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Mokiechan

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Journal Entries posted by Mokiechan

  1. Mokiechan
    But you can certainly ponder its existance.
    Folks,
    In the category of {you earn something new everyday}, I just read a fascinating article in my PCGS weekly Enewsletter about the 1959-D Lincoln Wheat Ear, YES Wheat Ear, cent. In a nutshell, this coin arrived on the scene in 1986 and has apparently even sold for substantial amounts at auction, despite its dubious history. None of the grading services will touch it. Maybe it is a throwback to the 19th century when coins of its ilk were popping up all the time. a picture for your viewing pleasure.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  2. Mokiechan
    Or, how I have to eventually collect a coin I have no desire to own.
    Folks,
    I think most of us have pondered, or even written about, the addictive nature of this hobby. Sometimes the hobby just takes over our lives, strains our relationships, and even causes us to make unwise financial decisions.
    This post is about none of that!! I just want to rant about the fact that I must eventually purchase the 1943/2 Jefferson Nickel to complete my wartime silver nickel set.
    So you're probably thinking, why does he HAVE to buy that nickel? Well long story short, I NEED to acheive symmetry in all my sets. That's why I rarely collect a set unless I have a high expectation that I will someday complete the set (100%=symmetry). My only exception to this rigid, self-imposed, rule is my 1st generation commemorative set. Not sure why I made that exception but it's my crazy brain so why not.
    So, even though I have no desire to collect the 1943/2 and even though I don't believe it's a necessary coin in a basic wartime silver nickel set, I HAVE to eventually buy it to get to that blasted 100%. I will wait until the Peace Dollar set is done before I even consider buying that nickel. That puts the nickel set completion somewhere in 2015, or so.
    Hope all your collecting endeavours are much less stressful,
    Malcolm

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  3. Mokiechan
    Will soon begin.
    Hi All,
    I hope you all had an excellent fourth. My wife, daughter, and I spent the early evening at my Mom's house eating japanese food and playing Rummikub.
    It was a fun nighllllt.
    When I got home, I checked Email and noted the mint was letting me know the deadline for buying the SF ASE set was less than 18 hours away. I checked the running tally and saw that 245K have been purchased. Seems to me that an overly saturated market and resulting price depression, may occur.
    I am going to watch NGC PF69 sets with great interest. Maybe priced just right for my birthday in February.
    Malcolm

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  4. Mokiechan
    You might find a hidden treasure.
    Folks,
    Found a lovely little XF Roosevelt Dim, 1964-D, in change today at Dave's Snack Bar where i work. I always examine my change and am periodically rewarded with a silver war nickel or a silver dime. well today I reaped my reward.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    PS-Hope all your numismatic pursuits are equally fine.

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  5. Mokiechan
    So I can continue to grow the numismatic garden.
    Hi All,
    Wondering if any of you are particularly fond of a national dealership that would be able to help me finish (sort of) my 1st Generation commemorative half and Peace Dollar sets over the next few years. I kind of think the commemoratives will fizzle out at about 80%, currently at 62%) but the Peace Dollar set is an easy completion. Oh, gotta get that pesky 1943/2 Jefferson someday also (but that is a low priority).
    Please send me your recommendations either directly responding to this post or by sending me a PM. Thank you very much in advance.
    Malcolm
    PS-Hope all you Dad's had a great day, mine was quite nice with Breakfast at IHOP, then a visit with Mome, then some nap time.

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  6. Mokiechan
    About the World Around Me
    Friends,
    Just thought I would gather a few thoughts tied together with the loosest of collections and make a journal entry out of them:
    1. Just posted my two MS PCGS 2012 Sacagawea Dollars to complete the MS set for the year. Proof set was completed with an NGC example late last month. I must say, this year's edition of the Sacagawea is a mighty fine design that really reminds me of the "Renaissance of American Coinage" period (with kudos to RWB). The Sacagawea series just keeps getting better and better and the 2012, in proof, is stunning.
    2. PCGS holders just feel cheap and unsubstantial compared to NGC holders. Probably just my bias but I can never shake that impression. I do agree the services are pretty equal in their overall grading. So, the holder is what tips the balance for me.
    3. I love my Kindle Fire, I am currently reading a great "free" book titled Penalty of Pride which provides a fictional account of a new war on the Korean Peninsula. Well written, well researched, and a the kind of book you cannot put down.
    4. Is the SAE 2012 San Fransisco 2-coin silver proof set losing steam? there was only a 6000 set increase in the last reporting day. I figured the set would top out at a little over 200K but now I am wondering if it will make that.
    5. Can't wait to get back to Pittsburgh. My Daughter and Wife will go there first, establish our beachhead while I await my retirement. My Daughter will be enrolled in the Mt. Lebanon PA School District, one of the finest in the state. My wife will be in a city she has grown to love (even though she is a native Californian), and I will be back home after 30 plus years.
    Thanks for you time.
    Malcolm

