• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

NGC Journals

jto

Confluence of Collectors

This coin is not a top pop, nor a high value or even a coin of striking beauty.  Why would I buy it?  It is an intersection between a man who was one of the most infamous collectors and a man who was the most accomplished US coin collector. The infamous man is King Farouk of Egypt who conspicuously collected coins en-mass.  He is responsible for the legality of the only 1933 double eagle that is legal to own.  That particular 1933 double eagle was exported by Farouk who actually applied for
JTO

JTO

3
When I’m Wiser and I’m Older

Possible Die Cracks and Thoughts on Die Life and Die Pairings

In looking at that 1880 10G coin I picked up a couple of weeks ago now one thing kind of stood out to me. There’s something on the left side of the Obverse that looks a lot like a die crack that runs between the K and one of the stars. Unlike a lot of the things you see people posting about in the Newbie forum you can actually see this with a naked eye and I think it really is a die crack and not a scratch - but I could be wrong. Looking closer under high magnification it looks l
Revenant

Revenant in Gold

8
When I’m Wiser and I’m Older

USPS: Keeping those standards high!

Well, I've been wondering when the certificates were going to arrive this year since the plaques are already in - the plaques almost never arrive first. I go to the mailbox with the family this morning and I'm treated to this: All I can do is just sit here and shake my head and think, "Really? For Serious?" I know those folks aren't having the best time right now but... really? Yeah. Technically, NGC didn't stamp "do not bend" on it, but, why else would you ship
Revenant

Revenant

3
CoinsbyGary

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

It’s been a long time since I've written an original blog here. It's not that I didn't have anything new to say but that I've had other responsibilities and distractions getting in the way. However, behind the scenes, I have been accumulating bits and pieces of news about my Laura Gardin Fraser collection. The first big bit of news came to me in the form of an e-mail from my LGF go-to guy. It seems that my friend is moving and wanted to lighten his load. Then as I read further into the body
coinsbygary

coinsbygary

0
When I’m Wiser and I’m Older

I love him, but he just kind of breaks… everything.

Ben came into my office the other day and found the 1986 Silver Eagle I have that’s in the original mint packaging. He’s always coming into my office wanting to take things from there or from my desk. Apparently, I just have all the best… everything! And he just wants to play with and take all of it. So, he decides that he needs to take it downstairs and show it to momma. Of course, he trips on the tile in the kitchen and drops it and breaks a chip off the mint capsule for the coin… Great!
Revenant

Revenant

5
Michael Byrne

Condor Tokens

Hi everyone its been to long. For that i apoligize. I realized what happened to me, i got old. After 27 years of studying sets complaing about the mint. Studing sets and putting them together time has caught up to me. I know it was the Condor tokens that took the most out of me. Die sinkers plachants,designs detail reserch history. The Soho mint the Birgmingham mint all has caught up to me. The Coventry set did take allot i mean five years looking for P..Kempsons wonderful art on copper was amaz
MIKE BYRNE

MIKE BYRNE

0
When I’m Wiser and I’m Older

Dirty Gold

I like watching documentaries and docu-series and I’ve become quite a fan of “Dirty Money.” I don’t know how popular it is, but I must not be the only one that likes it because it just got a 2nd Season. It reminds me a lot of “The Smartest Guys in the Room,” about Enron. I’m also a big fan of “The Big Short” and other documentaries on the financial crisis of a decade ago like “Overdose.” In particular with “Dirty Money,” in the first season I was a big fan of the episode on Volkswagen and the on
Revenant

Revenant

9
When I’m Wiser and I’m Older

Ants and Grasshoppers

My wife has an acquaintance she’s known for a number of years. This friend and her husband go on about 3 Disney Vacations a year. A couple of weeks ago, on the same day we were starting our self-isolation - with coronavirus cases already increasing in our area - they decide to go on an impromptu / unplanned trip to Florida to go to Disney World. The park started shutting down while they were there, and they stayed in their hotel a few more days before coming home. Instead of picking up su
Revenant

