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coinsbygary

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Journal Entries posted by coinsbygary

  1. coinsbygary
    This post is the first of what I hope will be a monthly editorial on various coins from within my collection.
    When I was a young lad, I spent countless hours combing through the ?Redbook of United States Coins? dreaming of the coins I wanted to collect. Two of many coins I dreamed of owning were the type ?1? and type ?2? $4 gold ?Stella?s? (Stella is the Latin word for star). Endearing me to both of these coins is the fact that they are an oddity, struck in gold, and are rare. The fact that they are also expensive to own did not deter me from dreaming but realistically, owning just one of these gems, let alone both coins is never likely to happen.
    Several years ago, I considered buying ?Stella? copies to supplement my gold type collection. After all what other alternatives were there other than purchasing the real thing. This was until I discovered suitable substitutes from Liberia representing both coin types that were most importantly, affordable. With that, I purchased both coins for my collection.
    The Republic of Liberia issues several coins as tributes to famous and rare United States pattern coins. Among them are the type ?1? and type ?2? Stella?s. The obverses of both coins are reminiscent of the original type ?1? Stella designed by Charles Barber, and the type ?2? designed by George T Morgan. The common reverse has a similar ?5? point star, or ?Stella? with the inscription, 1 Stella/4000 Cents. The Latin motto Deo Est Gloria (God is Glorious) is the same as the original $4 Stella and the face value of the Liberian coins is $40 rather than $4. The obverse lettering is very much like that of the original $4 Stella and has the coin?s weight and fineness delimited by thirteen stars. These two Liberian gold coins issued in 2002 are graded by PCGS at PR-69 DCAM and weighs 7.78 grams or ?-ounce AGW with a fineness of .999. The Liberian type ?1? coin has a mintage of 410, and the type ?2? has a mintage of 380. Needless to say, I am quite pleased with both these alternatives.
    The 1879 and 1880, Type ?1? and Type ?2? $4 Stella?s have an interesting and somewhat scandalous story. In 1879, Congressman John Kasson introduced to Congress a new ?goloid? composition $4 coin as an international coin that would trade equally with the French 20 franc coin, the Spanish 20 pesetas, the Dutch and Austrian 8 florins and the Italian 20 lire. Several hundred of these pattern coins or ?Stella?s? circulated among the members of Congress. However, the Stella was a solution in search of a problem and never became a regular issue coin. It seems that Congress was quite content to allow the Double-Eagle to serve as a medium of exchange in Europe. In the early 1880s, madams operating from Washington?s most popular brothels were seen wearing Stella?s as jewelry and I?ll leave it to you to connect the dots. Some things never change just as the writer of Ecclesiastes states, ?There is nothing new under the sun.?
    In summary, neither of these coins currently appears in any of my registry sets, but nonetheless, are integral pieces in my collection. I know these coins are a far cry from the real thing, but you must admit they are as close as you can get without owning the real thing. My favorite coin of the two is the type ?2?. Until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  2. coinsbygary
    This past week I made an upgrade to "Gary's Golden Wilhelmina Guldens" that brings me ever so closer to the ultimate goal for this set.
    About three years ago, I started an 11-coin set of Netherlands Wilhelmina 10 Guldens. Before the end of 2009, I completed my set of small European gold coins with six previously certified coins and five raw coins submitted to NGC for certification.
    My original set containing six coins grading at MS-63 and 64, and five coins grading at MS-65 and higher, won the "best in category" award in 2009 and every year since. However, only being "best in category" was never my intention. As stated before in past journals, my ultimate goal is to populate this set with coins grading MS-65 and higher.
    My first objective was to complete the set using lower-grade coins as placeholders until higher-grade coins become available. The lower-grade coins in turn would subsidize the purchase price of the higher-grade coins. With an eye on incrementally improving my set, I have purchased MS-64 coins to upgrade MS-63 examples even though MS-64 coins are not the final objective. My rational for this is based on the very limited availability of high-grade coins on the open market. For example, I will buy an MS-64 coin to upgrade the MS-63 knowing that it may be years before a MS-65 is available. That said, this collection will always be the best that it can be.
    While high-grade Wilhelmina's are rarely available for sale, very few people have an interest in collecting them, thus making them relatively inexpensive. For instance, this week I upgraded my 1927 Wilhelmina from MS-64 to MS-65 for only $80 more than melt value. The only coin that I will have to spend significantly more to upgrade is the key-date 1898 Wilhelmina.
    Another goal that is not particularly hard and fast is to populate my set with NGC graded coins. My reasoning for this is based upon the NGC and PCGS population reports. By comparing both reports, it seems that NGC grades these coins much more conservatively. That makes my 1927 MS-65 Wilhelmina all the more sweet as it represents the top-pop in the NGC report as one of four coins.
    Today seven of the eleven coins in my set grade at MS-65 or higher. This includes two NGC top-pops (1927 MS-65 and 1932 MS-66) and one NGC coin (1897 MS-66) that has only one coin graded higher. This leaves me with four coins left to upgrade, two MS-63 (1898 and 1912) and two MS-64 coins (1925 and 1926).
    Because of the smallness of this set and limited availability, every coin that I purchase towards the end goal is a big deal and hence this post detailing my latest addition. Additionally, because of the relatively low cost of the coins in this set I have an opportunity to build the best set obtainable. This shows that there is a niche available for just about anyone who desires to acquire a set that is the very best. I hope that you all have the opportunity, no matter how small or large, to assemble a set that you can be proud of just as I have with this set.
    Gary

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  3. coinsbygary
    A diversity of winners from year to year is good for Collector's Society.
    I've given this matter some thought, and from year to year I've noticed certain traits to the sets that are awarded. Naturally, every year there are those dream sets that make most people, including myself, drool over. Even the journal awards seem to follow certain trends. This causes me to conclude, and this is only my opinion, that the judges get together before the contest to determine the criteria by which they will judge the thousands of sets they will have to weed through and eliminate before settling on the winners. I also believe that the criteria by which they judge the sets changes from year to year.
    A few years ago I thought I had this criteria nailed down. I've won the journal award and the best presented award figuring if I continue in the same vein with the rest of my sets, I ought to get an award every year. Not so, I have a world set patterned after my award wining set passed over for two years now. There are even a few top pops in this set that might qualify it for the drool category, but no such luck. I even redid all my photos, but even this did not matter.
    Thinking on it a little more, it is good to change the criteria from year to year because of the diversity of sets that are brought to the attention of the entire community through the annual awards is good for the hobby and broadens everyone's perspective on the hobby.
    From a journaling perspective, I think my writing has improved in the last two years, so why no award? Perhaps it is for the same reason that good sets are also passed over. Maybe if I keep posting and maintaining my world registry set the judging criteria will swing back my way. Who knows, but I can always hope. Only one team wins the Superbowl and the rest place their hopes on next year. Last year my team won the Superbowl, this year maybe my team goes home. Of course I hope for a repeat every year, but realistically that will not happen.
    Now its back to to focusing on my collection by acquiring new coins and presenting them in a manner I can be proud of.
    Gary
  4. coinsbygary

    Congratulations!

