Just Bob

I am going to go ahead and cast my vote for AT, but I am not at all familiar with how these were packaged or stored, so I could be wrong.

Congratulations on your award.

That is exactly how it was done. They sent out questionnaires to collectors all across the United States. I don't understand why you don't know about this. They sent mailers to everyone they considered to be of any significance whatsoever to the Hobby. Did you not get one?

Oooh! I want it! Can you get me that for Christmas?

Hey, Tom. Good to see you posting again! I hope everything is going well. There have been quite a few additions to the roster since you have been here. Some are good guys, and some...well... I will let you figure out who is who on your own. On a personal note: how did the dissertation go? What is going on in your world these days? (we can have this conversation by PM, rather than hijack the OP's thread, or you can start an "I'm Back" thread, if you would like.) Again - good to have you back.

When you first posted this, I though you were just showing us a nice coin that was going to be in an upcoming auction, and giving us some background information. I did not realize that you had bought it. Very nice score!

I agree. I don't think this is a counterfeit that was intended to fool anyone. There was no attempt to even clean up the edges. It looks like something one would find at a gift shop or souvenir stand.

I believe that is the first time I've ever heard that phrase used in connection with a coin purchase. I can assure you it would not apply to any of mine.

Every CAC gold stickered NGC coin that I have ever seen was in a no-line fattie, and if I ever saw a PCGS gold-stickered coin that wasn't in a rattler, I don't recall it. Read into that what you will. It is accepted in the coin community that grading standards have loosened over the years, but that does not mean that every coin in an older generation holder is automatically assumed to be undergraded. Some are still in the old holders for a reason.

Would that be a SMSMS?

With it behind plastic, not close-up, and a little bit fuzzy when enlarged, it will be impossible to guess a grade (not to mention that the reverse also plays a role in the grade.) I do see what appear to be some tics on the rim, but I can't tell what else might be on the surfaces without closer, clearer pics.

You did some research for yourself before coming here, and you accepted the fact that your coin was normal when another opinion was offered that confirmed your earlier research. Well done. You are miles ahead of many new posters who come here convinced that they have just struck it rich with their latest pocket change/parking lot find. Welcome to the forum. Stick around.

nope

That is a well done presentation.

A few questions: What kind of coins interest you? What are your collecting goals? Is cost an issue? Do you have access to local dealers or coin shows, or will most purchases be from the internet? Honest answers to these question will help us to help you.

I would love that. I would be a buyer at that level, for sure.

I wonder how many coins were ruined by this and other cleaning methods.

I like that they are going to display the book and the letter. That is a much better use of the book than just putting it back on the shelf or selling it as surplus/obsolete material.

$1.37 on 8/6/21 Our hosts have a handy info page here: https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/coin-melt-values.aspx

It is an arcade token from Aladdin's Castle, a chain of game rooms formerly found in malls.

Be very careful where I-65 meets I-59/I-20. That is a seriously dangerous intersection. There have been some terrible wrecks there.

I am lazily re-posting something from an earlier thread, but it fits here: What is a "Doo-ga-loo?" you ask. Well, it is a slang name for a trade token. They were also known as Brozenes, Doodlum, or Counters, among other names. These were used in place of money at various times in the past. This particular one is from the 1950s, and was found under the cork in a metal bottle cap.The finder could redeem the token for its face value in cash. Double Cola was one of the popular issuers of these, but this particular one was under the cap of a Big 12 Cola.It is from the town of Macon, Mississippi, and is made of very thin aluminum - so thin that it can be bent quite easily. And, it is only readable from one side, like a dogtag. They were minted in 5 cent and 10 cent denominations, and this one is the former. I also included a picture of one of the bottles, from an Ebay listing.

Did anyone else notice that the coin description gave the composition of aluminum as "95% copper and 5% zinc?" And all this time I thought that was the composition of brass. Shows how much I know, I guess.

Welcome to the forum. I, and most members here, are less worried about being scammed than about coins that are thought to be doubled dies, but turn out to be strike doubling or die erosion doubling, which are worthless. You see, probably 95% of the new posters who come on here think they have something special, when, in fact, they have common types of doubling. I am not saying that your coins are not legitimate doubled dies, but I am saying that some clear, cropped, closeups will be necessary before anyone will consider purchasing your coins. Honestly, I hope all of your coins are legitimate varieties, and you are sitting on a gold mine, but they will have to be seen first, to be believed. Good luck.

Fine