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SPHansen

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Journal Entries posted by SPHansen

  1. SPHansen

    I'm Glad too Moondoggy!

    By SPHansen,

    Inspired by a great fellow collector!
    I love moondoggy's set up, and am inspired to build my own tent. The set up that I lost in on eBay was priced at $15, so I wasn't about to pay $50+ for one!
    I purchased my new camera this morning... a Pentax K10D. I chose Pentax because my 35mm camera is a Pentax, and all the lenses (which are the most expensive parts, as moondoggy found out!) can be used with it... also, I got it for about half the price I could on any sites, even used. When it arrives, I'll refine my image process even more. Meanwhile, here's the latest addition to my Merc Short Set...
    Good Hunting!

  2. SPHansen

    Image Quest Continues!

    By SPHansen,

    Am I getting better?
    So, I've been on this quest to get the best possible images of my coins possible. Here I have added two 400 watt studio lights diffused, and using a really crappy point n shoot digital camera. I am going to finally spring for a much nicer SLR digital in the next day or so. I have my eye on a Pentax K10D... (because I have several lenses for Pentax SLRs)
    I like the contract between the field and the devices... do my fellow collectors agree? Would love feedback on this latest attempt...

  3. SPHansen
    ... its about the collector.
    Sorry, Paul, I disagree. This is not about the grading companies, nor their contest with each other. This is about the collector, who should be the REAL focus of this. I think that has been lost by these people. Its called the COLLECTOR's Society, and any decision should be made in the best interests of the collector, period.
    Making collector's split their collection tracking for no reason is uncalled for and just plain annoying. Give the collector the OPTION to list their PCGS coins here, but when it comes to NGC awards, then don't count them... but many don't give a damn about the competition.. its about the collection.
    I say any move to limit a collector's options is wrong.
  4. SPHansen
    ... or have to wait a few more days for the latest grades!
    Coin Journal for the week of 04/03/2012 through 04/09/2012This past week saw me continuing to frequent all the auctions I can find to grab those few good deals to submit for grading. I managed to get some nice Walkers this week, along with a few odds n ends that I thought were exciting.This week's treasures I found were:1916 S Buffalo 5c1919 S Buffalo 5c1912 P Barber 10c1913 P Barber 10c2010 Brass USNA Trade $1 Type Coin by Daniel Carr1982 Penny Set x21941 D Walker1942 P Walker1942 D Walker1943 P Walker1944 P Walker1945 P Walker1970 Mint Sets x6Most of these will go to NGC for grading... expecting the Walkers to grade around MS64. The Penny sets are the 7 different penny types for the year. The Buffalo nickels I got cheap to fill in a some holes in a circulated set I plan to sell once complete. I was disappointed with the barber dimes, as they both have defects that will earn them Details grades... oh well, can't win them all. The Daniel Carr dollar is one of only 200 made, and I got it at about half the going price on eBay. I like his stuff, and it is becoming very popular. I was just reading Gary's journal about the registry points system... and I have to agree. I don't see the sense in having 3/4 of the grades all having the same value, and only the very top few with monster points. Why isn't there a standard point value used for each coin? I'd be very interested in seeing the formula used to determine points, although I don't think one exists based on what I see. The Birth Year mini proof sets are currently in the Grading/QA phase... just missed having them done before the weekend, which means a few more days of waiting... like the old joke, NGC knows how to keep a person_too_unaware_of_social_graces in suspense ;)Busy weekend ahead, with the holiday and all... hope everyone's is happy and safe. No picture this week...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.
  5. SPHansen

    Last Straw

    By SPHansen,

    !!!
    First I'd like to say gratz to those who got awards... But none of those sets which got 'Best Presented' was presented anywhere near the quality, or had the effort that I put into my Presidents set.
    It shows me that NGC doesn't really give a damn, nor makes decisions based on the parameters they set forth.
    Tell me this set is better than mine?
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/awards/WinningSetDetail.aspx?AwardSetID=29979
    Or that any of the awarded sets beats this one?
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=128310
    Sorry, but I'm not buying it...
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  6. SPHansen

