Mohawk

On 1/3/2022 at 8:24 PM, Just Bob said:

Excellent attitude. And great advice for any collector branching out into a new area.

Indeed.  Very well said. It's always good to read the book before buying the coin.  I've been in bed with a nasty cold today (not COVID though, thank the gods!), and I've been using the time to spend some time with my German coin guide since I want to get active in German coins again.  It's actually been quite enjoyable, scratchy throat and runny nose aside.

Very nice, Mike!! I like it 

On 1/3/2022 at 5:18 PM, Alex in PA. said:

Most of the mail delivered in Anchorage Proper is done by Mail Carrier.  Larger areas of metro Anchorage is by 4x4.  One day in December I had to take a kid to see his P.O.  It was -10, wind blowing, Blizzard conditions and I parked in front of the Juvie Building.  Ha!  On a day like this I don't have to pay for parking.  WRONG!  Came out to find a ticket on my windshield and this bundle of clothing struggling to walk against the wind headed away.  Meter Maid!.  Crazy huh?

Yes indeed!!! It sounds like the long arm of the law is highly dedicated in Alaska as well!! 

On 1/3/2022 at 4:03 PM, R__Rash said:

I was out plowing the snow away from the road side mail boxes awhile back and in came the mail wagon chained up on all four. I went to high school with the delivery lady and she commenced to tell me thanks for keeping the snow down all the time so her short little arms could reach the boxes from the window. Then she pulled out her green half gallon Stanley and gave me a few shots of hot coffee to warm up with while she put the mail in the boxes. Now that’s service.

Also some amazing dedication to be commended.

On 1/3/2022 at 4:38 PM, Alex in PA. said:

I lived in a Condo Area in Anchorage.  In January, with snow waist deep, the Mail Lady, with bag over shoulder, would deliver the mail on Reka Drive (near a half mile) on foot with wind blowing and temps to -25.  Not one day ever went by that my mail was not picked up and delivered.  

Now that's dedication!!! Wow!! I have to commend your mail delivery lady.

On 1/3/2022 at 10:15 AM, Hoghead515 said:

Very nice brother. 

Thanks, Hog!!  I can't wait for it to arrive!

On 1/3/2022 at 12:00 AM, Just Bob said:

Wow. That could get pricey.

Definitely.  Fortunately, most of the sets from 1974 forward are very affordable but the sheer number of them basically makes it an expensive project.  I'm not sure if I'm going to try to get all of them, or just special years, or one per year or what yet.  I like them a lot, but it could definitely become a crazy project!!

I think with what Coinbuf said, I can vote now.  Neo, I'd go for the half cent.  1936 Proof Mercs come up far more often.  Don't miss the half cent opportunity.

On 1/2/2022 at 11:29 PM, Coinbuf said:

Easy answer for me, quality early half and large cents can be few and far between while the dime will come around again likely sooner than later.   But I can see where it would be easy to get pulled in both directions.

Very good point on the copper, Coinbuf.  It's definitely tougher to find than a proof 1936 Merc.  

On 1/2/2022 at 10:19 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

I hear what you guys are saying.  When I think about "what series is more important to me?" that is Half Cents - no question.  But, that set is a very slow build for me to complete decent grade.  Finding good, choice-surface coins with luster can be very tough.  Many coins in AU-MS holders still have micro-granularity or other surface issues.

The proof Mercury set is relatively easy, once you get past the 1936. They generally go down in price over the years as the mintages go up (however, this is still a micro mintage series).  I have not completed many sets, so the idea of having this short set completed relatively quickly without compromising quality is a seductive one.  The series looks nearly perfect, and would be a great collection.  

These sets are two opposite personalities - but both very cool.

I wish I could do better for you, Neo.  I do, but I do not collect U.S. coins and I haven't in a very long time.  Both of those choices are so far outside of anything I'd actually purchase that I responded in the only way that I could.  But I'm guessing from your avatar that the half cent has the best chance of winning  

On 1/2/2022 at 10:59 PM, Quintus Arrius said:

@Mohawk

Any idea how many mints remain today? As I recall, there were quite a few at one time or another.

I do have the answer to your question, Quintus.  There are technically four but five different Mint Marks: Berlin, Mint Mark A, Munich, Mint Mark D, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe merged in 1998, so they're actually a single mint now, but they mint coins with both Mint Marks, which are F for Stuttgart and G for Karlsruhe, and Hamburg, Mint Mark J.  The fun (or infuriating) thing about collecting West and United German proof sets is that all four mints produce a proof set every year and the merged Stuttgart-Karlsruhe Mint issues two, one for each Mint Mark.  So, to have a full set, you need four or five sets a year, depending on the year.

