audrop's Journal

A journal by audrop

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Entries in this journal

I'm Baaaaack!

Missed the camaraderie. As many of you know I collect only PCGS coins for a variety of reasons that are immaterial to this post. I want to assure you that I don't compete for any awards on the NGC Registry as I don't think that would be legit. One of the reasons I enjoy being a member of the registry is to see how my collection 'stacks up' against some of the greatest collections on the planet. I am thankful that NGC opens up it's registry to PCGS collectors for the sole reason that members
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FMV: What does it really mean?

Beware the ides of 'Funny Manipulated Value'. Use TMV instead. Fair Market Value is a farce! I get a kick out of hearing about FMV from collectors. What is FMV? Fair Market Value is the price someone is welling to pay for a given coin at that moment. I don't have any idea where NGC and PCGS come up with their numbers, but if you really want to find out what a coin is worth, go to the auction archives and see what collectors are actually paying for the coin you want to buy. Heritage Aucti
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Do your homework!

Avoid being a collecting whore. After reading a post from W.K.F. recently, I was reminded of my collecting 'beginnings'. I was so enamored with the trinkets that the mint was selling and their proof surfaces, that I wound up buying some 'pretty' worthless stuff. I remembered my grandmother buying mint sets in the sixties and thinking that they would be a good investment, until I went to my local coin shop and found out they were worth about what she paid for them 30 years ago. Don't misunde
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The proof is in the pudding!

A nice clean slab. Received this coin today and there were some smudges on the reverse of the slab. So out came the Slab-Renew and after a little work....presto! Like SMC I don't sell the stuff....I just know it works. I paid $9.95 for my 4 oz. bottle and I see it has gone up to $15.95 as of this post. When this bottle runs out (in 15-20 years!) I'll probably try some car wax or other less expensive cleaner/wax to do the job. Happy Hunting, all. Dan
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How to clean a slab!

First you get a really big hammer.... Seriously, I use a product called Slab-Renew and it's unconditionally guaranteed. It sure works for me. SlabRenew.com. Dan
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The Original Pregnant Chicken

Precursor to the 'skinny chickens' seen today. I guess eagles were better fed back in the day or maybe they just wanted to be able to put the word CENT across their breast. Couldn't pass this coin up even though the funds to buy have temporarily dried up. I've been looking for this coin for some time, but the specimens I had found left something to be desired as far as being able to read the reverse. This coin has a nice strike with no major distractions and fits nicely in my ancestry set.
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A New Found Love

Affordable bits of history and a premise. As most of you probably know I'm trying to collect Mint Sets for the birth years of my ancestors. A daunting project to say the least, but I was elated to discover that many of the coins I need are readily available if I lower my expectations a tad. Case in point, I bought this 1829 half for less than $500 and it is a beaut! Sure it would be nice to have a MS-63 or so but with a wishlist still hovering around 500 coins, I would run out of moola way
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Musings.

This is why I gladly pay my dues. I enjoy the journal so much I would belong to NGC Registry even if they did not accept PCGS graded coins. A member expresses an opinion based on personal experience, something they read or heard, an idea they have, or whatever, involving collecting or investing in raw or graded 'disks of commerce'. Other members mental juices start flowing (it takes longer for some of us) and next thing you know there is a full-blown discussion going on regarding aforementio
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2010 Off to a Good Start.

Patience, patience, patience; but I really want it now! Just returned from my local coin shop and picked up a couple of additions for my Mint Sets but that is just part of the story. I had visited the website before I went in and had a particular coin in mind to buy, however, it was going to stretch my already over-stretched budget so I opted for choices two and three instead. It never fails, I settle for quick additions rather than setting the money aside until I have enough for the one 'sp
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Half a Turkey Has Landed!

Why I can only afford 1 addiction at a time. Being a very opinionated person, I just love giving other people advice. If you haven't read WKF's latest entry yet, you should, it's a real hoot. My advice to WKF is he needs a bigger safe! Although I don't share his passion for raw precious metals, I can certainly see the attraction. Having silver or gold ingots is pretty cool. Living in Nevada, I am especially fond of the 3 oz. Nevada bar with the shape of my state embossed in it. I am fi
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The Eagle Has Landed!!

Never thought I'd find one of these I could afford. Oh, the joy! A total mintage of 16,500 coins and PCGS has graded a measley 51 with none in MS from either service. In fact the highest graded specimen is an AU-55 (PCGS), AU-58 (NGC). The Smithsonian Institution example is a VF-30. Population: 13 in XF-40, 23 finer. Garrett and Guth in their excellent reference "Encyclopedia of U. S. Gold Coins 1795-1933" state that 'On many examples of this date, the mintmark is tiny and easily overl
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Silver Dollars dilemna

Ethics is numero uno. In my humble opinion, based on the facts as presented in your post, you have done everything a responsible seller should do and everything a responsible buyer should expect. If a buyer wants to be sure of satisfaction in a transaction,then he should be willing to insure the delivery. My understanding is that if you pay by Paypal, the buyers purchase is guaranteed, as per a refund from Paypal. I am sure that your rating is 100% and you have never had a problem before.
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Just Muddling Through!

