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SPHansen

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Journal Entries posted by SPHansen

  1. SPHansen
    Just arrived!
    I wanted to share the latest coin to arrive... I saw this coin and just had to have it! As promised, this coin does not disappoint... the gorgeous gold toning makes this beauty a joy to look at... this coin has joined the top ranks of the favorites in my collection.

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  2. SPHansen
    Has anyone else seen this?
    Just saw this and was wondering if anyone has any more information they could impart... ? Would this be worth sending to NGC for grading, etc?

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  3. SPHansen
    ... if I only had a time machine!
    I picked up an old numismatic catalog at auction, and it arrived today... wow, what fun to look through it!
    Listen to some of these prices:
    Gold Dollars D mint (Dahlonega!)
    1849 $2.00
    1850 $2.00
    1851 $3.00
    Trade Dollars
    1873 Proof 50c to 75c
    1874 Proof 50c to 75c
    1875 Proof 50c to 75c
    Morgans
    1896 through 1904 Proofs $1.10
    Half Dollars
    1794 Flowing Hair Dollar $25 to $100
    1795 Flowing Hair Dollar $1.50 to $3.50
    Half Dollars
    1794 $2.50 to $6.00
    Dimes
    1796 $1.00 to $5.00
    and on and on... Whew!
    I think I remember someone saying they are a collector of these old books... if you want to trade for this one, please contact me !

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  4. SPHansen

    A Fruitful Week

    By SPHansen,

    Finds for many of my sets...
    A great week of hunting for me... picked up a variety of coins for my collection, at great prices... nothing over $10 and most for around $5.
    1955S Wheatie MS65RD
    1984 S Clad Jeff Nickel PF69UC
    1979 T1 Wash Quarter PF69UC
    2010 P&D SMS Hot Springs ATB MS68
    1990 Kennedy Half PF69UC
    2008 P Jackson MS66 FDI
    2009 P Tyler MS66
    2011 P Johnson MS66
    Yeah, these aren't ultra rare finds, or ultra high grades... but I'm excited to find them just the same.. you see, the hunt has begun anew.
    I have albums of great coins that I spent many years putting together; complete Ike set, near-complete Jefferson BU nickel set (missing only the most expensive proofs), Lincoln cents, complete Kennedy halves, and some decent examples going back to 1804. As the sets were completed, I found myself a bit sad... I'd finished the set... what else was there?
    When I picked up that first graded coin, I felt that thrill... here was a coin that was beautifully presented, protected and graded professionally. WOW! I thought it a novelty, an interesting piece I could show friends, etc. But in that showing, I realized I could actually handle the coin, pass to others to enjoy, show it off and relate some interesting tidbit about its history. So much better than having albums that were stashed safely away, hidden and protected... nevering seeing them.
    So, I looked for more.... and got a few very cheap. They weren't gold or rare or whatever... but they felt like it The decision to switch over my collection to graded coins was a genesis... it was like beginning again, and I felt like I did when Grandma and I started filling those Whitman albums so many years ago. The hobby took on a fresh, new feel.. and I love it.
    The picture is the format I've started putting in my registry sets... I like it as it shows the label clearly, and the coin image is bigger, and it is aesthetically pleasing, I think.
    This week was a good one... let's see what next week brings!
    Good Hunting to all

  5. SPHansen

    A Grading Question

    By SPHansen,

    ... cuz I is a noob
    It has been awhile since I last posted, but I've been quietly busy in the background. I have collected 1970 Mint Sets, specifically to get the 70D Kennedys. Now that I have them, I have a question about assessing them before sending them info grading. I'm not sure if I should remove them from the plastic and then assess them, or leave them in and keep the integrity of the sets. What should I do? And if left in the OGP, how does one look past the packaging to figure out what the grade is? Would love some guidance... thanks!
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  6. SPHansen

    A New Adventure

    By SPHansen,

    begins today!
    So, my first coins for grading are on their way to NGC. Just sticking my little toe in the water this time... ordered the Proof ATB quarters from the Mint, which arrived on Saturday. Spent Sunday making sure, double and triple checking my paperwork, and sent the package out this morning. I wanted to see the results of this before I venture further into this with older coins in my collection.
    Now the worst part... the wait.
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  7. SPHansen

    Adding Sets to the List?

    By SPHansen,

    How do we get NGC to add sets to the world coin list?
    I have a couple of Bulgarian coins graded by NGC, and would love to be able to have a competitive set as I add more. Does anyone know the process for nagging NGC to add a set to the list? Has anyone ever done this before?
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  8. SPHansen
    ... Just curious!
    I've been picking up some examples of the coins and tokens minted at the Moonlight Mint over the past year... I really like the look of the fantasy coins and tokens... and I think they add some whimsy to my collection. I just received my 2012 Liberty Head / Eagle silver tokens, and they look so sweet. I wouldn't mind if our current coinage looked like these... anyone else a fan of DC?