    Latest Results

    By SPHansen,

    ... and I'm pleased as punch!
    After some consideration, I decided to use my free 5 gradings certificate to add to my graded Bulgarian collection. I have a few proofs that I have had graded already, but no circulation coins as of yet... until now.
    The 1992 regular circulation coins are notoriously difficult to get in high grades, since there are no mint sets to draw from, and no examples to purchase. This means that if I want them, I have to send them in myself. I spent some time searching for what I believed to be at least MS64 or better coins that had to come from rolls... I managed to put together a set that I felt would grade at least 64. Sent them in, and just got the results.
    1992 50 Stotinki ... MS65
    1992 Lev ........... MS64
    1992 2 Leva ........ MS66
    1992 5 Leva ........ MS64
    1992 10 Leva ....... MS65
    As far as I know, and according to the NGC census, these are the only graded examples thus far. I still have the 10S and 20S to send in, as well as the three 1997 coins to acquire. The 97s are proving to be even tougher to get!
    I'm hoping to put together a proposal list of Bulgarian sets (like all 1s coins, all 1L coins, etc.) I have stand-in pics in right now, and will add the real thing when they arrive.
    Cheers!
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  7. SPHansen

    Milestones!

    By SPHansen,

    ... or Slow and Steady wins the Race!
    Coin Journal for the week of 02/13/2012 through 02/19/2013This week sees several milestones for my collection, the beginning of several new registry sets, and an additional direction in my collecting habits. Overall, it has been a great week, both in collecting and my personal life. A new contract may hold a larger collecting budget in my future, so fingers crossed there! I splurged a little this week, purchasing not only bargain coins, but acquiring some higher priced examples as well (still at great prices, tho!) Here are this weeks additions to my collection: 1958 Jefferson in PF66 2007 D Madison FDI in MS66 1941 Jefferson in MS64 2009 Bronze Cent Presidency in PR70UC 2006 Sac Dollar in PF70UC 2011 Daniel Carr Ike Military Industrial Complex 1948 S Jefferson Nickel in MS65 2007 Jefferson Nickel in PF70UC 1963 Franklin Half in MS64 2010 Sac Dollar in PF70UC 1941 D Jefferson in MS66 5FS 2009 Silver DCT Virgin Islands in PF70UC 1941 S Merc Dime in MS66 1942 S Merc Dime in MS66 1962 D Franklin Half in MS63 1963 D Franklin Half in MS64 1973 Ike Dollar in MS63 My first grab of the week was a 58 proof Jefferson. It had no bids with a minute to go, and the price was within my range, so I decied to snag it. I have not been concentrating on proof nickels so much, so this one becomes my earliest graded example in the set. It's a pretty coin, and a nice little addition. Another presidential grab this week... the Madison D marks the 50% complete mark for my circulation strike prezzies! It is slow going, with the acquisition of one coin here and one coin there, but keeping with my bargain hunting formula, I will eventually complete the set at a much less cost than just going out and buying them en masse. This milsetone coin cost me a whopping $3.84 Actually grabbed this 41 Jeffy MS66 while at a karaoke party using the eBay app on my iPhone! So I not only sang karaoke for the first time in my life, but I managed to add a great coin to my collection for under $10... and thats something to sing about The perfect 09 Proof 70UC Presidency Cent was a last minute find... I was browsing the lists, and with only a few minutes left, this caught my eye. I have never seen a single coin in PF70 available, and haven't even seen the sets lately. With the sets going for about $240, I figured I would snag this one on the cheap, and keep an eye out for the others. This beauty came in under $30, which I think is a great bargain. This coin also hits a milestone... my graded coin collection has now surpassed the 400 mark with no signs of slowing down. I actually passed up some very inexpensive statehoods this week, simply because I do not like getting ripped off with shipping. Let me give those who sell on eBay some advice; either charge nothing for shipping or charge what it costs. Combine shipping for items on one invoice. Try to charge me 3 or 4 times that so you can make a few more bucks on a