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  7. Mokiechan
    to a time when the mint made me very happy
    Folks,
    I received a well-worn bicentennial quarter in change yesterday and it got to me to thinking about all the excitement in the hobby when the Mint, after so many years hiatus, decided to issue commemoratives again. Sure it was only the reverse but they were commemoratives and we (me and the rest of the hobby) could not wait.
    Turns out the designs chosen, after a national competition, were pretty ordinary with the quarter being head and shoulders above the Half and Dollar. But, they still paved the way for all the commemoratives we have today and I still felt a great deal of excitement when I flipped old George and saw the Revolutionary War Drummer looking up at me.
    This hobby continues to amaze me with the joy, both big and small, it brings me everyday. Hope all your numismatic finds are wonderful as well.
    Malcolm

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  8. Mokiechan
    Or rather joins the soon to be 62% is good enough set.
    Folks, I finally got around to selling a group of 4 coins I had attempted to sell last week and got a nice tidy sum for the 4 coins from a gentlemen who answered by Craigslist ad. I got 300 bucks and he got himself four nice slabs.
    Sooo,I immediately ran to the bank, deposited 250.00 of it and bought myself the nice AU55, NGC, Alabama Half you see pictured below. Since it was just purchased this morning, I don't have it in my hot little hands just yet. Very pleased with the price as it was approximately 75% of FMV. I also received my Columbia SC commemorative half in the mail today so it was a good day to be Malcolm Johnson, Numismatist.
    To round out my perfect day, my Daughter and I spent a wonderful 2 hours at her Elementary School book fair. Hope all your days were wonderful as well.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    PS-Very nice Eagle on the reverse, two unattractive old men on the obverse.

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  9. Mokiechan
    Is yet another addition to the illustrious 60% is good enough set.
    Received the Bridgeport CT half dollar in the mail today and it represents the completion of the Connecticut commemorative subset consisting of the Connecticut Tercentenary Half and the Bridgeport Half.
    Both of these coins have very Art Deco Eagles on their reverse and the EAgle on this Bridgeport Half, when turned upside down, actually resembles a Shark, mouth agape, about to attack.
    The Eagle similarities are no coincidence as both CT coins were designed by Mr. Henry Kreis. Love his Eagles and love his Charter Oak, not sure if I am as fond of Mr. Barnum. But I am happy to add his stern visage to my collection.
    Good Night,
    Malcolm

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  10. Mokiechan
    But my shop is closed!!!! Until Monday.
    Gary inspired me, at the end of April, to seek out a Columbia SC 1936 commemorative half. It was Gary's May C.O.M. and I fell in love. Well I found one on Ebay for a reasonable price, pulled some outlier coins (coins that don't really fit any of my current collecting interests) and planned on going to California Numismatic Funding (they are great!!!) on Friday to sell my coins and get the 240.00 needed to by my Columbia. WELLLL, when I got to the shop, there was a big honkin sign on the door sayin, we're closed, will reopen on the 14th. DARN, now I have to wait until next Saturday to sell my coins, Luckily there is still plenty of time, as it is a BIN sale, and I have a backup, in a higher grade, also on BIN, both well below FMV, just in case my MS64 is snatched up.
    They say patience is a virtue, I don't feel very virtuous right now.
    Hope all your collecting efforts bear fruit this weekend, I am going to a car show with my Mustang tomorrow.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  11. Mokiechan

