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coinsbygary

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Journal Entries posted by coinsbygary

  1. coinsbygary
    My continuing journey to a top Britannia registry set and putting these tough times in perspective.
    Despite all the bad that is happening, there is some good too. I had this post on Britannia collecting ready Sunday, but because of all that is going on within the Society, I felt the timing was not right. For those going through adversity I have encouragement.
    In January I came across adversity of a different kind, while traveling in Brazil on a mission trip, I took seriously ill. I was hospitalized there with a potentially life threatening illness. Due to gall stone blockage, I contracted pancreatitis. By the grace of God, this condition was quickly diagnosed and my healing rapid. Thankfully, I was released from the hospital four days before returning home.
    While in Brazil I pulled a 1 real coin out of circulation, that coin will always memorialize my stay there and what God has done for me. I sent the coin to NGC for certification and it pulled a grade of MS-64. This coin is not worth the $2 I claimed on my submission, but in terms of sentimental value, this coin is worth much more. The coin will eventually go into my signature set and if you wish to see a photo of it, the certification number is 2756113-009 and you can view it on NGC?s certification verification.
    I make no bones that I am a Christian, so I want to use a Bible verse to illustrate a point. The verse, Romans 8:38-39 states, ?For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.?
    Now for the illustration, if you have to sell a portion of your collection to get by, do not let this fact crush your collector?s heart. Remember, what does not crush you will only serve to make you stronger. Keep the fond memories you forged building the collection to encourage you. Continue to add to your collection, as I said my Brazilian coin of little value means much more to me than how much the coin will fetch at auction. I am sure you all have coins in your collections that mean more to you than filling a slot in a registry set. Do not let this economy separate you from the joy you have in collecting coins. During economic tough times, focus on these things. The economic pendulum will eventually swing back and we will once again be vigorously adding coins to our collections if we just do not lose heart. Had I died in Brazil my collection would have went to my wife and eventually my children, who have vowed to liquidate the entire collection. Now that is putting things in perspective. Hang in there Mr. Thompson and do not lose heart.
    Now a portion of the good news I have to share with my collecting community:
    Almost two months ago, I opined on a journal post about collecting Silver Britannia?s. Since then many things have changed including the first NGC coin grading MS-70. Additionally, there are changes within my registry set worthy of commenting on in a journal post.
     
    One of my strategies in building a competitive registry set is to purchase large lots of coins and submit them to NGC for grading. I decided to start replacing the lower grades in my set first, and then work from there. Recently, I purchased five 2009 Britannia?s, three 2008?s, and three 2006?s. Inspecting the coins I found two 2009?s and one 2006 with the characteristic scuff marks on the queen?s cheek. It seems because of the high relief on the obverse, and the coins moving in their holders, scratching is frequent on the high points of this coin, especially on the queen?s cheek. Since MS-69?s are my goal, I decided to leave those coins out of my submission and instead focus on the three 2009 Britannia?s, three 2008?s, and two 2006?s.
    Last Friday my coins cleared quality control, and I must say I am happy with the results. All three of the 2009 Britannia?s made MS-69, one of which will plug a previously empty 2009 slot in my set. Of the three 2008 submissions, I have two MS-67?s and one MS-68. For whatever the reason the NGC population report shows the highest grade for 2008 Britannia?s is MS-68, so for now the MS-68 will do nicely in my set, upgrading a previous MS-64. Of the two 2006 Britannia?s, one was MS-67 and the other MS-68. Of course, I would have liked a 69, but more importantly, the MS-68 upgrades a MS-62 in my set.
    Another strategy I employ that makes upgrading easy is purchasing existing certified coins. Last week I purchased a 2002 PCGS MS-69 Britannia on E-Bay. The advantage to purchasing certified coins is that I do not have to purchase large lots of raw coins. This spares me from having to spend money to buy the coins and then get them graded. I used this coin to upgrade a MS-67 in my set. All told, I boosted my points total by 432 points!
    From here on out, the going gets a little rougher. Next on my list for upgrading are two 67?s and a 64. After that, I have five 68?s left to upgrade. To spare myself a large expense I will have to be more discreet about the coins I submit. I do not want to submit three coins to upgrade a 68 and have them return as 67s. Along the way to upgrading my set, I have to hope for the elusive MS-70 in one of my submissions. Knowing that such coins exist only encourages me to try to find one for myself.
    Gary
  2. coinsbygary

    An Improbable Medal Purchase

    By coinsbygary,


    So-Called Dollars
    How did a medal I never knew existed become something I had to have in less than two months? Several improbable events, that’s how.
     
    The improbable events started at the end of November as my wife, and I prepared to go on a cruise. Our 16-day cruise began in Los Angeles and ended almost 4,700 miles away in Miami through the Panama Canal. At the time, I was excited about transiting the Panama Canal. But I was especially thrilled to spend 16 days with my daughter, her husband, and my 17-month-old grandson.
     
    I was all in on the canal when we finally reached Panama City. I gobbled up as much information about the canal as possible. I took dozens of pictures of one of the seven engineering wonders of the world. To this day, I’m soaking up all things Panama Canal. I even have a wallpaper image of the canal on my laptop!
     
    When I got home, the most improbable event of all occurred. A few years ago, I decided to let my membership in the Central States Numismatic Society lapse in favor of PAN. When I went to the post office to pick up the mail, I noticed a large envelope with a return address to CSNS. Inside the envelope was their newly reformatted winter 2023 copy of “The Centinel” and a note asking me to come back. As an aside, I like “The Centinel’s” new format. At any rate, The Centinel had an article entitled “Commemorating the Big Ditch” by Juan L. Riera. The article described the opening of the Panama Canal on August 15, 1914, and the so-called dollar struck to commemorate it.
     
    Do any of you have that “gotta have” coin for your collection on your want list? After reading the article, this so-called dollar (HK-398) immediately went from never heard of to first on my want list of “gotta have” pieces for my collection. I immediately went surfing on the internet to find my new must-have. I finally settled on a nice medal from a dealer I had previously dealt with. Having a medal available in the marketplace for me to purchase is the last improbable event in a long series of incredible events.
     
    Fortunately, this medal was reasonably priced and now stands as the perfect addendum to a most memorable cruise! Add to the fact that this medal (1 of 50,000 serialized medals) was carried aboard the SS Cristobal. The Cristobal was the first ship to transit the Panama Canal on August 3, 1914. At the official opening of the canal on August 15, 1914, this medal was given to 200 dignitaries aboard the SS Ancon. The Ancon is the first official ship to transit the Panama Canal. Though this medal is 1 of 50,000, the dealer who sold me this medal estimates that only a couple hundred examples of it survive today. Perhaps the low survival rate can be attributed to the high international appeal of this medal scattered around the world.
     