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  9. SPHansen

    Auction Madness!

    By SPHansen,

    ... or searching for that treasure in a sea of junk!
    Coin Journal for the week of 03/18/2012 through 03/25/2012This week saw me with some extra time on my hands, which I put to use by searching every online auction to see what coins could be found. After looking through well over prolly 10k items, I found a few gems hiding amongst the plethora of grot. I also got a great look at the different ranges of terms and buyer premiums out there. I have a few favorites, and few that will never see me again. All in all it was a very educational experience.This weeks treasures are:2009 DCT Puerto Rico Silver in PF70UC1945 Walker (MS64)1930 Standing Liberty Quarter (AU58)1913 T1 Buffalo Nickel (MS64++)1864 (AU58)1883 Shield 5c (MS64)1886 Seated Dime (MS65)1949 D Franklin 1/2 (MS64)1937 Buffalo 5c (MS64)1945 Walker (MS64)1937 Buffalo 5c (MS64)1866 (MS61RB)1937 D Buffalo 5c (MS64)1951 S Franklin 1/2 (MS65)1943 D Walker (MS63)1914 D $2.5 Gold1909 $2.5 Gold1976 Mint Set1884 O Morgan 1885 O Morgan1972 $1 Ike Proof1896 Morgan in MS631883 O Morgan1884 O Morgan1970 Mint Set1963B Joseph Barr Dollars (x3)1963 Red Seal $5 billThe first coin was the only eBay coin I picked up... this one came at a fair price, and I want to complete a perfect proof set of the 09 DC and Territories this year.The next batch with the grades in parentheses are from an auction where bargains were abundant. I only wish I had more money to spend! Peace dollars were really going for way under what you would expect, as everyone seemed to want the Morgans. This is where I picked up that monster toned 1886 dime I displayed in an earlier journal. The pieces I grabbed were also really killer. I put the grades that they sold them as, but the prices were more like VF-XF and in some cases less. It was just a great auction. I feel that even if they grade a little less than listed, I still come out way ahead.The rest of the week saw some great deals. I managed to grab a couple more gold coins, especially the 14D, for really great prices. I'm eager to get these home and ship them off to NGC for grading... speaking of which...The results of my first batch of coins to NCS and NGC are in, and the coins arrived here this morning... wow! Here are the results:1899 Indian Head Cent in AU Details (Environmental Damage)1852 Large Cent in VF Details (Bent)1854 Large Cent in VF Details (Scratches)1818 Large Cent in Good Details (Env Damage)1850 Seated Dime in VF Details (Imp Cleaned)1841 Seated Dime in Fine Details (Imp Cleaned)I was a bit disappointed that all came back in Details, but I learned so much from the experience. I was spot on with all the grades I predicted, which makes me happy. It also gave me a better understanding of how to spot cleaned coins. The conservation of the coins came back with some mixed results.. all are free of the gook n gunk that was on them, and overall they look great. The 52 Cent is still very dark, but the 54 looks so much better. The 1899 IH cent I expected to be AU, since it was picked out from change in that year and put away. Too bad that it was not protected properly until many years later. Still, it looks nice, and it is now fully protected. Funny, that after the conservation, the two dimes have some gorgeous rainbow toning on the reverse... too bad someone screwed them up with cleaning.I will leave you with a quick picture of the 54 Cent... the before image would be a absolute soot black coin. You will find these in my Numismatic Geneaology custom set soon.Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  10. SPHansen
    ... or Why I won't be buying from Heritage today.
    After reading about a deal a fellow collector got on Heritage, I decide to poke around on the various auction sites today. Here are my thoughts:
    On Heritage, the minimum BP is $14, plus shipping of $6+... so I would have to pay at least $20 before the bidding every begins. Sorry, thats just too outrageous for low priced coins. Why would I buy a modern coin for $20 + bid, when I can pick up the same coins on eBay for $5-$10 shipped? I just doesn't make sense for a collector on a budget. I just picked up a 1999 Penn State Quarter PF69UC NGC for $4.14 + 2.99 shipping.. $7.13 total... 1/3 of the price of just the shipping and BP fees for the same coins on Heritage.
    Now this is not an attack on these sites... its just that until I win the lottery, and can afford to get a higher priced coin, where $20 is not a real factor, then I'll just have to stick to my current hunting grounds... now, if they dropped those BP on coins under, lets say $100, and reduced their shipping to a more reasonable $3 (it costs 1.76 to ship 1 graded coin... add in supplies + time, and $3.00 is not unreasonable).. then they'd have my attention, and I'd certainly be busy examining all their lots. Til then, thanks, but no thanks.
    Just my 2 cents on the subject...
    Good Hunting
  11. SPHansen