    By coinsbygary,

    Congratulations are in order for all this year's award winners.
    Congratulations to this year's award winners, but in particular, to three award winners with whom I have conversed with in the past and whom I consider friends within Collectors Society. I am a far better collector for knowing each of the following three persons.
    A little over two years ago, because I was impressed with his writing ability, I asked Revenant to evaluate a set I was working on. Thankfully, he was very gracious and glad to do this for me. Although Revenant's critique of my set seemed a little harsh, it was honest. Nevertheless, because of my respect for him, I took his suggestions to heart and changed the look and direction of my set. Subsequently, "Gary's 20th Century Type Set" won an award for best-presented set in 2009. Now I am delighted to see him get the same award for his 1932 mint set.
    Over the past year, I have cultivated a warm relationship with "The BRG Collection", he sends me tips on coins I may need, and I do the same for him. Over the past year, I have watched "Horses" develop into one of the finest custom sets that there is. His photography and graphic presentations are stunning, and his owner comments are informative and interesting. The BRG Collection through his "horses" set has challenged me to step it up and take my graphic presentations to another level. Interestingly, "The BRG Collection" has said my "Inspirational Ladies" set which won the 2008 "Most Creative" award, was at least in part his inspiration for "Horses". Very fittingly, "Horses" is the 2011 "Most Creative" custom set.
    One of the reasons I love "Collector's-Society" is that it allows for the expression of two of my passions, coin collecting and writing. Although "Iowa Silver Baron Bammer" is gravitating towards the "dark side" (currency, jk), I have always enjoyed his writing style and content. He is able to communicate his love for currency in a way that connects with the non-currency collector. I look forward to reading more of his journals in 2012 (I just may have to go to the currency page on a regular basis to read his posts this year).
    Once again, to all this year's winners, congratulations, and for the rest of us there's always next year! Until then, happy collecting!
    Gary
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  5. coinsbygary
    January's coin of the month is a PCGS MS-65 1896 Morgan Dollar.
    Greetings all and Happy New Years, there is nothing unusual about January's "Coin of the Month". However, the date and obverse design of this month's coin is representative of the life and times of the "Silver Dollar Girl", Miss Anna W. Williams, whose story I will attempt to retell in the body of this post.
    The Morgan Dollar is one of only a few coins to have the distinction of being named after its designer George T. Morgan. Minted between the years of 1878 and 1904 and then again in 1921, the Morgan Dollar is 38.1 mm in diameter and weighs 26.73 grams. The metallic composition of the Morgan Dollar is .900 Silver, .100 Copper, and has an ASW of .77344 oz. pure silver. This PCGS MS-65 dollar with satin-like luster has a mintage of 9,976,000 and an approximate survival rate in MS-65 or better of 15,809 (PCGS CoinFacts).
    In anticipation of the return of the silver dollar as a circulating coin, Mint Director Henry Linderman hired George T. Morgan in 1876 as an assistant engraver for the express purpose of designing a new silver dollar. Shortly thereafter, Morgan finished the reverse design, but the obverse design of the new dollar would be quite another issue. Then later in 1876 through a common friend, Thomas Eakins, Morgan found in the facial profile of Miss Anna W. Williams the perfect representation of the "Goddess of Liberty" for his dollar coin.
    Miss Anna Williams, an art student in Philadelphia, was a modest 18-year-old girl. She did not crave notoriety or fame, but rather desired to pursue her passion as a schoolteacher in relative obscurity. When first asked to model for Morgan, she soundly refused. Through the encouragement of her friend Thomas Eakins, she finally agreed to model for Morgan under the stipulation that her identity remained anonymous. The official cover story would be that Morgan got the inspiration for his dollar from a Greek figure at the Philadelphia Academy of Art.
    With final approval for the silver dollar design and passage of the Bland-Allison Act occurring on the same day, minting of the Morgan Dollar began in 1878. Unfortunately, the secret identity of "Lady Liberty" on the Morgan Dollar would be short-lived and in the summer of 1879, a Philadelphia newspaper revealed Anna Williams identity and dubbed her "The Silver Dollar Girl". This in turn brought a deluge of unwanted attention to Miss Anna W. Williams, then a schoolteacher at The House of Refuge. Fortunately, for Anna, this sudden surge of notoriety eventually subsided. However, in years to follow, Anna would reappear in the limelight and her decision to model for Morgan would vex her for the rest of her life.
    In 1891, Anna Williams accepted a $60/month offer as a teacher of kindergarten philosophy at the Girl's Normal School. In spite of the unwanted publicity as "The Silver Dollar Girl", Anna became an accomplished teacher in her own rite. Anna's literary talents allowed her to publish numerous articles in current periodicals and win an award for the best original essay on psychology. Consequently, this talent called her to several cities where she gave lectures on the topic of kindergarten teaching. Later Anna became the supervisor of kindergartens in Philadelphia, a position she held for more than 25 years until her retirement. Anna rarely granted interviews, but when she did, she used her notoriety as Morgan's "Goddess of Liberty" as an opportunity to talk about the issues with which she was passionate.
    Anna returned to the limelight in 1892 when she found herself and a print of her bust the subject of an article in "The Ladies Home Journal". In 1896, Anna announced her engagement to be married. That announcement in turn was reprinted in the May 1896 issue of the ANA journal, "The Numismatist". For whatever reason, the engagement broke off and Anna never married. While there are several theories as to why this occurred, I believe the excessive publicity surrounding the engagement eventually doomed it.
    For me, this incident represents a sad chapter in Anna's life and the constant struggle for any sense of normalcy in her life. This in turn is why I choose the 1896 Morgan Dollar to represent Miss Anna W. William's story. I wonder if every time Anna handled one of these coins, it served as a constant reminder to her. Fortunately, for her, Morgan Dollars in Philadelphia circulated about as much as dollar coins do today.
    Always the schoolteacher, Anna even in retirement advocated for compulsory kindergarten education for all students in Philadelphia. Then on April 17, 1926, Anna Willis Williams died in her hometown of Philadelphia at the age of 68. Anna's obituary also appeared in the May 1926 issue of "The Numismatist".
    In summary, with all this there is still some speculation as to the identity of Lady Liberty on the Morgan Dollar. A letter sent from Morgan's daughter to her daughter is the primary reason for doubt. In that letter Morgan's daughter states, "Father always said no matter how many models posed for him that he never bid any, and that he made up the obverse himself". However, from Anna's perspective, she is quoted describing her role as Lady Liberty as, "an incident of my youth". I think regardless of what happened, Morgan was going to keep up his end of the anonymity bargain, and the model for the Morgan Dollar is indeed that of Anna W. Williams. I am also posting a photo collage of a print I purchased on ebid alongside the obverse of the 1896 Morgan Dollar from my collection. For me this is the primary piece of evidence to the identity issue of the Morgan dollar, as the resemblance is unmistakable.
    In writing this post, I realized what an extraordinary woman Anna Williams was. Therefore, I will soon be adding this coin and profile to my "Inspirational Ladies" custom set. Additionally, while I am sure Anna regretted modeling for the Morgan dollar, I am glad that she is the face of "Liberty" to countless collectors everywhere. So until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  6. coinsbygary

    2011 and Beyond

    By coinsbygary,

    2011 has been a banner year for changes in my collection, but what about plans for 2012.
    What a difference a year can make, one year ago I wrote of my commitment to continue purchasing "First Spouse" gold coins, but now a year later, I only collect the medals. Subsequently, since I discontinued the "First Spouse" series, I decided to put those coins that no longer meet my collecting goals up for sale. As a result, I reinvested the proceeds from that sale back into my collection and in doing so, greatly improved my gold type collection.
    Some goals, however, do not appreciably change, as I focused on improving my current "Wilhelmina" 10 gulden registry set by upgrading three of the eleven coins in that set. One of those new coins has a NGC population of one with none higher. With an eye towards the goal of MS-65, I will remain on the lookout for acceptable and affordable upgrades to this set in 2012.
    I have also added two new sets to my collection that I had not anticipated. At the beginning of 2011, I had planned on a set of 22 Gem-BU Morgan Dollars averaging $200/coin. However, this goal quickly grew into a complete set. At one point in the year, I realized that I was adding one coin per week to my collection without being consciously aware of it. This reminds me of the old Lays potato chip adage, "No one can eat just one." Clearly, as my buying binge would suggest, it is also true that "No one can buy just one coin." Still needing 15 Morgan Dollars for my set grading at MS-63 & 64 and costing less than $200/coin, I have lots of low-hanging fruit I can add to my collection in 2012.
    This leads me to my next unanticipated set of MS Eisenhower Dollars. Needing a break from the Morgan's, I discovered how challenging and fun assembling a set of high-grade IKE Dollars could be. After watching overpriced E-Bay listings for months, I won a 1973-S PCGS MS-68 Eisenhower Dollar last week Monday on Teletrade at a final hammer price with buyer's premium and postage 58% lower than Fair Market Value! This latest purchase leaves me with only three coins left to finish this set that I anticipate finishing sometime in 2012.
    One problem with a complete Morgan Dollar collection is what to do about the key dates. Selling my old details graded gold coins, I raised enough money to purchase a VG-10 1893-S Morgan Dollar. With just four "First Spouse" coins left to sell I should have enough money from the proceeds of those sales to purchase a few other Morgan keys in 2012.
    While certainly not in the forefront, I nonetheless added a few type coins to my basic type set and a number of ladies to "Inspirational Ladies" in 2011. Of course, these goals will continue into 2012. Along those lines, I also plan to purchase selected US Mint products in 2012 and I particularly like the Francis Scott Key National Anthem commemoratives due out next year.
    I also plan to continue my "coin-of-the-month" posts in 2012. I have really enjoyed doing these posts, and my hope is that you enjoy reading them. One side benefit to these posts is that they often serve as owner descriptions for that coin.
    Speaking of owner descriptions, there is so much more along those lines that I can do for my collection that does not cost me a cent and is a lot of fun. My problem is mustering the motivation to get started. It is always much more fun to buy a new coin, however, once started I am laser-beam focused on the end-result of informative and interesting owner descriptions.
    Only God can tell what will occur in 2012, but with a new year comes new hope. Accordingly, I wish you all a blessed Merry Christmas and a happy and successful New Year, but until then, happy collecting!
    Gary
  7. coinsbygary

