1911 Barber Dime Options

Coin #1 is lovely and rather conservatively graded, appropriate since only 2 of 59 1911 MS63's have ever hammered over $200 ($207 and $211) at Heritage and that includes the Buyer's Premium. It needs to be a 64 to be a decent buy at that price.

Which leaves the one I'd buy in your shoes, the second coin. It likely makes 63 but that's its' ceiling, but you'll be under market by getting it into a PCGS 63 slab unlike the other. And perhaps it's just better contrast in the imagery but it seems the better strike.

I would pass on both and keep looking for a coin with the right price and without any marks on the cheek. It will take longer but will be totally worth the effort.

Prices and cost of submission considered, I'd pass on both and browse at a nearby show. As is the case with most Unc-ish Barbers I've seen, the reverses tend to be more sharp and flashy than the obverses.

First, I don't particularly care for the Barber Design.

Second, I think these dimes made me fall in love with the Barber Design

These both are beautiful. Looking at the slabbed one I think the lighting in the pic hides it is marked up similar on the cheek to the second coin.

I think I would go for the second one anyway though. Both are beautiful, but the extra $ I would save to have about the same coin - with the same eye appeal anyway - would be worth it to me. I don't think I would ever wish I had gone with the other one.

Make sure you don't fall into that trap. Make sure the one you decide will never make you think of the one that got away.

I would pass on both. They are plentiful.

Wonderful insight, thanks for your thoughts, that's what I was hoping for.

I may end up with one of these pictured, I may not.
Whatever 1911p Barber I get will be a one time purchase, so upgrading is not really an option for this 1911 set.
Eye appeal is going to be the biggest attention grabber for me. The coin has to speak to me too as my 1911 cent and nickel already have spoken. Most likely the grade will be in the High AU low MS area. For the dime, I'm really looking for a strong strike.

My 1911 cent and nickel are in my hands and locked in stone. I'm not upgrading them, this is my approach to this particular set I'm putting together. Once I get to the Gold coins from 1911, price will be a HUGE factor.

I know online coin buying is a risky move if you have a particular item in mind. But it's really my only means of purchase and viewing in volume while moving forward with this set.

I'll keep you all posted and may send a few more opinions your way for this purchase.

If it were me, I would buy the second coin. I like the look of the coin and I like the price. The first coin is nice but too much to pay. The third coin is not as nice as either of the first two. I don't like the milky spots on the obverse either, and the gouge in the cheek is not nice to me. I would pass on the third coin for sure.