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Mokiechan

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Journal Entries posted by Mokiechan

  1. Mokiechan

    My Favorite Set

    By Mokiechan,

    and smallest to boot.
    I started collecting coins in 1968 when a bunch of my friends, who were Boy Scouts, started collecting to earn their merit badges. Suffice it to say, coin collecting soon captivated me and has had me in her iron (copper, silver, nickel, and gold) grip ever since.
    Sometime during the early 70's Coins magazine, I believe, offered a free 1967 Canadian Dollar with each new subscription. That was incentive enough for a young collector to quit buying newstands issues and actually subscribing. The Dollar that arrived would probably be graded MS62 these days but was one of the most attractive designs I have ever seen. The obverse had the mature portrait of Queen Elizabeth while the reverse had the majestic loon. That's coins arrival sparked a torrid love affair with Canadian coins that consumed my collecting efforts for 20 years. I have since sold most of my Canadian collection but I still keep some of my favorites in my personal collection and I give the Canadian Mint credit for inspiring the U.S. Bicentennial series, the era of modern commemoratives, and the statehood quarter set.
    I am particularly pleased that my 1967 prooflike Canadian custom set has far more views than any other set I maintain. Currently about 850 views with the next closest at about 360. Apparently some of you also love Canadian Coinage. Oh Canada, forever in my collecting heart.
    Later,
    Malcolm

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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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  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
    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

  8. 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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  9. Mokiechan
    By Hollywood, of all places.
    Hi All,
    Recieved my 1923-S PCGS MS63 Monroe Doctrine Half Dollar in yesterdays mail. This is another addition to the 50% Is Good Enough set and is also another great example of first generation commemorative half boondoggery.
    Obverse shows the conjoined busts of President James Monroe, and Secretary of State, John Qunicy Adams. The reverse depicts two female forms representing North and South America.
    The Monroe Doctrine was promulgated President Monroe in 1923 and its purpose was to basically place all of Central and South America under U.S. protection. The reason that John Q. Adams also appeared on the coin is because he actually drafted the Monroe Doctrine. For the 100th Anniversery of the Doctrine, Hollywood film interests sponsored an exposition in Los Angeles that had as its theme, U.S. History. Hmmmm, sounds a little contrived to me.
    The reverse design is very interesting in that Chester Beach turned North and South America into you ladies who join hands in "Central America". Although the design is innovative and appealing, the low relief diminishes its artistic impact.
    Hope you Enjoy,
    Happy Holidays,
    Malcolm

  10. Mokiechan

    Wow What A Shocker

    By Mokiechan,

    Followup to my early posting about sample slabs.
    OMG, I have been following a 1963 Roosevelt Dime in a PCGS Sample Slab until it closed tonight and the final winning bid was 167.50. Yes, that is 167.50 for an ungraded, but clearly UNC dime jsut because it is in a sample slab. That is so cool!!! I know my similar slab with a 1964-D Roosevelt is probably not as valuable but if there is a growing market for sample slabs, I will put that slab on the market as soon as the heat comes to 1964s as well. Got to monitor this closely, Maybe that freebie dime is going to net me a nice early commemorative sometime soon.
    Love It!!!
    Happy Holidays Friends,
    Malcolm
    PS - the coin pictured is the big seller on EBAY, not the one I own.