    This I do know that my medal graded MS-62 by NGC is among the nicer surviving examples. The design of the Panama Canal completion medal was recommended to the John F. Newman Co. of New York (manufacturer of the Panama Canal Completion medal) by Miss Elizabeth Rodman, cousin of Capt. Hugh Rodman, U.S.N., Supt. of Transportation, Canal Zone. Though the Panama Canal completion medal was copyrighted in 1913, the official issuing date of the medal is recognized as 1914.
     
    This medal measures 38mm in diameter and is struck in bronze. The serial number marked on the reverse is 11138. The obverse of the medal features a woman standing on the prow of a ship transiting the Panama Canal. Her arms are outstretched, holding a ribbon. Under her hands are two globes, the eastern hemisphere on her right and the Western hemisphere on her left. The inscription on the ribbon, translated from Latin, is “Columbia unites the oceans.” The woman has rays of light emanating from her head. There is a banner over her head with the motto boldly proclaiming, “Prosperity to all Nations.” Though I can not find any documentation of the fact, I believe the woman is a personification of Columbia.
     
    The reverse features an inscription under the seal of the Panama Canal Zone. It reads: Commemorating the opening of The Panama Canal to the Commerce of the World Copyrighted and Bearing A Serial number is one of 50000 Carried on the Vessel making the First Passage Through the Panama Canal as Authenticated in Certificate Signed by (signed) Geo. W. Goethals Chief Engineer and Chairman lsthmian Canal Commission.
     
    A significant expansion to the Panama Canal opened on June 26, 2016. This new expansion allows much larger ships like my cruise ship, carrying 5000+ crew and passengers, to transit the canal. I am posting a picture I took of the Agua Clara locks as my ship exited the Panama Canal on the Atlantic side.
     
    References:
    Winter 2023 edition of The Centinel, “Commemorating the Big Ditch” by Juan L. Riera
    https://www.so-calleddollars.com/Events/Panama_Canal_Completion.html


  3. coinsbygary
    The history of Liberty on our coins in a nutshell and remembering the meaning of the Fourth of July.
    The fourth of July is a perfect time to reflect on the freedom and liberty we enjoy in the United States. The themes of freedom and liberty are an integral part of the designs of our coinage since their first minting in 1793. Our nation founded on western ideals has its origins in ancient Greek and Roman philosophies and religious freedom. To understand our coinage, we need to understand its origins.
    Libertas, Latin for Liberty, long being a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, became a goddess in 238 BC when Tiberius Gracchus ordered the construction of her first temple on Aventine Hill. Ever since then she has been appearing on coinage from around the world.
    Symbols associated with the goddess Liberty is the pileus, Phrygian cap, and the rod. When a Roman slave became free, he shaved his head and wore a pileus, a conical felt cap much like the Phrygian cap associated with freedom and the pursuit of liberty. During the ceremony with which the former slave was declared free, the lictor of the magistrate laid a rod on the head of the slave and with certain formal words declared him free. This ceremony known as ?Manumissio vindicta? is Latin for ?freedom by the rod.?
    As a fledgling Democratic Republic, our founding fathers wrestled with what designs our coins should have. Coins featuring reigning monarchs were prevalent at that time and there was a consensus that our coinage should not have images of living persons. Therefore, our first coins minted in 1793 featured Lady Liberty with a cap and pole. Since then the obverses of all our circulating silver coinage has featured an image of Liberty (except for the silver three-cent piece) until the Washington quarter in 1932. The reverse of our coins often featured a bald eagle, symbolic of strength and freedom in flight. Frequently, the eagle has arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The olive branch represents our desire and preference for peace while the arrows symbolize our willingness to go to war to defend liberty.
    The picture collage below features four representations of Liberty. The first, a 1795 half-dollar, features a young and vivacious Liberty with the wind of freedom blowing through her hair. Therefore, this design is named ?flowing hair? and currently it is a favorite among collectors, including myself. The second coin, Jefferson?s Liberty, features a more mature image of liberty. After complaints to the mint about the ?flowing hair? design this ?draped bust? design was adopted. The third coin, Jackson?s Liberty, features Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap and is called ?capped bust?. The fourth coin, Van Buren?s Liberty features a ?seated liberty? design. Liberty dressed in a Roman toga appears seated and at rest or at peace. In her left hand, she holds a pole with a Phrygian cap on the end and symbolizes the emancipation of a large group of slaves. Liberty?s right hand supports a shield with the word ?Liberty? brazen across it showing that while at peace, she is vigilant and ready to defend liberty at any time. Throughout the history of the United States, our coins have been endearing symbols to remind us of the virtues of freedom and liberty.
    Over the course of human history, freedom has been the exception, rather than the rule. Political and religious freedom has often come with the shedding of blood on the battlefield and is never free. Many people living on the face of the earth today do not enjoy the freedom we do, and we should never take it for granted or we may lose it. Today take time to reflect on the brave men and women in our armed forces as many of them are spending their July 4 on foreign battlefields defending liberty. God bless the USA! Happy 4th of July to all!

