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brg5658

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Journal Entries posted by brg5658

  1. brg5658

    Tiny but beautiful

    By brg5658,

    1864 German States 1/2 Groschen (Hannover)
    I added a nice little coin to my horse-themed set. I just bought it 2 days ago, and it came in the mail already today (a nice surprise).
    This coin features the Saxon Steed, which is a favorite heraldic motif of the Saxons. The Saxon Steed has very old origins, possibly as far back as the 5th Century AD. The image is common on the coinage of the Kingdom of Hannover, which existed from 1814-1866. The steed is even found on the flag of the Kingdom of Hannover from 1837-1866. At the time this coin was minted in 1864, the Kingdom of Hannover was ruled by George V, a cousin of Queen Victoria of England and the grandson of George III of England. The Kingdom of Hannover dissolved in 1866 when it was conquered by Prussia, and was briefly reinstated as an independent state in 1946. The state of Hannover subsequently joined other small states and became the present day state of Lower Saxony, one of 16 states making up Germany. To this day, the Coat of Arms of Lower Saxony features the image of the Saxon Steed.
    My attempt at photographing the coin is below, and you can see the full size (much larger) photos in my "Horses" themed set. This little guy is one of two examples graded MS64 by PCGS, with none finer and no examples graded by NGC. It's surprisingly small, about the size of the U.S. half-dime. I've always wondered how people kept track of these incredibly tiny coins...
    Happy collecting!

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  2. brg5658

    A curious coin

    By brg5658,

    1954 Toned Quarter
    I know it's not a particularly rare quarter, and the grade is not hard to find, but something about this little coin just drew me in.
    Firstly, I had recently read the very interesting full thread on the Chat Boards regarding the history of the different types of NGC Slabs and labels. So, I knew this coin had a slab that was very short lived and was wildly unpopular, likely because of the microscopic registration number moved to the bottom of the label.
    Secondly, I don't know the full history of when NGC started and subsequently stopped including the letters "T" for toned and "W" for white on their labels, but this has always been a bit of a curiosity for me. This particular quarter is heavily toned, mostly very dark and actually black in some places. Thus, the grade on the label was noted as "MS65 T".
    The curiosity of the short-lived label/slab style together with the "T" grade, and I couldn't pass this one up for the less than $20 it cost to snag.
    I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. All the best if you have any lots you're bidding on in the Heritage Auction. I was the winning bidder on two lots in yesterdays July 2011 FUN auction, and I can't wait to get them both in hand. I'll save the journal entry for those until that time.
    Cheers!
    -Brandon

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  3. brg5658

    Year of the Horse

    By brg5658,

    A nice new theme set addition
    I have been slowing down my horse-theme set additions in the past couple weeks, trying to save some money for an upcoming Heritage auction. One addition I couldn't pass up is pictured below. I have been looking at the many "Year of the Horse" coins for the past 2-3 months, but haven't found one in the affordable range until now. I was able to pick up a nice 2002 MS69 Australia Silver Dollar from the Lunar Series. Even though it's graded "MS", these coins have always seemed more like reverse-proof coins to me. Regardless, it's a gorgeous coin.
    In the meantime, while decreasing my purchases I have been spending more time updating my horse set photos. I know Malcolm (Beaw) has been doing something clever and interesting, so I followed his lead and have been compiling my horse-themed coins with a second historical or related photo. This spices up the set a bit, and gives some interesting historical context to the individual coins. I have only finished a handful of the coins so far, but this is a fun process to decide which photos to compile and present with each coin.
    In closing, I have made good progress toward completing my 2011 U.S. Mint Set. With some nice business strike upgrades purchased for my 21st Century Type Set, these 2011 coins have also fit nicely into a year-mint set.
    I hope everyone has a great weekend, and enjoy your independence day!
    Cheers!
    -Brandon

