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Mokiechan

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Journal Entries posted by Mokiechan

  1. Mokiechan
    Lessons from the introduction and ultimate success of New Coke
    Any business that wishes to have success and longevity must have three elements in place, a superior product, an innovative spirit, and an understanding that their customers will be the ultimate determiner of success or failure.
    When the Coca Cola company introduced New Coke in 1985, they did so in a manner that made consumers believe their wants and desires were meaningless to Coca Cola. The resulting furor was only assuaged when Coca Cola reintroduced the original Coke as Coke Classic.
    But here's the kicker, even then, most people were fine with New Coke and it was only a very vocal minority (are there any other kind?) that caused this supposed disaster for Coca Cola.
    Coke survived the storm and is still the number one soft drink in the world today because:
    1. It has an excellent product line.
    2. It is willing to innovate instead of staying put and resting on its laurels.
    3. And it was willing to listen if it inadvertently alienates its customer base.
    So what is the point of all this. Like Coca Cola, NGC sprung something on all of us without warning, they have caused a very big uproar among many loyal customers, and they have taken a big risk while hoping for ?increased crossover business?, or some other business goal, unknown to us.
    Here is how I think they can save the day and still meet their goals. Scrub the 01 February PCGS (foreign) purge and grandfather in ALL PCGS coins currently in any competitive set. Bar any new PCGS additions to competitive sets but continue to allow PCGS coins in the Collection Manager (and custom sets).
    This would still be a much more welcoming policy than PCGS and it does not alienate loyal customers by forcing them to disband sets that have been carefully constructed over months and years.
    Thanks for your Time,
    Later,
    Malcolm

  2. Mokiechan

    The Mint Beckons

    By Mokiechan,

    And I Yawn!!!!
    Folks,
    Returned from the mailbox today and found our US Mint had sent me information about the 2012 Infantry commemorative Dollar. I took one look at the new Dollar and i just said no way I am ever going to want that. Something about the design is just plain pedestrian. It looks like it was designed for the sole purpose of producing large, bright, flawless, PF70 fields.
    If you look at coins from the early 20th Century or the 19th century, you notice a lot more detail, a skilled engraver actually used his or her artistic skill to create a piece of art. For example, the Lincoln Cent, which has now become a spaghetti haired mess, was once a beautiful piece of art. I am so tired of Roosevelt s uninteresting head, and Washington s lifeless bust. I would like all our coins to return to allegorical designs. I would like a second Renaissance of American Coinage.
    Am I asking too much? thankfully there are lots of older coins and even some newer ones with interesting designs. The Sacagawea and SAEs are bright spots in the modern era. I just wish all the lights were turned on.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    PS-Nothing like a good rant to clear the old noggin.

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  3. Mokiechan
    Sometimes your Birthday makes you ruminate about the past
    After reading Bullys excellent writeup on Coin Security/Preservation and DM Merrills nostalic walk back in time, I had to provide my own experiences (circa 1968-1970).
    Silver had already all but disappeared from circulation except those stealthy war nickels and the occasional Kennedy Half, but wheat-back cents were still in abundance to include dates as early as the Teens. Like many of you, the earliest album I had was a Whitman tri-fold for Lincoln Cents, then as my collecting interests evolved, I got the Jefferson Nickel album and managed to get most of the coins out of circulation although I had to buy the 1950-D somewhere along the way.
    Coins that were not in albums, duplicates, or other denominations, including foreign coins, were kept in a plastic sewing box with those nice half circle troughs for spools of thread, or in my case, coins. Since thread came in different sizes, the sewing box accomodated coins up to quarter size without any problems. the lower portion of the box was for magnifying glass, Red Book, whitman albums, and coins that did not fit in the spool slots.
    I carried that box to Scout meetings, Friends houses, and even school show and tell. What a time, I sometimes miss those heady early days of collecting.
    44 years of collecting, time flies when your having fun.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  4. Mokiechan

    I Am Stoked!!!

    By Mokiechan,

    And very appreciative of the chance to purchase.....
    Folks,
    I am bursting with excitement over my opportunity to purchase a full set of MS/PF69 ASE 25th Anniversary coins from Jeff, NASF Firefighter. Although i was loathe to admit it, the inability to get one of those sets from the Mint was nagging at my poor collector gut. Between Jeffs more than fair price and the Internal Revenue Service tax return, the opportunity could not be passed. I have already set up my Registy Set to hold these beauties and I will make them my centerpiece set with better than usual photoes and copious descriptions.
    I guess Thane got one thing right, there are opportunities to get pretty fair prices from our fellow forum members. But, that is always true as many of us shift our collecting efforts, prepare for retirement, or shed our duplicates, etc.etc.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    PS-This is not the set purchased, it will arrive in a couple of weeks.