    A Sad Day

    By Mokiechan,

    A Man is defined by what he does for the less fortunate.
    Folks,
    I know this is off-topic but I have to say the death of Junior Seau, from whatever cause, has shaken me to the core. Not because he was a successful football player, but entirely because of what he did with his fame.
    I have lived in the Oceanside CA area for the last 30 years and for most of that time, Mr. Seau was a man dedicated to helping the youth of Oceanside by raising hundreds of thoursands of dollars for the Boys and Girls club or other worth charities. He was a man proud of his community, a man dedicated to his community, and a man who never forgot his humble origins in one of the largest Samoan communities outside Samoa itself.
    Rest in Peace Junior, you will always be an inspiration to those who strive to make the world a better place.
    Malcolm

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  12. Mokiechan

    O Happy Day

    By Mokiechan,

    Treasure is Found
    Well Folks,
    I finally received my copy of David Bowers, American Coin Treasures and Hoards, today. As some of you may recall, this coveted, by me at least, treasury of numismatic history had been cruelly ripped, OK a little bit to melodramatic, had been lost by the Post office almost a month ago. Here is the sequence of events:
    04 April - Mailman leaves Delivery Notice at front screen door.
    07 April - Attempt to pick up, package cannot be found
    Promised callback, no callback.
    10 April - Attempt to pick up, package cannot be found
    Promised callback, no callback.
    10 April - Go to USPS website and file complaint.
    Request callback, no callback.
    17 April - Receive request from USPS to evaluate their service on my 10 April complaint. I excoriate them for complete lack of response.
    27 April - Mailman leaves delivery notice in mailbox.
    28 April - Yay, my copy of Mr. Bowers' book finally arrives.
    Who knows what kind of journey it must have taken. So weird and never a peep out of the Post Office. Oh well, my library is complete!!!! Until the next interesting volume appears.
    Hope all your Numismatic pursuits are going well, I am a very happy camper.

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  13. Mokiechan

    I Am A Completist

    By Mokiechan,

    And I just confirmed it to myself yet again.
    Well folks, a while back I purchased the 2011-P 9/11 Memorial Medal because A. I love the design and the underlying theme, and B. the price was right. As soon as i received the Philadelphia mint example, I knew I had to have the West Point example as well. Oddly enough, although the West Point issues have a higher mintage, they also remain slightly more expensive on the secondary market. I guess this is due to the mystique of the "Fort Knox" of Silver or maybe because of the "Long Grey Line" that MacArthur so eloquently referenced in his farewell speech.
    In any event, I finally received my W mint beauty today. It is a PCGS example that I purchased for 60 bucks and free shipping. I am very happy with the price and I am very happy to add this gorgeous piece of numismatic artwork to the Hana J collection. A little obsession has gone a long way.
    Long Live America, the Home of the Brave and the Land of the Free.
    Malcolm

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  14. Mokiechan
    Or why in every human endeavour, there are widely varied goals.
    Let me generalize here. Virtually everyone on this Board is a Coin Collector and appreciates both the aesthetics and history of the coins they choose to ocllect. I understand that a few of us might be pure investors just looking for a profit but most of us has some Numismatist in us.
    So after reading a large number of threads over the past couple of years, I believe that we members can be placed into two main collector categories. For simplicity sake, I will call us either outward focused or inward focused collectors. I do recognize that most of us have traits of the other type of collector no matter what our dominent type. So very few of us are pure OF or IF in nature.
    Outward focused collectors are very competitive and are habitually concerned about sudden point adjustments, their overall ranking, and official recognition opportunities (awards, *1 rankings, etc.). OFs are also concerned about any perceived unfairness in the rankings or awards system. At their most extreme, they will prattle endlessly about why they should have won something that someone else won. They are Martyrs to the cause of righteousness.
    Inward focused collectors are the librarians of our hobby with a love for higly detailed knowledge of their particular collecting interest. IFs can very skillfully describe all the subtle nuances of a coin within their collection to include highly technical knowledge of die states, die pairings, branch mint tendencies, and mint mark positions. IFs are the Nerds of the collecting world and they revel in VAM types, etc. At their most extreme, IFs will hijack a perfectly innocent thread and turn it into a heated battle over some irrelevent, but erroneous, comment made during the course of the main discussion. They are Pit Bulls.
    Both types of collector are needed to make our hobby dynamic because both types of collector take some traits from the other to make their own experience better.
    I think of myself as a lazy outward focused collector with a desire to be more inward focused even though I dislike details.
    Who are You?
    Later,
    Malcolm
    AKA BEAWCHAN (my new avatar)