coin is just sleasy business practice. You are losing bids, and costing yourself more... buyers are passing over auctions with ridiculous shipping. And stop starting your auctions at stupid high prices.. all you are doing is wasting your time as no one is going to give you double what the coin is currently selling for everywhere else on eBay. Oh, and if you combine shipping, please write that in your description... I cannot stand lazy sellers!!! The 2006 Sac dollar is the first coin I picked up for my newly split Sac collection. I originally had just PF69UCs in my registry set, with the exception of the 2011. I knew I'd be looking for the 2010 coin in 70 to bring my proof set up to a number 1 ranking in the registry. In anticipation of this, I created a new registry set for 69s and one for 70s. I will be looking to fill in the 70 set (with bargains, of course), and the 2006 is the first to join my team Hopefully, the 2010 coin will be joining close on its heels! While listening to The Coin Show podcast, they had an interview with Daniel Carr on one episode, and mentioned his work in later episodes. I have to admit I had not heard of him, but after a visit to his website, and some research on eBay, I found that his work is popular and very good. I decided that to snag a copper version of the Ike dollar he did and add it to my Ike Dansco collection. The Dansco album has four unused slots on the last page of the album, and I hate wasted space. I added the Ike commemorative to the first empty slot, and put the plastic disks from the Blue Ike packages in the other three. Now, this item will fill one of those spaces, and add a bit of fun and whimsy to my raw collection. The 48 Jeffie was a coin that looked really nice, and had an extremely low bid with an hour left... I watched, and bid at the end, and snagged it for $7.59... it was quickly followed by a PF70UC Jeffie to fill a hole. I wound up passing on some 6FS coins this time.. the price was fair, but I had some other coins coming up that I really wanted, and I had already gotten several nickels this week. Wow, the Franklin half was an unforseen purchase... it was not at a bad price, the pictures of the coin looked nice, and there were no bids! I could find nothing that would deter anyone from bidding, so in the last moments, I put in the initial bid and won it. This is my first graded example of a Franklin... time to start another registry set The 2010 Sacagawea is mine! This gives me a #1 ranked 2010 Proof set... next stop, 2009! Those darn proof cents will be the killer there. I saw this 41D Jeffie in an awesome grade with 5 full steps, and feel in love with it. Think I paid an outstanding price for it... $33.00. I originally set my sights on adding MS jeffersons that only had the FS designation, but have not kept strictly to it. I never thought I could add an early FS to my set any time soon, but what a pleasant surprise This week marks the beginning of my Type Set collections... another milestone for me. I had thought about type sets for awhile, and decided to jump right on in. I have a great start on my 20th century types, and I think my 21st century proofs only type set will be a contender! I think this will be a fun direction to take, and I look forward to it... I also want to be able to start 19th century type sets soon. I have these in raw form, but not graded... yet! The Silver Virgin Islands coin was one that I found while looking over the list to see if I can fill in any gaps in my type sets... it was listed at $20 and buy it now for $22... so I grabbed it. The trend for these has been between $25 and $30, so I think it was a good deal. It is also my first example of a silver DCT quarter, and goes along with the PF70 Virgin Island clad. I decided to grab the 41 S Merc to complete the mint marks for 41. I was the only bidder for this beauty, which was a surprize because it went for about half NGCs price guide value, I guess you can't look a gift horse in the mouth! Speaking of gift horses, I was gobsmacked when I placed the opening bid of $3 on a 42 Merc in MS66, and won it with that bid. Shipping was a bit high at $5.95, but that makes the total cost $8.95! What a buy! My NGC coins arrived today. Just wanted to report that there was no problem with the order, the capsules are all clean, and all the labels are flat and properly placed
  8. SPHansen

