melt as well even though they aren't. Some are more scarce like 1916, 1917-s obverse, or other early dates. I got a VF walker at melt at a PM dealer and another guy tried to sell the common Barber halves at a premium even though many were just AG or G. Edited by buddy16cat
07/05/2014 2:37 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
Quote:
Also, remember, there are no Fire Sales in Numismatics. There are no bargains ... Pay up for good coins and ignore the problem coins as they are a complete waste of money - now and in the future. Spot-on... I wish all new collectors could read and heed these words. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
I just re-read it! Thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3342 Posts |
While I appreciate elbesaar's sentiments I don't collect coins as an investment. The only good reason I see for collecting full sets is resale, and that's not what motivates me. Coins belong in pockets. They should be shiny from use, not from being in an old deadstock bank roll.
Regarding barbers they're not my favorite and I only keep a couple high grades around for examples. If I want a pocket Barber half I pay melt, and when I get tired of it I sell it for melt. And regarding any price difference with walkers, I'll take a high grade 1919D over any Barber.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
07/09/2014 09:29 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
699 Posts |
You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I collect Barbers ( as well as many other series ) and do so because I like the design, and I like the feeling of accomplishment by completing a set. I also like the set to be somewhat matched up. An AU set can have a few choice XF 45's and a sprinkling of MS coins as well.
I also have VF and XF sets. My VF sets have a few F12 & 15's and a couple of XF 40's. What I do not like is seeing a fairly well matched set and then seeing a AG 3 or G4 key or semi key included in the set.
Having a nice shiny pocket piece is fun, I have an interesting 1870-S Half that was counter struck with my last name ( I bought it this way ) and I do enjoy showing it around.
Remember, collect what you like and ignore others' opinions if they don't like what you're doing. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. Enjoy what you're collecting. Don't worry about others' opinions.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 5,785 |
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Posted 07/03/2014 06:13 am
