If you started collecting coins when I did, back in the late 1950's to the mid 1960's, chances are, your father or grandfather introduced you to collecting, and you probably started with Lincoln Cents, Jefferson Nickels, or Roosevelt Dimes. Sure, there were other kids who collected the larger denominations, but unless you came from a wealthy family, you probably couldn't afford to save coins more valuable than pennies or nickels. Most kids couldn't afford to put away quarters or half-dollars! So, if you were like me, the only place you even saw Barber dimes, quarters, or halves was in a coin shop, or maybe in your father's collection. My dad had a few pieces of each but no real collection. Over the years, he had found them in circulation. He never purchased coins or actively collected, so he never really had anything rare or valuable. All of the Barber coins that I can remember, even then, were already mostly worn out! To me, Barber coins were old - "coins from my grandparents' generation", and I hardly even gave them a thought. However, there were others smart enough to recognize their potential and spent some time and money assembling collections. Today their efforts have really paid off. Barber coinage has steadily increased in value and been in the "plus" column of coin prices for some time. Barber dimes are undervalued and are poised to make a major run.Today, for the most part, it seems that Barber coinage only gees two ways - Very low grade, and very expensive! This series of dimes, quarters, and half-dollars (1892-1916), ushered-in the 20th Century. They, pretty much set the trend for America's modern coinage, being somewhat "transitional" between our "ancient looking" Seated/Shield type and Indian Head series, (Buffalo Nickels the exception), and the more modern types of coinage like Lincoln Cents Mercury Dimes, Jefferson Nickels, etc. The Barber series spans 25 years (1892-1916) with four different mints producing 73 different regular issue coins. As these coins were being produced, America was undergoing a major transition. We were rapidly moving from a time of cowboys and Indians, stage coaches, train robbers, and wagon trains of settlers moving West, into a new century. A century of new ideas. A century defined by the greatest Industrial Revolution in history. A time of global awakening where giant factories began producing everything from machine guns, tanks, and battleships, to automobiles, airplanes, and motion pictures. Our nation expanded from primarily an East Coast nation to engepass the entire North American continent. Throughout all of this whirlwind growth and expansionism, as many great fortunes were being established, there also were many who were poor. Very few people had the resources to collect or put away many of these coins. From 1895-1905, coins of all denominations were in such short supply all over the nation, that Congress authorized the opening of a new mint in Denver in 1906. Most coins were so heavily circulated, that by the 1940's as many as 75% of all Barber pieces coined were worn out and gone, and most of the remaining Barbers were either in very low grade or were to some degree damaged. Additionally, there were many very low mintage dates produced in all three denominations, and circulated survivors FINE and better are very scarce and underpriced.On average, between 1999 and 2011, Barber Dimes values are up 73% circulated, and 170% in MS-63. Barber Quarters are up 375% circulated, and 360% MS-63. Barber Half-Dollars are also up 270% in FINE, and 190% in MS-63! These percentages represent values for geplete sets. (Not including 1893/2 Dime, 1894-S Dime, 1905-0 Micro"0" Dime, or 1892-0 Micro"0" Half-Dollar) Although difficult to locate, all of these coins are still available in circulated grades, FINE - EXTRA FINE. It would be considerably less expensive (as an investment) to purchase an already gepleted set of any of these coins rather than to attempt assembling a set in high grade. An UNCIRCULATED set of any of these coins would be very difficult, and very expensive to assemble. At this time, the Barber Dime series appears to be the "Hottest" series. Both dealers and collectors are actively seeking the low mintage "KEY" date coins, with better grade pieces in very high demand. It should be noted that because of their small size and lower denominations, Barber Dimes endured the highest amount of circulation, and sustained the lowest numbers of survivors. Adding to the challenge of the Barber Dime series, there are fourteen different issues in this series with a mintage of less than one million coins, and nine others under two million! Dime collectors far outnumber quarter and half dollar collectors, and supplies of available coins are mostly limited to worn out and damaged pieces. Not only are collectible coins very hard to locate, they are currently underpriced. As market conditions recognize this trend, I feel sure that a major upward price adjustment is imminent.Barber Quarters and Halves don't get any easier. The Quarter Series also has fourteen issues under one million, and another seventeen with mintages under two million! Barber Halves have twenty-one dates/mints with mintages under one million, and another twenty-six under two million coins. All three sets are still possible to geplete, but the investment and the difficulty in finding these coins is also increasing each year. This guide is offered as basic information to those individuals
considering collecting or investing in coins. It is my opinion, and you
should make up your own mind if it is something for you. If you have found this review helpful in any way, or interesting in
content, I would appreciate your vote of (YES) at the bottom of this
page. Information sources available upon request.- Mintex03
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