  4. coinsbygary
    Discover the hours of pure fun you will have assembling one of these sets!
    I thoroughly enjoy building registry sets. I have been collecting for more than 30 years and just ?discovered? registry sets less than a year ago when I joined Collectors Society. I started assembling competitive sets with a goal of completing a few of them with the best coins I can afford. Other sets I am targeting for healthy competition. Still others I use to store coins that buttress my overall points standing. However, there are those I use as feeder sets to pursue my real passion for collecting, my signature sets.
    There are several reasons I enjoy building my signature sets over my competitive sets, the main reason being is that I determine the theme and the coins that fit the theme. In many respects, my signature sets represent what I enjoy about coin collecting, my personality, and what interests me. Filling slots determined by Collectors Society, while fun is mechanical and non-flexible. Let?s face it competing depends on the amount of money you are willing to spend to build a quality collection. That is why my goal is simply to complete a few of my sets.
    Another reason I love signature sets is that I love allegories, and I enjoy deciphering allegories for the ?story? the coin is trying to ?tell?. All sets have an option for owner descriptions; I use the owner description to tell the coin?s story. While it is true you can add descriptions to any of your coins, the signature set is the only place they can all be together in one location.
    I mentioned in a previous paragraph competitive sets are non-flexible, not so with signature sets. With signature sets, you can evolve your set from one thing to quite another. For instance, my ?Inspirational Ladies? signature set started with only allegorical coins. It has evolved to include historical, monarchal, and athletic women that inspire. I even have general and special coin slots to define either a group of women or that unique coin that reminds me of someone special. The only downside, if you can call it that, is that you never complete your signature set unless you narrowly define it, just ask ?Jackson? about his ?High Seas? signature set.
    If I were to meet any of you, we could talk for hours about our next purchase or a possible upgrade, maybe even the dream coin we would purchase if we had enough money. However, just as my signature set is a window into what makes me tick, so it is with others who are assembling signature sets. I have never met ?Jackson?, but we could sit down and talk about maritime history. The same is true with ?Revenant? who is building a set called ?Modern World Silver Bullion?. We could talk about how he assembled those meticulous owner descriptions.
    If you have never considered assembling a signature set, maybe now is the time. Collectors Society allows coins to be in multiple sets. You need not buy new coins to do it; I have a set dedicated to nothing more than my MS-70 submissions. My sets have given me untold hours of pure enjoyment, give it a try!
    Happy Collecting! Gary
  5. coinsbygary
    Chiming in on the hot issue of the day
    I am not judging the merits of what "namvette68" is proposing. Neither am I unsympathetic to the plight of other collectors forced to sell their collections to make ends meet. The economy is as it is and we are all in it together. All of us, if we are not selling coins to live, have at least thought about the circumstances that would force us to sell. What I am suggesting is that Collectors Society has other forums where this kind of thing should be taken up. The chat boards seem designed perfectly for the back and forth dialog that will be needed to get this thing off the ground. If what namvette68 is suggesting gets going there will need to be significant off line discussion of how the plan is administered. To get things started I do not fault namvette68 for using a journal entry to get the "word" out. But after getting the word out, things need to move to a more appropriate forum, where haggling over the details can be done. For what it's worth I do appreciate the points CPM & C made regarding community.
    Gary
  6. coinsbygary
    A journal entry that mislead me, but turned out well
    Today I saved $50.00 on a coin purchase because of a journal posted by Collector?s Society member ?davidricher? written yesterday. For those of you who read his journal, he stated that the mint would BEGIN shipping UHR?s April 24 and then only to those who placed orders on Jan 22. This afternoon I received an e-mail from the mint stating that they have begun to ship Feb 22 and expect to deliver UHR?s ordered between Jan 22 and Feb 23 BY April 24. I believe the information in the journal, though false, was an honest mistake. Based on the information in ?davidricher?s? journal I placed an order for one each, Elizabeth Monroe and Louisa Adams gold proof coins yesterday afternoon. Now you are probably wondering how I get from a journal entry on UHR?s to a first spouse order, let me explain.
    I do not have to tell anyone out there who has a 401K retirement account that the stock market is in the tank. I think I have lost 30 to 40 percent of my money in the past 6 months. I do not look at my statements for fear that I will get depressed, angry, or both. It will probably take a long time for me just to break even again. If you are a coin collector, I do not have to tell you that the price of gold is sharply rising either. The UHR I purchased on Jan 22 for $1189.00 now sells for $1339.00, $150 more than my order one month ago on Jan 22. If I continue to work and earn a decent salary in this current economy, I see a GOLDEN opportunity. Where else can I invest in a rising commodity and fuel my passion to collect coins at the same time during a poor economy? Now to be fair I do not buy coins primarily as an investment. I buy them for the enjoyment they bring me as a hobbyist. Unless I need to liquidate them to survive, I have no intention to sell them. Therefore, I will never realize a profit. With that said it feels nice to have my coins appreciate. If only I could move the money from my 401K to gold coins, but then again, how could I retire if I am not willing to sell? No, my strategy is to give investing in the stock market a break and take the extra money I earn and buy gold coins.
    Now, since my UHR order supposedly moved to April 24, and I did not have that charge on my credit card for the next billing cycle, I purchased the coins yesterday for $629 each. With the mint?s new pricing guidelines in place, the same coins listed today for $654 each, saving me $50! Generally, though, when I take a course of action based on incorrect information, things do not usually turn out well. Before I make a decision based on Collector?s Society journals, I need to verify the content of the journal, even though I believe them to be well intentioned. I still may be in trouble though, if the mint ships my UHR before the first week in March, I will see both charges on my credit card. I will have to deal with that when and if the time comes. For now ?davidricher?, if you are out there, thank you, because of your journal entry, I will get a better deal on two fine coins!
  7. coinsbygary
    Winning my first Teletrade lots and buying "certified" vs. buying "raw".
    Many of you may be surprised, but in 35+ years as a coin collector, I made my first purchase through Teletrade last Sunday. To be fair to myself, I have been a collector for longer than Teletrade has been in business, but barely, a mere 12 of 35 years. In fact, until I joined Collector?s Society, I had never heard of Teletrade and only heard of Heritage in passing. Because of your enthusiastic reviews of Teletrade, I thought ?Why Not?? and established an account. Last Sunday, June 21, I participated in my first auction.
    Perusing Teletrade?s lots, I thought it good to place bids on two of their more inexpensive lots. When placing bids on coins, I use NGC?s Fair Market Value as a guide even though I think this guide is over-priced. If I can get a coin at FMV or less, I consider it a good purchase. With this in mind I placed my first bid on a very attractive Red/Brown 1908 PCGS MS-64 Indian Head Cent that I felt should have been Red. I won the coin and with buyer?s fees and postage, I acquired the coin for slightly less than FMV. To maximize value, I try to buy coins that will cross over into multiple registry sets. With the 1908 Indian Head Cent, I have a quality coin for both my 20th century type set and my basic US type set.
     
    My other lot, a bi-centennial 1976-s PCGS MS-67 silver quarter, half and dollar, I won for 54% less than NGC FMV. Tallying the registry points on these three coins, I had a whopping 1074 points for my type sets at slightly over 18 points for every dollar I spent. Talk about value, this was it.
     
