0
  • entries
    193
  • comments
    0
  • views
    2,238

Entries in this journal

The Reverse Pic

... I really hope I'm on a roll with my pictures. Here's the reverse of the 1921-D Morgan. It's raw, stored in an AirTite holder. To me, this pic shows exactly what I'm looking for in a coin photo. I want them sharp so the lettering pops out at you. (Maybe the best to put it is, I want the almost 3D effect) Everything is very readable, and the colors are really close to the actual coin. I still think the holders have something to do with it. Especially for me, I don't have professional equip
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

Stack's Purchases And An August Update

Just when I thought I could pay off my credit cards... ...I had to buy some items in some of Stack's auctions. I hope everyone understands first of all, I'm not trying to blame Stack's. :-) My tongue is firmly planted in my cheek as I write this. It seems that Stack's have a cacaphony of items that I like, and want to put into my Wild West theme collection. Unfortunately for me, I don't have unlimited cash, so I have to pick and choose what items to bid on. So, as I try to pay off my credit

Observations On Several Things

I'm not even going to get to my Specimen Note research... This journal article is sort of an update, some observations and just plain straight talk on what I've been up to. Jackson had sent me a message a few days ago, indicating he at least would be interested in hearing what I have been up to, since I hadn't posted any journal articles for a while. (Jackson, hope you don't mind that I used this, felt it would give a little explanation.) So thanks Jackson, for your interest at least. As I t

I Don't Agree...

I'm normally an easy going & mellow guy. I had originally planned my next journal article to be a catch-up article. I've gotten my credit card bills a little higher than I should, and I was going to write about some of the ungraded coins I have, and some research I've done on my Mexican Specimen notes. But after reading T-Bird47 and Paul Kiraly's journals, I felt I had to say something. To T-Bird I'd like to say if you like your set, don't let anyone tell you different. To Paul I'd l

I Need Help...

In more ways than one! A lot has happened in the approximately 2 and 1/2 months since I've written a journal entry. The first (and MAJOR) happening is I've really redefined my focus. In case anyone hasn't noticed, I've pulled my Large Cent, Half Eagle, Eisenhower (both proof & Uncirculated), Walking Liberty short set and my Franklin FBL sets off. The main reason for all this is the total of my credit card bills (am I the only one who spends a lot on coins??). I've come to the sad realiza

My Collection Is Also Spread Out!!!

Bruce Wilmore, I can feel your pain.... Bruce's journal article really hit home with me. Like Bruce, my collection was really expanding into areas that were getting far afield from my Wild West and related sets. Plus, my credit card balances are getting way too high. I need to pay them off, and soon. So, I had to make some hard choices. Right now, the choice that is definitely the hardest, is removing my Large Cent registry set, and a few pieces of my gold. My goal is still the same, namely

A Menagerie Of Subects

Franklin set, points discussion, registry set suggestions and the Mint missed the boat... First though, a personal note to Mr. Thompson. I sure will be thinking of you, as I think all of us will, and hoping things turn around for the better for you. I can't believe it's the middle of March already. Where does the time go?? I know, we all spend it looking at our coins, searching for coins, preparing submissions and on and on. My main goal for the year, as I mentioned in an earlier journal a

Looking Forward To A Great 2008

...8 coins to go for my Franklin FBL set. I'm really looking forward to 2008. I've started off with a bang already, as January isn't even over yet. My main goal for the year is to finish my Franklin FBL set. I've 9 empty slots in the set, and I have one coin on the way I won in a Teletrade auction. So that leaves 8 slots to go, I really want to finish the set this year. The downside to this is I decided to not do the Proof Franklins. However, I might buy a 1957 Proof, as I am comtemplating a F
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

By Jove I Think I Have It...

...Come Watson, the game is afoot. Yes, I am a Sherlock Holmes fan. :-)) First, many, MANY thanks to Dean Heard. If you're wanting to take better photos, read his current journal article and check out the website from the link he provides. The site has helped me out, there were at least 3 tips that has made a difference for me. As a test, I took my 1857 Half Eagle, and tried some more photos, and the results were amazing (at least to me). I'm going to experiment more, especially on my silver
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

Thanks To All -- Another Photo

I didn't know it was going to be this much work. Thanks to all who responded to my earlier post today. I've been trying all the suggestions, and checking out the link that was sent to me. These photos are almost seeming like work, the good side is I get to look at my coins, and I am learning as I go. I'm posting another photo, I think I'm on the right track. (Or is it I'm too picky???)
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

2008 Is Here -- A Brand New Collecting Year

More pictures. First off, congratulations to all of the Registry and Journal Award winners for 2007. I've gotten many hours of enjoyment and plenty of information by looking at registry sets, and reading journal articles. I'll have more thoughts on some of the new journal articles that have been posted in a day or two, but right now I'm experimenting a little more with my digital cam. So this journal article is another request for feedback on the attached picture. While I have been satisfi
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

A Gold German Indian

But I sure wish I knew more about it. If any of you read my earlier journal article about procrastination costing me a bunch of money at once, here is possibly another cost of procrastination. I had purchased this medal in a Stack's auction earlier this year. As you will be able to see from the photo I've attached, I bought the medal to put in my Wild West Signature set. But, and this is a big but, I waited several months to get it graded. I received it back a week or so ago, body bagged as
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

Finally A Word (Or Several) About ABN Plates

Or, I'm really pleased with myself! Since I am caught up with taking photos of my coins (until my submissions start coming back), I decided to experiment with some of my ABN plates I've purchases at ANR/Stack's auctions. While I have only bought a handful (although if I had unlimited funds, I could have bought a LOT!) I feel these plates fit in the grand scheme of things. I consider coins and currency just part of the whole financial and economic system of the US, along with stocks, bonds and
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

More Photos and Random Thoughts

...can't believe it's December already. Finally, I'm all caught up on images of my coins. I had saved the larger proofs (Ike dollars, Commem dollars etc.) till last because I was getting a lot of camera glare. I finally figured out to stand my little easel more upright, and move it farther away from the camera. I put the camera in Super Macro mode, and then had room to adjust the glare out of the coin. Those mirror surface proofs catch every little bit of glare. Another thing I noticed, and
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

Procrastination Costs...

