Responses to some comments

Wow. With relatively few views of my previous post, there have been more replies than usual. This is just to respond to some of those messages.

First up, regarding internet speed: At the time, I was on 15/5 (megabits per sec, download/upload) FiOS service, which has been adequate for my coin activities (browsing, bidding, etc.) at the same time as both of my sons playing on-line action games, without any issues. Nevertheless, this past week I did, for other reasons, upgrade the package to include 25/25 internet service. (With the perk, it will actually be cheaper to get more TV selection [is that a good thing?], more phone services, and faster internet than I have been paying.)

Second, it seems I did not identify the coin that I did not want. It was an 1891 half dollar, NGC graded MS65PL. At first glance, it is a pretty coin. But I have no particular interest in Seated half dollars, other than to get the 1890 for the gift. If I were looking for a type coin, I think I would go for a higher grade in a more common date. Upon closer inspection, this 1891 is not so nice. In addition to dies lines in lower parts of the design relief (as-made, and okay as far as I am concerned), there are scratches on the high points, primarily the breasts and legs. Not good.

Finally, a few expressed that they would not participate in the live internet bidding. For folks like me, sometimes it is "necessary". Certainly I have a good amount of money to spend on some nice coins. But I do not have enough at any given time to enter truly competitive bids on more than one or two of the kinds of coins I pursue. If there are multiple "coins of interest", sometimes live bidding is essential depending on how things go. So I will not swear off live bidding. But now I will probably take some video of the computer screen while I bid! If getting out of that 1891 half dollar was a "one-time courtesy", then I want to be able to prove my case should this ever happen again.

Despite the problem I just had, I do want to say that I think Heritage has grown to be the #3 auction company in the world, #1 in coins, for a reason. Their website, including the live bidding, is a big part of it. It is far and away the best out there. (My only complaint in the past has been inconsistent quality in the photography, which has improved recently.)

Nevertheless, as a software professional myself, I know there is no such thing as perfect, flawless software. We always need to be careful when our money is on the line, whether it is our tax money for the software I develop, or our own hard-earned dollars for coins or whatever.

Thanks for reading. Happy hunting. - Alan

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