Revenant

8
Weekly Coin Club Gains

3/27/20: The Good, The Bad, and the Fakes

my package arrived 1 day early, what i thought was an authentic 1861 $1 note, turned out to be what might be the worst counterfeit ever. it was smaller then modern bills, in full black and white, and just looked fake right away. but, the other bills still make the money. they are all (with Iraq as an exception) before 1990. the oldest being from 1920, the German notes. but the mystery note, its odd. seems to be Greek, but, at the same time, the letters on the note are in Latin.
AJ2008

AJ2008

8
When I’m Wiser and I’m Older

Crackin’ Slabs… What am I missing?

It is Day 13 of our Coronavirus Self-solation. Frequent walks help make it not so bad with the stir craziness now. We’re taking the cars for short drives and driving out to the woods to walk around so that the cars don’t sit idle for too long. I thought it was a good day to have a bit of fun. A few years ago I ended up with two graded 1883-O Morgans in my collection. One is an NGC MS63 that I bought. One is a PCGS graded AU58 that another member here gave me when I bought a coin
Revenant

Revenant

14
Weekly Coin Club Gains

3/21/20: well, this isn't cool.

ah, the Caronavirus. it's cancelled my club. how great.     But, i just bought something! its an lot of bills, including (possibly) an 1862 $1 bill. also with an lot of older German, Austrian, Iraqi, danish, french,  and Canadian notes. is it an good deal? yes. is it kinda scummy? maybe. is it an scam? well im going to find out.   here's the link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-10-World-Money-Iraq-Canada-U-S-Germany-Austria-Denmark-France/392734913513?hash=item5b70d333e9:g:P
AJ2008

AJ2008

2
Reflections spurned by another journal entry

What else do you collect? Beer coasters anyone?

I was teacher for 33 years so didn't have much money to spend on things. When we traveled we drove and camped. Two of my favorite "souvenirs" that were always affordable was pressed pennies or elongated pennies which cost 51 cents. Plus you got to turn the gears to squeeze the penny and imprint the option you liked best.   The other one  which is the subject of this entry was picking up the coasters from the many different microbreweries that we would stop at and have lunch or dinner.  Bein
rons

rons

7
Collecting world coins

It only took 12 years

As my username would suggest I have a long standing interest in British colonial coinage, whilst the vast majority of my collection is made up of raw coins in VF I do occasionally improve to a graded example. I was therefore pleased to see a 1942 bronze penny from Southern Rhodesia in NGC MS63BN appear recently at Heritage,* as this was a lot at a weekly auction the estimate isn't usually added until the close of the preceeding weeks sale so I was very surprised when this was set as $20-$40. I s
ColonialCoinsUK

ColonialCoinsUK

4
VSI68

Is the Corona Virus having any impact on NGC?

I haven’t seen any information from NGC about the impact ,if any, that the Corona Virus may be having on NGC and it’s employees.I’m just wondering if any other collectors are concerned about the safety of NGC’s staff and whether or not orders will be adversely effected due to the situation our country now finds itself in.Will there be delays in completing orders or possible shutdowns due to the Virus affecting staff ? I guess time will tell and we can only pray for a fast and safe ending to this
VSI Collection

VSI Collection

11
When I’m Wiser and I’m Older

There’s a good chance that I might have overpaid for this… but I did it anyway!