    I got to thinking about the second lot. Had I purchased the coins raw and submitted them, it would have cost me more than what I paid on Teletrade, especially considering I had no guarantee of a MS-67, a high grade for these coins. Now I enjoy submitting coins for grading, but this gets very expensive, AND I have been disappointed in the past by some of the grades I received. When I can, I always buy certified coins for my sets. The advantage of this is that you get a known coin for a known price, no body bags here. However, some certified coins are quite scarce. This is especially true for my Britannia and Wilhelmina 10 Gulden sets. In these cases, I have to try to hand pick the best examples I can and hope for the best. This can be expensive and frustrating, but as I chronicled in past journals it can be exhilarating also. With great risk comes the possibility of great gain.
    Now with a successful Teletrade transaction under my belt, I can say with surety, I?ll be back doing business with them again. Happy Collecting! Gary
  8. coinsbygary
    I have notice my coin is on the way after ordering it May 6!
    On May 6th I decided to order the Anna Harrison First Spouse gold coin from the Mint. Today I got my e-mail notice stating my purchase is on the way! When I ordered the coin I thought I'd be doing good if the mint got the coin to me next month, but eight days? That must be close to record time! Even at that it is a little odd because I ordered the Harrison dollar coin and medal set early last month and I am still waiting on that. Oh well, I'll gladly take what ever I can get from the Mint. Happy Collecting!
    Gary
  9. coinsbygary
    One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind and no commemorative from the US Mint.
    40 years ago today seemed larger than life to me. As an eleven-year-old boy, I remember exactly where I was at the pinnacle of what was perhaps mankind?s greatest technological triumph. At a carnival picnic sponsored by my father?s employer on July 20, 1969, I heard an announcement over the loud speaker that we had landed on the moon. The reaction to the news on that warm summer afternoon was a rousing cheer from the crowd in attendance at the picnic.
    I have always been fascinated with space and space travel. As a boy I remember wanting to be an astronaut when I grew up. My favorite plastic model was the Saturn V rocket. To satisfy my curiosity and interest, I did all I could to find books, information, newspapers, and television news and documentaries on all the Apollo missions. I was certifiably a space nut, my favorite television show at the time was ?Lost in Space? and today I have most of those episodes on DVD. With my heart so set on being an astronaut my mother told me, why go in a rocket, one swift kick, and I?ll be on the moon! Of course, my mother was only jesting with me!
    Fast forward 40 years and I lament with ?Neverman? and ?Raresov?, why no official commemorative to mark the occasion? This year is a perfect year to run a commemorative on Apollo 11, seeing as there are so few commemoratives scheduled for release this year. Now I have nothing against Louis Braille and Abraham Lincoln, but none of us was alive when these men, worthy of commemoration lived. With an event like man walking on the moon, a large portion of the public that witnessed this monumental event is still alive. Certainly, this should make for a sure seller from the US Mint, simply because people can readily identify with the moon landing. Perhaps, that the event is already commemorated on the Eisenhower and SBA dollars is the reason why there is no commemorative now. At any rate, I think the Mint is missing an opportunity.
    With other countries recognizing the importance of this event, it appears that I will have to look towards other countries to satisfy my collecting desires, much like ?Raresov?. In the past, the Marshall Islands have been very good in recognizing our space accomplishments, and I know there are 25th anniversary issues out there too. It is simply a shame that an event built largely on good old-fashioned Yankee ingenuity and innovation is not commemorated on coinage from the United States.
    Enjoy this photo of the reverse of my 1999-P Proof 70 Ultra Cameo SBA dollar fashioned after the official Apollo 11 patch worn by the astronauts of Apollo 11. Happy collecting all!

  10. coinsbygary

    Contrasts in Lighting

    By coinsbygary,


    Coin Photography
    A few days ago, I was contacted by a friend concerning a medal that he had photographed by someone other than me! 😊. To be exact, he didn’t like what he got and wanted to know my thoughts on the photography. Now, if a person asks me questions about photography, they will always get more from me than they asked! The pictures my friend sent lacked details. The devices were hazy and had a strange blue hue. The fields on the medal were basically flat. Because the medal had a reverse proof finish, I photographed a 2013-W reverse proof SAE from my collection to make a few lighting comparisons.
     
    First, I photographed my SAE using a 45-degree axial reflector. This transparent reflector directly underneath the lens reflects about half the light from a perpendicular lighting source to the lens. The remaining light passes through the glass and is absorbed by the black surface inside its holder. From my picture, notice that I fashioned my reflector from a CD case lid.
     
    An obstacle that I always have to deal with using this method is too little or too much light. If a coin is in a plastic holder, it compounds the obstacle. Getting just the right light is difficult because the light is often hazy, and the focus is not consistent over the entire surface of the coin. Usually, I have to use a diffuser on the lighting source, adding yet another variable into the mix. The picture I am posting of my SAE under this form of lighting is my third take. Despite the difficulty experienced, this is my favorite image of the SAE.
     
    Next, I photographed the SAE using my lens aperture LED ring light. Because this light is precisely perpendicular to the coin, the picture is much like the one using axial lighting. However, axial lighting is reflected, and this light is direct. You will notice the mirrored surface of the coin is much more reflective than the picture using axial lighting. This type of lighting is advantageous when photographing darkly-toned copper coins. In fact, I used this light to photograph the Conder Token pictured in my last ANA post.
     
    Standard lighting will always be at an angle other than 0-degrees because the camera is in the way. This method of lighting is perfect for capturing the luster of your coin. You will notice the luster present on the obverse field of my SAE in front of Lady Liberty. Because the lighting is at an angle, the highly reflective surfaces on the coin appear black. If this were a standard-proof coin, the fields would be black, and the devices would be silver because of the non or less reflective surface of the devices. Most often, I use two lamps to better light the surface of the coin and reduce the effect of shadows.
     
    Recently, I imaged a chocolate-brown, lightly toned Conder Token that I had difficulty capturing the fine details. In the end, I used one standard light in front of the token to finally get the results I was looking for. Basically, I use whatever form of light that will give me the result I want, and it often takes a lot of shots to get it right.
     