    69's Full Of 70's

    By coinsbygary,

    The results of my 25th Anniversary SAE submissions are in, and I am nowhere near Kamakazy's royal flush.
    My 25th Anniversary SAE grades are in, and it is a full house, with the three mint-state coins grading MS-69 and the proofs grading PF-70. While I am a little disappointed with the overall results, I am ecstatic that the reverse proof is PF-70! Of the five coins in this set, the reverse proof is my favorite coin. The mirrored devices and frosty fields make for an extraordinarily beautiful coin that in my eyes stands head and shoulders above the rest.
    My fascination with coins struck in reverse proof started with the 20th Anniversary SAE. I remember receiving the US Mint's flyer in the mail and quickly dismissing it because I did not know exactly what a reverse proof coin was. Much later, having seen photographs of a 2006 reverse proof SAE, I regretted not purchasing it.
    Two years ago in an effort to make up for my mistake, I purchased a 2006 reverse proof 68 as a type coin. At that time, I recall that PF-70's were very expensive and even now, one sold in November for $546.25 at Heritage. For $169.00 my 68 was a very attractive alternative.
    Now fast-forward two years and I have a chance to upgrade the 2006 coin with a bonus of four additional coins for $300! For a month leading up to the 25th anniversary sale, I debated whether I would purchase a set at all, but as the purchase date approached, I was caught up in the hype. Therefore, with a renewal coupon to cash in for grading, I decided to purchase one set and take whatever grades I got.
    Obviously based on my perspective, purchasing and grading a 25th anniversary set has paid off. Only time will tell what the value of my coin will be, but consider this, the 2006 reverse proof with a mintage of 250,000 and a NGC population of 9,255 coins grading at PF-70 representing 19% of all the coins NGC has graded lists for $550 FMV. As you can see, the 2011 reverse proof with a mintage of 100,000 has a lot of potential for growth with very little, if any downside.
    In summary, while it would have been nice to have a royal flush, I think I can live with the grades I got. After all, a full house more often than not is the highest hand on the table. Additionally, for now, I think I will also hang on to my 2006. In closing, I hope that you are all happy with the grades you get, and I wish you the best.
    Gary
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  8. coinsbygary
    Greetings everyone, in celebration of my daughter's birthday, I present to you the December "Coin of the Month."
    About three and a half years ago, I purchased a 300 Baht gold coin from Thailand as a memento to my daughter teaching English in Thailand. I still remember showing her the coin and saying," I bet you never spent one of these." To no one's surprise, she replied that she had not. Also issued in denominations of 150 and 600 Baht, this coin commemorates the 36th birthday of Queen Sirikit whose philanthropic activities make it a fine addition to my "Inspirational Ladies" custom set.
    The coin, a BE2511(1968) 300 Baht gold coin grading MS-66 by NGC is 20mm in diameter, has a reeded edge, and weighs 7.5 grams. The Krause "Standard Catalog of World Coins" number for this coin is Y#89 and the mintage is 101,000. The metallic composition of the coin is .900 fine gold at .2170 oz. AGW.
    For help in translating the inscriptions on the obverse and reverse of this attractive coin, I enlisted the help of "nephilim". Nephilim introduced himself a few years ago in a post as a Collectors-Society member from Thailand.
    The obverse of this coin features a right facing bust of Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Two inscriptions around the rim of the obverse give the queen's full name and the birthday she is celebrating. Queen Sirikit's full name is "Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat" and the other inscription is "36th Birthday." According to the Chinese Zodiac, Queen Sirikit was born in the year of the "Monkey" on August 12, 1932. There are 12 animal signs associated with the Chinese Zodiac to represent a 12-year life cycle. Significant birthdays occur every 12 years when you cycle back to your birth animal. Thus, Sirikit's 36th birthday occurs on her third life cycle.
    The central device on the reverse features a crown over the queen's personal monogram inside a wreath. The inscriptions on the reverse are "Government 12 August 2511(1968)" and "300 Baht." Since the primary religion in Thailand is Buddhism, the official calendar of Thailand is the "Buddhist Era" calendar. Therefore, just as our calendar is based on the birth of Jesus Christ, the Thai calendar is based on the death of Gautama Buddha, believed to have died on March 11, 545 B.C. Since the Buddhist Era calendar was established in 1912, there have been a few minor changes in the reckoning of dates to bring it more in line with the Gregorian calendar. Thus to convert an Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord) year (1968) to a Buddhist Era year you add 543 years (BE2511).
    The people of Thailand adore Queen Sirikit and just as with her husband, King Rama IX her birthday is a national holiday. Queen Sirikit is also widely acknowledged as the "Mother of the Thai People" and her birthday was adopted as Mother's Day in Thailand. On April 28, 1950, Queen Sirikit and King Rama IX were married just prior to the king's official coronation making them among the longest reigning monarchs in the world today. Queen Sirikit is also the head of the Thai Red Cross, a post she has held since 1956. As the president of the Red Cross, Queen Sirikit was instrumental in the relief efforts following the December 2004 tsunami. In relation to issues concerning human suffering, Queen Sirikit has worked to aid refugees seeking refuge in Thailand and established programs to aid farmers who comprise 80% of Thailand's population. As an advocate for women, Queen Sirikit was instrumental in the opening of the "Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer." In her words the center is, "A sanctuary for women in need." Queen Sirikit is also a conservationist, working hard to reforest her country and clean up pollution. In all, Queen Sirikit has received many honors and awards for her work. She has also received over 30 honorary degrees and numerous public facilities throughout Thailand are named after her.
    Finally, I wish my daughter a very happy birthday that coincidently comes on the 27th anniversary of my becoming a parent. We will see you soon in New York Sweetie! Until next time Merry Christmas and happy collecting!
    Gary

  9. coinsbygary
    Collecting high grade "IKES" is proving to be quite a challenge on a number of levels.
    Greetings and happy Thanksgiving, three months ago I started a mint-state Eisenhower Dollar set with a goal of acquiring coins that were no less than one grade lower than the highest graded coin. To date, I have collected 16 of the 23 coins in that set, with NGC graded coins accounting for ten of them. Comparing my coins to their respective population reports, I found 15 of them to be one grade lower than the highest graded coin. Across both population reports, my NGC 1972 MS-64 Type 2 Eisenhower Dollar is two grades lower than the highest graded PCGS coin (five at MS-66). One coin, a silver-clad 1976-S is the highest graded coin of both grading services. Another of my coins, an NGC 1974 MS-66 dollar is the top-pop in the PGCS population report with only one MS-67 in the NGC report.
    The trouble with "IKES" is that since top-pop coins are so scarce, coins on the next lower tier can be difficult to find and at times rather expensive. For example, among copper/nickel "IKES," there are only 207 coins grading at MS-67 from both grading services with none higher. This effectively makes MS-66 the most likely collectible coin throughout the series. The lone top-pop in my collection is a silver-clad PCGS 1976-S grading at MS-68. With a large supply of 457 coins between both grading services at MS-68 and none at MS-69, the Fair Market Value is reasonable at $400, and the coin is easily obtainable. On the other hand, the only 1974 MS-67 has no FMV listed and could fetch a five-figure price at auction.
    Scarce, high-grade Eisenhower Dollars rarely make an appearance at any of the major auction houses. Those that appear for sale on E-bay more often than not, have highly inflated prices that can be up to four times higher than the Fair Market Value. In the listing description, the seller will claim that the coin has a low population. However, what that seller fails to take into account is that the demand for their coin does not match their price. I have often watched an inflated coin re-list on E-Bay multiple times. On the other hand, reasonably priced coins and "true auction" coins are readily sold. For the most part, I believe a person has the right to charge as much as they want for their coin, just as much as I am under no obligation to buy it. For my part, I only need to remain patient and wait for those scarce gems that are reasonably priced.
    Another trouble is that cherry picking becomes much more difficult with a lower supply. I have had to settle for coins that are somewhat less than attractive for their grade simply because they are not readily available. Fortunately, I consider most of the coins in my collection to have nice eye appeal for their grades.
    On the other side of the coin (no pun intended), because of low collector demand and a short seven-year run on the series, you can collect a complete 23-coin set of high-grade, mint-state Eisenhower Dollars for relatively little money. Contrast this against my 105 coin Morgan Dollar set with a goal of $200/coin (except for key dates) with no top-pops, and the Eisenhower Dollar set becomes a very attractive alternative.
    In summary, the diverse sets within my collection and differing collecting goals are what make collecting coins a whole lot of fun. Pictured with this post is my latest acquisition, a NGC 1976 MS-66 Type 2 Eisenhower Dollar, so until next time, happy collecting and best wishes for the upcoming awards.
    Gary

