Mohawk

Jonathan.....you read my mind!! That's it EXACTLY!!!! You never get a first chance to make a first impression and I cannot think of a worse way to make a bad first impression in our little community here than typing a bunch of text message nonsense. It's a complete and total turn off to me. And some shortcuts with texts are okay, like you said. A lack of upper case letters is perfectly acceptable.....your message is still easily decipherable and understandable. But all of these stupid abbreviations.......they can quickly send a message into the level of complete and total nonsense on par with what our old pal Slicky-Poo types.

Now it's time for me to share my very first Faustina the Younger coin. This is a silver denarius, RIC# 507a:

Yes, exactly!!! I've put members on my Ignore list for typing that kind of garbage!!! It drives me insane!! If I receive that kind of garbage in a text message, even, I'll just delete it. If you cannot bother to use proper English, then I cannot bother to read what you type.

Very true and very good point. Images can only give us so much information and they can be manipulated. There is no substitute for having the coin in hand.

Yep. We're definitely at a point where the OP needs to just submit the coins and prove us right or wrong.

Well, first off, I don't see spots like on the OPs coin. I really don't like those spots on the OPs coin. They're the first thing my eye is drawn to when I see the OPs coin.....and that's not a good thing. Secondly, and this is just from the photos posted, which as you know aren't ideal for proper evaluation, I like the color better on the MS 67. And, to me personally, the MS 67 is just more appealing....I just like its look better. As far as strike goes, both the OPs coin and the MS 67 look about equal, so that's not a factor in my feelings here. But, like I said before, it could be a completely different situation were I to have the coins in hand.

Which one would I want? Me personally? Neither one, to be perfectly honest. If I had either one, I'd sell it and put the funds into my Roman coin collection. However, and you're not going to like this again......I do think the MS 67 example does look nicer, insofar as I can evaluate it from the photos provided. But that's just going on photos on a computer......in hand, it could be a completely different story. But, that said again, best of luck with your submission.

I also have to add anything with text message abbreviations gets ignored by me......the first "u", "ur" or "n" that I see, I'm gone.

Spots can absolutely kill the grade on copper coins. I know this from experience working in a brick and mortar shop and submitting coins there as well as submitting other copper coins on my own. You asked for thoughts and I shared mine, and that's honestly what I think. I just wanted to share so that maybe I could help you avoid disappointment if you send this coin in to NGC. I honestly have no interest in looking up the MS 67 as this is not an area of numismatics that interests me. But I could be wrong, and I wish you luck with your coin. I'm sure someone with more expertise and interest in Indians will chime in though. I'd be happy to be wrong here.

I have a thought but you're not going to like it.......the top grade for a brown 1886 Type 1 at NGC is a single MS 67 BN. I don't think that the spots on the obverse of your coin will let it reach that grade. That said, though, I'll gladly let someone more versed in this series chime in on whether I am correct in my assessment or not. At any rate, welcome to the forum!!

Nice coin Coinbuf!!! I do not own a single Lincoln Cent aside from what's in my change jar, but I agree with you.......the Shield is pretty nice. Definite improvement over the Memorial, in my humble opinion.

Hi Quintus!! Ancient grading has some similarities with the Sheldon Scale used for other coins. You have the grades Fair, About Good, Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine, Extremely Fine, About Uncirculated and Mint State applied. So, Mint State grades have been applied to ancient coins by NGC and I'm sure by other authorities and dealers. Admittedly, I do not know much about that side of the hobby as Mint State ancients do not interest me in the least. Additionally, NGC Ancients has a 1-5 numeric grading scale that evaluates the strike of the coin and the surface of the coin separately. So, if you use NGC's system, you have the Fair, About Good, Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine, Extremely Fine, About Uncirculated and Mint State that you have with other coins, but with the separate numeric 1-5 grade for strike and surface. Here are a couple of websites that go into more detail, including NGC's page for their ancient coin grading services: https://www.ngccoin.com/specialty-services/ancient-coins/grading.aspx https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/grading-ancient-coins/ That being said, I'm not an ancient collector who cares about grades. Basically, if I need a coin for my Faustina collection and I like how it looks, I buy it and add it to my collection. The grades are probably all over the place!! So, I really haven't actually tried to grade any of my coins. I'm certain that there's more to it than what I've said here. ~Tom

I agree completely!! I would honestly never buy an MS ancient. To me, if I'm going to have a Roman coin, I want one that was used by actual Romans!! When I look at a circulated ancient, I know it has a story that I'd love to know, but that it sadly cannot tell. Anyone could have used it or held it.....a soldier, a Senator, a merchant and maybe.....just maybe.....Faustina the Younger herself.