    I hope you have enjoyed my post and my pictures. I am also posting a non-silver Ronald Reagan reverse proof dollar using axial photography. Which is your favorite SAE picture? If I ever photograph your coins, I might ask you this question. You can be sure that my friend didn’t have a choice. Love it, or hate it, he had to take what he got ☹






  11. coinsbygary

    Reflections

    By coinsbygary,

    Reviewing my journal entries of the past year showing how far I have come.
    Early this morning with everyone else quietly asleep, I took time to read many of my journal posts of the past year and reflect. January 1 is a good time for reflection, because it is the end of one year and the beginning of the next. For those of you contemplating journaling in 2010, journals are a wonderful way to chronicle your collecting journey. In them, you store your thoughts, feelings, accomplishments, and impressions that otherwise would be forgotten. My journals help me to establish a collecting roadmap by reviewing where I have been to help determine where I am going.
    One of the things I find so amazing are the things that were so important to me early in 2009 that are now of no significance. For example, 2009 started with all the commotion over the Ultra High Relief double eagles. There are several journals I posted on that issue and the entire ruckus with how the mint handled the ordering period. I remember my concern with whether I would get the early release designation or not. Now I shake my head and wonder, ?What was all the fuss?? In the end, I did get the early release designation and the mint eventually ironed out their problems to the tune of over 100,000 UHR?s.
    The greatest benefit to me in journaling is that it is a means to measure my growth within the hobby. Early in 2009 as chronicled in my journals, signature sets were all the rage in me spurred on by winning the award for the ?most creative? signature set in 2008. Don?t get me wrong, that award means the world to me, but my infatuation with it blinded me to other areas of collecting. As the year progressed, my journal entries began to show a change in my perspective out of a narrow view of collecting towards a broader one as evidenced by the variety of registry sets I collect.
    In my journals, I have documented my failings and triumphs as a collector. These journals help me to remember the many lessons I have learned. This in turn saves me time and money by not repeating my mistakes. I firmly believe, the day I stop learning and growing within this hobby, is the day I hang it up.
    Journals are an important means with which to communicate with other collectors. I have enjoyed the feedback I receive from other collectors after reading my journals. This helps me immensely as a collector. In turn, I like to give other collectors' feedback on their journals.
    Now a new year is here with a completely new set of lessons and growth, and I wonder what the main collecting issues will be in 2010. One thing I do know is that I will continue journal, as my journals are a real treasure to me alongside my coins. May you all have a prosperous new year in which you not only add coins to your collection, but knowledge and growth as a collector.
    Gary
  12. coinsbygary
    Strategies for building inexpensive sets with key dates and having fun doing it.
    Not all my collections are contained within my registry or signature sets. For instance, I have a complete date and mint Mercury Dime set housed in an intercept shield folder (less the over dates). Most of the coins in this set grade good or very good, with higher grades in the later years. One coin in the set, the 1916-D, is NGC certified AG-3. The design for the Mercury dime is one of my favorites and plugging holes in an album took me back to my early years of collecting and the fun I had.
    Most series of coins have key and semi key dates, and the Mercury Dime series is no exception. While I could justify not buying the over dates, there is not getting around the 1916-D. When I started this set, I had to decide how I was going to handle this key date. I decided on purchasing the 1916-D first, buying the best specimen I could afford. The advantages to this strategy are:
    1. I get the hard coin out of the way. The coin I purchased on E-Bay cost me $415. Buying the key date early allowed me to save money with a higher quality coin. Today I see coins grading FR-2 offered on E-Bay for $550.
    2. If I ever decide to upgrade, I can do it for less by buying the higher-grade coin and selling the lower-grade coin.
    3. I usually insist on purchasing key coins that are certified to guarantee the authenticity of the coin I buy. With the 1916-D this is very important since this coin is frequently counterfeited.
    Having the 1916-D, I purchased the folder and populated it with the loose dimes I already owned. Next, I bought a 200-coin lot of un-searched dimes for $60 and populated 30 to 40% of the slots in my folder. With the duplicate coins, I assembled a few short sets and resold them on E-Bay. This left me with having to purchase a few common dates and the scarce dates such as the 1921 and 1921-D dimes.
    After I completed the set, I went through and graded each of the coins according to an old grading guide in my library; ?New Photo Grade, a Photographic Grading Guide for United States Coins? by James F. Ruddy. In 1972, this book was the official grading guide of the ANA. This gave me hours of fun while helping me to develop my grading skills.
    In all I had a set that gave me hours of fun at relatively little cost. My only problem is that I have one empty slot in my folder, the 1916-D. You can have 80 coins in a folder, but when you look at it, all you notice is the empty slot. I guess that I will have to get over it or crack the coin out of its holder (this is not going to happen).
    Some time ago, I thought to start an Indian Head Penny collection. Currently, an 1877 Indian Head Penny, PGCS graded AG-3 is waiting in my collection for me to start. Happy collecting everyone!
  13. coinsbygary
    2009 in review and my goals for 2010.
    2009 has been a banner year for my collection. I have spent more money on coins this year than during any other year prior. My first full year in the registry is part of the reason for my increased spending. After establishing the sets I wanted to collect, I feverishly went about populating them. With the focus of filling slots and my proclivity to compulsiveness, I very nearly completed a 20th century type set and completed a Wilhelmina 10 Gulden gold set and a Britannia Two-Pound silver bullion set. Furthermore, I am current with the First Spouse $10 gold coins and submitted the last three coins in the series for grading last week.
    To be fair to myself, I have grossed more in coin sales this year than any previous year. I could not have purchased the coins I did without first selling the coins that no longer fit into my collecting goals. I also sold a good portion of my problem coins from other TPGers and upgraded them to either NGC or PCGS slabs. Of course, whenever I upgraded a slot in my registry, I would sell the lower grade coin to help subsidize the higher-grade coin. Even so, I think my purchases far outweighed my sales. The good thing about buying coins though is that they tend to hold their value and increase over time, so I feel my money is not going down a huge sinkhole. My collection also serves as a reserve if my economic situation takes a turn for the worse, or I need it to supplement my income when I retire.
    What are my plans for 2010? Now that I have established the areas and sets I want to collect, I will focus on periodic upgrades. Recently, I upgraded a Type 1 Standing Liberty Quarter and Barber Dime in my 20th century from AU-58 to MS-64 and 63, respectively. I?ll post a photo of the quarter when I get it; I think you will agree it is absolutely stunning. Additionally, the goal for my Wilhelmina set is MS-65 and my Britannia set MS-69. Currently, I need six coins in each to attain that goal.
    I know I will not be able to spend the money on coins next year that I spent this year. My wife wants upgrades on our house, and I agree she should have them. New purchases will focus on First Spouse coins for as long as I can afford them. Mary Lincoln is due out next year and she will be a fine companion piece to the Lincoln commemorative of this year. In case I cannot keep up, I can always fall back on the medals.
     