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  5. Mokiechan
    Or am I just reading too much into this.
    Folks,
    I just purchased a Clad 1976S PCGS PF68 DCAM Eisenhower Dollar for my Proof Ike set. When I attempted to add him to my registry set the ADD would not save at all.
    I then added the IKE to my holding via the Collection Manager then ADDED the Ike to the set by pulling it from the Collection Manager entry. Well, the Ike added on Friday morning and has been PENDING ever since. But here is the weird part, the coins PCGS registration number, 20648010, shows in the Cert Number slot as 20648-010. NGC Style. I have never seen that error before.
    Could they already be working behind the scenes to delete our ability to add PCGS coins to U.S. sets? Is it just another of their frequent software glitches? What the Heck, this is all weird. Am I OK with that, probably, but it would be nice to see where the proverbial shoe falls.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  6. Mokiechan
    But the darned French beat me to it.
    Folks,
    Here is a link to an interesting article about a large hoard of gold coins found by French workers while renovating an old building. apparently when one of the workers took crowbar to false ceiling, the cascade of coins started.
    There was speculation in the article the coins might have been placed in the rafters by the owner of a French Winery in the 1930s I am thinking it is more likely the gold coins were hidden from the Germans during WWII.
    Here is a link to the article:
    http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/raining-gold-secret-1-million-gold-stash-discovered-203724430.html
    What do you think?
    Later,
    Malcolm

  7. Mokiechan
    Keep your quote fingers crossed unquote
    Folks,
    Here is a picture of my 1923 Peace Dollar, same source for both, an illustrious member of our Forum and Board. The 1923 is a little baggier than the 1924 although they both graded MS65
    later,
    Malcolm

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  8. Mokiechan
    Although Neville was discussing an entirely different matter.
    Folks,
    Just received very nice 1923 and 1924 NGC MS65 Peace dollars in the mail. They have both been added to my fledgling Peace dollar set which is now a whopping 20 percent complete.
    I once owned a complete Peace set in a Whitman album but that was sold years ago to fund my ill fated comic book ventures. The set was average circulated (VG to XF) and was purchased intact from well known Pittsburgh area dealer Harold Weitz. I think I paid a little over 200 for the whole set and sold it for a little over 300. Same set would probably cost 1000 today. Anyways, my registry set will be mostly MS with the keys being VF to AU. by my reckoning, it should be complete in about 4 years. Should be fun, I love the Peace dollar set.
    Later,
    Malcolm

  9. Mokiechan

    A Clear Path

    By Mokiechan,

    Ahead for the Beaw's Den.
    Folks,
    As most of you have probably experienced, everytime I see a coin or collection I admire (Like JAA's Philippines coins or any of Brandon's Horses) I have an immediate compulsion to start the same collection or obtain the same coin they have. Heck, I even set up a special Ebay search for the 2007 Falklands Crown after seeing Gary's example a day or two ago. This is my chronic condition I call Collectivitus Nex.
    Well, I have given it some thought and I have decided, TRULY, to concentrate on the following sets for the remainder of my days (queue the melodramatic music).
    1. The Peace Dollar Set (one of my two favorite series)
    2. The 1st generation commemoratives halves type set (never to be finished but certainly worth the struggle).
    3. Sacagawea Dollars in all their forms (until the series runs its course).
    4. And, the 21st Century Type Set. (hope there are some updates in the next decade or so).
    This modest list should keep me very busy and very motivated for many many years. That plus actually adding pictures and descriptions will be more than enough for this Collectivitus Nex sufferer.
    Hope all your collecting endeavours are as fruitful and enjoyable as mine will be.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    PS-Two Peace Dollars arriving in the mail today, Thanks Paul.

  10. Mokiechan
    because the bottom line is price when all other factors are equal.
    Long before I knew this venue even existed, I started an earnest effort to update my raw coin collection to slabbed for a number of reasons but mostly because of my advancing age and my desire to pass a manageable collection to my daughter Hana.
    Pretty early on I decided that I preferred NGC slabs. But, a preference is not blind-devotion and if the coin is available in a PCGS slab, at a moderately lower cost, I will buy the PCGS coin without any hesitation.
    The recent decision by NGC to exclude PCGS foreign coins from registry sets and the possibility this mandate will extend to U.S. sets in the future hase ZERO effect on my buying habits.
    So do what you will NGC, as long as your boards are populated with friendly and knowledgeable folks, I am a happy happy camper.
    WE ARE THE NGC FORUMS AND BOARDS. THEY CAN NEVER TAKE THAT AWAY.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    My latest purchase a PCGS 1973-S Clad Ike to be added to my newest registry set.