    Back to the Basics

    By SPHansen,

    ... or Time to Pay Attention to My Favorite Series
    Coin Journal for the week of 02/20/2012 through 02/26/2012This week turned out to be a boon for my Roosie collection, adding several perfect coins to the gaps. As I was going through my raw collection to see what coins I wanted to send in for grading, I came across a very special coin; a 1881 Morgan. This coin is special because it is the very first coin that my grandmother gave to me when she saw that I was becoming a serious coin collector. She presented it to me in a little jewelry box, and I was so very excited. As I let the memories and emotions wash over me, I remembered that I did not have a single graded Morgan in my collection. Time to change that! I looked around to see what Morgans were available, and lo and behold, there was a beautiful 1881O just calling out to me. Less than an hour later, it was mine. I will be 50 in a few months, but at this moment I feel like that 7 year kid with his first Morgan. Here are the treasures I added to my collection this week: 1881 O Morgan Dollar in MS63 1993 Roosevelt Dime Clad in PF70UC 2003 Roosevelt Dime Clad in PF70UC x2 1976 Silver Kennedy Half in PF68UC 2009 P SMS Sac Dollar in MS67 1888 Morgan Dollar in MS63 1945 Mercury Dime in MS66 1972 Roosevelt Dime in PF69UC The Roosevelts were plentiful this week... lots to choose from at all price ranges. I decided to pick my battles, and won the 93 Clad and two examples of the 03 Clad, one of which I will flip. I grabbed this 76 Silver Kennedy for a bargain price, perfect to fill that slot in my Halves and 20th Century type sets. I thought about holding out for a higher grade, but decided to worry about upgrades at a later date. This one is pretty, and will do just fine for now. Here was a coin I had not seen before... seeing non-proof examples of the Sac dollars are rare, so I jumped at the chance to own this one. It was a steal, and I am happy it is mine. The 1888 Morgan was going for well below the other examples, so I grabbed it! A nice coin with some slight toning on the obverse. Seems like MS63 is the level that I will be collecting Morgans, and that is not bad at all. Managed to pick up this Merc for just over $20... surprizing since they were being sold by Heritage on eBay, free shipping (but tax for me, as they are in Dallas), along with two identical coins, and they went for more. Guess it was my night, and my Mighty Mercs Set gains a new member! The 72 Roosie is the first coin I have won from a Heritage Auction. I won with a bid of $8, but will pay $14 in BP, plus tax (since they are in Dallas) as well as shipping. Still, it is a coin I have yet to see on eBay, and many of the PF70UC Roosies that I already have went for $20-$30 (before BP fees), so I feel good. This is a Top Pop coin for the set, and since NGC has stated they will never grade a 70, I feel comfortable that I paid a great price for this one. Funny that, while it is technically a higher grade coin, the PF69* CA has a higher registry value. Seems to me that no cameo coin should out value an ultra cameo. The first submission to NCS for my custom Numismatic Geneaology set have arrived and are now scheduled for evaluation and conservation. I'm excited, and am thinking about how I want to present the set in image form. Also, the next batch to be sent is being decided upon... This weeks image is my new 88 Morgan. Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!
  12. SPHansen
    ... for those who were interested.
    I sent in 5 sets of the New Birth Year sets for grading, with the exception of the quarters (which I removed)... here are the results:
    Line Year MM Pedigree Denom. Grade
    001 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    002 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    003 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    004 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    005 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    006 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 69
    007 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 69
    008 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 69
    009 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 70
    010 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 69
    011 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 70
    012 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 70
    013 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 70
    014 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 70
    015 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 69
    016 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 69
    017 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 69
    018 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 69
    019 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 70
    020 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 69
     
    None of the cents hit 70... surprised on that.
    Only one of the nickels made 70
    The dimes fared much better.. all but one hit 70
    Only one of the Kennedy halves hit 70
    A bit disappointing... I imagine that if this is a portent of things to come with the full proof sets, there are going to be some awfully expensive coins in the coming months. And if NGC has a slot for only the Birth Year coins, it could go even higher. I was told that they will only have the 'Birth Year' designation available until the actual proof set comes out... will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I think very few sets have been sent in for grading, and if they are needed to complete other sets, then prices will skyrocket. Thoughts?
  13. SPHansen
    ... adding this one because the first didn't have the forum activated.
    Lets hope this one does...
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  14. SPHansen

    Bump!