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  4. brg5658

    Another mystery

    By brg5658,

    Don't know much about this one
    I could not pass up another medal of the "Heraldic Art Medal" series because of its absolutely stunning beauty and its perfect fit into my ever-growing horse themed set. Unfortunately, I still haven't been able to find much information about this set of medals besides this little blurb.
    "This is from the series of Half-Dollar-sized medals issued from 1959-1979 by the Heraldic Art Company. Founder Bob McNamara sought to fill the void created when the US Mint ceased production of Commemorative Coinage in 1954. Each medal is struck in solid Sterling Silver, with a weight of 262 grains. Most medals had mintages between 1800-5000 pieces."
    Anyone who can help me with more exact mintage information or with a more complete description of this series, I would be grateful.
    I hope everyone has a great weekend!
    -Brandon

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  5. brg5658

    Taking a break

    By brg5658,

    21st Century Type Set -- complete for now...
    I have been putting a lot of my energy (and expendable income) into completing the best 21st Century Type Set I can. Afters today's addition, I think it will have to rest for a while. My pocketbook insists on it...
    I'll keep this post short and sweet. Of the four Presidential Dollars released this year, the Ulysses Grant dollar is arguably the most recognizable face and most well known of the four (Andrew Johnson, Rutherford Hayes, and James Garfield being the other 3). With that being said, I could not pass up a recent addition to my 21st Century Set (and at the same time to my 2011 Mint set).
    I added to my collection the only two Ulysses Grant dollars graded MS69 so far by NGC or PCGS. One is the 2011-P, the other the 2011-D. After getting them both in hand, the 2011-D is the nicer of the two, with essentially no abrasion marks and with beautifully detailed devices. Below is the small version, and as usual I will attach a larger version on the Chat boards. You can see both coins in my 2011 Mint Set.
    I hope everyone is having a good week so far.
    Cheers!
    -Brandon

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  6. brg5658

    This is pretty cool

    By brg5658,

    Modern coin with a horse hologram!
    I wasn't sure what to think about this design, or whether I would be able to capture the hologram image with my camera when I got the coin in hand, but I took a gamble. Turns out that it's pretty damned cool in hand, and the colors and hologram appearing on this coin are unique to my horse themed set so far. I know there is a hologram Canadian gold coin I've had my eye on for some time, but this one was much more affordable, and I love the artistry of Polish coins.
    Some details about this coin: It was struck in 2008 to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the Polish Postal Service. The obverse features a postal carrier delivering a letter with frosty devices and a village scene displayed behind. The reverse features a stylized stamp design, with an inlaid hologram featuring the symbol of the postal service - a rider on horseback with a horn (see picture below).
    The coin is struck in 92.5% silver, and is a nice size with a diameter of 32mm. The nominal face value is 10 Zlotych, and this coin comes from a total mintage of 135,000 pieces. All in all, a pretty unique snag for less than $50.
    I'm attaching on the Chat Boards a larger size composed photo including both the obverse and reverse. Below is a teaser photo of the reverse hologram horse design. Click on the Chat Boards link for the full effect!
    Have a good weekend everyone!
    -Brandon

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  7. brg5658
    I have some details, but looking for mintage numbers.
    I may have ventured into murky waters with my most recent acquisition. I saw this item and was immediately drawn to its beauty, but it's not a "coin" per se. It is one of the Heraldic Art Medals released during the mid 20th Century. The description where I purchased it said the following:
    "This gorgeous coin is from the series of Half-Dollar-sized medals issued from 1959-1979 by the Heraldic Art Company. Founder Bob McNamara sought to fill the void created when the US Mint ceased production of Commemorative Coinage in 1954. Each medal is struck in solid Sterling Silver, with a weight of 262 grains. This example is certified by Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC) and is one of the finest known examples of the type. Most medals had mintages between 1800-5000 pieces."
    That last part is where I was wondering if anyone could offer me more information about the mintage numbers for this particular medal? I have scoured the web, and there is an old website that formerly cataloged all of these medals but has since been dismantled. Also, the normal Google search yielded next to nothing. I'm also unable to find these medals in the Krause listing (as they are not coins), and I don't want to buy a spendy specialistic catalog/book as this is the only of these I may ever own.
    Many thanks!
    -Brandon