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  11. Mokiechan

    A Minor Little Find

    By Mokiechan,

    Puts a Major Smile On My Face
    Hi all,
    As we all know, examining your change is one of the best ways to find little treasures that have somehow found their way into circulation. Well tonight, I found this beautiful 1946-S Dime in my change at the local McDonald's. It may be a little scruffy but Franklin sure looks good to me.
    Later,
    Malcolm

  12. Mokiechan

    Moondoggy Was Spot On

    By Mokiechan,

    About poor photos and depressed interest on EbaY
    Folks,
    Moondoggy recently posted his displeasure with the quality of photos that are used by some sellers when trying to entice buyers. His basic point was that bad photos will be inherently less attractive to potential buyers and will probably depress the ultimate sale price.
    Here is a perfect example of Moondoggy's concerns. This picture was used to illustrate the obverse of a 1943/2 Jefferson Nickel. UNBELIEVABLE, the link to the actual sale is also included for those of you who must see the reverse as well.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/GOOD-1943-2-P-SILVER-JEFFERSON-WAR-NICKEL-/390384165836?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item5ae4b5a3cc

  13. Mokiechan
    The Lost Colony remembered.
    Folks,
    Just picked up my MS64 PCGS Roanoke Half Dollar yesterday and I was immediately reminded why I love numismatics. The story behind this coin is one of the most interesting stales in American History.
    The Roanoke Half was minted to commemorate the 350th Anniversary of the birth of Virginia Dare, the first baby borne to English parents in the New World. The reverse of the Half depicts Virginia's mother Elenora holding the new born Virginia. The colony was deemed "Lost" when Virginia's Grandfather returned from England 3 years later with supplies and new colonists and found no trace of Virginia, Elenora, or the other colonists. The word CROATOAN, carved into a tree, and the remains of their dwellings were the only evidence of their existance.
    Many have speculated the colonists joined nearby Indian tribes and there were reported sightings of white persons among indians up until the time of the Jamestown Colony. But, there is no conclusive evidence one way or another.
    If you want to read more about the Lost Colony, seek out a copy of Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony.
    Depicted is the Reverse of my new Half.
    Malcolm

  14. Mokiechan
    Is on its way!!!
    Hi All,
    Hope your all enjoying the Holiday Season and getting those special numismatic treasures that make your heart skip a beat.
    I participated in a Secret Santa exchange with some other board members and received a very nice 1943 Mexican silver Peso (.720 Fine) and a CU 1970 Mexican Peso bill from Jeff in Lansing MI. That was fun, gonna make sure I do that again next year.
    But on to the topic at hand. I was told today that my 1924 Huguenot Half, PCSG MS63, is in the mail and should arrive shortly. The dealer I purchased from is only about 100 miles up the highway from me so I am hoping for delivery NLT wednesday.
    The Huguuenot Half commemorates the 400th anniversary of the colonization of New York by a small group of Dutch and other European settlers. Oddly enough the individuals depicted on the obverse, William the Silent and Admiral Gaspard De Coligny had no real connection to the event commemorated, I guess they were two faces of convenience. Peter Minuit would have been a more logical choice.
    The reverse depicts a ship representing those that brought the Dutch and other European colonists to present day New York. The design was by George T. Morgan and is generally pleasing to the eye.
    Thanks for your interest, Happiest Holidays to the entire NGC collector community. You all ROCK!!
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  15. Mokiechan
    NGC stirs up a hornets nest.
    CVCC, and perhaps others, are considering leaving the NGC community due to the recent announcement that PCGS coins would no longer be allowed in competitive foreign sets. I believe this is not entirely warranted for the following reasons:
    1. Their is no indication that PCGS coins will be dis-enrolled, the Collection Manager can still be used to manage our collections.
    2. The NGC community of collecttors is an excellent source of friendship, fellowship, and expertise.
    3. Custom sets, the most creative portion of our community, will be greatly enhanced by new sets derived from high grade competetive sets.
    4. Most of us make a real effort to have mostly NGC coins in our set, This will shake-out those collections that have attained high ranking despite containing a high percentage of PCGS coins.
    5. finally, it's not like PCGS is suddenly providing a viable alternative, i.e. announcing that NGC world coins are welcome in their registry sets.
    We all suspect the same sort of mandate will also occur on the U.S. side of the house sometime in the foreseeable future. If that occurs, I will stay put for the same five reasons I cited above. I hope you do too.
    Later,
    Malcolm
     
    Pictured, my newly purchased, but yet to arrive P C G S 1937 Roanoke Commemorative Half:

  16. Mokiechan
    I just didn't want to wait another decade for an update.
    Hi Folks,
    Now that we are in 2012, I have been thinking about my Sacagawea sets and the opportunity to do their annual updates. Those two sets plus the 21st Century Type Set are the only sets I currently maintain that have the potential for annual updates.
    So, for the longest time, my little coin collecting brain was contemplating the 21st Century set and wondering if/when there would be an addition to the set. I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel. The US Mint has been conducting trials of new metallic compositions for the Cent and Nickel. Even if there are no design changes, that should provide two new coins for the set. 2013 is only a year away, I am keeping my fingers crossed.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    PS: Funny how NGC spun the news of the NGC-only world sets. I understand they need to try and sugercoat unpopular news but to make it seem like a positive step forward was a little surreal.
     
     
    http://www.coinworld.com/articles/mint-begins-trial-strikes-in-composition-test/

  17. Mokiechan
    Or How Ebay Fooled Me Into Thinking They Cared.....
    Hi Folks,
    Got an intriguing email from Ebay a couple of days ago that thanked me for my 15 years of membership and invited me to click a link to obtain a certificate I could proudly display.
    Okay, its only ebay but I thought, what the Heck, it might be kind of cool, so I clicked the link and I got the attached. A certificate that doesn't mention my name and doesn't even reference the 15 year anniversary. WHY would they send me such a stupid thing, it's almost insulting, at the very least they should give me a 10% coupon and let me go to town. But NO, they just left a sout taste in my mouth.
    Wootooo. I just spit out the sour taste so I'm good.
    Later,
    Malcolm

  18. Mokiechan
    But they need some more help
    Folks,
    Just read an article on the Coin World website concerning the recent conviction of a man for stealing almost 1 million dollars worth of coins from the ANA money museum during his brief tenure as Museum Collection Manager.
    The list of still missing coins can be found on the ANA site at:
    http://www.money.org/ana_custom/stolenCoinsPage.htm
    The article concerning the theft can be found here:
    http://www.coinworld.com/articles/nearly-1-million-worth-of-coins-stolen-from-a/
    Please look over the list and keep your eyes open for those many missing items.
    Malcolm

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  19. Mokiechan
    And maybe even a little tiny bit Sketchy.....
    Just finished Revenant's entry regarding his coin photography experiences and just had to add my own two pennies. BTW, nice to meet you Revenent and glad you've returned to the Boards so noobs like me can enjoy your posts.
    Anyway, I have a cheap digital camera that flashes everytime I try to take a coin photograph. I realize I could read the manual and determine how to turn off the flash but I just don't care enough to bother. Here are my five primary ways of getting coin photographs.
    1. Let NGC do it, for any coins I submit directly.
    2. Check the cert, sometimes there is a picture present that can be scraped. Did that most recently with my Gettysburg Half.
    3. If bought from an auction site, scrape the picture from the site.
    4. Some of the pictures posted are actually mine, they tend to be the most mediocre.
    5. Finally, and most controversial, Google the coin, 1909-S VDB, NGC XF40, and if you find a picture, and if it looks reasonably like mine, grab the image.
    Now I realize a more honest, less lazy, person could learn how to use their cheap digital and achieve decent photos but I have a 6 year old who demands I play Angry Birds so my time and patience is limited.
    Take it easy everyone, Spring is coming soon.
    Later,
    Malcolm

  20. Mokiechan
    On the Arkansas Centennial Half
    It's interesting the things you learn when you obtain a new coin. I just picked up the Robinson/Arkansas Half Dollar on Ebay and during my research, learned that the portrait side, depicting Arkansas Senator Joseph Robinson, is the reverse since the side with the Arkansas Coat of Arms (obverse) has the date, denomination, and "United States of America".
    This also holds true of the primary Arkansas Half which depicts a Native American and Liberty on its reverse. Truth be told, I do not think the Robinson/Arkansas design is particularly attractive. I much prefer allegorical Liberty(s), Animals, or Military in Uniform. But the collecting obsession is powerful and I do want to keep adding to my commemorative set as budget permits.
    Still waiting for NGC to sort out my Gettysburg Half issue. I guess it is some kind of technical glitch since it shows up as a valid slab when you run its number.
    Anyway, please all have an excellent rest of the day and I hope all your numismatic pursuits are fruitful.
    Later,
    Malcolm
    The REVERSE