    By SPHansen,

    ... or new additions to a project set!
    Coin Journal for the week of 07/08/2012 through 07/15/2012This has been an interesting week for me. It saw the beginning of a new collecting interest, the completion of a set and the resumption of work on another. The completion of my 2012 Proof Set was accomplished early this year. I had several of the required coins already sent in and certified from the Birth Year set earlier this year. I was very disappointed that NGC has not acknowledged the birth year set, either in the regular proof set or in a set of its own. It was a first year of issue, had a pedigree on the label and even had a mint error in the packaging. I hope they will reconsider. Be that as it may, I have another 100% perfect PF70UC set under my belt. Its completion allowed me to turn my attentions to another set I have been wanting to work on. The 1942 Mint Set, created and named in memory of my late mother, has gotten a little love this week. My goal is to make it a top-ranked set, which will be no small feat, as there are some really great sets. Checking out the competion, I decided to give mine a bit of a bump by acquiring the three cents required in the best grades possible. A quick check the Coin Explorer (what a wonderful tool!), shows me that the 42 Philly has a top grade of MS67RD, the 42 Denver has a top grade of MS67RD, and the 42 San Francisco also has a top grade of MS67RD. I dug around, and found very few opportunities to acquire any of these at a price I considered reasonable. I was able, however, to acquire the 42P from Great Collections, and the remaining two from David Lawrence. I had done the research, and all were within the price range I deemed proper. I was glad that each coin was rich in color, with great eye appeal and well-kept slabs. Each is a fine addition to my set. These three coins bumped the set up 4 places to 14th in the ranking. I am now scouting for additions and upgrades for the 4 nickels required. Each will be what I half-jokingly call 'Lehigh Standard' in grade and appearance (budget willing, of course.) For those interested, the set can be seen here... http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=137041 If you follow the Friday Trivia Challenge, you'll notice that I was runner-up two weeks ago (Received my storage box, which now houses the aforementioned 1942 Mint Set!), and was the winner last week. The prize was a certificate to have a note graded. Up to this point, my interest in currency was confined to collecting a few interesting notes here and there. They always have been raw, and stored in a currency album kept beside my coins. This prize peeked my interest in notes, and I decided to expand my horizons. I've added a couple of PMG graded notes, my first ones ever! I'm excited to learn more.I'll leave you with the obverse of the 42 Philly Cent.See you in the trenches!
  15. SPHansen