It would be my pleasure, Mark. I apologize for not doing so when I actually posted it. This coin is an orichalcum sestertius of Roman Empress Faustina the Younger, also called Faustina II and Faustina Jr. in numismatic circles. It is RIC#1388B in the Spink Roman Imperial Coin reference. I hope that this helps ~Tom

Leatherneck1967......Bob nailed it, right here. That's when you become a qualified numismatist.

Hi Geno, I'm just seeing a regular 1968-D cent with the usual style 8 for that date which has been flattened by some post minting damage.

Interesting discussion. Though this kind of thing isn't the numismatic world I live in any longer, there are always going to be people in any area of life that want the best and who are willing to pay for it. That's the reality of life. I think that there are many varied reasons that people will pay a premium for the highest quality examples of any collectible, not just coins. For people who are simply of an investment mindset, you're probably correct. There isn't really a joy in owning the best...they're just worried about the potential return on investment. But for the collector who actively seeks the highest grades? There probably is a lot of joy to owning a top pop piece. Like I said, this isn't the numismatic world I live in......I'm more seeking completion with what I do rather than top grades, and it's more of a scholarly/academic thing at this point. But, I think I'm kind of an odd duck, actually. That said though, I'll definitely admit that I certainly prefer pretty coins over ugly coins, without really caring about the actual grade. So, even as a guy who couldn't care less about the actual grade of the coins I buy, I still care about quality and beauty. And I'd imagine this kind of mindset is present in many collectors who care about owning top pop coins. I further think that the success of the Registries here and at PCGS definitely shows that there are a lot of passionate people seeking the top pops and some of those sets really convey a sense of joy by the owner when the coins are accompanied by great pics and interesting comments and stories. And they add a competitive aspect to collecting and seeking top pops that many people clearly enjoy. There are a lot of ways to enjoy this hobby.

Well said!!! No one comes between Faustina and me, I can tell you that!!!

Yep. There and Etsy.

So true. And I agree about the Yu-Gi-Oh! cards...some of those are very cool. I do like the artwork on them. But you're right about the history component......that is lacking with the cards. I couldn't remember anyone who did both gaming cards and coins from my time at the brick and mortar, but there were several customers who did collect both sports cards and coins. And I even have a few Garbage Pail Kids cards myself, not many, but some. Mostly for nostalgia. I guess for me, once coins came along, they overtook everything else. The cool thing is that there are so many paths to follow in life......and it's gotta be cool to watch your sons find the right ones for them

The Etsy listing that became the bane of my existence on the boards when I was here last: https://www.etsy.com/listing/998159458/d-lincoln-penny-1977-pacman-machine

Bob's correct.....definite Chinese fakes. Drop them and run.

Did you have a question? If so, please type it out instead of just posting cryptic photos with nothing typed to help us figure out what you are trying to find out.

I'm just seeing an environmentally damaged, circulated and completely normal 1997-D quarter. It's nothing worth collecting or anything like that.

Congrats on your 2020 wins, William!!! That's awesome!!! While I do not know Zimbabwe's coins and notes like you do by any stretch of the imagination, it would seem that there are some tough issues lurking in that area......but if anyone can complete this set, it's you!!! I've been looking at your journals and things to catch up on what you've been doing during my time away and I just want to say it's amazing to see how your boys have grown!!! And I'm sorry the coin bug hasn't seemed to catch with Ben yet......but the Yu-Gi-Oh! cards at least show he's interested in collecting something. When I worked at the brick and mortar coin store, we also sold cards and we did indeed have a few younger collectors who started with Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards "graduate" into collecting coins......but, then again, some of them also "graduated" into Magic; The Gathering cards!!! But I'd say there's still hope