    I still own quite a few problem coins, mostly gold and 19th century stuff. Rather than sell them, I think I will cross them over to purple slabs and use them to populate my gold and 19th century sets for the price of grading. I can always upgrade them in the future when funds permit. There are also have several world coins I need certified for my ?Inspirational Ladies? signature set.
     
    Finally, I will spend more time polishing the coin descriptions in all my registry and signature sets. This gives me countless hours of fun and enjoyment for no additional cost. I may also start a new signature set based on an aviation theme. In closing, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope that you will all meet your collecting goals in 2010!
    Gary
  14. coinsbygary
    Upgrading from NCS UNC details cleaned to NGC MS-64
    One of the features I like about the Signature Series registry sets is the option to populate slots with NCS slabbed coins. Not that I want to fill my slots with these coins, but I sparingly fill slots with expensive coins that I can purchase for less. When I do populate slots with these coins, it is with an eye to upgrade them at a future date. From time to time I comb e-bay for these coins to see; 1. What prices are my coins bringing on e-bay and 2. Can I upgrade a coin I currently own inexpensively. The opportunity to upgrade came yesterday with a coin currently in my "Inspirational Ladies" Signature Series Set. The coin was a 1897 Netherlands 10 Gulden gold coin I originally purchased raw for $234. Since it was evident this coin was cleaned, I sent it to NCS and they returned it detail graded UNC cleaned. Yesterday I purchased an 1897 Netherlands 10 Gulden gold coin graded NGC MS-64 for $260! If an opportunity to upgrade comes for only $26.00, I'll snap it up every time. Since I had the NGC certification number from the e-bay listing, I immediately updated my set and will add photos when I receive the coin. Another advantage in upgrading is selling the old coin and minimizing the cost of the new coin. Rarely do opportunities come to upgrade this much for this little money. So when opportunity knocks do not delay, these opportunities are few and far in between!
  15. coinsbygary
    The final word on my Ultra High Relief.
    As I am writing this journal, my Ultra High Relief is on its way home with a grade of MS-69, Early Releases. Once home, it will be photographed and taken to the safe deposit box, ending a seemingly long and interesting journey for me. One of my final acts will be filling out the survey the mint sent me on the ?UH1?.
    While I am a little disappointed with the grade, getting a 70 is like winning the lottery and totally depending on the coin you receive from the mint. I feel sorry for those five people from the population report that got 68?s. For the most part, I have a good track record with gold submissions. Of three first spouse submissions, two have returned 70?s. Of three commemorative half-eagle submissions, I have two of three returning 70. Not too bad, I?d say.
    Over time, I am developing an eye for the 70 versus 69. While I cannot point to any discernable defect in the 69, the 70 seems to have a certain ?look? about it that puts it over the top. Of course, I will never be 100%, but I am improving with each submission. However, with my Ultra High Relief, there were discernable defects. Near the eagles head on the border of the reverse, there are fine scratches. While I was hoping NGC would overlook this and focus on the devices of the coin, I knew that with those scratches it could never be a 70.
     
    Do not get me wrong, I am still delighted with my coin, and I will not be looking to towards upgrading it. After all 69 or 70, it is still ?my? coin, and I am proud to own it. Kind of like kids, not perfect, but still your kids. Think of what it would be like sending your kids in for an upgrade, absurd. Now I am not trying to compare kids to coins, my kids are infinitely worth more to me than all the ?stuff? I own, but in this case, my Ultra High Relief is my kid coin. I may buy another if the mint increases the one per family limit, but this one is worth keeping.
    Move over MS-62 1924 St. Gaudens, the ?Lady? has arrived. My Ultra High Relief is now a proud member of my award winning ?Inspirational Ladies? signature set. On another footnote, I received the accompanying book yesterday, it is well put together and fascinating, and I will read it from cover to cover. Kudos to the mint on that, happy collecting all!

  16. coinsbygary
    Just came in the mail today!
    I love collecting firsts and lasts, whether the first or last year of issue, a new composition or variety, or a new mint. Today I received my latest purchase, and a first to the newly opened Denver Mint; a UNC details 1906-D half-eagle. This coin is a nice addendum to WKF's recent journals concerning the Denver Mint. The coin has scratches that are apparent, but in my opinion, does not distract from the overall look of the coin. Enjoy my photo, and as always, happy collecting.
    Gary