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  11. Mokiechan

    Nice Pickup On Friday

    By Mokiechan,

    One more closer to the halfway point
    Friends,
    I picked up a very nice MS64 1936 York County Maine half yesterday by selling some more old stock at my local coin shop. For those of you unfamiliar with the York County commemorative, it is a perfect representation of why the first series of commemorative coins failed so miserably (Special Interests). The York half commemorated the 300th anniversary of York County, southernmost county in Maine, and is also the second commemorative issued, during that period, for Maine as the first Maine half had been released in 1920.
    Congress authorized 30,000 York County halves. With about 25,000 actually minted, Besides being poorly designed, the York also suffers from very low relief. So Maine has the dubious distinction of having two poorly designed halves in its numismatic history.
    I also picked up a Monroe Half yesterday on EBAY, will show that Puppy when it arrives.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  12. Mokiechan
    The Sample Kind.
    Cemonice's posting about different generations of NGC slab styles is a great dovetail to an article that PCGS's Alan Canavan wrote titled "What You Need to Know About PCGS Sample Slabs". As a longtime owner of a PCGS sample slab, I have always wondered if their was any enhanced collecting interest over and above the value of the common date silver Roosevelt encased within the slab.
    Alan's article basically says that this is the time to seek out these sample slabs as there is growing collecter interest in the slabs and there numbers are relatively low. Here is a direct quote from his article:
    "What really separates coin collecting from sample collecting is the fact that the coins are minted in the millions or even billions. Sample slabs are produced in lots of one thousand or less. When I say less, I am referring to numbers as low as five or ten!"
    So, I am going to hang onto my sample slab for a few more years and see if a market really develops. Who knows, maybe that Slab will far outstrip the value of its encased Silver Dime.
    http://samplecoinslabs.com/index.html/
    Happy Holidays,
    Malcolm
    PS-The included photo shows a slab similar in style to mine.

  13. 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

  14. Mokiechan
    Because Halloween is So Awesome
    Hi All,
    I was doing some random websurfing this evening when I started focusing on coins that have some kind of Halloween related theme.
    After some dead ends, I happened upon a set of 5 coins issued by Tuvalu and minted in Perth called Heroes and Villains. They are each one ounce of pure silver and denominated at 1 Dollar.
    Two of the five coins,Jekyl/Hyde and Van Helsing/Dracula meet my criteria for Halloween themed. Here is a picture of the Van Helsing/Dracula coin. Hope you enjoy.
    Malcolm

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  15. Mokiechan
    I think there are too many SAEs in the pipeline.
    Hi All,
    I was thinking about submitting one last group of coins to NGC before the end of the year. But I think I'll wait until the glut of 25th Anniversary sets makes it through the pipeline. When I say last, I mean LAST, as I am down to a very small group of raw coins that seem to be worthy of the extra expense (vice simply selling them to convert into already graded coins).
    The lot will consist of some Silver Ikes, Some MS Mercury Dimes, and some older SAEs. I know, I know, there probably not worth much more than their grading cost but, What The Heck, it's kind of like gambling in LV, most of the time you come up short but all you need is that one MS68 Ike to make your day.
    Hope all of you had an excellent Thanksgiving and the Snow is not too deep in your backyards. All our snow seems to melt before I wake up each morning.

  16. 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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  17. Mokiechan

    My Worst Purchase Ever

    By Mokiechan,

    Via QVC and the Nuestra Senora De Atocha
    Friends,
    I know we have all made purchases in the numismatic realm that we later regretted and I hope my sad tale makes you feel much better about your particular anguish.
    Sometime during the late 80's, while my collecting was mostly focused on NCLT foreign coins, I was watching those wonderful hucksters on QVC and became very interested when they started marketing an actual silver ingot from the Nuestra Senora de Atocha treasure ship. This ship had been found by Mel Fisher and company back in 1985 and had gotten a tremendous amount of press at the time.
    Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, I wanted that silver ingot (in deluxe treasure chest box with accompany plaque and COA) but I held off due to the high cost and patiently waited until the ineviteble QVC sale when the little beauty went for a little over 100.00.
    Suffice it to say, I was very pleased at the time and was only mildly disapointed when the silver ingot proved to be pretty durned small (about an ounce I think). But, it was still TREASURE and it was MinE. Later, after the thrill of victory subsided, I realized it was not really an ingot from the Atocha, instead it was a faux ingot cast from the reamains of a bigger ingot. I should have known better, I betcha they even mentioned that factoid during their spiel, but I missed that detail and ended up with a bitter understanding of TV marketing.
    I still have her today, she sits in her box, in my closet, as a constant reminder of why overeagerness to buy plus selective hearing can lead to great tragedy (well that's a little melodramtic but you know what I mean).
    Later,
    Malcolm
    PS-she's always for sale, who wants to give me 50.00 plus postage.