  21. Mokiechan
    And parallels with the Comic Book Bust.
    MV Coins struck a nerve when he mentioned the proliferation of different labels that are being produced for various editions of the SAE. i was heavily into comic book collecting from the early 90's until around 2005 and I recall the craziness that ensued when all the companies started producing variant covers for their products. Content was the same in every case but the covers HAD to be collected or your set was not complete.
    One book in particular, GEN 13 did a comic book with, numerous different covers. They even boxed the set and had the three primary creative folks, Jim Lee, Alex garner, and Brandon Choi, sign their respective box. So theoretically you had to have all the variant covers and each of the three boxed sets (since the boxed sets had its own unique extra issue) to be complete.
    That's what SAE collecting sometimes looks like to me. Beware the label, for they are just for profiteers and speculators.
    Later,
    Malcolm

  22. Mokiechan
    Well almost save for a minor glitch (I Hope).
    Hi All,
    Picked up a very nice NGC MS65 Gettysburg Half Dollar today in a straight trade with my local coin dealer. He got a slabbed 09-S VDB and I got the Gettysburg Half. BTW, the 09-S VDB has already been removed from my NGC registry.
    I saw this beauty back in December during an earlier trip to the dealership and I couldn't get it out of my mind. It has beautiful blast white surfaces with just a hint of toning along the edge. Those beautifully rendered portraits of the old Union and Confederate veterans are (IMHO) the finest portrait renderings on any U.S. coin. The reverse depiction of the Confederate and Union Shields separated by fasces, like the one on the Mercury Dime, is also quite attractive.
    Growing up in Pennsylvania and visiting Gettysburg makes the coin that much more meaningful for me. I tried to add this beauty to my registry set today but some kind of error ensued that an admin person has to resolve. The coin does show up when when search the registry so I am not concerned.
    Hope all of you are having similar personal collecting triumphs.
    I truly love this wonderful hobby.
    Later,
    Malcolm

  23. Mokiechan
    At least a little.
    Hi All,
    Hope your Holiday Season was wonderful and the trip back to work yesterday was tolerable.
    Some of you may recall a journal entry from last year where I mentioned my worst numismatic purchase was a silver ingot poured from a larger ingot from the Nuestra Senora De Atocha. At the time, I offered to sell it for 50 bucks (sort of as a joke although I would have sold if anybody asked). It just sold this past weekend for 200.00 on EbaY.
    I had placed it on Ebay because I had seen two similar ingots that had sold for about 150.00 and 250.00. Mine split the difference and was a wholly satisfying outcome. Hmmm, I think that PCGS smaple slab has got to be next. One sold for about 179.00 recently.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  24. Mokiechan

    A Great 2011

    By Mokiechan,

    And a Better 2012
    Hi All,
    Hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the wonderful holiday season. I have to say, without a doubt, interacting with you all, hearing your opinions, your triumphs, and your disappointments has made 2011 one of the most enjoyable times in all the years I have been collecting coins. I am so happy to have found the Collector's Society and all the wonderful people that inhabit the Corner.
    This coming year, I will continue enjoying your company while adding a few more first generation commemorative halves, that pesky 1943/2 Jefferson, and maybe work on a Peace Dollar, Mercury Dime Custom Set where each year of the Peace Dollar is matched with the mercury dime from the same year and with the same grade. All NGC of course. That might be fun as those are my favorite two U.S. coin series.
    I plan on laying low until the New Year arrives so a very heartfelt Happy Holidays from the Johnson Family to you all.
    Be Safe!!!
    Malcolm

  25. Mokiechan
    Part of the explosion of commemoratives in 1936.
    Hi All,
    I received my MS63 PCGS Delaware Half in the mail yesterday. The 1936 Delaware half was minted in a year that saw a huge number of other commemoratives minted. The full list is kind of staggering when you think about the relatively few different designs in the original series of commemoratives.
    Albany
    Arkansas (multi-years including 1936)
    Robinson/Arkansas
    Boone (multi-years including 1936)
    Bridgeport
    Cincinnati
    Cleveland
    Colombia SC
    Elgin IL
    Gettysburg
    Long Island
    Lynchburg VA
    Norfolk VA
    Rhode Island
    San Diego (multi-years including 1936)
    San Francisco Bay Bridge
    Texas (multi-years including 1936)
    Wisconsin
    York County ME
    Let me know if I missed one.
    the Delaware Half was produced to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Swedish Settlement of the new world in what is now Wilmington Delaware. Since I am of Swedish ancestry on my Father's side, this particular coin resonates with me.
    The obverse depicts the Old Swedes Church, still used for worship, and the reverse features the Kalmer Nyckel, the "Mayflower" of the Swedish colonists. The coin Delaware Half is double-dated with 1936 year of authorization on hte obverse and 1938, year of the actual tricentennial on the reverse.
    Hope You Enjoy.
    Malcolm