    Busy Little Beaver

    By SPHansen,

    ... Giving NGC the Business!
    Coin Journal for the week of 03/26/2012 through 04/01/2012Well, what a week it has been. Many of the auction items I won have been flowing in, and going right back out to NGC for grading. These are the raw coins that I picked out as nice coins at great prices. Most will be flipped to support the sets I am working on... every dollar counts! Pouring everything into this process, I hope to be able to afford the more expensive coins I need to complete more #1 sets this year. The first new set I will complete this year will be the 21st Century Proof Type Set... I lack only one coin to make it #1, and I have my sights set on it already (hopefully I will have it by the next journal!)The second set I am working on is a 1907 Mint set as a memorial to my Grandma Alice, who started my in coin collecting. Keeping an eye out for 1907 coins has proven to be a tougher task than I first thought. The few 1907 coins that pop up on the auction sites are either poor quality of insanely expensive. I decided to build the set from scratch by judiciously picking raw coins and getting them slabbed myself. The first I purchased was a pretty nice AU Indian Head. This one was in between some 'nicer' looking coins, but I suspected that those had been cleaned. Luckily (for me), all the bidders concentrated on those, and let me have the 'ugly duckling' for next to nothing. The second one that caught my eye was a XF/AU 1907 quarter that I had to fight for, but it was one of those that just caught my fancy. I also received the 2012 Birth Year sets, which were sent in to NGC immediately. I was actually surprised when NGC called me to discuss how I wanted these encapsulated. They will be putting 'Birth Year Set' on the label, showing that these proofs came out before the actual proof set, which is cool. I don't know if there will be a separate slot for these, tho. If so, then having them will be important, and hard to get since I don't think that many are being sent in for grading (based on sales figures). I'm eager to see how these grade out, and I'll share when I get the info. I was also told that the BYS designation would only be done until the standard proof set comes out... oh, and mine will also have the 'First Release' designation.Have to cut this journal a bit short this week... have some more work to do. I'd like to leave you with a picture of another coin I grabbed during the auction that the 1886 dime came form. It is a sweet looking 1883 Shield 5c in what I think to be an MS64. Enjoy!Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  16. SPHansen
    No flashing!
    Thought I'd pipe up and give Bully my answers to his questions...
    In regard to taking pictures of coins, you need to have a decent camera, no flash but LOTS of light, and either a steady hand or a tripod. Take closest picture possible, and use image software (like Photoshop) to scale and crop. If you don't have a decent camera (like me), then do the best with what you have. I'd rather spend money on more coins than on pictures of the ones I already have. Come to think of it, you could borrow a camera from a friend or relative for a weekend and click, click, click away... and worry about the processing later. Hmmm, now who do I know with a good camers?
    As for the cost of graded coins, I've been seeing many great deals for 69 and 70 grades for 2011... there is a greater supply than demand at this point, I imagine. While a great deal for the Jeffie, I'm surprized you paid that much for a 69 this late in the game. Either way, when compared to obtaining and grading the coin yourself, its a major bargain... no doubt!
    Speaking of grading... I'm still torn on which 2012 coins to use my 5 free on... should I do the ATB quarters now or wait for Proof Set? Decisions, decisions!
    Good Hunting
  17. SPHansen
    Keep the faith, brother... you just got to survive to the end.
    Alan is so right. I've been watching this happen for a decade, and the worst is yet to come, I'm afraid.
    As a kid, I collected sports cards... baseball, football, etc. I bought packs with my allowance, saved multiple sets in pristine condition, and traded and played flip games with the rest. I enjoyed my 'hobby' and got tons of satifaction from it. There were a few companies out there.. Topps and Fleer being the biggies. Then the speculators arrived...
    They knew that as the baby boomers grew older, they would hit that point that most of us do... nostalgia for our childhood. They started buying and selling.. older cards, new sets, etc. I watched as people started to 'invest' in sports cards... sinking tons of money to buy, buy, buy. Then the new companies arrived... they added marketing to the cards.. jazzy new series, multiple series, 'special SPECIAL collectors editions', ad nauseum. They flooded the cards, hype and the that goes with it. Real collectors couldn't afford to keep up, they get frustated, they quit. The speculator rides the wave until it crests, and then sells everything to some schmuck with get rich quick dollar signs in their eyes (who ends up taking a bath and losing tons of money), and heads out to see the next thing they can exploit.
    Coin collecting was 'safe' from this... it was perceived by the masses as 'boring' and 'nerdy'... until the Statehood quarters hit the streets. People got excited, old collectors were envigorated and new collectors entered the market... and we became a ripe target for speculators. Now you see the same thing happening all over again... Shopping channels with coin shows, special labels, super exclusive special labels, super mega ULTRA Collectors Sets! Insane prices, a glut of coins, mass marketing... the whole nine yards. Soon the get rich quick suckers will come along (they are already starting to appear).
    The aftermath will be:
    1. Real collectors will be disgusted and many will fall away from the hobby.
    2. The speculators will suck the hobby dry and move on.
    3. With the money well going dry, the companies that depend on it will go away.
    4. The hobby will survive, tattered and in ruins, but alive; barely.
    I don't give a damn about labels, or glitz or whatever. I try to shield myself from the madness, but its impossible to do so fully. I'm keeping the faith, because inevitably, the speculators and their sycophantic lackeys will be gone, and we can get back to collecting in peace.
  18. SPHansen

    Digging Deep!

