Mohawk

Yuck.   I think it looks like more the second option.  He'd probably look happier if he were smelling bacon.  It's definitely a fart smelling face, or one of being in a massive amount of pain.  I wouldn't be surprised if these quarters are ugly enough to make the washers and dryers at the Laundromat ill when I have to pump them in there in large numbers.

On 1/4/2022 at 7:03 PM, RWB said:

Now the graders have to eat all those shrimp and King crab legs....too bad.  

No thanks.....the Tiger Sharks can have all that stuff.  

On 1/4/2022 at 9:23 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

George does look upset, for sure .

George looks AWFUL.  He looks like he's trying to pass a kidney stone!  I know that this is going to be a very unpopular opinion with some members here, but I think Laura Gardin Fraser wasn't a great artist.  I've never seen anything she did that I liked one bit.  And it's another big disappointment from the U.S. Mint.  I mean, really, did they have to kill this series by putting something dreadful from ninety years ago by Laura Gardin Fraser on the obverse?  I personally think they should have gotten something new and fresh by a prominent female artist living today.  It's not like we're lacking in that department.  But, no.  In true U.S. Mint form, they had to ugly it up right out of the gate.  I swear the U.S. Mint must have a vault full of godawful, ancient designs to drag out just for such occasions.

On 1/4/2022 at 9:05 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

2022 starts the American Women in Quarters series.  I realize that many collectors are frustrated with the sheer volume of designs being put-out by the US Mint.  However, what a great series to bring daughters and granddaughters into the fold.  So, just wanted to get thoughts from collectors on this new series.

I am absolutely not going to collect them for one major reason: that Laura Gardin Fraser obverse is absolutely, dreadfully hideous.  I thought it was butt ugly on the 1999 $5 gold Washington and I think it's every bit as hideous on a quarter.  With so many coins I find beautiful to collect, why would I start collecting something I find criminally, disgustingly ugly?  I wouldn't.  It's a shame, too.  It could have been a great series, but that obverse just kills it.  

On 1/4/2022 at 8:27 PM, James Zyskowski said:

I lasted until yesterday 😉. $2.50 free shipping. Going right into my new album 👍🏼

Ooh....nice pickups, my friend!! Those'll fill some spots in that really nice album for sure!!

On 1/4/2022 at 8:22 PM, Mohawk said:

I lasted three....I bought two early East German coins yesterday from eBay on my laptop while in bed with a cold.  Nothing keeps me down buying coins aside from distraction, inability to make a choice or lack of funds 

Actually...I forgot.  I didn't even last three days!! I bought my 1974-J West German proof set on the 2nd.  Man, I'm terrible......

On 1/4/2022 at 7:45 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

Well, I lasted 4 days...

I lasted three....I bought two early East German coins yesterday from eBay on my laptop while in bed with a cold.  Nothing keeps me down buying coins aside from distraction, inability to make a choice or lack of funds 

Interesting thing I found re-researching German coins.......it looks like the Western Allies almost stuck West Germany with the horrendous and ill-thought out copper-plated zinc alloy of Zincolns that we all love so much in the 1940's, based on this 10 Reichspfennig pattern on Numista:

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces284579.html

On 1/4/2022 at 6:59 PM, Quintus Arrius said:

@Mohawk

A PM I received from an Administrator, making it quite clear I may not call out other members by name in hopes of evoking a reply, e.g., "I wonder where [so-and-so] stands on this?", pretty much eliminates the possibility of soliciting the first-hand knowledge other members who could possibly shed some light on why and when that policy was developed. There has to be a reason -- and someone out there 👀 knows what it is.    

I'm sorry I can't help you with that one, Quintus.  This is the first I've ever heard of that policy or anyone being impacted by it.  I'm hoping there may be another member who's been here a long time that may know.  I myself do not, unfortunately. Wish I could help more, though.

On 1/4/2022 at 12:49 PM, Oldhoopster said:

I opened this thread thinking it would be about German porcelain notgeld. 

I was honestly expecting the Japanese porcelain coins from the very end of World War II myself.  Though I guess, technically, they aren't porcelain but baked clay.  The porcelain name has stuck, however:

Nice find, Hog!! I've found about 8 or so of them since 2019, just getting change and the like.  I think I've been that successful because we have to go to a Laundromat to do laundry, so that means loading up on quarters!  It's been fun to find them, but I've actually been looking for the three lowest mintage circulation issue Canadian quarters for my Whitman folder sets; 1970, 1983 and 1991.  My fiancée actually found the 1991, which is the hardest one with a mintage of 459,000, but the 1970 (mintage 10,302,010) and the 1983 (mintage 13,162,000) continue to elude me.  I know I could just buy them, and I do have several nice 1970 cameo quarters from proof-like sets, but I want to find them in the wild for my Whitman set.  I've actually been looking for the 1970 and 1983 in circulation since I was a kid and no luck.  Ah well.....maybe one of these days!!

