Barber Half 1893-S

One possibility is that it was someone's pocket piece where they fiddled with the faces but not the edge.

You gotta love nice old original "seen it all" classics

Thanks for the replies. the Obv and Rev surfaces are quite flat and almost silky smooth, but the edges are not rounded as on the other halves I have in Good condition. @Iamthealphaomega: yeah, I know it is AG at the most. I think it was sold as "AG details" so I sort of knew what I was getting into. It was cost 50% of the good price on the grey sheet, so not the best deal, but not awful, I think. It's one of the more difficult dates (one of 6 Barber halves over $100 in the Grey Sheet in Good).

I'm trying for a Barber Half set on somewhat of a budget. I was aiming for some to be in the VG/Fine range and some attractive Goods, and this was the worst condition thus far. What do you all think? Send it back or keep it?


What I think is interesting is that I never really consider the edge of the coin before as a "third side". All the pictures online and the ones I take are the obverse and reverse, usually straight on. Also in an album or holder the side is not visible. I was checking out the other Barber halves I have and there is a real difference in thickness to the edge between say a Fine and a Good coin. The good coins tend to be rounded and smooth, but the Fine or VG+ coins make two nice 90 degree angles with the obv and rev and are reeded.

The good part is that I don't think I will ruin this coin by handling it!