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  16. Mokiechan
    The cash cow is milked again.
    Just read in Numismatic News that San Francisco mint is going to produce a 2 coin SAE set to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its current location and facility. One will be a standard proof and the other will be the reverse proof. I am assuming production will be limited. All of you dedicated SAE collectors can now count on a deluge of special issues, etc. etc. etc.
    I wish they would be more creative and produce a special proof set with new renditions of obsolete coins. A 2012 dated Walking Liberty Half, Standing Liberty Quarter, Mercury Dime, Buffalo Nickel, and Indian Head cent would be just the ticket. I know, I know, wake me up when I start drooling.
    Malcolm
    Malcolm

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  17. Mokiechan
    Or at least put a temporary hold on it. I Hope.
    I am a true believer in the old bit of numismatic advice that you should buy the book before you buy the coin. In my many years as a collctor, I have created a modest but, for me, very useful library covering every kind of coin I collect and even a few outliers like my copy of Counterfeit Confederate Currency and the Langbord hoard. The one book I have wanted for many years is Q. David Bowers, American Coin Treasure and Hoards. But the price has always been a bit high for my modest budget so I have just waited patiently hoping for a chance to find a copy at a reasonable price. VOILA, finally, I find a copy on EBAT at a BIN price under 50.00. I am ecstatic.
    The mailman posts a delivery notice on my door 7 April, I go to pick the book up on 10 April and they cannot find it. They make a copy of the notice, get my contact information, then promise to ask the mailman where the package might be. So today, I go back to the post office, present my delivery notice and, once more, they cannot find the book. Same thing as before, they make copy and take contact information. I came home, went on the USPS.GOV site and filed a complaint.
    I am very unhappy.
    Malcolm
    PS-Thanks for allowing me to rant.

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  18. Mokiechan
    Thanks to Ebay and Modern coin Mart
    Folks,
    Just closed an Ebay auction that had me winning a postpaid MS69 NGC 9/11 Memorial Medal, Philadelphia Mint, for 49 dollars plus change. I had been outbid on two others within the last couple of days so it was nice to get this exquisite piece for less than 50 Dollars. I have wanted one since they were first issued but knew, as with most mint products, that patience would lead to a much better price than the mints price. Modern Coin Mart seems to have a lot of these on Ebay, they must have thought the pieces would sell well and are now facing the music and dumping the remainder.
    This is a beautiful medal honoring the courage and sacrifice of tens of thousands of individuals on a day I will never forget.
    Malcolm

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  19. Mokiechan
    As point allocations seem to be completely arbitrary
    Folks,
    Just did a minor upgrade to my primary 20th century type set by substituting a PF69 silver Clad 1976 Quarter for a MS66 of the same type. Here's where it gets confusing for me.
    VALUE
    MS66 1976 Quarter - 22.50
    PF69 1976 quarter - 18.75 (NOT A CAMEO OR ULTRA CAMEO)
    POINT VALUE
    MS66 1976 Quarter - 59
    PF69 1976 quarter - 237
    I have managed to upgrade the point total of my set by substituting a non-cameo proof for a MS coin, with higher market value. This just seems wrong to me and I can't help but feel it is almost like cheating. I still maintain that all point values should be based on three factors.
    a. Rarity
    b. Grade
    c. Market Value
    No one factor tells the whole story of a coin, you must have all 3 factors to assign a logical point total for the coin.
    Rant Over, thank you for your time and patience.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  20. Mokiechan
    And it happened under 3 Flags.
    Folks,
    I read a fascinating article published by Numismatic News recently about the 1861 New Orleans Half Dollar. I was already aware of its backstory and have even owned several examples but this article:
    http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/hard-to-top-story-of-1861-o-half-dollar
    pulls it all together in a very compelling way. For those of you not aware of the story, the 1861-O Seated Liberty Half Dollar was minted by 3 separate government entities, the United States, The State of Louisiana (after secession), and the Confederate Staes of America. Research has even been able to determine which government minted a particular half dollar by the obverse and reverse die diagnostics. The 1861-O is also one of the promienent coins that sank with the SS Republic, in 1865. In an ironic twist of fate, the Republic was on the way back to New Orleans to replenish coins supplies after the war.
    Read the article and you'll want an example for your collection.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  21. Mokiechan
    Hope they stay a long time.
    Friends,
    Yesterday I received two coins in the mail honoring famous American Army Generals. The 1973-S Silver Clad Eisenhower Dollar was the last piece in my Proof Eisenhower registry set while the 1922-P Grant Commemorative Half added another coin to my 1st generation Commemorative Type Set.
    Although both Grant and Eisenhower are famous, Grant is the more important as he took a disheartened and diffidently led Union Army and turned it into a Force that would no longer shrink away when the Confederat Army chose to stand and fight. IMHO Grant is as responsible for the Preservation of the Union as President Lincoln.
    Eisenhower was a good choice for SHAEF Commander, because of his ability to manage the behind the scenes politicking, but he was not a battlefield Commander and was not as important to ultimate victory as Patton, Bradley, or even Montgomery. However, one must give Eisenhower great credit for managing incredible egos, placating politicians on both side of the Atlantic, and allocating scarce resources in a way that the battlefield Commanders never truly appreciated.
    Two Generals, two Presidents, two American heroes, I am proud to add them to my collection.
    Malcolm

