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Mokiechan

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Journal Entries posted by Mokiechan

  1. 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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  2. Mokiechan
    A Challenging collecting area.
    A representative from the Naval surface Warfare Center recently visited my Command to attend a conference. During a break, he stopped by my office to say Hi because we had spoken on the phone many times but had never actually met. At the end of our very nice face-to-face, he shook my hand while passing me the very attractive challenge coin pictured below.
    For those of you who do not know, A Challenge Coin is a small coin or medallion, bearing a military Unit's insignia or emblem and carried by the Unit's members to prove affiliation with the unit. So a vet telling a story about his time on the USS Peleliu (for example) could pull out his Peleliu Challenge Coin if someone questioned whether he had ever actually served on that Ship. Hence the name Challenge Coin.
    I have a small collection of Challenge Coins I have collected over the years. This latest example came as a complete and welcome surprise.
    Cheers,
    Malcolm

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  3. 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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  4. Mokiechan
    So, I had put together a little custom set of the 4 Lincoln variations from 2009 , the 2010 Union Shield Lincoln, and the Lincoln President Dollar.  But, as I was putting together the set, I decided it should be a Lincoln Type Set.  At first I thought, add the Lincoln Illinois Half Dollar, the Proof Lincoln Bicentennial Silver Dollar,  along with the Wheatie Proof and Memorial Proof (just ordered).  Now, I am thinking I also need a VDB, a Steel Cent and a Lincoln Memorial Zinc Cent (Since I already ordered a Lincoln Memorial Bronze Proof.   I know I have missed some variety, so if you can think of anything else to add to my type collection LET ME KNOW. 
    Ok, Do I have to add a Lincoln Shell Case Cent too?   Collecting is the ultimate obsession. I should be able to find a reasonably priced Lincoln Illinois at the National Money Show, gotta be NGC and Gotta be under 125.  Now I'm starting to ramble.  OUT, Mokie
  5. Mokiechan
    And I have taken the first small steps in my collection of Trade Dollars
    Friends, I have just received the pictures of my latest submissions to NGC and I would like you to see the Beautiful Straits Settlement Dollar. Per the Encyclopedia Britannica, The Straits Settlements were a former British crown colony on the Strait of Malacca, consisting of Penang, Singapore, Malacca, and Labuan. As you may already know, most of my Trade Dollars, including my U.S. Trade Dollar have chop marks. The chop mark on this Trade Dollar appears on the reverse but more often than not, the chop marks are applied to the obverse. This particular piece was graded VF Details due to the chop mark. Please enjoy.

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  6. 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

  7. Mokiechan
    While the East got drenched the West sweltered.
    I know the burning desire to acquire new coins will return soon but these last couple of months, I've had a certain disinterest in the research process that normally goes into any new purchase either big or small.
    I've made a few half-hearted bids on Ebay, mostly trolling for bargain purchases, but I just haven't had the desire to really do the hard statistical analysis that normally occurs when the days get shorter. This happens to me every summer but THIS summer seems more ennui-ridden than in the past.
    On the plus side, both my current NGC submissions are finally scheduled for grading so I anticipate a bump in my collection in the September/October timeframe and I also plan on finishing that pesky Wartime Jefferson collection before the end of 2011.
    Hope all your collecting endeavours are bearing fruit and I hope all my Eastern Seaboard colleagues weathered Irene without any major problems.
    I leave you with a picture of a beautiful Proof Walking Liberty Half Dollar to remind us how artistic U.S. coins can be.

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  8. Mokiechan
    For those of us that are just plain worn out by the SAE 25th Anniversary story.
    I was reading Coin World and ran across an interesting article about a pair of lead die trials that have recently come to light from the estate of Cyrus Dallin, the coin's designer. These die trials were unknown to the numismatic community for over 90 years. Mr. Dallin was a colleague of St. Gaudens and did his work during the golden age of U.S. coin design. Here is a link to the article:
    http://www.coinworld.com/articles/pilgrim-50-die-trials-surface/
    Enjoy,
    Malcolm

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  9. 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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  10. Mokiechan
    Was it a trial or was it some kind of shenanigans.
    Friends,
    Found a very intersting article about the 1964, yes 1964, Special Mint Set on the Coin World site. Just goes to show you that this hobby, even after 45 years is still able to spring a surprise or two on a fairly regular basis. Read and enjoy.
    http://www.coinworld.com/articles/1964-sms-coins-are-enigmatic/
    Later,
    Malcolm

  11. 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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  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
    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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  14. 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:

  15. Mokiechan
    A late night session results in the removal of a coin
    I was adding some pictures and descriptions to my 21st Centry type Set yesterday when I realized that the Lincoln Memorial slot in my set was actually being filled with one of the 2009 Lincoln 200th anniversary cents. I think I know how this occurred and how it was accepted into the set. When I start a new set, I always have a few of the coins already and CHOOSE them from my holdings. When NGC put together the set, the Lincoln Memorial was the defacto Cent so they set it up with no ending date since they had no idea that design would end in 2008. So the program sees a 2009 cent and accepts it even though though it is the wrong type.
    So My Bad but with a little help from NGC. I will rectify this error this coming weekend, I already have a couple of satin finish, MS68 Lincolns on my radar. They can be had for around 10.00-12.00. So they represent both a very small hit on the budget and a problem corrected.
    Happy Collecting everyone AND