  10. coinsbygary
    This month?s coin of the month comes from Austria and is part of my ?Inspiration Ladies? custom set.
    The coin I am featuring this month is widely considered as one of the most beautiful coins in the world. The obverse features a bust of Emperor Franz Joseph 1st and commemorates the 60th anniversary of his reign over the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The reverse design often referred to as ?The Lady in the Clouds? is a representation of Klymene, the Titan goddess of ?Fame."
    This NCS/NGC AU details, 1908 100 Corona gold coin with the Krause Publications catalog number of KM# 2812 is 37mm in diameter and weighs 33.8753 grams. The metallic composition of this coin is .9000 gold at .9803 Oz AGW. The designer of this coin is Rudolf Marschall, and the mintage is 16,000. I bought this coin from an E-Bay seller in Germany.
    The Latin inscription on the obverse of this coin around the perimeter is translated ?Franz Joseph by the grace of God, Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, Galicia, Illyria, etc. and elected king of Hungary.? The central device on the coin?s obverse is a right facing bust of Emperor Franz Joseph 1. Additionally, there is Latin phrase in incuse lettering around the plain edge of this coin. That phrase, ?VIRIBVS VNITIS? is the emperor?s personal motto and is translated ?With United Forces."
    On December 2, 1848, Franz Joseph 1 became Emperor of Austria succeeding his uncle Ferdinand 1. This began a reign that would last nearly 68 years until his death on November 21, 1916. Throughout his reign, various nationalists disputed the reign of Franz Joseph. One such dispute led to the Austro-Hungarian compromise of 1867, uniting the empire under one king but ceding certain rights and autonomy to Hungary. Then in 1908 (the year that my coin was minted), Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina and consequently, on June 28, 1914, Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Shortly thereafter, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia thus triggering several opposing alliances to usher in the beginning of World War 1. Franz Joseph?s grandnephew Charles 1 succeeded him on the throne at his death in 1916, and became the final emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The monarchy dissolved following World War 1 on November 12, 1918.
    The reverse inscriptions on this coin display the coin's face value of ?100 Cor.? along with the dates 1848 and 1908. The Latin phrase ?DVODECIM LVSTRIS GLORIOSE PERACTIS? appears on the lower-center of the reverse and is translated ?60 years gloriously accomplished." The central device on the reverse is an image of Klymene, the Titan goddess of ?Fame." Klymene appears at rest reclining in the clouds and leaning on a shield displaying the coat of arms of the Austrian Empire. In her right hand is laurel wreath symbolizing victory, achievement, prosperity, status, and of course fame. In the field around and behind Klymene are rays of sunlight. A heavenly or celestial setting accentuates the ?glorious reign? theme of this coin.
    Klymene is the Titan goddess of fame, renown, and infamy. Kymene was married to the Titan god Iapetos and two of her better-known offspring are Prometheus and Atlas. Another name Klymene is known by is Asia and as such was the goddess of Asia-Minor. Klymene was also the handmaiden of Hera, the wife of Zeus. In ?The Judgment of Paris? Hera probably offered Paris of Troy the ?fame? of rulership in return for Paris awarding her the ?golden apple.? Subsequently, Paris awarded the golden apple to Aphrodite in exchange for the hand of Helene in marriage. The abduction of Helene led to the Trojan War and the rest as they say is mythology.
    The coat of arms on the shield portrays a crowned double-headed eagle underneath a single crown. In the left talon of the eagle is a cross-bearing orb and in its right talon, a scepter and a sword, and these items represent the church and state respectively. The crowned double-headed eagle underneath the single crown represents that Emperor Franz Joseph 1 has authority over both church and state. The crest on the eagle?s breast represents the ?House of Habsburg-Lorraine? of which Franz Joseph is a family member.
    Finally, I hope you enjoy my post of the "Coin of the Month." This is one of my favorite coins because it is beautiful, has a strong allegory, and a fascinating relationship to world history. All these things make it an exceptional addition to my ?Inspirational Ladies? custom set. Since my coin is details graded, I may purchase an upgrade to it at some point. However, for now, I am quite content with this specimen. Here is a link to a higher-resolution picture of my coin. "http://www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinView.aspx?sc=14275" Until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  11. coinsbygary
    How can I describe yesterday? All across America, collectors everywhere are getting up with less hair on their heads.
    Greetings all, often I find humor very helpful in coping with disappointments and frustrations. A good night's sleep also helps to let clearer heads prevail, and with that comes my "two cent" assessment of yesterday's debacle.
    What was the Mint thinking??? How did they not see this coming? When it comes to assigning blame, the bulk of the responsibility lies at their feet. First, why is there such a low mintage on the 25th Anniversary Set when their much less popular commemoratives have a higher mintage and almost never sell out? Secondly, why did they start with a five-set maximum when they had to know there was a ground swell of enthusiasm among the buying public for their product? When it comes to special sets, I think the individual collector should come first before the dealer. Dealers can buy bulk boxes of Silver American Eagles from the San Francisco Mint without the "S" mintmark, grade them, and sell them at a profit. I have no problem with this because most collectors cannot afford to buy Silver American Eagles by the box. Furthermore, that dealer serves a collecting need by selling collectors a coin they could not otherwise purchase. However, when it comes to special collector sets, individual collectors must take priority with a strict one or two set maximum to protect them. Additionally, I remember the one (or was it two) set limit on the "Lincoln Coin & Chronicles Set" two years ago. Interestingly enough, all the coins in that set could be purchased separately, so in other words with a set production of 50,000, all you got different was a box that sold out within a couple of days! To be fair though, the box is rather attractive, and I am happy to own one of those sets. Even the unlimited mintage Ultra High Relief was limited to one coin per family for the longest time. Once again, to be fair I think the mint had production issues and did not want any bulk orders they could not meet in a timely manner, lest the gold market changed and they (the taxpayers) could lose their shirts. On another, more technological note, how many site crashes does it take the mint to learn their lesson? I work in the cell phone industry, and we always design our network for the heaviest usage times. If our network crashed regularly during our busiest times, you can be sure customers will flee our service for another's. Herein lies the problem, the mint is a monopoly, so where are its customers going to go, to the person selling the sets on E-Bay for $800? They may very well not respond to their customer's needs because they do not have to. Even though this is not likely to happen, I'd like to see the mint director appear before a congressional committee to answer the legitimate questions I am posing. Once again, to be fair, I think Congress (the source of much grief today) sets mintage levels.
    Another area of blame lies at the feet of predatory dealers, who exploit the mints failure and collector fears to rake in an exorbitant profit. $800 for a set you bought yesterday at $300 is simply unconscionable. I do not begrudge a dealer who makes his living by buying low and selling high, but come on this is ridiculous. I must confess that, for the most part, I am a capitalist and capitalism allows me to enjoy this wonderful hobby; however, this smells of crony capitalism. Unfortunately, the collateral damage of a few unscrupulous dealers serves to smear the reputations of the honest dealers. It also leaves the collector all the more disappointed when the dust settles. This tends to drive away good and future "customers" from an enjoyable, satisfying, and honest hobby. Maybe a few of these dealers should have to answer tough questions before Congress.
    Finally, in the midst of all this mess is the pure heart of "Cemonice" who only wants the set as an heirloom for his daughter (cute kid) born in 2011. Let me say this, I pray your daughter gets her eagles and if your fellow society members have anything to do with it, it's a done deal. Think about it, 25 years henceforth all that will be remembered of this fiasco is "my daddy got these for me the year I was born." This is special. Cemonice, let us know how this turns out for you. If I can help, zap me an e-mail and let me know.
    Well, that's enough ranting for now, as the events of yesterday fade into our rear-view mirrors and eventually disappear, things will get back to normal. Next month will bring another of my "coin of the month" posts and I promise it will have nothing to do with Silver American Eagles!
    Gary
  12. coinsbygary
    My October ?Coin of the Month? is a 1988 Vatican City 50 Lire coin commemorating the ?Creation of Eve.?
    This month?s coin of the month comes by the way of ?The BRG Collection? and it is because of his E-Bay listing tip and recommendation that I currently own this coin. One of many things I like about ?Collectors Society? is when any one of its members spots a coin that may fit in another member?s collection that they will often notify that member of the buying opportunity. I have done this in the past for other collectors, just as they have done it for me.
    There are times when my coin collecting interests intersect with my Christian faith, and this coin represents one of those times in its depiction of ?The Creation of Eve.? With the Krause Publications catalog number of Y #208, this NGC MS-67 1988 Vatican City 50 lire coin is struck in stainless steel, weighs 6.2 grams, and is 24.8 mm in diameter. The obverse of this coin features a bust Pope John Paul II, with the Roman Numerals X MCMLXXXVIII to represent the 10th year of Pope John Paul II?s papacy in 1988. The name of the coin?s engraver is Guido Veroi, and his name appears just below Pope John Paul?s bust. The reverse features a large portrait of God as a bearded man breathing into Eve the ?breath of life.? Eve is portrayed coming forth out of the womb of Adam as he sleeps with her arms raised in worship to God, and her body enveloped with ?the breath of life.? Additionally, there is an ?R? mintmark on the reverse to the left of the coin?s L. 50 face value, representing that the coin was minted in Rome. Unfortunately, I was unable to find this coins mintage.
    When ?The BRG Collection? recommended this coin to me, he did so figuring it would be a good coin for my ?Inspirational ladies? custom set. At first, I was hesitant to add this coin to my set because this set is a positive, non-sexist portrayal of inspirational women and allegorical virtues. This coin, however, albeit Biblical, portrays Eve as a naked woman. After a few back and forth e-mails with ?The BRG Collection," I decided to buy the coin anyway and figure out later how to integrate it into my collection. After all this coin IS an accurate, yet tactfully done, representation of the Genesis account of creation. Furthermore, although I am not a Catholic, this coin does come from Vatican City.
    Left with the problem of how to integrate this coin into my collection, I read the Genesis account of creation from the Bible for a little inspiration on how best to present this coin. According to Genesis, this started when there was no companion in all of creation compatible to Adam, causing God to declare, ?It is not good for man to be alone." Then I thought of the inspiration Adam must have felt when he got up and saw his wife for the first time! Then it came to me, since Eve is the first wife of the first marriage, I fittingly dedicated my coin to the countless number of wives who throughout human history have been great inspirations to their husbands.
    For the complete Genesis account of ?The Creation of Eve? and my owner description, click on the following link to this month?s coin of the month in my ?Inspirational Ladies? custom set "www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinView.aspx?sc=108717" Until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  13. coinsbygary

    Holy ?Ikes? Batman!

    By coinsbygary,

    A large sum of E-Bay Bucks leads to a dilemma and windfall of Eisenhower Dollars.
    Greetings all, because of several large purchases on E-bay last quarter I amassed $242.37 in E-Bay Bucks. For more than a month, I planned to purchase a MS-68 1976-S Eisenhower Dollar to upgrade a MS-67. I had coins from two different sellers on my watch list and both were ?Buy it Now? listings. One coin listed for $439.00 and the other for $475. Originally, my hope was to subsidize the cost of an upgrade with E-Bay Bucks.
    My dilemma though is that a MS-68 1976-S ?Ike? has a FMV of $400, and I have a problem with buying an overpriced coin simply because the cost is subsidized. With about a month to decide, the seller with the $475 coin ran a sale on it for $418. Although the $418 coin was still a little high, it had a ?Best Offer? option, and I considered offering him $400 for the coin. However, shortly before the E-Bay Bucks award, his sale ended and the coin went back to $475.
    Then just three days before the award, I noticed a MS-68 coin on Great Collections for an opening bid of $330 including a 10% buyer?s fee. Unexpectedly delighted, I now had another choice. The question was, do I buy the $439 coin on E-Bay with my E-Bay Bucks and pay $197 or do I put a maximum bid on the Great Collections coin and pay as little as $133 more than the E-Bay listing minus the E-Bay Bucks subsidy. After some thought, I decided to take a chance and placed a maximum bid on the Great Collections coin. When the hammer went down Sunday evening, I found that I won the coin as the only bidder and at a cost that was 16.6% lower than FMV.
    Now Left with a large sum of freed-up E-Bay bucks, I bought three MS-66 Ikes Monday morning. Added to my collection were the 1977, 1974-D, and 1972-D Eisenhower Dollars with the 1972-D coming in at almost 50% FMV. The end cost to me for three very nice coins was $5.63! Even though this route cost me more, I am very pleased with the value I got. Furthermore, the 1976-S is a spectacular coin with lots of eye appeal.
    Starting a high quality Eisenhower Dollar set has also allowed me to upgrade up to four coins in each of my type sets that have Ikes. This has enhanced the quality and point values of each of these sets. A MS-68 1976-S Ike garners 1886 points for my type sets.
    Copper-Nickel Eisenhower dollars are rare in MS-67. However, the 1971-D comes in with a FMV of $880 and is the least expensive to collect. A month or so ago Heritage had a 1971-D up for auction. Confusing the FMV with the MS-66, I put in a maximum bid based on the value of the MS-66 coin. Later, I discovered my mistake and thought I could never win an $880 coin on my current budget, so I ignored the auction. To my surprise, the final hammer was half the FMV value and I could just kick myself over letting that one get away. Realizing now that I can get the coin much cheaper than FMV, I adjusted my goals to add a MS-67 1971-D Eisenhower Dollar into my collection. Remarkably though, there is a seller on E-Bay that has two of these gems as a ?Buy it Now? for $4000 each!
    On another note, thanks a thousand, ?Gary Golden Wilhelmina Guldens? hit a thousand views yesterday and as such is the first set in my collection to do so. Additionally, my 9-11 medals came back from the graders as a mixed bag. The West Point medal graded at PFUC-70, while the Philadelphia medal came in at PFUC-68. Generally, I have come to expect US Mint products to grade no less than 69, and I was left scratching my head. At any rate, in a side-by-side comparison, I cannot tell the difference. Oh well, for now, please enjoy the picture of my MS-68 Ike; I think you will agree that it is a beauty. Until next time, happy collecting.
    Gary