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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 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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  20. 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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  21. Mokiechan

    Better Late Then Never

    By Mokiechan,

    But still very late!
    Well I bought some milk and mint chip ice cream today and received 3 very shiny quarters in change. As is my habit, I flipped them over and saw 3 beautiful Gettysburg quarters. These are the first I've seen in circulation, in fact these are the first 2011 quarters I have seen outside of mint sets. Seems like change barely ciculates any more. I put it in my Whitman album. It joins 3 quarters from 2010. I guess I will need to get some quarter rolls from the bank and find the missing ones.
    Oh, forgot to mention I traded in a few more odds and ends today and left my favorite coin shop with a very nice PCGS MS64 Sesquicentennial Half Dollar. I actually think it is worth considering a crack-out as the differential between the MS64 price and MS65 price is quite substantial. The picture you see does the coin NO justice. It is one of the best looking Sesqi(s) I have ever seen.
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  22. Mokiechan
    by my coins appearance in the NGC Coin Explorer
    Well folks,
    I was googling myself this afternoon, not my real name but my beawchan handle, and I found numerous hits to include an entry for a coin I own in the new NGC Coin Explorer. The coin is a MS68RD 2006 SMS Lincoln Cent. The funny thing is that the coin is part of my 21st century set and it is paired with a 1909 (in the reverse picture slot) Lincoln to illustrate the difference in design from Brenner's original.
    I like that I am so honored but I wonder why they chose to use a coin with no legitimate reverse image. They were probably just searching their database for 2006 Lincoln SMS's with pictures and stumbled on my entry, next thing you know old beawchan is immoratalized in the hallowed halls of the Google search engine. I am going to have to refine my self-search and google "beawchan NGC Coin Explorer" and see if I made the cut with any other coins.
    On a totally unrelated note, I called my local coin dealer and the chopmarked trade dollar he submitted on my behalf to PCGS should be back by the beginning of next week.
    Yay, my "chopmarked coins of the orient" custom set will be complete and I can move on to my "least attractive U.S. coin designs of the 20th Century" set. With apologies to those who like these designs, here is my bottom 5:
    SBA Dollar
    IKE Dollar
    Franklin Half
    Washington Quarter - Ohio or Indiana Reverse, etc. etc. etc.
    Roosevelt Dime
    Of course this set only includes regular issues as the ranks of ugly commemorative coins grows yearly and I don't even want to discuss the Presidential Dollars. Chuck E Cheese makes a better looking coin that that mess of a series.
    I think I have ranted enough!
    Cheers,
    Malcolm

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  23. 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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  24. Mokiechan

    Heavily Chopped!

    By Mokiechan,

    But still brimming with character and history.
    My final group of NGC coins are now on the way and I received the images today. This takes my Trade Dollar custom set to 20 coins with only my PCGS bound chopmarked US Trade Dollar to complete the set. Hopefully she'll return to the fold in November. As you can see in the picture this 1900 French Indochina Piastre De Commerce is heavily chopped and has obviously had an interesting life. I obtained her sometime in the 1980's. Please enjoy
    Later,
    Malcolm

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  25. Mokiechan

    Langbord Hoard Offer

    By Mokiechan,

    But the Government is paralyzed with hand wringing, naval gazing, and other such useless pursuits
    I read today that CAC has offered 20 million dollars for the 10 1933 Double Eagles. The article quoted a company principal stating they already have 7 solid offers to buy and they would be fine with hanging onto the other 3 for awhile.
    I think that is a very fair offer and will serve to forever protect these numismatic treasures.
    http://blog.davidlawrence.com/index.php/cac-offers-20-million-for-1933-double-eagles/

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