    By SPHansen,

    ... or even the FHA couldn't cramp my style (too much!)
    Coin Journal for the week of 02/06/2012 through 02/12/2013Another week of bargain hunting... and it really had to be bargains for me! My son is purchasing his first home (a nice condo in a great part of town), and a problem arose when FHA said the condo did not qualify for their program (of course, only after weeks of paperwork and outlays for inspection, etc.) We had to scramble to help him, when the down payment went from 5% to 20% (as the loan went from FHA to conventional.) That unexpected outlay required some financial juggling, which put a slight crimp in the coin budget for the week. Anyway, he's getting his home, and I'm still able to grab some great deals.Here are the bargains of the week: 1975 S Roosevelt Dime in PR69DCAM PCGS 1978 S Roosevelt Dime in PR69DCAM PCGS 1989 S Jefferson Nickel in PF69UC 1979 S SBA Dollar in PR69DCAM PCGS 2002 P Ohio Quarter in MS66 2005 Clad Minnesota in PF69UC 1942 Wheatie in MS66RD 1942 D Wheatie in MS65RD 2009 Virgin Island Clad in PF70UC I grabbed several PCGS coins this week, as I decided to expand my horizons by having both grading companies represented in my collection. The two dimes were a steal at less than $4 each, and SBA dollar is my first graded example for under $5. I'm finding that the NGC examples for the SBA and Ike Dollars have much higher starting bids (which don't seem to sell) than their PCGS counterparts. As I've said before, even though I have a complete Ike and SBA collection in the raw, I still get a thrill when I add a graded example to my set. I've also decided to add my small (but growing) PCGS coin collection to the registry here. I will replace them as I find bargain NGC examples. The Jefferson nickel is actually my first example of any graded coin for 1989. Inspired by another collector, I started custom sets for the birth years of my wife, son and mother. I have several coins for my wife and mother, and I figured I had at least ONE 1989 coin in there... but nope. So when the time came to add a coin to my son's birth year set, the cupboard was bare. I quickly dug around, and found this nickel on the cheap ($6.) I was reading another journal and he mentioned getting a certificate for his President's set... that very day my certificates also arrived. I got one each for my four number one sets... a nice surprise. Looking forward to keeping those four at the top of the heap, as well as adding at least one more to the list. So, the first half of the week seemed to belong to PCGS, but it finished with a bang for NGC. First was the results of my first grading submission, which was not perfect, but did please me. I found a few more statehoods for the pile, and was even to pick up my first graded example of the DC/Territories set. These have been hard to find real bargains on, but this one found a new home with me for under $15 shipped. I also decided to grab the two 1942 cents for the Wheatie collection, but also to add to the 1942 Mint Set I'm doing as a tribute to my Mom. Now, as I finish up this week's journal, I'm reading moondoggy's 'Drive You Nuts' journal entry. I'll take the time to respond here instead of having two journals (since the forum discuss feature is being obstinate again). I totally understand what you're saying, bro. As I live on eBay, I see all sorts of behavior like that. I've found that unless I really, Really REALLY want a particular coin, what I do is bid my highest and let it go from there. If a coin goes for over that, and I get a second chance offer, I negotiate the price down or just pass on the offer (I usually ask for free shipping thrown in as well.) Now, as for shill bids.. yeah they happen, and you can usually tell when. I just let it go and move on... you have to be patient when it comes to eBay (or other places). I never feel I need to have an item so bad that I can't wait for the next one to come along. If a coin has no bidders, I bid first and put the max I'm willing to pay. If it does have bidders, and the price is below my max, I wait to the last seconds and bid my max. I seem to have a fair amount of success.. the key is patience. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!
  19. SPHansen

    Ebay Alternative

    By SPHansen,

    A new site for numismatic buyers and sellers.
    Hey guys...
    For a long time now, I have been fed up with eBay, and for that matter, all the other auction sites... and if I'm not mistaken, so have you. There are just too many problems with these sites; unethical sellers, shilling, doctoring, and fakes, not to mention listing fees and the ever rising seller's premium. When we try to alert them to these issues, our pleas fall on deaf ears. This entire system works against good, honest buyers, sellers and collectors. Awhile back, I gave this some serious thought and said to myself, "No use whining about it; what can I do to change the situation?"
    Many of you know me from the boards, some I have met in person. I am a Top-Rated Power Seller on eBay (coin-aholic), and have been on eBay since 1998 (my original account is scottandelli.) In 'real-life', I am a game designer, having created 10 top-ten games, 6 number one titles, two highly successful IPs and garnered 4 industry awards. I am also a photo-journalist and in charge of the graphics and composition for the local newspaper. I consider myself a creative, pro-active person, and not one to accept the status quo. I decided I would use my creativity to do something about the 'eBay problem' and I have come up with what I believe is the best possible solution.
    We all love to go to the money shows. I know I do! Basically, the monetization model for a show is: dealers rent space for a flat fee, and keep the profits from whatever sales they make. The only problem with a live show is that the time the public has access to the wares is limited, and there are travel expenses, etc. A typical local show lasts three days, with public having access for around 19 hours out of 72... That's only 26% of the time purchased, and a wasted 74%. The eBay problems we already know, but in its favor there are no travel expenses, and potential customers have access 24/7. I thought to myself, 'What if I can take the best features of the two models and create a better place for us to buy and sell our coins and currency?' I did... and I call it Numishow.
    Numishow.com is a virtual coin and currency show, which allows a seller to rent booth space on a monthly basis (for less than a typical 3-day live show!), list their items and give the buying public access 24/7. After the flat booth fee, there are no other costs (except a 2% credit card transaction fee from the bank.) Whatever profit you make, you keep. I even came up with (what I think is) a catchy tag line: 'Sell your money. Keep your cash.' Ebay sellers... what did you pay in auction fees last month? $100? $250? More? I know when you see the site, and do the math you will see the benefit of this model. Sellers get to keep their profits, and buyers will enjoy lower prices (since buyers need not jack them up to try to recover lost profits.) Buyers do not pay a cover charge to 'get in' as they would in a live show, but a modest $1.00 is added to each invoice in its place. The site itself will be responsible for site maintenance, and advertising to generate the traffic.
    I invite you all to check the site out, sign up and visit often. I have put in a lot of time, effort and resources to make this THE site we use for our needs. I also would love to hear your feedback. I have several features that will be coming online in the near future, and if there are features you want first, I will work to get them added a.s.a.p. I also hope you will spread the word to all who would benefit from the site!
    Thanks, and hope to see you there.
    Scott Hansen