  14. coinsbygary
    The Current correction in the value of silver has finally caught up to SOME of my MS-65 & MS-66 Morgan Dollars.
    It seems the day I have been expecting has arrived, and some of my Morgan Dollars have retreated from their lofty highs. What is amazing about this step back is that almost all my MS-65?s have decreased in value, while all my MS-66?s are continuing to INCREASE in value. This appears to indicate that for now there is still a high demand for affordable high-grade coins.
    A few months ago, I wrote that the silver market indirectly influenced the value of high-grade Morgan?s. I implied that the value of Morgan Dollars rose at a higher rate than the spot price of silver. Now I have found that I could not have been more wrong, especially concerning the MS-65?s in my collection. It seems that high-grade Morgan?s and the spot price of silver ARE joined at the hip, and I will use a graph I have created to prove my point.
    It appears the mistake I made two months ago was in comparing apples to oranges. Low- grade Morgan?s have a ratio that is close to 1:1 versus the spot price of silver, making a comparison between the two easy and obvious. To compare coins of higher numismatic value with silver, I needed to apply a different ratio. For instance, if a coin is worth $100 and silver is worth $20 the ratio is 5:1. In other words, the $100 coin is worth five ounces of silver. This was a huge oversight on my part that changes my entire outlook.
    Since all the MS-65 and 66 coins in ?Gary?s MS-65 & 66 Morgan Gems? are essentially similar in value, I have formulated a ratio based on the average monthly value of my MS-65?s and 66?s. Since Fair Market Value is based on trading in the previous month, I have also used the average spot price of silver from the previous month to formulate my ratio. What I have discovered is truly eye opening. In six months, the ratio for MS-65?s was a high of 6.62 and a low of 6.11. The ratio for 66?s is much more interesting. For the first four months of the year, the ratio has been in the 10:1 range. In the last two months, it has leaped to 13.61!
    What my graph shows are my ratios applied to the monthly increase or decrease in the value of silver. To my surprise, this graph shows that for much of the year, I would have been better off buying an equivalent amount of silver than I would have been buying Morgan Dollars. What it also shows is that MS-65 Morgan?s are directly linked to silver. MS-66 Morgan?s, on the other hand, show that in the last two months they have separated themselves from the value of silver showing a true numismatic increase in value!
    In summary, I am learning a lot about the market in which I participate. As time moves on, I hope to learn even more. I am attaching a copy of my graph to this post. If you are interested in a copy of my graph and accompanying spreadsheet, send me your e-mail address, and I forward it to you. Until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  15. coinsbygary

    Half Way There

    By coinsbygary,

    No, I am not trying to copy a post by another Society member, it just so happens that I have reached that very important milestone in my Morgan Dollar collection.
    Greetings everyone, a year ago I started a collection of Morgan Dollars based on the New Orleans Mint. After I finished that set one thing lead to another and now a year later I am halfway to completing the entire set. If in the last year, you would have told me I would be where I am today, I would have said you?re nuts. The sheer logistics of it all is overwhelming. To buy half the coins needed to complete a 105-coin collection, I had averaged one new coin per week. No wonder I lost interest in my other sets. To buy Morgan?s at that rate, I had neither the time nor the resources to buy anything else. I must have an obsessive-compulsive disorder when it comes to coins. Nevertheless, I did not mortgage the house or let my credit cards get out of hand to get where I am today. That said I am delighted with where I am, and I look forward to completing my set albeit hopefully at a slower pace.
    When I started my collection, I thought a ?modest? budget of $200 per coin was reasonable. After all, I spend a little more than that at the grocery store every other week, and I drive an old car with no car payments. Minus the four budget-busters (89-CC, 93-S, 94, and 95-S) it seemed like an entirely reasonable budget for a person of my means. What I did not take into account is that 53 coins at $200 each is a lot of money! It?s all quite daunting when I think about it, but even more daunting is the incredible quality and value a set of $200 Morgan?s can be!
    For an average of $200 per coin (less the budget-busters), I can buy 65% of the coins needed to complete my set in Mint-State condition. 82% of the coins can be had in Almost Uncirculated or better. This leaves only 19 coins grading less than AU-50 with a minimum of VG-10 that I will have to buy. Additionally, I already own 22 coins that are Gem Brilliant Uncirculated. Not too shabby I?d say for a classic set that is over 100 years old and has a large collector following.
    Three weeks ago, I hit the 50% threshold with the 1884 and 1889 dollars in MS-64 condition won on auction through ?Great Collections." To cross the 50% threshold in style with coin number 54 is an 1889-CC dollar that I bought in F-12 condition! Now past halfway to completing my collection, I own two of four budget-busters, (the 93-S and 89-CC) with only the 94 and 95-S remaining.
    It is now time for a break, and my Mint-State Eisenhower Dollar set is just what the doctor ordered. Buying the highest grades possible without going over $1000 on a single coin is my current goal. Upgrading the few Ike?s I currently own has already yielded an increase in points for my 20th Century Type Set. I now look forward to completing this high-quality set. Naturally, I will have a lot more to say on Eisenhower Dollars in my future posts.
    On another note, I recently sold ten ?First Spouse? coins and netted a 50% profit due almost entirely to the rapid rise in the price of gold. I still own eight of these and plan to sell four of them later. I am going to keep the short set of four ?Liberty? coins for my ?Inspirational Ladies? custom set. The four coins I plan to sell will finance the other two budget-busters in my Morgan set sometime down the road. At some point, I will get back to my Morgan?s, but for now my attitude is, ?what?s the hurry??
    I am also planning a ?coin of the month? journal post to highlight obscure coins from my collection. This will be a lot of fun and I hope you all will like it. Until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  16. coinsbygary

    A Roll of the Dice

    By coinsbygary,

    You can buy your modern MS/PFUC 70 coins from a dealer or with a roll of the dice buy them directly from the mint at a lower price and hope for a 70 grade on your submission.
    I recently purchased one each of the P&W mint marked 2011 September 11 National Medal from the US Mint. The next day I sent both medals to NGC for certification and eventual incorporation into my ?Inspirational Ladies? custom set.
    Since some of these medals are already certified, I found ?Modern Coin Mart? offering them for sale in both PFUC-70 and PFUC-69. Based on their listing, a set of P&W medals in PFUC-70 goes for $235 including postage and $175 for PFUC-69. This gives a collector centered on their collecting goals at least three options to own these certified medals. Since ?Modern Coin Mart? advertises on Collector?s Society, and I have purchased coins from them in the past, I will use them as an example to illustrate my points.
    Buying the medals from the mint cost me $118.95, the submission $61.70, and the registered postage fee with $120 of insurance to Florida $15.81. In other words, the total cost to submit raw medals to NGC cost me $196.36. If your target grade for collecting these medals is PFUC-69, then purchasing a set of PFUC-69 medals from ?Modern Coin Mart? at $175 is much more economical.
    Another option if you absolutely must have PFUC-70 medals is to buy them directly from ?Modern Coin Mart? for $235. This option takes the guesswork out of submitting them for yourself, and the risk of not getting a PFUC-70 grade. The last three or four ?First Spouse Coins? I bought for my collection, I bought from ?Modern Coin Mart? because PFUC-70 was my target grade. Prior to this I purchased raw coins directly from the mint and symbolically ?rolled the dice? in hope of a good submission. The only downside to purchasing direct from ?Modern Coin Mart? is that you do not get the mint packaging with the coin. When it comes to selling, this is very important as many potential buyers ask for it.
    The third option is to ?roll the dice? and take your chances on getting PFUC-70 grades with a raw submission. This first requires that you receive coins from the mint that have no obvious flaws. Even so, there are still no guaranties that you will get your desired grade. However, if you hit the jackpot and receive two 70s you will save $38.64 over the ?Modern Coin Mart? direct purchase option and you get to keep the mint packaging.
    I have found these three options to be consistent with everything I have ever purchased from ?Modern Coin Mart?. Therefore, I suspect this will also be true for the ATB five-ounce coins and the upcoming 25th anniversary SAE set.
    Thinking about it though, I really don?t need to have 70 graded coins for my ?Inspirational Ladies? set, but naturally, it is always nice when I can. However, in the future I think I will go with ?Modern Coin Mart? and get the cheaper 69 graded coins.
    I will close my post today on a more somber note. Tomorrow is September 11 and the tenth anniversary of the devastating 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States in Washington DC and New York City with yet another attack thwarted by the actions of brave passengers onboard United Flight 93. On that tragic day 10 years ago, we saw the best and the worst in humanity on display. Rather than make a feeble attempt at writing a 9/11 tribute, I will let a picture of the 2011 September 11 National medal do the talking for me. For the mint?s description of the September 11 medal follow this link; http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/medals/?action=911NationalMedal
    Gary