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  8. brg5658

    My first OGH

    By brg5658,

    It lives up to the grade
    I have read several posts on here about the Old Green Holders from PCGS (often abbreviated as OGH). I didn't have any of these in my collection until today. I found a nice example of the Stone Mountain Memorial 1925 Half Dollar about a week ago. I've been watching several of these sell in auctions, and have seen a few with even unsightly "toning" still bring a pretty nice price.
    According to Krause, this commemorative has a total mintage of 1,314,709 and it is readily available in grades MS60 to MS65. The obverse of the coin features Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson on horseback, while the reverse features a very nice image of an eagle on a rock. While not particularly scarce, this is a nice addition to my horse themed set, and is also my first OGH in my collection. Below you will see the obverse (featured largely), reverse (smaller), and the OGH label.
    Cheers!
    -Brandon

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  9. brg5658

    The Holy Grail

    By brg5658,

    Owning an MS70 Lincoln Cent
    When I started my 21st Century Type Set just a few short months ago, I would constantly go to the Registry listing and admire the coveted jewel of the MS70RD Lincoln Cent example in "The Ness Collection". It was a coin to only dream of.
    To pursue other goals (namely to put together one of the most superb collections of Roosevelt Proof Dimes ever), the owner of "The Ness Collection" recently put much of his 21st Century Type Set up for sale. Long story short, I acquired his absolutely stunning MS70RD SMS Lincoln Cent. What was merely a dream a few short months ago, is now a reality. I added it to my 21st Century Type Set this evening.
    This was the icing on the cake for a wonderful weekend. I celebrated my 32nd birthday on Saturday, and added one of what will likely be my most prized coins for many years to come. Thanks Jaime!
    I will attach a larger picture to the Chat Boards link, but below is a taste of this beauty!
    Cheers!
    -Brandon

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  10. brg5658

    One of a kind

    By brg5658,

    At least, for now...
    A couple weeks ago I snagged another beautiful world coin featuring an absolutely stunning horse image. The coin commemorates the 2000th anniversary of the death of Virgil (the historic Roman poet, best known for his Aeneid).
    The coin was minted in 1981 by the Republic of San Marino, an independent country with a very interesting history. With a land area of about 24 square miles, and a population of around 30,000 inhabitants, San Marino mints coins primarily for collectors. Because San Marino is completely surrounded by the country of Italy, it has historically used the same currency and both countries recognize the currency of the other. At the time this coin was minted, the Lira was still used in the area, and thus this coin has a face value of 1000 Lire. It is minted in 83.5% silver, and is about the size of the U.S. Half Dollar. I don't have my Krause handy, so I can't quote a mintage number, but in general, the coins of San Marino are minted in relatively small numbers compared to most modern coins.
    This particular coin is the ONLY of its type graded by PCGS or NGC. It is graded a spectacular MS67, and as you can see it is absolutely stunning. I will post a large and sharper version of the image on the Chat Boards.
    Have a good weekend every one! Happy collecting!
    -Brandon

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  11. brg5658
    A new horse coin and presentation style...thoughts?
    Hello everyone,
    I picked up a very nice new coin for my horse-themed custom set. It is an example of the Austrian 5 shilling proof coin, with very nice cameo effect on both the obverse and the reverse.
    While browsing a registry set, I also ran across a style of picture composition that I found attractive, but I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. It's a beautiful presentation style, but I can't decide if it takes away from the focus on the coin. Again, this isn't my creativity; I have merely duplicated the style of another's photos to the best of my ability.
    Any feedback for the "nay" or "yay" would be appreciated!
    Happy collecting,
    Brandon