  20. SPHansen

    Ebay Alternative II

    By SPHansen,

    Would love to hear feedback
    The last post didn't hit the boards... please use this one for any replies... thanks!
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  21. SPHansen
    ... or Finding some bargains on Heritage, Great Collections and Teletrade sites!
    Coin Journal for the week of 02/27/2012 through 03/04/2012This week saw several top pop additions to my Roosie proof set, and a few for my SBA set. I am still waiting for my 1881 Morgan!!! Listen to this little adventure... the coin left Oregon, sent promptly by the buyer. It spent a couple of days in transit before hitting San Antonio, and another day to get to the main Dallas sort center. The next day it was at the Coppell sort center, and usually that means it will make to me the next day. This time, however, it was back at the main Dallas center the next day, and then back in San Antonio the following day. This began a ping pong situation where it is now back in Dallas, but traveling between Coppell and Dallas each day. This has been going on for about a week now, and I have no idea what is up. I wrote the USPS but am still waiting for a reply. Good thing its not a organ for a transplant or something!Here are the treasures I added to my collection this week: 2002 Bulgarian 5 Stotinki in PF67 1943 D Merc Dime in MS65 FB 1835 Capped Bust Dime in NGC Good Details 1979 S SBA Dollar in MS66 1980 S SBA Dollar in PF69UC 2006 D SMS Jefferson Nickel in MS66 6FS 2004 Michigan Quarter in PF69UC 1981 S Quarter Type 2 in PF68UC 1974 Roosevelt Dime in PR69DCAM PCGS 1942 D Mercury Dime in MS64 1962 Jefferson Nickel in PF64 1995 Clad Roosevelt Dime in PF70UC 2000 Clad Roosevelt Dime in PF70UC 2008 D JQ Adams Dollar in MS66 FDI Started the week off getting an NGC graded proof coin for my Bulgarian set... it would be nice if NGC would honor my request to add these to the competitive set list... I also picked up a complete BU raw set of 1992 Bulgarian circulation issues. These would be the first coins of the new era, free from the grip of the USSR and the Communist regime. These will be going to NGC for grading, along with some silver and gold commems I got on my last trip to Sofia. I've railed against some of the non-eBay sites, citing their high Buyers Premiums as a reason to avoid these sites. Recently, however, I have been comparing the going prices on these sites as compared to eBay, and I have to say that my first impressions were both right and wrong. First, I find that my original sentiment holds firm, that the BPs are keeping people from bidding on the low cost coins that will go cheaper on eBay. I am also finding that the premiums are also keeping the prices for some of the slightly more expensive coins lower than eBay. I picked up this 1835 Capped Bust dime for my dime type set for $22, with a BP of $5 (total $27). The cheapest on eBay for a comparable coin is twice that! This coin has a Details designation for some scratches on the reverse, but the coin itself looks really nice. Its one of those that speaks to me, and it will now have a home in my collection. So I have now purchased coins from both Heritage and Great Collections, and I'm very happy with both experiences. Also grabbed a couple of SBA dollars on the cheap... One for $5 and the other for $1! Since the only one I have in the registry is a PCGS graded coin, I wanted to make sure I have at least one NGC example in each of the MS and PF registry sets. I remember when these came out, and several times I got them in change instead of a quarter. Its funny how the US public shuns the dollar coins... from what I understand, they are again introuducing legislation to get rid of the dollar bill. Canada did this and they have only $1 and $2 dollars in coin form. Seeing how much money it saves, it might just pass... The SMS Jefferson just popped into view, I needed it, it was 6FS and it was cheap.. trifecta! I am, by the way, glad they stopped the SMS coins.. it sucked having to get not only proof and circ sets, but now a third? ! Right after that I snagged a Michagan Quarter at a bargain price as well... slowly but surely I will get the entire set in graded form. The same for the 81 Quarter... its not the highest grade, but I am choosing my battles when it comes to top pop. Dimes are first, then proof sets as I pick a date and work to get the best coins for that year. ... after all the talking about NGC vs PCGS, I picked up the 74 Dime in a PCGS holder. I decided to do this because the PF69UC dime in NGC is going for stupid money... economics prevailed here. The 42D Merc is for my short set and the Memorial Mint Set for my Mom. I grabbed this one because it went super cheap... the 62 Nickel is a lower proof grade than I have, but for 3 bucks, you can't go wrong. I am thinking that later on, these lower grade coins can be used to give to the grandkids if I can get them hooked on the hobby... go ahead kid, the first one is free Picked a few more coins from Heritage this evening... both dimes in PF70UC. Also, I participated in my first Teletrade auction today... that was an interesting experience. I like the fact that they have *fee-free* nights, which I imagine helps get more bids. I grabbed a 2009 P Polk Presidential Dollar in MS66 FDI for $7... about the same as eBay would cost me. Some of the Morgans went for less than average eBay prices, but most about the same as well. The selection of coins is not as diverse as a regular auction, but it was okay. Only thing is your almost have to baby sit your selections the entire time, or wait til the last 30 minutes and see what you want to bid on. I will watch this site, especially on Tuesdays. No change on the NCS status... still waiting for evaluation. I was reading some FAQ questions on the NCS site, and saw that if I requested a concervation and grading, but the coin is not deemed suitable for conservation they will just send it back to me without grading? I wish they'd have some sort of choice box for that... I wouldd rather have the coins graded than just returned to me, so that I have to send them back them again. They also said it could take 4-6 weeks? Damn, they know how to keep a person_too_unaware_of_social_graces in suspense! ;)This weeks picture is latest addition to my Bulgarian collection, the 5 Stotinki coin in Brass Proof. It holds the image of the Madara Horseman on the obverse, and the denomination of the reverse. Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!
  22. SPHansen