I’m not sure if I should care. An NGC 1880 Netherlands 10G appeared in the wild in MS65 for sale! For $600! … Ouch. But it was perfect for my set! I’ve never seen one of these (already graded by NGC) come up for sale before. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it hasn’t happened in all that time, but this is the first one I’ve been aware of while it was for sale. A recent round of internet searching revealed that in Sept 2015 a PCGS graded example graded MS66 went up for sale with sever
Revenant

Revenant

10
DE Ward

1922 High Relief Matte Proof Peace Dollars

1922 High Relief Matte Proof Peace Dollars Known Examples (DW2020) 1) Matte PR66, type 2, NGC, 912198-009. Heritage Numismatics private sale to the author, April 2000. Zerbe specimen, also known as the RARCOA specimen. Picture attached. 2) Matte PR66, type 1, NGC, 1634739-001. Heritage Numismatic auction, April 2002, lot 4354, $51,750. Norweb specimen. 3) Matte PR65, type 1, NGC, 1274863-003. Pinnacle Rarities private sale to the author, November 2000. Rhodes-Mormon-Breen spe
DEWard

DEWard

5
Reflections spurned by another journal entry

my coin chuckle for the day

Today I made an offer for a coin on eBay. The dealer, a very very well known dealer, was asking $328.60.  I offered $285 figuring I could negotiate up to 290.  His counteroffer was 327.99.  The explanation was "my cost is 300...with fees I lose money "  I had to laugh and thought perhaps you all would get a chuckle as well. I don't believe he had $300 in the coin but what a ridiculous counteroffer. Why bother with "make an offer" if you are going to drop the price 61 cents. Anyway I still think
rons

rons

13
When I’m Wiser and I’m Older

Pictures are for Parents

My wife pointed out to me the other day, likely very correctly, that pictures of children are for parents - not for the children. I suspect their simple existence is often enough for the child to know that the parent cared enough to have them taken. Nevertheless, these are some that I wanted, and they're very much for me. Yeah... you give a kid something and take away the pacifier and its going in the mouth. On another front, it would appear that the time has come to start
Revenant

Revenant

2
Collecting world coins

In search of varieties

Having chased die numbers on British sixpences for many years I am always on the look out for different varieties of the world coins I collect. Whilst trying to complete a graded typeset of Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy coinage* - to mirror my typeset of the French issues - I recently acquired a gold 20 Lire issued by the Milan mint in 1808 in NGC AU58. For the French issues the 20 Franc coin is the most common by far of the two gold denominations whereas for the Italian coinage it is the opposite
ColonialCoinsUK

ColonialCoinsUK

4
Mokie's Den

Abe and Ben = F.U.N.

As many of you are aware, the upcoming World’s Fair of Money will be held in Pittsburgh, PA from August 4-8, 2020.  Education and outreach to YNs are of prime importance to both the American Numismatic Association and this year’s host club, the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists. During the most recent F.U.N. show, Dennis Boggs (who plays Abraham Lincoln) and Pat McBride (who plays Benjamin Franklin) worked in tandem to create a remarkable attraction for show attendees.  YN’s flocked
Mokiechan

Mokiechan

0
When I’m Wiser and I’m Older

Subjective Novelty

It’s a little funny sometimes to come to a place like this and see someone talking about a 225 coin or token and to hear or see them say, “it’s not all that rare or special, but I like it,” and to contrast that with the reaction I get sometimes from my family. You show people a 225-year-old token and they’re going to think it’s crazy cool! - Or maybe not… As others have noted recently, sometimes you show someone something that you think is really cool - and they just shrug and say, “that’s
Revenant

Revenant

4
Thanks for the coins

My wife is finally impressed

For more than 13 years I have been maintaining a slush fund, making sure I get the mail first, discarding all packaging and most documentation, and immensely discounting the value of the coins I have around.  NGC has helped by serving as an excuse for getting coins in the mail that were "already mine."  My wife has not been hostile to the collection, and has occasionally expressed some interest in a historical figure she has heard of showing up on a coin, but not much.  Ancient coins?  She doesn
deposito

deposito

4
michael22's Journal

Update for Michael 22

Since my first entry I have added to my PF 70 collection all 1990's except for 1993 & 94. Still looking for that right coin and price. Also, my Morgan collection has grown a little. I am now looking and purchasing CC coins for part of my collection. Best of luck to all of you in your quest for that unique coin. 
michael22

michael22

1