BCCS Barber Halves Varieties Survey


1911-S S/S Barber Half

The BCCS conducted a Varieties Survey for Barber Halves, to gain information as to the relative availability of different varieties. The study consisted of five different parts, each corresponding to a particular type of variety.

Examples: When available, a photo or sketch is provided for a number of varieties. Just click on the link (underlined or highlighted "Date" field in the listing. Most images on this web page are courtesy of David Lawrence Rare Coins and DLRC Press, from the Lawrence Complete Guide to Barber Halves, with our thanks.


 
       Results of BCCS Barber Halves Varieties Survey - 2016


It is left to the reader to interpret the results. Hopefully, this will provide some insight into the large number of varieties, and the scarcity of some of them. Many that were polled had no reported examples, and many more were represented by a single example.

It was also a difficult project to conduct. For collectors with vast holdings, it was a significant time investment to go through their coins one-by-one. We give our appreciation to those collectors that participated. Thanks also to the Committee, including Dave Earp, Steve Hustad, and Bob Duzan.

Part 1: Different hub varieties

Date Descriptions Pick-up point AG-G VG F VF XF AU MS Total

1896 Type I Obverse

Obverse Type I: No

Liberty's ear (see left)

1 1 3 1 1 7

1896-O Type I Obverse

cartilage in Liberty's ear

  same

1 1 2 1 5

1896-S Type I Obverse

Type II: cartilage in center

  same

1 1 1 3

1901 Type II Obverse

of Liberty's ear

  same

1 1 1 3

1901-O Type II Obverse

Type III: fuller ear lobe

  same

1 3 1 1 6

1901-S Type II Obverse

than other two hubs

  same

3 1 3 2 1 1 11



Part 2: Doubled and Tripled Dies


Examples: DDO = doubled die obverse, DDR = doubled die reverse, TDR = tripled die reverse, etc.

Date Reference Pick-up point AG-G VG F VF XF AU MS Total
1892, DDO

IN GOD WE TRUST, and stars

1 1
1892, TDR L-102

All outer lettering, stars, ribbon ends

7 7
1893, TDR

All outer lettering, arrows

1 1
1902, DDO

Doubling on ribbons, stars left side

0
1907, DDR Beistle: "Recut legend"

All outer lettering

1 1



Part 3: Repunched Mint Marks (RPM)


Example: RPM-W = Repunched MM West, meaning the MM punched to the West [left] is the original [first] MM, and not the one in the final position. That is, the first attempted MM is to the left [west] of the final MM. Click HERE for a photo of a RPM-W, for example.

Date Reference Comments AG-G VG F VF XF AU MS Total
1892-S/S

S/S West upper serif

1 1
1899-S/S Breen 5074

1 1 2
1905-S/S

S/S South

1 1 2
1907-D/D

D/D South

0
1907-S/S L-101

S/S North

2 1 1 4
1910-S/S

S/S South

0
1911-S/S FS-50-1911S-501

1 1



Part 4: Repunched and Misplaced Dates (RPD, MPD)
Note: Misplaced dates (MPD) typically have tops of date digits in the denticles below the date.

Date Reference Comments AG-G VG F VF XF AU MS Total
1892 RPD

RPD South

0
1893-O MPD

1 1
1897/97 RPD

RPD South

0
1898/98 RPD

RPD South

0
1899 RPD

1 1
19/900 RPD

RPD South

1 1
1903/03 RPD

RPD South

1 1
1906-D MPD

1 1
1907-O MPD

0
1908 MPD

0
1908-D MPD

0
1908-O MPD

1 1 2



Part 5: Mintmark Varieties

Date Reference Comments AG-G VG F VF XF AU MS Total
1892-O Micro O Breen 5045

2 1 1 4
1892-S Micro S

Rumored to exist

0
1898-O Micro O

Rumored to exist

0
1907-S

Inverted S

1 1
1909-S L-101

Inverted S

1 7 1 1 10
1911-S

Inverted S

0



Part 6: Other Unlisted

  • 1898-O with O exact same size as dime punch (vs. quarter or half punch) – Jules Reiver example, VF35

  • 1899-S reverse doubling in UNITED and DOLLAR, was not specified whether die doubling or strike/shelf doubling, XF

  • 1907-O “disappearing O” in VF - no description was provided

  • Die state: 1895-S obverse die clash with striations in ear, similar to 1896-S Barber quarter (caused by horizontal shield lines), grade not reported

  • 1906-D, reverse rotated 90⁰ clockwise, VG

  • 1912, reverse rotated 90⁰ clockwise, F


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