Enjoying our freedoms. I must admit that some of the posts I read have become mundane and verbose in my opinion, but of course, I don't have to read them. I'm sure we would all agree that nobodys posts are as interesting as mine, . I read almost all of the journal entries and have seldom been disappointed, learning along the way, and appreciating the fact that someone had something of interest to share with me. Everyone has a right to be heard or in this case read and I certainly wouldn't w
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A rolling coin collection gathers no moss....

November is starting to rival October. I really have to get a handle on this hobby. The key I know is to stop looking but if I go near a computer.....This little gem caught my eye the other day and well you know, I just couldn't let it slip away. Pop. 55/10/1. Enjoy! Dan
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It wasn't really a lie, just a little fib.

After all it is November! Those of you that read my last post probably remember that I said something to the effect of "don't expect another post from me until after Christmas". As you can see I was fortuate enough to find some moola for another purchase and here she is...1870 $3 gold AU55.
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October was a great collecting month.

One more coin to share. Sorry, all. I usually am not this verbose, but I would like to share another October acquisition with you; 1891-CC half eagle MS 62. I am probably going to have to take a breather for the next month or two, so just in case, have a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas! Dan
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Went to the Barber shop.

Every numismaddict knows I'm refering to a coin store. Picked up this beauty. An 1898-S dime MS 65 with some awesome toning. Only three coins to go to complete the 1898 Mint Set. By the way, I finally have a couple of complete sets in the Registry. Nothing special but at least I can finally say I completed a set. Can anyone tell me how you post multiple pictures with your post? Much obliged. Have a great day. Dan
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Flying High.

Love those Double Eagles. Just had to show off one of my latest additions. Walked in to my local coin shop and what did I see staring at me..... a 1920 Saint PCGS 64. PCGS has only graded one higher. Incredible luster, one of the nicest coins I've seen in terms of eye appeal. October was a VERY expensive month for me also gherrmann44 and like you I need to rein in my spending or the people on my Christmas list will have to settle for coins. Not to keep mind you, but I will allow them to l
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How I Save (?) Money!!

You have to spend to save, right? I bought in excess of $5,000 buying coins on eBay in the last three months (not bragging or complaining). So I had a $110 of eBay Bucks to spend. Picked up this little near-gem (1876 25c MS 64) because I bought it on 'sale', $110 off my offer price. What a steal! I'm not sure who stole from who but I got a nice coin for a nice price. Anyhow, you get the picture, spend $5k so you can spend another $1,000 to save $110. On another subject, I have to agree
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Here we (me) go again!

Hot off the presses....at least it looks that way. Please ignore my last post. I need to stop looking at coins I already have! Just upgraded my 1920 'Mercury' dime from MS65FB(pop. 130/82/13) to a MS66FB. The pictures of the coin were gorgeous when I bought it, but having it in hand..... If anyone needs a 1920....Just kidding. Enjoy the moment....but don't forget about the future. Dan
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Re-evaluating......AGAIN!

Crow tastes a lot better if you use enough spices. I hate to admit it but some of you who replied to my earlier journal entries about quality over quantity were right. Trying to fill a set with 'expensive' (point values over 1,000) coins is a sure way to the poorhouse. I really am driven to just complete one of my sets, any one! To this end I have decided to fill sets with what I can afford and hopefully, upgrade at a future date. History bears out my basic tenet though; a few well chosen
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'Home, Home on the Range,.......'

Sorry, I can't carry a tune in a bucket. I must have thought I was in the shower. There are some real bargains out there. Prices seem to have dropped as more people are feeling the pain of Obamaeconomics. I know that some of you are still blaming Bush for our current troubles but sooner or later Obama will have to take credit for the 'stimulus' plan of rewarding his voters (labor unions, socialists, etc.) to the tune of a couple of trillion $s. The good news is I feel so 'stimulated' by al
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Learning to Play the Game!

Huge difference between cleaning and conserving. To me 'cleaning' is when someone tries to make a coin look better by indiscriminate dipping, brushing, etc. with the sole purpose of changing the surface of the coin at the expense of its luster. 'Conserving', on the other hand, is a professional removing debris without damaging the surface of the coin. Conservation should not improve the grade of the coin but, may in fact, change the appearance and therefore, the value of the coin. Latest
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A Big Hand for NGC!!

The 'collector friendly' Registry takes another step in the right direction! This journal entry is probably not going to be overly popular with all the 'purists' out there but here goes. After reading the excellent post offered by gherrmann44 and a considerable amount of thought on my part (boy did that hurt!), I'm enthusiastically climbing on board. For all the reasons stated in the aforementioned post and the fact that if someone doesn't agree they don't have to participate, I think it's a
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