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Mokiechan

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Journal Entries posted by Mokiechan

  1. 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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  2. Mokiechan

    Thank You NGC!!

    By Mokiechan,

    What a pleasant surprise.
    Well today had been kind of a disappointing day. I had originally planned on taking my Mustang to the muffler shop for dual-exhaust installation but our toilet broke, and I mean literally, and I needed to stay around waiting for the plumber to come by. Luckily the muffler shop is open on Monday so I will just go then.
    I did get accomplish one very good thing today in my constant goal of having a completely organized collection. I took my top 50 coins, value-wise, and plucked them from the main herd to be taken to the bank for more secure safekeeping. Normally this would be kind of difficult but with NGC Collection Manager and some persistence, I was able to tease those beauties out.
    However, this is not the reason for my post today. The Mailman just stopped by and delivered a very nice plaque from NGC for my 2010 literary award. Although I think there are many better writers out there, I do truly appreciate the award, and now plaque, and will place it on the wall in my study.
    Hmmmm, maybe my collection of Chopmarked Trade Coins will win next years Unusual (or whatever its called) set award. Dare to Dream.
    Peace,
    Malcolm

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  3. 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.

  4. 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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  5. 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

  6. 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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  7. 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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  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
    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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  10. Mokiechan
    A Fish Story of Another Kind
    10 seconds to go, my finger was poised on the send button, I had already filled in my bid amount. 9 8 7 6 FIVE, I hit the send button, my $130.00 bid ready to obliterate my foes when..... goshdarnit, I had to confirm my bid on the next screen and my prize, my MS64 1925 Mercury Dime, had been claimed by another eager bidder for a measly $95.17. Next time I will hit the send button at the 12 second mark. Yup, that's my new strategy.
    http://cgi.ebay.com/1925-Mercury-Dime-PCGS-MS64_W0QQitemZ110514231367QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCoins_US_Individual?hash=item19bb295847
  11. 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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  12. Mokiechan
    I used to frequent the NGC site about 8 years ago.  Back then I had a different handle.  I just found my old journal entries and they are interesting reading as I see the things that concerned me back then.  I will be gradually adding new content to the site as a thought or two strike.  In the interim, glad to be back and happy to see some folks from that time are still here.
    Mokie
     

  13. 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.

  14. 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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  16. 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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  17. Mokiechan

    Senior Momentum!!!

    By Mokiechan,

    Have any of you had this experience?  You are searching for your sunglasses and you find you've been wearing them, pushed up on your forehead the whole time, Or, you can't find your wallet and you suddenly realize it is in your pocket.   If so, you can probably understand how this happened. 

    About a week ago, I started panicking when one of my prize chop marked coins could not be found.  I looked EVERYWHERE, I even spoke to a friend on this board about the lost coin and thought, maybe I left it at the coin club meeting during show and tell and somebody stole it.  I was going crazy, thinking I did not want to buy coins again until it was found and just feeling generally miserable about the lost coin.  As an aside, I even took the coin out of my NGC Collectors Society Custom Set because I did not feel good about having missing, possibly lost, coin displayed to the world.  

    TODAY, I found it, in plain sight, in the very NGC Slab Box where it is always located.  Somehow, I did not recognize it, and just started searching everywhere else after my inventory did not reveal the coin in its normal box.   OMG, I am actually mortified at myself, so much wasted energy looking for something that was never missing.  Thank Goodness I did not contact the Club President and ask her to request an anonymous return of the coin.  It is a small club and I would have never felt good about going there again.  Finally, Thanks My Friend, for giving me some comfort while I was in a major freakout.

    Have you had a similar thing happen?  if so, let me know, so I feel less an insufficiently_thoughtful_person.  
    Later, Mokie
  18. 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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  19. 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

  20. 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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  21. Mokiechan
    Sportyperson is on to something.
    I think most of us can agree that the grand and glorious hobby of Numimatics needs young people to become interested in the hobby. When I was growing up (Pre Cable TV, Pre Video Games, ETC.) every 5 and 10 cent store sold coin collecting supplies and every major department store had a coin and stamp section. Those days are long over and to attract the young kids, we need to come up with something that will stimulate interest and foster healthy competition.
    Here is my thought, NGC allow children, as young as 5, to open an account under their Parent/Guardian's account and to complete basic sets (Lincolns, Jeffersons, Washington, etc.) of RAW coins without concern for their grade. For instance, my daughter would get points for having a 1950-D nickel based on the relative rarity of the coin, in the entire series, and would be awarded a slightly higher point level just for having that coin in her collection. If she finished the set, she would get a special banner in her account and a little recognition in a special junior section of NGC (5-14 years). The parent or guardian would "certify" each time a junior added a coin.
    Anyone think Sportyperson's concept is worth exploring? I do, and I am going to send my idea to NGC Customer Service. If you agree with the general concept, please also send your thoughts to customer service. We can make this happen!!!!!
  22. 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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  23. Mokiechan

    Sold some Gold

    By Mokiechan,

    And gained some ground
    I had two old gold rings and a broken gold bracelet burning a hole in my pocket this past Friday so I decided to go to my favorite coin dealer, California Numismatic Funding, and see what they were worth. After the weigh-in, I had a grand total of 426.00 in credit so I promptly bought a CT and a Lexington-Concord half for my commemorative type set. Very pleased with both and I still had 62.00 in my pcoket when I departed.
    I know there's an extra wedding band (long story) and some other stuff gold around somewhere, gotta search this weekend.

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  24. Mokiechan
    Some Interesting Research
    Folks,
    I ran across a very interesting article from Coin World about Mint Police Officer theft of edgeless Presidential Dollar:
    http://www.coinworld.com/articles/where-are-all-of-the-plain-edge-presidential-/?utm_source=OB_traffic
    The article analyzes the current numbers of coins certified by NGC, PCGS, and ANACS while also attempting to discern how many were stolen and when? Good Stuff!!
    Malcolm
    PS-not affiliated with Coin World in any way, shape, or form.

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  25. 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