  17. coinsbygary
    Besides world coins, tokens, and medals based on a particular theme, my primary area of numismatic interest is in United States coins. This past year though I have delved into an area of numismatics that until now was unfamiliar to me. Rather than starting another theme based set, I started a set based on the work of a particular sculptor. I started a collection of coins and medals featuring the artwork of Laura Gardin Fraser.
    While I was somewhat familiar with the coins attributed to Laura Gardin Fraser, the same cannot be said concerning the many medals she designed. Familiarizing myself with her medals became quite a task because she was much more prolific in designing medals than she was with coins.
    The first thing I wanted to know is what to collect. All her coins are very well known and readily available. However, I had no clue as to the number and availability of the medals Laura Gardin Fraser designed. Later, I was to discover that she may have designed and sculpted up to one hundred medals.
    A search of the internet produced a medallic art databank created by Medallic Art Company corporate historian, D. Wayne Johnson. Laura Gardin Fraser's databank page was the most important internet resource in helping me to identify her medals. This page had practically everything, a comprehensive list of items by date with pictures, auction appearances, and a bibliography which I found invaluable to my research.
    I also found the ANA archives of The Numismatist and the Newman Numismatic Portal very useful. The archives of The Numismatist contains numerous articles on Laura Gardin Fraser's work. I even found a couple of the ad pages to be helpful. The Newman Numismatic Portal contains all the medallic art auction catalogs of the Presidential Coin & Antique Company. These catalogs were especially useful because of the lot descriptions and estimated valuations. The valuations helped me to determine what I could expect to pay for the medals in my collection.
    Along with purchasing new pieces for my collection came new books for my library. These included End of the Trail by Dean Krakel, The US Mint and Coinage by Don Taxay, and Numismatic Art in America by Cornelius Vermeule. Other references included The American Women Medalist, a Critical Survey by Elaine J. Leotti and a January 1970 Coinage Magazine article entitled, Ordeal of Laura Gardin Fraser by Don Taxay. In fact, I think Don Taxay's article in Coinage Magazine is the most credible narrative I have read on the contest for the Washington Quarter.
    Next, the purchasing avenues for medals is somewhat different from that of coins. However, other places such as E-Bay are pretty much the same. For me, E-Bay was a familiar place in which to begin my collection. It was also a good source of Laura Gardin Fraser's most readily available medals. That said, it didn't take to long for the E-Bay well to dry up. Subsequently, the annual Presidential Coin and Antique auction quickly emerged as a top purchasing outlet for all those difficult to locate medals.
    In the last Presidential Coin and Antiques auction I passed on a scarce silver Washington medal and ended up winning a silver plated Morgan Horse medal at a price that was towards the bottom of the estimated valuation. What really surprised me about winning this auction is that even before I found out that I had won the auction, or even paid a single red cent, the piece showed up on my doorstep! I've never had this happen before especially since this was my first auction with Presidential. All this brings me to the most important and necessary element of my transition into the world of medals, the human element!
    While looking for information pertaining to the 1947 MacArthur peso and 50-centavo piece in The Numismatist, I ran across a letter to the editor written by a collector of anything Fraser. This person also included their e-mail address in the body of the letter. With a little encouragement from another of my friends I sent a cold contact e-mail inquiry to the writer of that letter. To my amazement I got much more in his reply than what I had asked for or even hoped for.
    What I have now is a new friend who is very eager to help me in my quest. One of the resources that I have not had the opportunity to examine is the Fraser family papers. However, my new friend had. As a result I found out the specific contents of a nine-point letter Laura Gardin Fraser had sent to the Philippine embassy chronicling her difficulties with the Philippines peso and 50-centavo coins.
    Later we had an hour long conversation over the phone about Laura Gardin Fraser and he freely answered a number of my questions. He also e-mailed me some of his own writings on the topic and sent a spreadsheet he had compiled of many of Mrs. Fraser's works. As an extra bonus the spreadsheet contained the latest final hammers for each piece. This was very helpful as a tool to help me gage how much I would have to spend in order to continue this collection.
    My new friend also watched for buying opportunities on E-Bay and more than once notified me of a piece that his search uncovered and mine missed. My latest two purchases are a direct sale from a friend of my new friend. I purchased the 1912/13 National Institute of Social Sciences medal and the rare 1932 John Endecott Massachusetts Tercentenary medal from this person after a very pleasant half-hour phone conversation and a confirming e-mail. I immediately mailed him a check for the medals and he mailed the medals to me on the next business day. As it turned out, the day my check cleared his bank was the day the medals showed up at my house.
    This is the way I love to do business and I am impressed with the honesty and integrity of the people I come in contact with in this hobby. It really doesn't get much better than this. And to all those who have helped me in my numismatic journey a hearty, thank you!
    Gary

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  18. coinsbygary

    Destination: Iceland

    By coinsbygary,


    World Coins
    Whenever I visit a foreign country, I make it my practice to cherry-pick examples of that country’s coins from circulation. For an expensive visit to a foreign country, coins make an inexpensive souvenir that only costs you the exchange rate of your dollars. They also make a memorable keepsake of your visit and interesting conversation pieces with your numismatic buddies back home! Sometimes I save examples of the circulating paper money when I travel. However, paper money is convertible back to dollars, and coins generally are not.
    A few weeks ago, I found myself in Iceland for my daughter’s destination wedding to the man I now proudly call my son-in-law. At first, I thought the idea of a destination wedding was crazy, and I had to warm up to it. However, not attending this wedding was never an option. With that, my wife and I boarded an IcelandAir Boeing 737 in Chicago for Reykjavik. Today, this happy event is in my rearview mirror, and I would not have wanted it any other way. 
    Iceland is a spectacularly scenic, volcanically formed island. For those who love hiking and outdoor activities visiting Iceland should be on your bucket list. While here, we also witnessed the northern lights. If you see them in the continental US, you don’t see them like you do here. The island is literally dotted with volcanoes, waterfalls, and glaciers. If you think you might like to take a dip in 40-degree weather, there are geothermally warmed pools like the Blue Lagoon. Before flying back to the states, my wife and I had a relaxing dip in what seemed like 80-90 degrees silica mineral water. 
    Add the phenomenal wedding, and Iceland is like a romantic fairy tale. I am posting with the coins a picture of the black wedding chapel, the northern lights, and li’l-old-me in front of an inactive volcano! (Black is practical color as it absorbs the heat from what little winter sun there is).
    The coins of Iceland come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 Kroner coins. They are simple in design, and except for the 1 Krona (Bergrisi the rock giant), they feature the four mythological guardian spirits of Iceland (Landvættir) on the coin’s obverse. They were first written about in AD 1220 in the Heimskringla (Old Norse kings’ sagas). Written in the pages of this book is the tale of a would-be invader of Iceland, devious King Bluetooth. King Bluetooth had a sorcerer turn himself into a whale to spy out the vulnerabilities of the island. At every corner of the island, the whale was confronted by a fiercely protective Land Wight. 
    On the Eastern side of Iceland, the wizard whale was turned back by Dreki the dragon. On the North, there was Gammur the griffin. On the West, Griðungur the bull, and on the South, Bergrisi the rock giant. Needless to say, the wizard whale returned to King Bluetooth with an unfavorable report, and Iceland was saved from an imminent invasion. Today these four landvættir grace the Iceland coat of arms around a shield displaying the flag of Iceland.
    As an island, Iceland’s economy is partially dependant on the sea. Featured on the reverse of the 1 Krona is a cod, the 5 Kronur, two dolphins, the 10 Kronur, four capelin, the 50 Kronur, a shore crab, and the 100 Kronur, a lumpfish. 
    I am also including a link to a silver 500 Kronur coin commemorating 100 years of banknotes in Iceland. The obverse features Fjallkonan, “The Lady of the Mountain.” I have had this coin for many years in my seated imagery collection.
    In the photograph of the coins, I have included the diameter, metallic composition, and the exchange rate of the Iceland Kronur. Below are the references I used to research the coins I brought home from Iceland. Gary. 
    https://www.cb.is/financial-stability/oversight-of-financial-market-infrastructures/banknotes-and-coin/valid-coins-in-circulation/ 
    https://guidetoiceland.is/history-culture/folklore-in-iceland#ghosts-in-iceland
    https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/coinview.aspx?sc=232749