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  12. brg5658
    Maybe I should increase my meds? ;-)
    So I have been putting together a top set of SMS Sacagawea $1 for about the past 7-8 months. I added the 2010-D SMS $1 to my collection graded as MS69 back in December of 2010. This particular coin doesn't have a lot of choice to pick from when it comes to population - there are 28 graded by NGC as MS69 and only 4 from PCGS.
    When the coin came in the mail, I was impressed with it's beauty, as I'm a big fan of the 2010 reverse design, and the reverse of the coin was flawless. I did notice a few abrasions on the obverse, but more than anything, I was happy to have one of the few graded MS69 examples of the 2010-D. As I got more serious about completing the set of my SMS Sacagawea dollars, I also became increasingly picky. In particular, there was an abrasion across the brow of this coin that always bothered me...and another somewhat obvious abrasion on the cheek of the baby and on the wrap around the child. Two smaller abrasions are also present on the "B" of Liberty, and a very small nick just to the right and below the "Y" of Liberty.
    Long story short, I found where I could pick up another example of the coin for less than $100, so I got another of this coin. This one is absolutely flawless, on the obverse and reverse. I'm keeping the one with a few abrasions in my #5 MS/SMS Sacagawea set, but I have replaced the coin in my #1 SMS Set with the new example.
    Below you will see the one I got back in December. I have provided a "heat map" showing abrasions as a small picture. On the Coin Chat Boards, I will also upload the full size obverse of the new coin I got so you can see the difference!
    Maybe I'm being too picky? Hmmm...
    Happy collecting!

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  13. brg5658
    New pictures and preparing my first submission to NGC
    Today I took the day off of work, as I just returned from vacation yesterday and I wanted to enjoy the entire week off, not a one-day work week. It was nice having the day to relax, and I also organized some of my collection and updated some photographs.
    Many of you replied to my "eBay woes" post last week. That post was prompted by the search for my last coin for the SMS Sacagawea $1 set. I received the 2009-P SMS $1 graded MS69 yesterday, and today I thought it was the right time to update all of the SMS coin photos with the same lighting, cropping, etc. I have now completed the Sacagawea SMS set (2005-2010) all in MS69/SP69 grades, and the set is currently ranked as #1. All of the coins are top population except for one (there exist four 2005-P SMS coins graded MS70 by PCGS - none by NGC), so the set will fare as #2 at the lowest. You can check out the new photos and the complete set by going to my profile page.
    On another note, I am preparing my first shipment of coins to NGC for grading. It has been a learning process, and until I receive them all back in slabs I'm sure there will continue to be much to learn. I'm prioritizing my first submission to include several of the foreign coins I have been purchasing as part of my "Horses" custom set. Most of the modern issue coins are impossible to find slabbed (because they are not "rare" nor made of precious metals) or if you can find them slabbed they are ridiculously expensive to purchase. I thought this the perfect opportunity to learn the process. There are some coins worth less than $0.50 and with huge mintages that are listed on eBay for upwards of $80-$100 slabbed. However, I can purchase the same coin raw-uncirculated for less than $5 and pay the ~$20 to have the coin slabbed myself. Seems like a no-brainer.
    Below is one of the coins I plan to submit for grading. It has nominal face value, but is a beautiful modern coin from Kazakhstan. Some of the scroll work on coins from the former USSR and from the Arab countries are absolutely stunning...this one is certainly among them.
    All the best, and happy collecting!

  14. brg5658

    Horses Galore

    By brg5658,

    My new custom set...
    I've been browsing the custom sets for a while now. Some of them are amazingly impressive and unique. After some thought, I decided to start a custom set of my own. I don't have any particular personal connection to horses, other than I think they are beautiful beyond description as animals. I know there are a lot of coins featuring the horse prominently, and so I thought this would be a unique and very educational custom set to start.
    The set is still very small (only 9 coins so far), but the hunt for U.S. and world coins, medals, tokens, and proofs featuring the horse prominently is very exciting!
    I received in hand today a beautiful NGC AU55 graded Irish Half Crown from 1939. This coin is the first year issue to bear the text "EIRE" denoting the change or Ireland from the "Irish Free State" to the "The Republic of Ireland" in 1938. It is struck in 75% Silver and had an original mintage of 880,000 coins, many of which are thought to have since been melted down for their Silver content. The horse image is stunning and simple, and attests to the fame and iconic nature of the Irish Sport Horse as a competition level breed.
    The harp is the actual obverse of the coin; however, I present the coin side with the prominent horse image on the left for sake of the themed set.
    Cheers and happy collecting!

