just added coins 25 and 26 to pass the halfway point !!

As some of you may know I collect coins with Sailing Ships on them. Most of you who know me or read my journals know that my #1 love is Walker Halves. On a lessewr note I have a few other collections of which I have casually added here and there when I find a deal or get lucky and a low ball bid actually holds up for a win.

One of those sets that I build for fun--and definitely not for points, which is obvious by all of the 3 point coins in the set-- is my Barber Half set. I havew kept it fun AND CHEAP by setting my own parameters.

First, I set the target grade range at " Fine". This can include anything from F12 to XF45. I also love this grade range because not only are these coins a lot cheaper than the pricey BU examples but I really do like the look of a circulated Barber Half with this acceptable level of wear.

Secondly, I set up a parameter of a "short set". I may not have been the first to do this however I haven't seen anyone else talk about it. I simply made my target the 49 coins from 1900- end of the series. If the Barber is dated in the 1800's then I simply don't consider it. Some of the dates like the 1898 and 1899 are actually some of the more common dates but overall completing the "Long Set" would be quite pricey even in the Fine grades. The 49 coins of the short set are all affordable, which is remarkable with super low mintages like the 1913, 1914, 1915, the scarce 04-S, 01-S and a few sleepers-- they all are budgetable if purchased in F15 or so and the more common dates can be bought in the VF30-XF40 grades.

So anyhow, I recently added coins 25 and 26 to my set--actually passing the halfway point for the Short Set collection. Two of the coins need upgrading ( my 1904-S and 1915 in VG need to be found in F12+) but otherwise, a fine start to a nice collection of classic coins ( pardon the pun)..PS: I can't help but mention that my $175 Barber half dated 1915 is worth 3 points in the registry-- as are about 10 other coins in my set--and I could care less.

Here's my 1906 I just added for coin #26..a solid VF25

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