    Money Mecca

    By SPHansen,

    ... or I go to da place where dey Mecca da Money!
    Currency Journal for July 25, 2012I posted this on the PMG registry today, but wanted to share with my coin collecting friends as well :)Being an avid coin collector, I have always wanted to tour one of the US Mint facilities. Not being close to any of them has made this a dream yet to be fulfilled. Having recently become a collector of US currency, it dawned on me that I live very close to one of the two BEP printing facilities, the BEP's Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth, Texas. A quick search on the internet told me that tours are conducted pretty much every day, and walk-ups are welcomed. I have free time this week, so I elected to be spontaneous and take the free tour.I set out early this morning, and after an hour-long drive arrived at the BEP Facility. You pull up to a small parking lot reserved for visitors. A recorded voice welcomes you, and reminds you that you cannot bring cameras, phones, backpacks, etc. and to leave them in your car. I did just that and entered the small security building just outside the gates. You go through a scanner, just like at the airport, and then wait for the next shuttle bus to arrive to take inside. The bus arrived less than a minute, and the ten others there and I boarded and we were on our way. It is just a short ride, and I was impressed at how much security there was there. Double fences, cameras and barbed wire surround the entire complex. You are dropped of in front of the Visitor's Center (the pyramid topped building in the photo) and greeted warmly. A receptionist welcomes you and tells you all the different places to go and see. There are two floors, and lots to keep you oohing and aahing. THe first thing that drew my attention was a display with plates that you could touch. It is amazing how tiny the details are, almost imperceptible to the touch. From there I watched a demonstration on how note were printed in the 1800's. An original spider press was there, over 125 years old, and still in working order. Tom (the demonstrator) showed how the plates were inked, cleaned and then set into the press. Placing a sheet of paper on the plate, he spun the wheel and presto, a printed image was made. The image was of an old $10,000 note. The other plates he had there were of the $1000 Watermelon reverse, and the faces of the Educational notes. These were breaktaking, and the sample images were something you wished you could take with you! From there, I toured the galleries, seeing things like the different counterfeit notes made by specific notorious counterfeiters over the past century. They had a special exhibit on the $100 note, with examples of every type ever made in the US. More exhibits included sections on each part of the process used to create our notes today. Some are interactive, and one I enjoyed was trying to spot the errors on a batch of $20 notes. I was able to find three of the four errors rather quickly, but that fourth one eluded me for awhile. Fortune was smiling on me today, as they had a special event there. Only three times a year, they have a day where the actual engravers, printers and other craftsmen there are on the floor to take questions and show you what they do with actual materials. I spent lots of time there having a great conversations with these guys. They are so knowledgeable, and enjoyed talking about their work. I also learned that a new $2 has been printed, and is in the vaults waiting to be released this fall... I'll be watching for this new series eagerly! The deuce is my favorite note, and was the first note ever given to me as a collectible (1976 series). The tour is all automated now, and you take it at your own pace. They give you a map, and a wand that looks like a remote control for your tv. The tour takes place in an enclosed walkway above the floor of the facility. You actually watch the money being printed, checked, cut and bricked. THe first thing that hits you is the staggering amount of cash sitting just below your feet. Billions of dollars are there, and that is just what you can see. More is stored in the vaults, ready for when orders are placed. When you arrive at one of nine stations, you press the number into your wand, and then hold it to your ear like a phone. You are told about what is happening below you at that point. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and I was surprised at how many people were there; I'd estimate 100+. Despite that, it wasn't crowded or uncomfortable at all. There was plenty of room up there, and comfortably air conditioned.After that, I moved on to the theater, where they has a short 15 minute film about how notes are made. It punctuates the experience nicely.Finally, I made my way to the Gift Shop. Of course, everything you can find on the BEP online store is there, but to my surprise, it is much cheaper! You don't have to pay shipping, etc. I picked up a 2012 $2 Single note for $4.99, and a cool BEP t-shirt with the image of Washington's image from the $1 note. A short shuttle ride back to the car, and I was on my way home. I spent just over 2 hours inside the facility, but it seemed like 2 minutes. I was so engaged, and there was so much to see. A wonderful adventure, especially for a fledgling collector!The image below is of the facility as seen from the parking lot, with an inset of the sign at the entrance. I wish I could have shown you the sites, but as I said before.. no cameras allowed. I hope that everyone of my fellow collectors can experience a tour of the BEP... it is well worth it!Ciao for now!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  9. SPHansen