    Gold Rush

    By SPHansen,

    ... or just when I thought I would never have gold coins!
    Coin Journal for the week of 03/12/2012 through 03/18/2012This has been a crazy week, indeed. I spend a lot of time looking through auctions all over the country... the internet is a wonderful tool. I found many coin auctions, but I know that there would be competition for anything of real value. So, I turned my gaze to other venues, ones where you'd never think to find coins, and literally stuck gold.This weeks treasures include:1909 $2.5 Indian Head1909 $2.5 Indian Head1849 $1 Liberty Head1851 $1 Liberty HeadSmall Hoard Buffalo Nickels1916-1919 Merc Dimes2009 DCT American Samoa Clad in PF70UCSmall Hoard of BU Walkers, Franklins and KennedysMany of these I found out in the field, and at amazing prices. The weeks I have spent digging up the small, out of the way venues has really started to pay off. I not only started up some great new relationships, but got some amazing bargains as well. The Mint has released a new product, the 2012 Birth Year set, a sort of truncated version of the proof set. I ordered several of these and will send them in to NGC for grading. I'll let you know how that turns out in a later journal.The first batch of coins for my Numismatic Geneaology custom set has finally made it through the NCS pipline and has been transferred to NGC for grading. I'm happy that all coins made it through the conservation process (none returned) and look forward to getting them back home soon. Of course I will share when they do.I also received my Star Spangled Banner proofs and MS coins from the mint... how beautiful they are in hand! They were immediately sent to NGC for grading, along with several other coins that I think will grade high. This is my first attempt to pre-grade, and know it will be a learning experience. Lets see how close I come!This weeks picture is of the latest addition to my Top Pop Roosie Set.Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  23. SPHansen

    Hang in there Ed!

    By SPHansen,

    You have plenty of time!
    Love the ATB quarters! I have my clads at NGC for grading now... regardless of the outcome, I will get a full PF70 and MS70 set for 2012... I have until December to get them, and so do you. I got my 4 certificates in the mail, too and it made my day. Funny how a simple act of recognition goes a long way My ATB quarter set is/was also number one, and will be again before the year is out... the prices are already dropping, and should be around $100 come Fall. You don't have to be first, you just have to finish This will happen to all the sets as the new coins come out and NGC adds them to the registry, so no worries... and I'll see at the top
  24. SPHansen

    I Hear You Baron...

    By SPHansen,

    ... and I am not offended by what you say.
    Everyone should be able to, and not fear speaking what they feel in our society. I try not to be a whiner, but sometimes I get upset and speak my mind. I never take offense when someone puts forward a differing opinion.. you never know when someone will convince me I am wrong.
    Before tonight, I never really cared about who had what coin in what set... after thinking about it, I decided to join the fray... I purchased several PCGS dimes to add to my registry sets... and I do this to support my fellow collectors.
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  25. SPHansen

    I Think I Got It!

    By SPHansen,

    What do you think?
    I think I fianlly got the right settings for the new camera... here is the latest image... I would love to hear from my fellow collectors!

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