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  15. brg5658

    eBay woes

    By brg5658,

    The collusion game between big eBay sellers
    Simplistically, there are two things that drive the price of products - supply and demand. We all took Economics 101, or have heard of this relationship before. For collectors of certified coins who participate in the registry, these two things boil down to:
    Supply = certified coin population counts (primarily NGC and PCGS)
    and
    Demand = Number of collectors interested in a particular set
    Simple economics, right? Well, not so fast. There are a few additional variables to mix things up.
    Even if populations are relatively high, if all of the available coins are in the possession of shady dealers, collusion (be it direct or indirect) is a fairly common practice. And collusion amongst all of the big dealers is basically the same as a monopoly (it is by definition an oligopoly). The hot-bed of collusion has really been eBay. This isn't a new development and this is something I'm sure someone else has written about at great length. The way it works is the following:
     
    1) Because eBay allows selling as "Buy it Now", throwing the idea of the auction out the door, a dealer can ask whatever he wants when he/she lists a coin for sale.
     
    2) All of the reasonably priced coins of that type are eventually purchased, leaving the inflated priced coins to sit on eBay for months, if not years at their ridiculous price levels.
     
    3) A new collector to a set wants to complete his/her set with the best coin available. Because of the process I just explained in points 1-2, the only coins he/she can find are on eBay and are at ridiculous collusion-fixed prices. He/she buys a coin at this price -- and gets screwed in the process -- but additionally encourages these sellers to keep their prices high.
    ----------------------------------------------------
    The most obvious example of this process in the world at large is the price of diamonds. More than 90% of all of the diamonds mined in the world currently sit in warehouses to maintain a "favorable supply" for the diamond sellers. There is no sugar-coating this practice -- it is PRICE FIXING. Limiting supply available to the general public so as to maintain high prices.
    ----------------------------------------------------
    My experiences with this phenomenon in coin collecting are mostly limited to the coins I collect. Thus, I know this problem is particularly rampant for modern coins (or as some of you call them "ultra modern" coins -- or as others call them, "modern trash"). These coins are what I collect, because they are what I enjoy. I'm not going to get into some political diatribe or defensive state to justify this choice. I'm merely using this to illustrate my point in an arena that I know well.
    EXAMPLE: I have been looking at a particular modern coin for one of my sets for some time. In fact, for well over 9 months. The market for this particular coin is currently pretty stagnant -- of the 6 available examples of the coin on eBay, they are all priced above $600, and NONE have been up for a real auction in the past 9 months. Accordingly, none of them have sold...one has been posted on eBay for more than 18 months!!! These 6 examples are all NGC graded, and come from an NGC population less than 20 coins, none finer. (Strangely, and tangentially, there are 60 PCGS coins of the same grade, none of which have been listed on eBay in the past 9 months.) The Numismedia FMV for the coin is $125, THUS, all of these coins are listed at more than 4 times the current Numismedia FMV. The only PCGS value I have seen listed was $450 about a year ago, but as we all know, that value is highly inflated and modern coins rarely sell at the PCGS value (besides the fact, NONE of these coins for sale are graded by PCGS -- so this is a moot point).
    I have placed several offers for this coin using the "Make Offer" button on eBay. Four of these 6 available coins are "controlled" by two of the regular culprits...whom I will not name here, but if you want to know who I am talking about you can send me a private reply to this post. These two dealers (er...I mean eBay commercial sellers...) rejected my offers of $400 and subsequent offers of $500. They did not reject these offers with a cordial email reply, but rather by means of the "auto-reject" method on eBay. I have never won an item from these two sellers, and try to avoid them at all cost -- this was just reaffirmation that my opinion of their dealings over the past 2 years was accurate.
    This week I placed an offer of $400 for one of the remaining 2 coins listed on eBay. I didn't get the automatic-reject message, so that was a first step in the right direction. My offer was recanted with a counter-offer of $550 (halfway between the posted price of ~$700 and my offer of $400). The counter-offer was accompanied with a nice note, and cordial reply. I sent a personal note to the dealer laying out the population facts, the details of why my offer was fair, etc. I received a very detailed email in reply, that was again cordial, factual, and extremely respectful. In summary, we agreed on a price acceptable to both of us, and well below any current price on eBay. THIS seller was a true gentleman and it was reassuring to me that, despite many money grubbing almost criminal sellers on eBay, there is hope and still integrity among some.
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  16. brg5658