On 1/4/2022 at 4:31 PM, James Zyskowski said:

With the snake population I would think there’s a thinning of the lizards. Now roachs we’ll be racing until the end of time. 

No kidding on the roaches.  Modern cockroaches have already been around for 145 million years, since the beginning of the Cretaceous Period and their family of insects has been around even longer than that; first appearing in the fossil record between 350-300 million years ago, during the Carboniferous Period.  They can live almost anywhere and eat virtually anything.  There are few animals that are winning at life to the degree that cockroaches are.  Koalas and Pandas would be jealous, if they had the mental capabilities to feel jealousy, which they do not.

On 1/4/2022 at 3:43 PM, Quintus Arrius said:

@GBrad

Your coin just inspired a Eureka! moment. I know now why I always liked Canadian silver: they're denticled!  They just feel good in hand. The older ones anyway. I haven't come across any in a long time. The quarters were exceptional; I've never held a Looney but I imagine I would find the experience quite enjoyable.   😉 

There is nothing like the feeling of Canadian silver in hand, Quintus.  It just feels....good.  Valuable.  And the beauty of the coins doesn't hurt, either!! The first silver coin I ever found in circulation was a 1968 Canadian silver quarter.  Sadly, I lost it.  I was a kid and kids lose stuff.  But I bought a nice one certified MS 65 by NGC.  It is also a cameo coin, but it is not attributed as such.  This whole cameo battle on Canadian coins that aren't proofs with NGC is a big part of why I stopped grading coins of my own with them.  If they're not going to attribute the coins that make up about 40% of my collecting activity correctly, why should I bother?

On 1/4/2022 at 3:19 PM, GBrad said:

Well @Mohawk, here's one you might like.  Just found this one in my "haul" from a few weeks ago.  Looks like a tad bit of a greaser on the reverse...maybe? Just not seeing a pattern of circulation wear that would have diminished the relief of "10 CENTS" as it did...... not too sure being that it's not a MS coin and has seen some circ. time..... I just love the ship on the reverse of these Canadian coins. Hope you like it my friend.  

I definitely like it, Greg!! I have a Whitman folder full of nice, circulated silver Canadian dimes just like the piece you posted.  It just has good, honest wear from serving its purpose in the Canadian economy.  The 10 Cents often wears like that on the George VI dimes, as the relief is fairly high when these dimes are in mint state.  

On 1/4/2022 at 1:34 PM, Quintus Arrius said:

Faster than they tore down the wall?  😉 

So far, yes .  But I still have to acquire a 1950-E 10 Pfennig.  That one's the toughie in nice grade for early East German.  But if I keep watching eBay auctions, I think I'll get there.  There doesn't seem to be a lot of people seeking early East German out right now, which could work to my advantage.

My early East German streak is continuing!!! If this keeps up, I'll have my early East German collection rebuilt really soon:

On 1/4/2022 at 12:19 PM, Conder101 said:

Looks like it has been ground down and since then the zinc has corroded giving it a dark appearance.

I'm with Conder on this one.  I think he nailed it....ground down and the zinc has darkened from exposure to the air.  If you look at old zinc coins, like those issued by Germany and Czechoslovakia in the 1920's, they're often black in coloration.  Zinc does that over time as it's exposed to the air.  Here's an example:

On 1/3/2022 at 10:44 PM, Just Bob said:

I like that! 

Me too!! That is very cool, Zebo.

Hi B.C.!

Well, the picture isn't great, but I think what's going on is some simple post-minting damage on your dime.  It likely got hit by another coin at some point, causing the damage.

Hi Joe!!

I agree with Woods. I'm thinking you have some die deterioration there.  It's interesting looking die deterioration for sure, though!

~Tom

On 1/3/2022 at 9:22 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

Wie Geht es ihnen?  Make sure you don't swallow your coins and study the pills.

I'll try.....but those pfennigs are pretty small 

My Deutsche is quite rusty and limited, my friend, but, let me try........Ich überlebe.

On 1/3/2022 at 8:42 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

My process has been buy one coin, then buy the book.  Another coin, another book

@Mohawk Sorry you feel crummy, but glad you are using the time.  

That's a very good process, Neo.  And similar to mine.  I have ancient coin guides, an edition of the Krause World Coin guide, a Krause German coin guide and a couple Canadian guides around here somewhere.  And thanks for the condolences as well.  It sucks, but getting reacquainted with some old numismatic friends from East Germany and West Germany has certainly been enjoyable and has made the time pass wonderfully.  Coins can be some of the best medicine.