  17. coinsbygary
    Phase 2 of a major re-organization in my collection is complete.
    A few months ago, I wrote about the beginning of a major shift in my collecting priorities. The first phase of this re-organization involved selling seven ANACS details graded gold coins to purchase an 1893-S Morgan Dollar. In Phase 2 of my re-organization, I decided to liquidate most of my proof ?First-Spouse? coins. With the proceeds of those ?New Gold? coins, I planned to purchase the ?Old Gold? coins necessary to complete the gold portion of ?Gary?s Type Set."
    Now I am happy to say that phase 2 of my re-organization is complete. The first coin I purchased with the proceeds of seven ?First-Spouse? gold coins that I sold on E-Bay was an AU-53, 1854 $3.00 gold piece. Additional purchases, all in MS-62 condition, include an 1853 ?Type 1? Gold Dollar, 1857 ?Type 3? Gold Dollar, 1914-D Indian Quarter-Eagle, 1881-S Liberty Eagle, 1897-S Liberty Double-Eagle, and the final piece of the puzzle an 1878-S Liberty Quarter-Eagle.
    The NGC 1878-S quarter-eagle is a bit of an oddity though, not because of the coin, but because of the holder. I noticed the photograph of the holder in the E-Bay listing had the coin labeled as 1878. However, the reverse pictures clearly showed the mintmark ?S.? I verified the certification, and sure enough, there was a mintmark on NGC?s certification verification photo. In a classic example of buy the coin and not the holder, I bought the coin because of its lack of contact marks for an MS-62 coin. Furthermore, the ?S? mint coin has a lower mintage than the 1878 coin, although neither of those coins is particularly scarce and the money you can expect to pay for both those coins is roughly the same through MS-62. At some point though, I may get this coin re-holdered, but I am in no hurry. Furthermore, unless I get it re-holdered at a coin show, I am not paying postage and insurance to send it to Florida.
    Flush with cash in my PayPal account, I thoroughly enjoyed my little ?shopping spree." However, I did not get as much money as I had hoped for from the sale of my ?First-Spouse? coins. It seems, just as I suspected, that there is not a strong demand for these coins in the marketplace. Fortunately, since I had purchased most of the coins I sold, two to four years ago when the price of gold was considerably lower, I made a healthy profit on each coin. Now I have six coins left to sell and plan to use the remaining proceeds to pay a few bills and purchase some key-date Morgan Dollars.
    I am in no hurry to sell the remaining coins, especially since I purchased most of them recently. For now, I am monitoring the auction results of my coins to see what I can expect to get for them. I am especially monitoring the new kid on the block, ?Great Collections." What has me intrigued about ?Great Collections? is that if my consignments sell for over $1000, there are no seller fees. Additionally, the buyer?s fee is only 10%.
    The 1914-D Indian Quarter-Eagle in my collection I won on a Sunday evening ?Great Collections? auction. For being so new, I am very impressed with ?Great Collections," and especially their speedy delivery. The next day after the auction, my coin shipped, and I had it in my hand on Wednesday. The only thing I am concerned about though, especially with a possible consignment, is their limited visibility. However, as time goes by, I definitely see that increasing. Even so, the potential of no seller fees is quite tempting, especially since E-Bay and PayPal took me to the cleaners.
    Overall, I am quite pleased with where my collection is at and where it is going. Sometime later, I will have more to say about ?Great Collections.? My picture collage shows the first coin and the last coin I purchased during my recent 7-coin shopping spree. Until next time, ?Happy Collecting?.
    Gary

