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 Replies: 18 / Views: 1,598 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1182 Posts |
Local PM store has tubes of quote/unquote "Better" Barbers for $230/ea, and stated they're being melted like crazy right now, is now an insane time to buy?
Seems like even $4.60/ea is somewhat "safe" numismatically should silver tank?
I've been eyeing a tube of these for a while... I wouldn't mind saving some from melt!
Rosie's are at $190 there for reference.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1302 Posts |
Are you looking for numismatic value? There's less silver in most Barber coins from wear. Silver is out of my budget right now, as is gold. I'm going to go to upgrading my Large cents & Indian Head cents. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1182 Posts |
In short, yes, there's much better options for stacking. I just like the idea of searching a tube of non-cull barbers to be honest, I've been pondering it for months! My budget fluctuates, I've been "practicing alchemy" of sorts... Selling vinyl records to buy silver coins  I've been trying to downsize the record collection before moving again (and while people still want them, having zero intrinsic value unlike silver) and coins are a lot easier to lug around! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
If you really want it and can afford it .... I say go for it. I grabbed a roll of Barber halves off ebay one time because it was slightly below melt. It had one semi key a 1914P I grade a G4 which happens to be lowest mintage in the series. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
"They're being melted like crazy right now" sounds like a come-on, if not an outright lie. Why would Barber dimes be being melted? Who has enough Barber dimes to melt? They haven't been minted for well over 100 years. |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10484 Posts |
Getting a tube of Barbers is usually just for silver content. Expect worn, no "Liberty" letters remaining examples. And I would imagine the " "Better Barbers for $230/ea, and stated they're being melted like crazy" is just selling hype.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1182 Posts |
Well, that was sort of a gut-wrenching experience! I'd called ahead this morning and the clerk stated they had the better grades in stock, when I got there they told me a lower price so I checked them out, they were all poor to AG... Her manager was honestly confused and looked out back, they'd supposedly sent the higher grades to melt by accident and retained only Good or worse!   Strangely, another customer randomly gave me this dremel-modified "1943 Copper" Wheat cent so as to keep me from leaving empty handed  jpsned, that other customer was selling nearly 1500 walking liberties to go to melt, so I believe it! This PM store is on the exchange globally. Ratman, appreciated, there were some 1890's S and O mints at a quick glance that weren't awful, but I passed on the lower grade tube. Thanks for the replies! Edit: The lesser tube would've been at ask Edit edit: Forgot the picture!  Edited by MintedNotPrinted
10/17/2025 6:23 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24939 Posts |
MintedNotPrinted, I picked up a roll of Barber dimes from an online auction not too long ago. Condition turned out to be AG-G for most, none better. Weight of the 50 coins was 112 g, as opposed to 125 g nominal. There are a few thin dimes in there. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1182 Posts |
Hondo, I'm sure that would have been the case with the tube I passed on. To jpsned and Marve65's point; we'll see if they were leading me on or not, hoping I'd take what they had, they told me to call back next week. I have bought a G to VF tube of Mercury dimes (one or two culls mixed in...) and a VF 1867 two-cent there before. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10484 Posts |
Quote:
we'll see if they were leading me on or not, hoping I'd take what they had, Strike 2: " they'd supposedly sent the higher grades to melt by accident and retained only Good or worse!" |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1182 Posts |
Hey, I won't fall for the bait and switch in the end, but I never said I wasn't at least a little naive. I'll take their word until proven otherwise, but maybe the universe was telling me that has as good of a chance as that '43 copper being real I'll admit I'll be shocked to hear different when I call next week, but I've got to go for that third strike  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24939 Posts |
The roll they sent off for melting is the one that had a '94-S in it.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1182 Posts |
It was a real nice one, too  |
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Valued Member
United States
450 Posts |
For me, I still think it would be fun to search the tube, although it has probably been searched completely. You never know what you will find. Silver prices are crazy high now.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
Wow! I've been collecting since 1971 and have never heard of such a bizarre experience! "We accidentally sent the better grades to melt." Edited by jpsned
10/18/2025 9:05 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1182 Posts |
Maine, that's the idea at least... jpsned, to your earlier point, I can't know whether or not it's true, but that's what I was told Kind of hope they lied honestly. Always an adventure! |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 1,598 |
Posted 10/17/2025 4:59 pm