    WOW part 2

    By brg5658,

    Check out this 1926 Albanian coin!
    Well, just when I think that I have found my favorite horse-themed coin, I stumble upon another that absolutely takes my breath away. This new coin is exactly that for me.
    --------------------------
    Coin: Albania, 1926R 1 Lek
    Grade: NGC MS65
     
    The Lek was introduced in 1926 by King Ahmet Zogu as the unit of currency of Albania. It was likely named after Alexander the Great, whose image is shown in bust form on the obverse of this coin, and who is shown on the reverse on horseback wielding a sword and charging into battle. The obverse bears the text "SHQIPNI" which is the Albanian language word for the country of Albania, derived (according to Wikipedia) from the word "shqip" which roughly translates as "understanding each-other".
    This first year coin was minted in Rome, Italy (Mint mark "R"), while subsequent years of this coin were sometimes also minted in Vienna (Mint mark "V"). The amount of detail in the bust design is phenomenal, and the beauty and simplicity of the reverse featuring the rider on horse is breathtaking. NGC has graded 117 of this particular coin, which is quite high for a foreign coin. Several examples exist in MS66 and even 2 in MS67, but I am very happy to add this little gem to my custom themed set as MS65.
    Happy collecting!

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  17. brg5658

    Pop 1

    By brg5658,

    An almost perfect quarter
    In addition to the MS69 business strike Sacagawea $1 that I wrote about recently, I also added an MS69 business strike National Parks Quarter to my 21st Century Type Set. As of now, it is one of only two MS69 business strike quarters graded by either NGC or PCGS in the National Parks Quarter series (2010-present). Gilbie's 2011-P Olympic Quarter is the only other.
    The coin features the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in central Oklahoma. The obverse is the classic John Flanagan bust of Washington, while the reverse portrays a bridge and forest of superb detail offset by satiny fields and a flock of 6 birds. The design is encircled by descriptive text, as is the style of all of the National Parks Quarter reverses.
    You can see the full size photographs in my 21st Century Type Set. Below is a cropped compilation photo.
    Happy collecting, and enjoy your weekend everyone!

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  18. brg5658

    Shifting gears...

    By brg5658,

    Updated my Sacagawea MS/SMS set
    I'm a relative "newbie" to the CS registry sets. I purchased my first slabbed coins a mere 2 years ago or so. Just last October (2010), I decided to complete a certified, slabbed set of uncirculated Sacagawea dollars. I had been collecting (or amassing) the Sacagawea dollars by purchasing a roll of each year and mint mark, along with obtaining the U.S. Mint sets from 2005-2010 to get the SMS (satin) versions. But, instead, I decided to shift gears and obtain the nicest single coin I could afford/find for each year and mint mark. That task was not terribly difficult to complete, as there are MS66 or better examples of every year and mint mark readily available on eBay, Teletrade, and from various other online (non-auction) retailers.
    Along the way, I was able to pick up some extremely nice examples. I have been lucky enough to even obtain every SMS coin in MS69 except for one (11 of 12 isn't bad!). But, I have been saving up for an MS69 business strike for some time. Outside of the SMS Satin Finish coins, a business strike Sacagawea graded MS69 is a "modern rarity" if such a thing exists. Long story short, I was able to snag a 2011-D Sacagawea Dollar graded MS69 (Early Releases) by NGC. It is the *only* Early Releases coin graded MS69, and one of only 2 graded MS69 so far for the date/mint mark. The only other one sold for $4000 (yes, four - THOUSAND - dollars!!!!) on eBay BIN back at the end of April. I stayed within my budget and picked this one up for about 1/7th of that.
    In closing, I'm happy to say my Sacagawea set is up to date for another year. This nice MS69 will also be added to my 21st Century Type Sets and will hold a special place as the representative for the Native American "type".
    Happy collecting!