  18. coinsbygary

    A Fly on the Wall

    By coinsbygary,

    Have you ever wanted to be a ?fly on the wall? and listen in on a conversation? I had just that exact experience last Friday at the ANA?s ?World?s Fair of Money?.
    Greetings all, I had a fabulous day at the ANA?s "World's Fair of Money? in Chicago. On my arrival at the convention, one of the items on my ?must see? list of things to do was to view ML Moser?s collection of pristine Morgan Dollars at NGC?s table. Walking towards the display, I noticed several people huddled around the display viewing Mr. Moser?s collection. Finding a place to stand and view one of two display cases containing Mr. Moser?s coins, I overheard a part of a conversation that made my ears perk up! In that conversation, I heard the ?ML Moser? being introduced to somebody else by a representative of Heritage Auctions. I could not believe it, what an opportunity to meet the owner of the finest collection of NGC graded Morgan Dollars that there is! Asking if anyone objected to me listening in, I continued as Mr. Moser described several of the coins in his collection to the Heritage representative. I listened with delight as Mr. Moser with a sense of pride described his 1881-S MS-68+ star date with a population of one, and none higher in the NGC population report. I also watched as the Heritage representative with a sense of glee personally inspected a few of the coins. Then, as I was getting ready to leave the display, the Heritage representative asked me if I collected Morgan Dollars, at which I excitedly answered, yes! At that, the Heritage representative asked Mr. Moser to sign one of his brochures for me! The NGC brochure describing Mr. Moser?s collection was signed ?Gary, happy hunting, ML Moser." Leaving the display, I had to pinch myself to see if what was happening to me was real.
    Then there were the rare coins to view including a 1913 Liberty Nickel, 1804 Silver Dollar, and a gorgeous specimen of the AMERI. 1793 Chain Cent. Another highlight there for me was a collection of Gobrecht pattern dollars. At the APMEX table, I did wrist curls with a 354-ounce bar of solid gold! Of course, the gold bar was secured in a heavy plastic case with a hole in the side in which you placed your hand to lift the bar; and naturally, an armed guard was close by. Never before have I had something worth 654 thousand dollars right in the palm of my hand! Another table at which I spent considerable time was with a dealer demonstrating and selling coin microscopes. I was very impressed with this fascinating little instrument with which I could examine the finest details of my coins. If they say the difference between boys and men is the price of their toys, then this toy has me intrigued. While I was tempted, I need to take more time to consider buying this toy. If I eventually get it, I will be sure to do a post on it.
    My wife is very gracious to me when it comes to my hobby and me. With her by my side at the show, she seemed graciously tolerant of every table I stopped at. Interestingly though, she also is a collector of sorts and loves collecting ?Cherished Teddy? figurines. When we walked by the PandaAmerica table she noticed a Chinese Silver Panda and asked me if I could purchase one. At that time, I had not purchased anything yet, so I told her if I had any money left at the end of the day I would return to buy it for her.
    I went to the show with a list of four Morgan Dollars in MS-64 condition I was looking for valued in the low $100s. Of that list of four coins, I had hoped to purchase two. However, the same problem I had in the past while shopping for certified early coppers, I encountered with the Morgan?s. It seems that dealers when traveling to shows travel with the best coins in their inventories. I could probably have purchased each of the dates I was looking for, but only in MS-65 condition or higher. In a strange twist of irony though, I encountered a dealer who had affordable early coppers, and I managed to purchase an AU-50 1828 ? cent for my type set! Additionally, this coin has sentimental significance attached to it. When I was a boy, I purchased an 1828 ? cent at my very first coin show. I later sold it because it was deemed cleaned and unable to be certified at a full grade. Nevertheless, I regretted selling that ?-cent and this new one purchased at the ?king? of coin shows more than atones for that mistake. Curiously, the dealer I purchased the coin from was based in Chicago, meaning he could bring nearly his entire inventory had he wanted.
    Having purchased the 1828 ?-cent my wife asked me if we could go back and buy the panda. Even though I do not collect pandas, how could I say no to her, so I purchased a 2011 MS-69 silver panda? Having seen most of what I wanted to see, it was about time to go home. On the way out, my wife noticed a colorized panda and asked if I could buy that one also. Feeling emboldened by buying one panda, I was not about to buy two. On our way to the car, my wife said in these exact words, ?I should have nagged you more for colored panda." She even mentioned it after we got home, and I finally said, ?Look, there are no colors on the panda except black and white?! Appropriately, I am going to put the properly colored panda into my ?Inspirational Ladies? set dedicated to her.
    Finally, I do not know if ML Moser reads these journals, but I want to thank him personally for putting together such a fine collection and for being willing to share it. I also wanted to thank him for his signed brochure that will always be a fond memento of the show. Some people collect autographed photographs of sports figures, but I collect brochures autographed by famous coin collectors! I am also posting a picture of my wife?s panda with this journal post, so until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  19. coinsbygary
    ?Hockey Stick Valuation? is a trend where a coin steadily increases in value through its grades before reaching a point at which its cost skyrockets. This abrupt and sharp increase in price resembles a ?Hockey Stick? when it is plotted on a graph.
    There are numerous numbers of coins that display a hockey stick rise in valuation. Among the common date Morgan Dollars, this typically occurs when a coin moves from MS-65 to 66 or MS-66 to 67. Population reports can be a good indicator as to which step this will most likely occur for a particular coin. For instance, the NGC population report lists an MS-65 1898-O Morgan Dollar at 11,433 coins, MS-66 at 1,742 coins, and MS-67 at 168 coins. The FMV for these coins is $238, $500, and $1,630 respectively. Since there is a good supply of MS-65 and 66 coins in the marketplace, there is only a somewhat modest rise in valuation from MS-65 to 66. However, the population of this coin in MS-67 is not only significantly lower, but it is also at a level that makes it scarce in the marketplace as reflected by its cost. With a population of one coin in MS-68, this coin is worth $28,130!
    Never have I found this trend more profound than in circulation grade Eisenhower Dollars. Each date and mint of this series appears to have a point at which the value of the coin steeply rises. Furthermore, because of poor production this occurs at lower MS levels, especially among copper-nickel Eisenhower Dollars. For Eisenhower Dollars grading MS-67, NGC lists just 94 coins and PCGS 70 in their respective population reports. Additionally, there are no MS-68 coins from either grading service. Silver-clad Eisenhower Dollars fare much better because of superior production and handling at the mint. Most silver-clad Eisenhower dollars can be purchased for a reasonable price in MS-68 condition. However, in MS-69 these coins are extremely rare with just 24 coins combined between NGC and PCGS. At this population level, they are worth thousands of dollars, with the 1972-S being the least valuable at $2,160 FMV.
    Among the silver IKEs, the 1971-S is somewhat of an anomaly. First off, this coin was struck in lower relief than the other silver dates. Furthermore, rather than shipping the coins to their distribution centers in tubes like every other year, they were shipped in 1,000 coin bags. This poor handling subjected them to numerous bag marks. Consequently, there are only three of these coins graded at MS-68 between NGC and PCGS giving the 1971-S MS-68 Eisenhower Dollar a FMV of $5,000! Fortunately, they are much more numerous in MS-67 condition thus allowing me to purchase a PCGS example for my collection. Even so, this coin is by far the most valuable coin of all the silver issues in MS-67 condition.
    I was also able to purchase a copper-nickel NGC MS-66 1978-D, Eisenhower Dollar through E-Bay and a NGC MS-64 1972 Type 2, Eisenhower Dollar through Teletrade. With an NGC population of 181, the 1978-D MS-66 dollar is worth $138 and with a population of two, the MS-67 dollar is worth $5,560! The 1972 Type 2 has a two-step increase. At MS-64 with a NGC population of 117 coins the 1972 Type 2 has a FMV of $275. At MS-65 and a population of 18 coins, the FMV increases to $1,880. Finally, at MS-66 with no NGC graded coins and just five PCGS graded coins the FMV chimes in at $15,630! Clearly, the 1972 Type 2 Eisenhower Dollar is the key coin in this series, and I am very happy to be able to own an MS-64 example.
    My goal for collecting Eisenhower Dollars is simple, and that is to tap my head gently on the glass ceiling without breaking through. In other words, I intend to collect the entire series one grade lower than the steep rise. In the end, this will still give me a high quality, somewhat affordable set. Then, after I finish this set, I may decide to upgrade my MS-67 1976-S to MS-68. Currently, an MS-67 coin is worth $47.50 and a MS-68 is worth $400. Otherwise, so far, so good! Until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  20. coinsbygary
    After purchasing an 1893-S Morgan for my collection, it is time for a brief break to pursue a newfound love.
    Greetings everyone, with a little encouragement from E4norbi, I have found a new appreciation and love for the Eisenhower Dollar. It?s not that I got up one morning to discover I liked the Eisenhower Dollar, but rather it?s something that has developed over time. In other words, it is a culmination of events along the way ending with E4norbi?s latest post to propel me over the top.
    These events started for me when I was a boy, as much of my collecting today has its roots in my childhood. I first started collecting coins around the time the Eisenhower Dollar was first minted. Because I loved the Morgan Dollar, it was only natural for me to be excited about a new circulating dollar coin, especially after the dollar?s long absence from circulation. Since I was young and naive, I remember buying an Eisenhower Dollar that had been gold-plated. Today, I would never consider buying anything like that. However, at the time I thought the coin was really cool.
    When I was young, everything about space exploration mesmerized me. I remember exactly where I was when I first heard the announcement on July 20, 1969 that ?The Eagle has landed?. Further endearing me to the Eisenhower Dollar is its reverse featuring the mission patch of Apollo 11 (however, this does not translate to the SBA Dollar because I favored a classic design on the smaller dollar).
    Now fast forward 35 years or so, and I?m writing the owner comments for the Ike?s in my type sets, while enjoying every minute of it. Add to this, the many interesting numismatic twists in this series and I?m hooked. Therefore, I have started a complete set of circulation issue Eisenhower Dollars. With some of the proceeds from my ?Phase 1? sale, I purchased a NGC MS-68, 1972-S silver Eisenhower Dollar as the first new coin of my registry set.
    Much of the Eisenhower Dollar?s design relates to manned space flight. For it was President Dwight D Eisenhower, who on July 29, 1958 signed legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Furthermore, the original design concept for the Apollo 11 mission patch featured on the reverse of the Eisenhower Dollar came from Apollo 11 astronaut, Michael Collins.
    Sadly, now 42 years later to the day that Neil Armstrong and Edwin ?Buzz? Aldrin walked on the moon, the space shuttle Atlantis landed for the last time at Kennedy Space Flight Center. This landing officially ends the 30-year-old space shuttle program and effectively places on indefinite hold any future manned space exploration. Therefore, as a tribute to NASA and manned space flight, I offer this photo collage based on the original charter of NASA symbolized by an olive branch carried by an Eagle representing America.
    Gary

  21. coinsbygary
    The selling of my problem gold completes the first phase of reorganizing my collection.
    Greetings, three weeks ago I wrote of a major shift and reorganization in my collection. This shift in my collection started the day I bought a VG-10 1893-S Morgan Dollar. Since the 1893-S Morgan Dollar represents the most money I have ever paid for a coin, there was no way I could have purchased it without selling something. Oddly enough though, according to Numismedia my 2009 Ultra-High Relief St. Gaudens Double Eagle is currently the most valuable coin in my collection and $250 higher than the 1893-S. This seems odd to me because when I bought the UHR, I bought it at the original issue price of $1189. Naturally, I did not sell this coin to obtain the 1893-S since it is a key coin in my collection.
    The coins I sacrificed did not appear in any of my registry sets because they were problem coins in ANACS holders. The coins, a Liberty Double Eagle, Eagle, and Quarter Eagle with an Indian Quarter Eagle and a Type 1 and Type 3 gold dollar all sold on E-Bay this past week. Since they were problem coins, I did not get the best prices, but they all grossed above the current melt value. Furthermore, since I have owned these coins for many years, I made a handsome profit on the lot. Through this sale, I netted enough to pay for the 1893-S and the E-Bay and PayPal fees with a hundred or so dollars left over. Overall, I must say that I am happy with the results.
    Now it is on to Phase 2. Because the cost of keeping up with the First Spouse ?-ounce gold coins at a rate of four a year is prohibitive, I am discontinuing and liquidating most of the collection. Once again, because the four Liberty versions of these coins are key coins in my collection, I am keeping those and selling the rest. With the proceeds, I intend to replenish the gold coins I sold with nice mint-state coins and add a few more Morgan keys to my collection. Perhaps, if there is any money left over after that, I can pay off some of my bills.
    In addition to the gold weight, many of the coins I am selling have hefty premiums above their current melt value. In fact, the Julia Tyler coin alone will come close to buying a nice common date Liberty Double Eagle. Since my coins are all graded PF-70, I should be able to get top dollar for them.
    I think I will be selling my coins as a lot directly to a dealer. I have a few dealers in mind that will give me a fair price that is better than I could get on E-Bay or as a consigner after my seller fees. In fact, one dealer sells many of the coins I am looking to replenish and I might be able to work out an equitable exchange. Additionally, I bought most of these coins when gold was much cheaper, so I should make a handsome profit.
    It is a shame that I am selling off coins that I like, but if I cannot have all the First Spouse coins, I will have none of them. The First Spouse coins always seemed to me like a set, and maybe this is one reason why the mint can?t sell them because there are so many people like me who cannot afford the set. Since I can?t complete a set of gold coins, I will be completing a set of medals. Attached is a photograph of a Dansco Album page of First Spouse medals, or in other words, the poor man?s alternative! After all, it?s nice to have alternatives, like the lustrium cubic zirconium Green Bay Packers official stockholder Superbowl championship ring that I will be purchasing soon! Until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  22. coinsbygary
    It may seem strange, but the 7/3/11 internet auction is my first with Heritage Auctions.
    Most people are creatures of habit, as they lean towards the familiar and shy away from the unfamiliar. However, in order to move ahead in life, one has to take risks and venture outside their comfort zone.
    This force of habit manifested itself in me by my exclusive use of E-Bay to add coins to my collection. For many years, I thought E-Bay was the greatest thing since Mom?s apple pie. I loved being able to dial up most any coin and have it there for me to bid on whenever I wanted. My infatuation with E-Bay though made me vulnerable to its many drawbacks. Chief among those drawbacks are sellers who know little or nothing about coin collecting. After being burned by fakes, I have learned to be more discriminate about my E-Bay purchases. Since joining NGC?s ?Collectors Society? and reading of your experiences with other venues, I am slowly but surely spreading the wealth by venturing out into other coin purchasing venues.
    Two years ago, I joined Teletrade and since then I have won twenty-six lots. I like that Teletrade is a professional auction house that deals exclusively in certified coins and currency. I also like the ?track and bid? and ?prices realized? features. Additionally, the ?Mr. Wantlist? feature informs me of coins I want for my collection in upcoming auctions. One big drawback with Teletrade though is how they handle hidden reserves, and I agree with recent posts on this subject.
    For one reason or another, it is only recently though that I signed up as a bidder with Heritage Auctions and then only because I wanted to research a previous lot. About a month ago, I bought a PCGS MS-63 1881-CC Morgan dollar on E-Bay. For curiosity's sake, I checked PCGS?s certification on this coin. A nice feature that PCGS has that NGC does not (hint, hint) is a link to previous auctions my coin appeared. Interestingly, my coin was previously auctioned by Heritage at the March 2011 Sacramento Signature Auction. I clicked the hotlink and found I needed a login to view the final realized price. Naturally, I signed up and found out to my embarrassment how much the dealer profited on a coin I could have bid on myself had I been signed up with Heritage. Oh well, I was happy with my purchase at the time, and I will leave it at that.
    That little immersion into Heritage was all I needed to whet my appetite, and I was on my way. I began by linking coins from Heritage?s e-mail alerts and perusing the other lots. Having read an article in Coins Magazine article about semi-key Morgan Dollars, I put an attractive PCGS AU-50 1888-S Morgan Dollar on my watch list. I then placed a bid consistent with previous auctions and won my first Heritage internet lot on July 3. Whenever I start anything new, I like to start small, but now with the first auction under my belt, I am ready to bite on bigger lots with Heritage.
    With all these venues available to me because of the internet, I still like the face-to-face exchange with a dealer at a coin shop or a coin show. Some things never change, except that the internet is making these exchanges few and far in between, and that?s kind of sad. Overall though the availability of coins through any of a number of venues is good for the hobby and works to keep things on the up and up. May all your auction experiences be pleasant, and until next time, happy collecting.
    Gary

