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NGC Journals

Electric Peak's Journal

Stars About to Shrink

Another unattributed 1838 Small Stars Half Dime In a Heritage session a couple days ago, there was an MS66 1838 half dime that caught my eye. Even on such a small coin, it is a naked eye variety: the Valentine-1, Small Stars die marriage. Even the earliest known state of the obverse die shows obvious evidence of die rust, most notably on Miss Liberty's left arm (holding the pole), by which the die can be identified uniquely. But being in an early state of the die, the stars are not yet signifi
Electric Peak

Electric Peak

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Electric Peak's Journal

Another NGC to PCGS Price Jump

...and I didn't pay it. As some readers know, I am nearing completion of my main business strike Liberty Seated half dime date and mint set. Of the seventy coins in the Registry set, I still need five, and may upgrade a few others. One of the holes is for the 1865-S. One of the Gardner examples was auctioned by Heritage yesterday. In the Gardner sale just over two years ago, this coin sold for $4406.26 as an NGC MS65 with green CAC sticker. Since then, it got a change of clothes, crossing th
Electric Peak

Electric Peak

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Dynasty Collectors' Cabinet

FELLOW NUMISMATISTS SAVE OUR HOBBY

BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE Upon opening www.Amazon.com and typing in the search bar large cent, I saw no fewer than twelve counterfeits offered for sale on the first three pages. The Secretary of the Treasury permission under Title 18 Part 1 Chapter 25 code 504 can only authorize these fake copies after their producer successfully makes a case that they are unduly restricted reproductions. The problem as I see it is a weakening of the laws that boarders on counterfeiting acceptance. Just about all
Dynasty

Dynasty

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CoinsbyGary

The 1913 Better Babies Medal

As America entered the 20th Century, our nation began to turn its attention towards addressing a number of social issues. Among the issues we addressed as a nation was our high infant mortality rate. As a means to educate and encourage parents concerning the proper care and hygiene of their children, contests were held at popular public venues. These contests were then used to measure child development among the contestants and gather statistics. Cash prizes and a medal were awarded to the paren
coinsbygary

coinsbygary

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jackson64's Journal

In The Eye of The Beholder

Design, Toning, Patina and RD vs BN We are all unique in our tastes. We may share a common taste for many of the same things-such as coins/medals in general-but what we find appealing is divergent. I could write a book on all of the different ways that numismatists collect-series, by date, by color, type, one of each, by mint, by medal, theme, country etc etc etc...but we all have our style and preferences. I have assembled sets by theme which have hundreds of coins--and other times I coll
jackson64

jackson64

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jto

Here is the grade for the 1893--S Morgan dollar

Has NGC begun net grading coins? First, I apologize for the delay in posting the results, I am a working guy and cut busy with my "day job". Thank you all for your thoughtful and insightful comments. Many of you identified correctly that there are rim bumps at the 11 o'clock position and 2 o'clock position. My dilemma is this: Based on all of the grating standards that I've been able to find this coin should grade VG and could possibly even grade Fine. My understanding is that the grad
JTO

JTO

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rmw's Journal

RMW Collection of England and Great Britain

1738 Two Guineas Just purchased this. Not slabbed yet. You have to watch out for Lebanese counterfeits of this date, made in the 1970s. Counterfeits are very good. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
rmw

rmw

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jto

What grade is this coin?

I bought this coin and I wanted your opinion: what numerical grade would you give (1-70 Sheldon Scale). This coin is certified by NGC (not a Problem, Details, or No Grade coin). The grade assigned puzzles me and I would be interested in the collective wisdom of the group. I will post the grade, photo of the coin in holder, once I give you all a chance to vote on the grade you would assign as a grader for NGC or PCGS. If you think that the grade would be different between the two major servi
JTO

JTO

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Electric Peak's Journal

Gardner #13

Or is it Shattered - Part 8 ? About that potential upgrade to the 1855 half dime featured in my "Shattered - Part 7" posts... Back in August, Heritage had an NGC MS66 up for auction. I peeked at it in the fourth session of the Gardner sale last year, but passed in favor of higher priority items. At that time it was in a different NGC holder, graded MS65, with a green CAC sticker. This is one of several ex-Gardner half dimes that have reappeared, upgraded, since the Gardner sales. In the mor
Electric Peak

Electric Peak

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Texan's Coins's Journal

Jefferson Proof Nickels

Almost Finished I just added a few more coins to this collection, bringing me to five coins needed to complete this collection. It's one I have been working on for a couple of years and I will be happy to finally finish it. I am looking to close out a few sets that I am almost finished with, so I can concentrate on my Morgan Dollars, Commemoratives and my Type Set.   Happy collecting, everyone. Marcus To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added b
Texan's Coins

Texan's Coins

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jto

Shattered

A shattered 1797 Half Cent Here is s coin with a well recognized repunched date (1 over 1). I am curious as to what the markings are to the right of the upper 1. Are they the remnants of the re-punched date? There does not appear to be anything on the reverse to explain them as die clashes. It also has evidence of several major obverse die cracks. Die crack #1 that runs from just before 12 O'clock to Miss Liberty's hairline. A second die crack (#2) from just after 12 O'clock runs in a w
JTO

JTO

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jto

Competitive sets for So-Called Dollars?