  19. coinsbygary
    One might think that shifting gears and a different direction are synonymous. However, the truth is that though related, they are two separate actions. A different direction in that I will be liquidating a portion of my current collection to focus on another and shifting gears in that I will be buying fewer but higher quality coins to upgrade the remaining sets.
    All this started with my losing interest in collecting Morgan Dollars. A year or two into collecting Morgans, I got bored with them. With a goal of completing the 103 coin set I was buying coins at a break neck pace that focused on volume rather than quality. To regain interest I thought that all I needed was a break. Though I fully intended to resume purchasing Morgans and completing the set, the longer I was away the less likely it would be that I'd return. Truth is I never got back.
    After long and careful consideration, I decided to discontinue collecting Morgans and liquidate the bulk of my Morgan Dollar collection. All told, I will be selling 43 coins. I did not make this decision lightly as I have thought about it carefully for the better part of a year. Yet there are a number of things that led to this decision after going trailblazers for Morgans six to seven years ago when I started out only intending to complete a New Orleans Mint collection. (The decision to collect all the Morgans came after completing the New Orleans portion of the set.)
    While away from Morgans, I found myself drifting back to my boyhood roots, type and theme based collecting. I became fixated on completing my 7070 type set and working on my theme based seated imagery custom set. I started to buy the best type coins I could afford and since I was buying fewer coins, I could spend more. I've learned that when it comes to beauty there is nothing like a classic coin in a high state of preservation. These coins are not only more beautiful, they are more likely to hold their value as a highly desirable collector coin. Furthermore, as a person who also loves photography, I have learned that premium quality coins are definitely more photogenic!
    What then was the problem I had with Morgans that caused me to give up on them? I think that a collection of affordable quality coins in a complete Morgan Dollar set are a huge show stopper. Affordable coins are sometimes no higher than low MS grades and many are still lower. A VG 93-S will fetch more than $2000! Still I could live with a lower grade as long as it doesn't have distracting contact marks. Simply stated, most MS-62 to 64 Morgans have numerous and distracting contact marks.
    High grade Morgans are a thing of beauty. Most MS-65 and higher Morgans are a sight to behold and because of this I am keeping my 24 coin set of Morgans that grade MS-65 and higher. I also have this thing about Carson City, there is just something about Carson City that intrigues me. Therefore, I am also keeping my Carson City registry set. Additionally, I have six GSA pedigreed Carson City Dollars of which two are graded MS-65 (1882, 1883).
    Another factor in my decision is that I will be retiring in no more than six years. At that point my collecting activities will be severely curtailed. With this in mind I have targeted a number of coins in my type set to upgrade over the course of the next six years. It is also unlikely that I will be starting any new registry or custom sets but rather find other pieces to add to my custom sets like my Laura Gardin Fraser set.
    Another area of focus will be my gold type sets. Finding nice type-1 and type-2 double eagles has proven to be quite challenging because of the distracting contact marks found on most of these coins. Still after long searches I have managed to get an 1852 type-1 that at AU-55 is remarkably void of contact marks! For the type-2 I had to decide what level of contact marks is acceptable since it is nearly an impossible coin to find without them. In deciding my tolerance level I borrowed from a Bible passage which states that love covers over a multitude of sins. In relation to double eagles I found that luster covers over a multitude of dings, gashes, and abrasions. It doesn't literally mean that the contact marks are covered but that they are not as noticeable. All that said, I am still having a hard time finding a decent upgrade for my MS-62 type-3! Oh well, I am going to thoroughly enjoy the hunt in the few last years I have before I retire! Attached is a photo of the AU-58 type-2 that I found to be acceptable.
    Gary

  20. coinsbygary

    To Everything there is a Season

    By coinsbygary,


    Selling Your Collection and/or Leaving it to Your Heirs
    As I go through my retirement years, my thoughts invariably begin to focus on what I leave behind, both the tangible and the intangible. Among the intangible is my legacy. Among the tangible is my coin collection. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in relatively good health. Furthermore, I want to live as many years as I can. But in the end, someone will get the coins I spent a good portion of my life to acquire.
    That said, my children are not particularly interested in inheriting my collection. Therefore, I asked my children to pick the coins they wanted to keep. I intend to gradually sell the other coins they don’t want. Beginning now, I’m testing the waters to see how to navigate through auctioning and selling my coins. I’ve also started giving my children part of their inheritance with the coins they want and some they missed that I think they will like.
    There was no better time to start gifting my coins than when my son and daughter-in-law treated my wife and me to dinner to celebrate my birthday (May 9) and Mother’s Day. Among the coins my son seemed to want were a few dollars from my Morgan Dollar collection. I chose two Morgan Dollars for him, which I have owned for nearly 50 years. One is the first Morgan Dollar I purchased, an 1881-S PL, and the other, an 1885-CC MS-64 Morgan with a Levere Redfield pedigree. I suggested that my son treat these two coins as family heirlooms. Interestingly, The 81-S isn’t much more valuable than when I bought it. On the other hand, the 85-CC is 10 times more valuable.
    Based on where my daughter-in-law loves to go and an activity she loves to do, I gave her an SP-69 2018-P Apostle Islands 5 oz. Silver “America the Beautiful” quarter. The activity she loves to do is kayaking. This is featured on the coin as a kayaker on the Devil’s Island shoreline of Lake Superior.  As I expected, she loved it. Also, my son loved to hear me tell the stories behind the Morgan Dollars that are now his. I enjoyed seeing the expressions on both their faces as they received their inheritance. I think I will enjoy many more times like these as the years go by!
    This brings me to my first consignment to Heritage Auctions. Deciding which piece of my collection to auction first was not that difficult. With gold on the rise and a small 11-coin set I completed in 2016, I chose my Netherlands Wilhelmina 10-Gulden set.
    I started “Gary’s Golden Wilhelmina Guldens” in 2009. Over the next 7 years, I enjoyed locating coins that met my objectives for the set until all the coins were either MS-65 or MS-66. I also enjoyed researching my coins and doing write-ups for each coin. This set was awarded “The best-presented set” in 2017 by NGC. Since then, I have not examined any of these coins since well before the pandemic. As they say, “Out of Sight, Out of Mind.” Still, it’s hard to give up on something you once enjoyed.
    I hand-carried the coins to Heritage Auctions at the Central States Numismatic Society annual coin show. They received the coins, and I signed the corresponding paperwork. However, before consigning them, I re-imaged each coin for the best possible picture. Then, I copied the write-ups with the images into a PDF-formatted document I will continue to enjoy perusing in the future. For now, I’ll save the auction proceeds in safe investments and not delete the set from the registry until after the auction. The coins will be auctioned on August 20. I’ll have much more to report on the auction after it closes. Until then, if you are interested in bidding on my coins, they may viewed in my set by following the link below.
    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/81837/