On 1/2/2022 at 9:32 PM, Lem E said:

I would ask yourself one question, and that is which coin of the two do you like better?

This exactly.  I would also ask yourself this: Which series is more important to me?  What goal would I most like to achieve?  I would imagine your answer will be found there.  

On 1/2/2022 at 3:51 PM, JKK said:

• B: Suárez draped, cuirassed bust right, pearl diadem
• O: IMP SVAREVS PF AVG
• R: GLORIA NVMISMATICA
• T: Numismatica standing left, holding cournucopia, loupe, and ERIC II
• E: OLYΓ, volcano in field

I'd buy it.

Me too!! I'm in!!!

On 1/2/2022 at 2:16 PM, MN1 said:

I'm going to have to say thin out my collection a pinch.  Just some of the inexpensive, ungraded stuff I saved as a kid.   Maybe a graded coin or two where I later upgraded and have multiples of a certain coin and year.

That's not a bad plan, MN.  I did that myself a couple years ago and now I'm actually looking to expand again.  But if I hadn't thinned out first, things would have gotten overwhelming and unruly very quickly!!  I've found that collecting can be a cycle of contraction and expansion at times, given changing goals, differing life circumstances and things of that nature.

On 1/2/2022 at 3:01 PM, JKK said:

I thought electrolysis was the term, but worried that if I typed it without doing research, and was wrong, I would deserve all the "Foo, how is hair removal going to help a coin?" wisecracks. However, being too lazy to look it up myself, I had high hopes someone else would. You did not disappoint, mon ami.

I'm always there for you, my friend  

On 1/2/2022 at 2:58 PM, Hoghead515 said:

Midnight is late for me. I usuall get up between 3 and 4am depending on where were working. Sometimes earlier. Usually try to go to bed around 8 or 9. This 3 day vacation got my nights and days mixed up where I been staying up to late. 

Man, I think getting up at 3 or 4am for anything aside from a visit to the bathroom followed by a rapid return to my bed would just kill me dead!!! I'm genetically wired for nights.  I get it from my dad and his mom....both total night owls.  That 12:30-9:30 schedule was a huge selling point for me with this job.  That and working from home.  But vacations can do that......they can get your whole internal clock messed up.

On 1/2/2022 at 2:54 PM, JKK said:

If I were the OP, I'd start going to the trouble of setting up the electricity method. I forget exactly what it's called, but I think it's the most common one that doesn't involve chemicals or abrasion.

Based on this YouTube video I found by typing "electricity method of cleaning coins" into Google, I think it's electrolysis.  And, to the OP and anyone else interested, here's the video I found (which may be the very first time a useful coin related YouTube video has ever been posted here):

On 1/2/2022 at 2:51 PM, JKK said:

Rasiel Suárez is there for you.

He is indeed.  He may be the Imperator of cheap, uncleaned ancients.

On 1/2/2022 at 2:23 PM, Hoghead515 said:

It may be a getting older thing or just getting soft thing, but I got invited to 3 different parties and decided to just stay home and watch tv. Celebrated with a hot cup of coco instead of Budweisers. First year in several years.  I was worn plum out for some reason. I made it to midnight but not to long after. 

 

If that's old, Hog, then I was old in my teens and twenties.  I'm not really a fan of parties and I never have been.....I'm your classic introvert in a lot of ways, depending on the community.  A coin show?  Now that's a large social event I'd be all about!! But a party?  Just filled with random people and giving them alcohol on top of it?  No thanks.  I'll pass.  I made it to midnight, though.  But I usually do.  I'm a total night owl and being up at midnight isn't unusual for me.  And when my job starts, my shift is going to be 12:30pm to 9:30pm EST every work day, so that'll further entrench me as a night owl.....like I need it!! 

On 1/2/2022 at 1:45 PM, R__Rash said:

I agree also, but sometimes the cost of learning at hand is a valuable tool in its own right. I am in an education process and appreciate all of your inputs, but still need to satisfy the visual comparison factor in my mind.  It will be traveling in very good company.  Again, this is why the topic is titled “Can of worms” . Thanks again, I always appreciate all comments 👍

There's absolutely no problem with paying for education, R-Rash.  I agree and my student loan balances would bear me out on this fact!! Best of luck on your submission.

I have to agree R_Rash....that coin definitely doesn't warrant a trip to NGC.  It would cost more to slab it than the coin is worth.