I think starting competitive sets for so-called dollars would be a win-win for collectors and NGC alike. Coins that are at the top grades for their type, date, and mint mark are becoming quite expensive, whether they are modern issues or 18th Century coins. So-Called Dollars have remained relatively affordable even or top population coins. NGC is a leader in grading these coins in assigning the appropriate Hibler and Kappen (HK) designation. By opening repetitive sets in So-Called Dollars NG
JTO

JTO

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Electric Peak's Journal

Shattered - Part 7 (Obverse Photo)

The obverse of this coin is pretty dramatic, too. Sorry, I'm not good with the photo editing, so I'll post the 1855 V-4 obverse pic in this separate post. Like the reverse, it has obvious clashes and other signs of age. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
Electric Peak

Electric Peak

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Electric Peak's Journal

Shattered - Part 7

1855 V-4 As promised in Part 6, this post is not about an 1843 or 1847 shattered reverse half dime die. As mentioned in Part 3, I acquired an 1855 half dime in Baltimore almost a year ago. I had been finding it difficult to find a nice 1855 in my target grade, MS66, for any price. So when a MS65 example appeared in the Stack's-Bowers auction at the November 2015 show, I decided to go for it, and succeeded. At the time, it felt a little like settling for something less than what I really w
Electric Peak

Electric Peak

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coin928's Journal

Crossover + Upgrade = Happiness

Crossovers can be risky, but sometimes it all works out well. Some of you already know, but for those of you who haven't heard, I have taken over editing and publication of "U.S./Philippine Coins" originally written and published by Lyman Allen. The most recent edition of which was edited and published by Tom Culhane. Sadly, both of these knowledgeable men are no longer with us, and the responsibility for producing the 8th edition has passed to me. I hope everyone will be pleased with he res
coin928

coin928

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Electric Peak's Journal

Gardner #12

I couldn't pass up an upgrade. In the four sessions during which Heritage sold the Gardner collection in 2014 and 2015, I was fortunate to obtain eleven of the 186 business strike Liberty Seated half dimes. As you might expect, some of those other 175 coins have made appearances since the Gardner sale sessions. One of those coins was in the Stack's-Bowers auction a couple months ago. It is a nice 1856-O in an NGC MS66 holder. I had considered it ten months earlier, but went after what I con
Electric Peak

Electric Peak

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Final piece to the middle date Walker puzzle

Why I like Walkers and my evolution as a collector

From humble beginnings to where I am today As a grade school child of 8 or 9 years old, my dad got me started on classic coinage (Buffs, Mercs & Walkers among others) by giving me Blue Whitman folders and quite a few circulated coins for me to fill them with that he had obtained, in his younger days. I was never able to fill that 1938-D Walker hole and that really challenged and intrigued me. Those old blue folders listed the mintage numbers underneath that hole and it was LOW for the
Walkerfan

Walkerfan

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rmw's Journal

RMW Collection of England and Great Britain

Just bought today-1819 crown After a lot of searching, I was at last able to buy a great George III British crown today, from 1819. these pieces were part of the recoinage which took place after the Napoleonic Wars, using the new steam powered mint making machines newly installed at the Royal Mint. The piece was designed by Benedetto Pistrucci, whose classic design of St George slaying the dragon is still in use in Britain's gold pieces close to two centuries later. I also received 30 piec
rmw

rmw

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My World Crown Affair

Custom Set Collage

Celebrating an Amazing 8s milestone This year I was able to add two coins to my set of Charles III 8 reales and complete the goal of an example from each mint that produced the portrait type issue. I figured out how to add an image to the custom set description and called on some dormant skills to illustrate the achievement. I left the commercial art field just as computer graphics were starting to take off so I remember 'copy' as what the photo department did, 'cut' requiring X-ACTO knife ski
jgenn

jgenn

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rmw's Journal

RMW Collection of England and Great Britain

1936 VIP Proof Halfpenny Here is an example of a VIP Proof Halfpenny of George V. Around 30 of these were made, perhaps less. VIP Proof Halfpennies come up occasionally but I have never seen another with this much red. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
rmw

rmw

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Followers and Following

All Tied up in State Quarter grading!!

My grading that is!! Friends, I have been searching over 150 rolls so far to get a few nice keepers to add to my set graded. I thought at the time it would be a breeze and then I got all kinds of work added to my daily program. It has been all I can do to get some midnight hours to search the rolls I have and now I am adding 24 dates at 10 rolls each to boot. ---- Numismatic Searching Nut!!! I Have Lost It ---- To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be
Six Mile Rick

Six Mile Rick

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CoinsbyGary

My Life as a YN

Today as a 58 year old coin collector I occasionally think back on my years as a YN (young numismatist). I have very fond memories of those days and the coins I collected, many of which I still proudly own today. Those were the days when I could spend the lion's share of the money I earned doing odd jobs on coins. At no other time in my life could I do this as I did when I was a YN because my parents provided the cloths on my back, a roof over my head, and plenty of good food to eat! The only
coinsbygary

coinsbygary

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rmw's Journal

RMW Collection of England and Great Britain

New British George II Custom Type set I have no new pieces to show this week but I hope to have a few when my latest submission is returned. In the meantime, for British enthusiasts Ive set up a custom type set of George II coins and a copper Coronation Medal. Check it out if you are interested. the picture is of a reverse of a 1758/7 sixpence, in Ms 65. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
rmw

rmw

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