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  19. brg5658

    WOW!

    By brg5658,

    Look at this one...
    Let's just say this coin is more beautiful than I ever imagined from the pictures I saw before I decided to purchase it. This is the 2009 Russian 3 Ruble Silver coin, 31.1 g in weight of 99.9% pure silver. The design is stunning! I have a 1998 5 Kopek unslabbed coin of the same design, but when you see it blown up to these proportions, the detail is breathtaking.
    The obverse design is a rendition of the famous scene of St. George slaughtering the dragon. The coin was designed and sculpted by A. V. Baklanov and minted at Saint Petersburg. As you guessed, this one is going to become a favorite of my horse-themed custom set.
    Cheers!

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  20. brg5658

    Rainbow beauty!

    By brg5658,

    A new coin for my custom set
    I received in the mail on Thursday a new addition to my Horse-themed custom set. It is the 1973 Canadian Silver Dollar commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
    I had a chance to snap some pics of it today, and wanted to share them. It turned out to be a beautiful coin, with the reverse having wonderful colors of gold flanked by light greens and blues around the edges. I have two more coins coming soon for this set--one from Russia and another from Canada. I will share pics as soon as they arrive!
    Happy collecting!!

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  21. brg5658

    RE: Points System

    By brg5658,

    I disagree with WKF, and here's why...
    Firstly, I would like to just say that I really love the Journals on NGC. I love reading them, I love hearing other people's opinions, and I am glad to be a part of this forum. However, that doesn't mean I have to agree with everything said or everyone posting here, even if they are my "elders". That being said, I'm offering below only a few counter-thoughts to those offered up by WKF in his post.
    ------------------------------------------
    WHO IS A COLLECTOR?
    I mostly collect (yes "collect") modern coins for many reasons. For one, I can afford them. Secondly, I don't care how many total coins were minted (millions, billions?). I care about finding that specimen coin that is the best of the series for a given year and/or mint mark. Thirdly, I don't care what point values NGC assigns to my coins in the registry, because I don't collect for NGC, or to brag, or to be #1 in a certain set. I mainly use this website because they offer great collection management tools, their customer service is stellar, and because I enjoy the community.
    WKF offered up an un-named example of someone who he does not consider a collector, because he/she had multiple sets of all modern coins just to attain more registry points. I agree that it makes no sense why someone would want 10-20 Proof sets of the state quarters. But, similarly, it makes no sense to me why someone would want 500 Silver Eagles all dated 2009. This behaviour is what psychologists call "hoarding". In closing, I note here only that WKF has 9 listed sets of Franklin Halves and often posts pictures of bulk purchases of many duplicate coins. Apparently, this "hoarding" is justifiable as "collecting" because the coins happen to be made of some fiat metal (silver or gold).
    In summary, I think a "COLLECTOR" is someone who would acquire, examine, study, admire, and cherish the beauty of coins EVEN if the registry didn't exist. If you hoard fiat metals because of some fear of the "end times", then you are one of two things: an investor or a lunatic (or both).
    I appreciate the advice of my elders. But, I refuse to collect only silver and gold coins. If you want to invest in silver or gold, then buy bars. If you care about art history, the coinage process, the examination of detail, and having a discerning eye, then be a numismatist. If these coins so happen to be made of silver or gold, then so be it. If not, then so be it. For those of you who can't figure out what you are, think about it this way -- if silver and gold prices BOTH dropped to $5/oz tomorrow, would you still be excited about the hobby? If not, then you are probably not a "collector".
    As a disclaimer, I was born 15 years after 1964, so my opinions may be of questionable value! :-)
    Just my 2 cents...happy collecting (or hoarding)!
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  22. brg5658

    Quick post...