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  16. 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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  17. Mokiechan
    But it was not of the numismatic type.
    My family and I just returned from a wonderful four days on the island of Santa Catalina. As many of you may know, the island has a population of American Bison (Buffaloes) that date back to the filming of a movie called the "Vanishing Americans" based on a Zane Grey novel from 1925.
    Anyway, much of the filming of the movie was done in the "outback" of Santa Catalina Island due to its rugged terrain that mimicked the American west. 14 Bison were brought to the Island to appear in the film. When the producers started running low on money toward the end of filming, they asked Mr. Wrigley, owner of the Island and Chicago Cubs Owner, if they could leave the Bison. Mr. Wrigley said yes, and the Bison have remained on the island since, they now number about 200 after some recent herd thinning. The pose in the picture reminds me of the Buffalo Nickel.
    Cheers,
    Malcoml
    PS- despite bringing the Bison to the Island, the Bison never made the final cut of the film. In other words, a total waste of money.

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  18. Mokiechan
    Are we closer to some kind of resolution and final disposition?
    I read an article from Coin World today concerning the latest (and final?) judicial proceeding concerning the Langbord Hoard. Decision was made on 10 November that basically affirms the jury decision from 20 July after considering additional information from both the government and the Langbords. Here's hoping the coins are preserved and the public is able to see them together at some point. Article can be found here:
    http://www.coinworld.com/articles/judge-agrees-with-jury-in-1933-20-decision/
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  19. Mokiechan

    A Minor Addition

    By Mokiechan,

    with apologies to the Moondoggy.
    Hi all,
    Moondoggy posted a spectacular coin but I am merely posting a rather ordinary coin that I had hoped would be an AU55. Well, she came today and she was only XF40 but what the hey, she still looks nice.
    Now I only have 17 coins in the NGC pipeline. Looks like September will be a good month. .
    Regards,
    Malcolm

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  20. 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/

  21. Mokiechan
    Yet another commemorative that will never sell out.
    Folks,
    I just received my latest issue of NN and immediately latched onto an article about the latest commemorative coin series approved by Congress. This 3 coin set will honor the 75th Anniversary of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
    Now I have visited the HOF and found it, and the surrounding town of Cooperstown, to be historical and fascinating. But I cannot fathom why anyone would even consider buying the HOF commemoratives unless they are just completists forever tied to the Mint's mediocre offerings.
    I jumped off that trainwreck long ago and unless a coin/medal is for 9/11 or some simalurly important event, I ain't biting. What's next, the National Farm Toy Museum Commemoratives? Branson MO was incorporated in 1912, is it too late to make some commemoratives for that fine upstanding American City? STOP THE MADNESS, don't buy such cowpies from the mint.
    Sorry for the Rant,
    Malcolm
    http://www.coinnews.net/2011/10/27/house-passes-national-baseball-hall-of-fame-commemorative-coin-act/

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  22. 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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  23. Mokiechan
    Revenant's recent post about FUNKO POP figures has me thinking about the many parallels between the current numismatic market and the comic/pop culture market.  Earlier today, I saw a press release from Coin World about plans to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Carson City Mint.  According to the Press Release, on 01 August, The Carson City Mint Building will fire up one of its Coin Presses and mint 200 copies of the 1870-CC Half Dollar (with the word COPY stamped in the field, in pure silver).  If you want to obtain one of the first 200, you must buy a ticket to the release party, $140-$150, and then you must participate in a lottery to find out what your number of the 200 struck, will be yours.  On 02 August, a further 2800 will be struck for the general public to buy for their retirement portfolio.  I am assuming the numbers from 201-3000 will be sent either randomly or based on your order date.   Anyway, getting back to the original point, this kind of parallels the Comic Market of the 90's and 00's.   A lot of hype, a lot of "limited editions", and a lot of cost for something that is probably doomed to become relatively valueless over time.  Even with pure silver content, they will each have less than an ounce of silver, and will be worth about $7 at current spot.  $140 cost to get a piece of silver worth $7.  Sounds like the ultimate deal to me. 

  24. Mokiechan
    Thanks to EbaY.
    I have upgraded my Franklin Half set to all MS coins, I just added the NGC 1949 MS62 FBL, NGC 1950 MS64, PCGS 1950-D MS64 FBL, and NGC 1952-D MS64 FBL. All were purchased on EBAY so are yet to actually arrive. It will be very nice to replace the AUs with these new MSs. As is my normal policy, I tried very hard to keep all the coins NGC but ended up buying one PCGS coin. That is pretty much in keeping with my ratio of about 2.5 to 1 NGC to PCGS.
    Woo Hoo, my Hana is going to get a nice set to enjoy when she gets out of high school. Daddy will get all the stuff that falls out of completed sets.
    The tough set to upgrade, to all MS, will be my 20th Century set, those Barber coins and SL quarters are going to be a bit expensive.
  25. 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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