  23. coinsbygary
    There are major changes coming to my collection signified by the latest addition to my Morgan Dollar registry set.
    Greetings everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July. With lots of fireworks, major changes are coming to my coin collection. The first change is that I am discontinuing buying coins for my First Spouse registry set. The high cost of gold and other interests, mainly Morgan Dollars, are forcing me to choose between whether to continue with the First Spouse series or pursue my other collecting passions.
    The decision to discontinue collecting First Spouse gold proof coins is mainly financial. The expense of these coins coupled with my other interests is proving to be quite a strain on my budget. It?s not that I don?t like the series, because I do, however, since there are accompanying medals with the same designs, I can have my cake and eat it too. Accordingly, along with the First Spouse coins, I have been purchasing the accompanying medals. To collect and display the medals I bought a Dansco album with generic pages of a dozen 34 mm slots per page. Dansco albums are a wonderful way to enjoy your collection attractively displayed in one album.
    Besides Morgan Dollars, I love type collecting, and I have a penchant for gold coins. One of my type sets, ?Gary?s Type Set? includes gold coins along with the other 19th & 20th century type coins. Currently, six of the gold slots are not populated because the coins I have for those slots are ANACS problem coins. For the longest time, I was planning to cross those coins over and place them in my set at half points. However, for one reason or another, I never got around to spending the money necessary to get them into my set. Now those coins along with the First Spouse coins are causing seismic tremors and fireworks within my collection.
    Currently, my plan is to sell my problem gold to subsidize the ?one? coin that above all will represent this seismic shift in my collection. After I sell those problem coins, I plan to sell select First Spouse coins in a ?new gold? for ?old gold? exchange to purchase non-problem gold coins for my basic type set. With that, I still intend to keep some of the coins in my First Spouse set, especially the ?Liberty? short set of four coins. Furthermore, I may continue to buy select other First Spouse coins as they relate to my ?Inspirational Ladies? signature set. However, I will no longer pursue a complete set of the series.
    Pictured below is the ?one? coin, purchased just a few days ago, that is shaking up my entire collection. I rate it at 7.5 on the Richter scale, what do you think? Until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  24. coinsbygary

    Fine or MS?

    By coinsbygary,

    It makes no sense to buy an 1881-CC Morgan Dollar for $305 in Fine condition when I could have a MS-63 for roughly $200 more.
    Many of you are aware that I am trying to purchase the best Morgan Dollars possible for an average cost of $200 per coin and grading no lower than VG-10. However, there are eight coins in this series that even in grades as low as VG-10, have Fair Market Values of more than $200 each. Among those coins with a FMV of over $200 in VG-10 is the 1881-CC.
    The 1881-CC with a mintage of 296,000 is an interesting coin because it is readily available in Mint State. PCGS Coin Facts estimates the survivability of the 1881-CC in MS condition at 156,700 coins or 52% of the original mintage. This anomaly is also true for the 1885-CC and the 1903-O.
    Since Carson City Morgan Dollars are popular with collectors, and the 1881-CC has a low mintage, this coin has a respectable FMV of $328 in VG. In fact, I saw an F-12 listed on E-Bay as a ?Buy it Now? for $305. However, since the 1881-CC is so readily available in Mint State, one can purchase an MS-63 example for between $475 and $525.
    This left me with the same decision I had when I bought my 1903-O Morgan, do I buy a VG coin or spend a couple hundred more dollars and get a solid MS coin. The decision was simple, and I bought a MS-63 1881-CC in a PCGS rattler holder for a reasonable price. My rational is simple, when I can get quality for a relatively small amount of money, I will most often go with quality because it provides the best value.
    In stark contrast to the 1881-CC is the 1895-O with a mintage of 450,000 and an estimated survivability of 37,515 in all grades, and just 740 coins in MS! With a FMV of $253 in VG, I went for the VG as opposed to $52,500 in MS-63. However, this coin does not represent the best value, and I may upgrade it at a future date to XF for about $300 more.
    Of those eight coins I identified as budget busters, I already own four. After those four coins, the prices begin to get steep. In VG the 1895-S goes for FMV $426, the 1889-CC for $620, the 1894 for $1050, and the granddaddy of them all the 1893-S at $2910! In fact, I tracked a VG-10 1893-S on E-Bay last week with a closing hammer price of $2650. Obviously, these will need a significant amount of financial planning and restraint from everything else that interests me in order to purchase them. So alas, I find myself in the all too familiar dilemma of infinite choices and finite resources. That said, in time, and with patience, I may yet complete this set.
    For now, those coins can wait as I endeavor to collect all the MS coins first. When this set is complete, more than 50% of the coins will be in MS condition, and that?s not too bad for $200/coin. By the way, with 54 coins spanning all my Morgan sets my running average is $186/coin! Until next time, happy collecting!
    Gary

  25. coinsbygary
    Behind the scenes, I am always on the lookout for coins to add to my ?Inspirational Ladies? custom set.
    With 70 coins in my ?Inspirational Ladies? custom set it can seem as if new additions are a slow go. In reality, nothing could be farther from the truth. This year alone I have added five coins to my set. Within those five coins are allegorical representations of Liberty/Freedom on a 1910 Mexican Caballito Peso and the goddess Minerva on our 2011 ?Medal of Honor? $5 commemorative. Another coin, a two Euro bi-metallic coin from San Marino features an allegorical representation of ?Spring? from an Italian Renaissance painting by Sandro Botticelli. Closing out my additions, are coins featuring two ladies whose humanitarian contributions have made this world a better place. They are Florence Nightingale featured on a Jersey five-pound coin and Mother Teresa on a French 10 Euro coin.
    Where possible I try to buy coins that are already certified. However, if there is a coin that really catches my attention, I will buy it raw and hold it until I have enough coins for a submission. In fact, I have been holding the San Marino coin since last September. On Monday, I got my first submission of the year back from NGC, and I am highlighting three of those coins in this post.
    My first coin is a 2006 five-pound coin commemorating Florence Nightingale from the country of Jersey. Before I bought this coin in January, I had never heard of Jersey. When I looked it up on-line in the CIA?s world factbook, I discovered it is an eight-mile long, by four-mile wide island in the English Channel. Florence Nightingale is known for her pioneering work in nursing, and in particular, caring for wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War in 1854. While treating those soldiers she brought attention to the unsanitary conditions that was killing many of them. It is said that by improving those conditions, she effectively reduced the death rate from 42% to 2%. Florence Nightingale often made her evening rounds while carrying a lamp and became known as, ?the lady with the lamp? by her patients. This is the reason that on the obverse of this coin along with her bust is a small lamp.
    I am very particular about the coins I include in this collection. I?ve dismissed a few coins for inclusion into my set because they seemed too racy for me. My 2010 two-euro coin from San Marino was a close call because of who the lady on the obverse of this coin represents. The image on this coin is one of three graces or charities in Greek mythology. The three graces were known for their charm, beauty, nature, human creativity, and fertility. The image on this coin though is taken from a 1482 painting by Sandro Botticelli named ?Primavera? or ?Allegory of Spring?. In the painting Venus is the central figure flanked by the three graces dancing together and the female goddess Flora/Chloris spreading flowers. Since spring is an inspirational time of the year with regeneration and new life, it is only fitting that female allegorical figures should represent it. Because art is often inspirational and the ladies in this particular painting are portrayed tactfully, I am including this coin in my collection.
    The last coin I am highlighting in this post is a 2010 French 10 euro coin commemorating Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun from Albania started a missionary society in 1950 named ?Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta?. Through this mission, she ministered to the poor, sick, and orphaned children of India. Eventually, Mother Teresa?s influence and ministry spread outside India and she received international acclaim for the work she did. This coin celebrates the 100th anniversary of Mother Teresa?s birth, and the reverse features her standing next to Pope John Paul the II. This truly remarkable person of faith has touched untold millions around the world and the organization she founded continues to minister to the sick and poor to this day.
    Before I close this post, I want to thank brg5658 for his inspirational photographs. The photograph I am posting is modeled after his. Until next time, may you find those special coins to add to your collections.
    Gary