    By brg5658,

    New horse coin
    I finally had a chance today to catch up on photographing some of the raw coins I've been purchasing. For now, I'm only going to post one that was strikingly beautiful and will hopefully eventually make it to NGC for grading and become a part of my official custom set of horse themed coins.
    The coin is a 1979 100 dirham piece from Libya. The Libyan Dirham is equal to 1/1000 of the Libyan Dinar (the main unit of currency in Libya). So, this is basically equivalent to the "dime" of the main currency unit in Libya. It's a large coin (about the diameter of the U.S. half dollar). I particularly love the intricate scroll work on the reverse, and the detail of the rider and horse. Enjoy!
    Happy collecting!

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  23. brg5658

    9 more beauties

    By brg5658,

    Some beautiful world coins
    I will start by just saying that the "custom set" idea has really changed my outlook on collecting. It really makes for a different kind of "hunt" and satisfaction when you find a gem. About a month ago I started my "Horses" custom set, and while it is still relatively small, I am learning a great deal about world history, culture, and geography along the way.
    It became apparent shortly after starting the set that many if not most of the coins that would fit nicely into my set would be difficult if not impossible to find in graded holders. That being said, I have started to snag several uncirculated raw coins with hopes of eventually having them graded and formally entered into my set. However, for the time being, they will have to rest safely in their Mylar flips.
    Below is a collage of the most recent group I have received. In order from left to right, top to bottom they are:
    1. 1954, India, 1 pice
    2. 1976, Greece, 20 lepta
    3. 1981, Uruguay, 10 centesimos (and my favorite of the bunch)
    4. 1998, Russia, 5 kopeks
    5. 2000, Somalia, 10 shillings
    6. 2002, North Korea, 1/2 chon
    7. 2002, Slovenia, 10 tolarjev
    8. 2004, Nagorno-Karabakh, 50 luma
    9. 2004, Uganda, 100 lingsshil
    There are many, many more to come. Best of luck to all on your personal quests! How can you not love this hobby?!
    Cheers!

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  24. brg5658

    Custom set additions

    By brg5658,

    Three new coins...
    Over the weekend I added three new beauties to my horses custom set collection.
    First: The 2008 Jackson's Liberty Medal, featuring the beautiful bust liberty on the obverse, and a great image of Andrew Jackson riding on horseback on the reverse. This medal fits nicely into the "horse" set with one of the most beautifully presented images of a horse on US modern issues.
    Second: I added a Proof 67 Ultra Cameo example of the 1976 Samoa Silver 1 Tala. This coin features a rider on horseback and celebrates the US Bicentennial (1776-1976).
    Third: I added a Proof 65 example of the 1965 Greek 20 Drachma. This coin features a nymph on horseback on the reverse, a part of the mythological heritage of Greece (see image below).
    I'm still scouring eBay for coins featuring horses in a prominent way. I have picked up about a dozen uncertified coins from various countries and hope to eventually submit these to NGC to officially add to this set.
    Happy Collecting all!

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  25. brg5658

    Horses abound...

    By brg5658,

    1548 1/2 Grosz
    I can't write a lot today, but I wanted to post a picture of the little beauty that came in the mail today. About 10 days ago I snagged a very old coin bearing a rider on horseback primarily because of its prominent feature of a horse (for my custom set). Little did I know it would have such historical significance and how beautiful it would be in hand!
    This coin was minted during the time of informal union of the empires of Poland and Lithuania. It was minted during the important transition year of 1548 -- Sigismund I the Old (Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland) died in this year, and thereafter his only son Sigismund II Augustus took the throne.
    The obverse of the coin bears the Lithuanian coat of arms symbolism of a knight on horseback, known today as Vytis. This is a very old symbol traced back as far as the mid 1300s.
    Many of you will recognize the reverse heraldic eagle, a part of the original Piast Dynasty coat of arms dating to 992, and still today a part of the official coat of arms of Poland. The reverse bears the text [* SIGIS * AVG * REX * PO * MAG * DVX * LI] translated as "Sigismund Augustus, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania", attesting to its minting after the death of Sigismund I the Old.
    Happy collecting!

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