...a big chunk of change when you let the submissions pile up. Today was the big day, I sure cleared a space on my collecting central table. But as you can tell from the title, I wish I had did just a few at a time. Yes, I have to admit, I usually never do today what I can put off for a month (year?). Today, it cost me big time. I sent out 4 different coin submissions today, and still have 2 currency submissions to get ready so I can mail them Friday (which is my holiday day off since Thanks
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

From Hard Decisions To A Small Downsize

...decided how I want to collect. Well, since my last journal articles, you've probably noticed several changes. Well, just a few more will be made. Please let me explain. Really first I must say a weight has been lifted. I have my collecting goals in focus, and all my hard decisions have been made. My collecting goals are: Wild West signature sets first (coins & currency); then Dollars; then my Mexican sets and other signature sets. Plus currency, I do love the ornate engraved notes,
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

Just Wondering...

...do the scores take into account both NGC & PCGS or just NGC? I read the previous post about the 1989S UC Jefferson Nickel. I will admit right up front I haven't studied how NGC comes up with their point totals, or even have read any instructions on the registry population reports lately. So I'm wondering, does NGC take into account just NGC graded coins, or do they add both NGC & PCGS totals??? One reason I ask is because we can put either company's coins in our registry and signa
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

Thanks Michael

Can you all stand another image of a Mexican note? Thank you Michael for the kind words. I never thought of myself as a great writer, just an Iowa country boy who writes about what I care about. I suppose it's like any job or hobby, if you enjoy what you're doing, things (like writing) are a lot easier to do. I guess if I have one fault (at least from a collecting point of view), it's I like too many things, think too many coins and currency are pretty and waiting to be collected. That's wha
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

Hard Decisions

...a direction change to follow my heart I'm finishing up a week's vacation from work, and during this time, I've been doing some serious thinking about where I'm going and where I've been with my collecting interests. Some of you may have noticed I've deleted several of my sets, namely all my year mint sets except for 1953 and my Ike circulation strike set. The big reason for all of this is cash (or lack of it). To even have a hope of completing some of the yearly mint sets, I'd have to s
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

More Coins And Winning Currency Bids

A bad day turned into a good day... I'm really surprised I'm writing this journal article so soon. Yesterday started out to be a very bad day, as I finally had my dental work (surgery) done. Fortunately, I had no problems, at least not yet, and the oral surgeon was happy, as he had no problems. So I returned home sore and kind of down in the dumps. But when I arrived home, I had Four, yes 4, packages of coins waiting for me. :-) Plus, I felt good enough last night to watch 6 auctions on David
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

Reply To Mtn Poet

Silver Buffaloes...are sure pretty! The only silver Buffaloes I know of are the Uncirculated and Proof versions from 2001. I've attached a pic, Mtn Poet, to make sure I'm refering to the same coins you are. If I am, I think these 2 coins are gorgeous, especially the proof version.
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

Some General Thoughts...

...Replies to Prdola & MRaitt I've been reading the journal articles, and wanted to make some general comments. First one concerns Prdola's journal entry about the Jamestown commemorative. I think you have a nice coin Prdola, and was glad to see you bought it for less than what the Mint asks for it. If you like it, and since you got a good deal on it, you should really enjoy the coin, whether the rest of us like the coin or not. I do like the coin myself, but I'm reminded of a piece of a
Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

0

"Raising Dust For Mexico"

...Announcing a new signature set. I've been sorting through my collection, trying to get everything priced and in my collection software, and also trying to get pictures taken of all my coins. The main reason I'm doing all this is to keep my insurance man happy, he's been bugging me for years to get him a list of all my collectibles, along with pictures and replacement values. Another reason is it's just so much fun looking at my coins and wondering what kind of stories they could tell. Thi

Impaled On The Horns Of A Dilemma...Or...

...Do I keep or sell my satin finish state quarters? I had planned to write about the American Bank Note plates that Stack's have been offering in my next journal article. But tonight I added some more coins and edited my Wild West Signature Set, and that got me to thinking about my satin finish state quarters. It seems redundant to me to have the normal finish state quarters, plus the satin finish coins, plus the proofs of the state quarters. I'm using the proofs in my signature set, so now

All My Franklins Are Imaged...

...and this is the last journal entry about photos for a while. I've had a productive 2 days off. All my Franklins are now imaged. Whew, I didn't know what I was getting into when I started all this. I think I can blame it on my insurance man, he's been bugging me for 20 years (yes I know, I procrastinate) to have pictures and inventory for my renter's insurance. So now I'm going to make him happy, as I've imaged probably 30 coins today alone. I keep learning. Even have images of a few proof
0