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  22. Mokiechan

    Tragic Event

    By Mokiechan,

    A family is murdered for gold.
    Folks,
    just got wind of a horrible tragedy that occured in Louisiana where a family of 3 were murdered during a home invasion robbery on 18 February. The murderers, 5 of whom have been arrested, stole a safe with approximatly 500K worth of gold coins.
    Apparently one of the murderers was a former employee of the owner.
    More details here:
    http://www.wafb.com/story/17101746/detectives-arrest-two-more-suspects-in-gold-coins-triple-murder
    The Numismatic Crime Information Center has provided a partial list This kind of horrible crime makes it quite obvious that all collectors should keep our coin collecting interests close to the vest.
    Be Safe Everyone,
    Malcolm
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  23. Mokiechan
    Is near impossible.
    Statehood Quarters were relatively easy to collect out of circulation and they remain very plentiful even today. The Territory quarters were much harder and I have yet to pull them all from circulation.
    These current America the Beautiful quarters are even worse, I've finally thrown in the towel and purchased the 2011 10-quarter (P and D) set the mint for 9.95, since I purchased them with another item, the postage prorates to about $2.50. So I ended up paying the mint $12.45 for quarters whose face value is $2.50. Am I a sap? Possibly, but since I have no expectation that I will be able to obtain all 10 coins, for my ATB album, anytime in the future, I figured I'd bite the bullet and get the set. I still have only 3 of 10 2010 issues so I will still have to search for those quarters. But, going forward, I am just going to spend my paltry 12.50 and save myself a lot of angst each year.
    Oh what a compulsion, this Numismatic thing. But it does beat booze or cigarettes, those vices just suck up your dollars, coins are educational, they increase (hopefully) in value, and they don't destroy your health. Winner Winner ..............
    Have a good night my Friends,
    Malcolm

  24. Mokiechan
    And they deserve some positive feedback.
    folks,
    I recently criticized the Mint for the very mundane design of the U.S. Infanrry Commemorative Dollar. That design remains an uninspiring exercise in minimalism but the new Star Spangled Banner Commemorative Dollar looks beautiful. In fact, it kind of proves my own belief that you can hardly ever go wrong if you use an allegorical Miss Liberty as a major element of your design.
    Scrap those ugly old Men coins, let's get back to real artistry.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  25. Mokiechan
    That being to fast on the trigger.
    Well Friends,
    Today I bought a BIN coin on Ebay without paying enough attention to the coin. I had done my search for 1922 S Peace NGC and then set it for BIN coins only. Lo and behold a nice example shows up in AU58 for, what I thought, was a fair price. Since I was spending the last of my birthday money, I was feeling kind of excited and anxious.
    So, as soon as I bought the Dollar, I realized it was a 1922P in AU58 condition not S. Here is how it happened. The coin description was as follows:
    "1922 Peace Dollar S$1 NGC AU58 EdgeView Holder!"
    So the S in my search was the S inserted in front of the $ sign. Since I was in such a hurry, I paid no attention and bought the coin on the spot without ever truly examining the slab.
    WHAT A BONEHEAD MISTAKE.
    Now my nicely priced 22-S is instead a market value priced 22-P. OH well, I am sure this less on will keep me straight for awhile, But my natural impulsiveness will probably cause the same problem, as it has in the past, again.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    PS-Blaming on the dyslexia.
    My Mustang in Repose.

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