    Moving On

    By SPHansen,

    Trying to forget the last few months...
    So, here I am.. a new year with so many new possibilities. I need to work hard to forget the two travesties that threatened to sour my feelings for my beloved hobby of coin collecting.
    First was the nonsense with the Mint back in October... not being able to get my 25th Anniversary set, and watching insufficiently_thoughtful_person after insufficiently_thoughtful_person post videos of them opening their 5 sets on YouTube. Getting emails from dealers willing to pay a few dollars over cost for sets if you bought them on their behalf, and seeing them post sets for 4 to 5 times that price. It disgusts me still, and I have severed ties to these dealers, vowing to never buy from them again.
    Second was the disappointing Registry Awards... seeing sub-par presentations getting top honors is so ridiculous, it's nauseating. I read one journal about how changing criteria is a good thing. Really? Nonsense, I say. I refuse to chase a moving target, like a cat trying to catch the beam of a laser pointer. NGC gets my 2011 'Middle Finger' Award for outstanding incompetence for this... congratulations!
    Having sufficiently vented, time to move on. Looking forward to adding to my Roosevelt collection, and continuing the perfect sets of Proof Presidential Dollars, Union Shield Proofs and Proof ATB Quarters. Might even add more to my Walker set, if budget permits.
    Good Hunting to us all.
  10. SPHansen

    My Precious!

    By SPHansen,

    ... or my find of the day!
    Just spent 19+ hours at the computer attending auctions all over the country. I spent the first few hours checking out the goods, terms of auctions, etc, to see which ones I wanted to watch. The first auction started at 8:30am my time and ended about 11:30pm. I picked up some amazing deals... a couple more gold coins, and a nice variety of others, but this is the prize of the day. Can't wait to get it to NGC for encapulation!
    1886 P Seated Liberty Dime with amazing rainbow toning on front and back... should hit MS65.
    Wanted to share with my CS friends right away...

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  11. SPHansen

    My Presidents Set

    By SPHansen,

    The frame work is complete....
    Since the registry awards in January, I have been working very hard to create a set that would be a contender for Best Presented. I played around with several styles of image display, and thought about which set to give my attention. I finally decided that it would be my Presidential Dollar set, a number one ranked set in its category. I love history, and decided that I could inject that passion into its presentation.
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetGallery.aspx?PeopleSetID=128310
    Each coin has been photographed and placed onto a backdrop of the American Flag. Under each coin there is also a brief summary of that President's term in office, as well as some of the numismatic highlights that occurred during that term. Each summary is completely original, written by me and not copied from another source. I am very proud of the set, and would love everyone to check it out and give me some feedback if you feel so inclined. I really feel I have a shot at the award, and will be making tweeks here and there to make it the best I can.
    Thanks for reading, and look forward to any responses!

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  12. SPHansen
    ... or The Bulgarian Registry Sets have arrived!
    1028/2012Yes, its been awhile since I posted a journal, but been very busy with two jobs and getting my currency collection underway. Have managed to pick up a few coins here and there, but nothing really major.I saw that things were picking up again with the registry sets being added, and I poked my head in and asked about the Bulgarian sets... and presto! NGC delivered. I was able to put the three graded coins I have into the sets, and eagerly await the grading of the 5 I put in at the ANA Show in Dallas last week. Should be knowing the results sometime next week, which I'll share. Also looking forward to the upcoming Registry Awards... I've worked very hard on my Prez Proof set, and hope it will be a contender this year!Posting a pic of one of my Bulgarian Treasures :)Ciao 4 NowTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  13. SPHansen
    ... because I am stumped!
    Many years ago, I received some coins from my mother-in-law. I was very busy at the time, and put them away for safe keeping. Today, I dragged them out to bring the ancients to a coin show for see if they were actually real Roman coins. They are genuine, but that is not what I'm speaking of today.
    In that batch were several old coins, most of which are silver from the late 1800s to early 1900s. The only coin I cannot identify is this one. Seems to be in Arabic -script, and is about the size of a Morgan dollar. Is there anyone who can point me in the right direction... a clue to its nationality, etc.? Any help would be appreciated!

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  14. SPHansen

    NGC / PCGS Reply

    By SPHansen,

    My reply to Bully
    Bully makes some good points... Since I started purchasing graded coins, I have always preferred NGC over PCGS. The reason is that I just like the holders better... to me they are more aesthetically pleasing.
    I also see that PCGS coins seem to cost more, but the reason this is so escapes me. Could it be that PCGS puts a higher FMV on their coins? Another reason I ignore FMV listings and Price Guides is that they are inconsistent and IMHO arbitrary.
    Also lets see if this journal will allow for forum dialog.
    Whatever the motivation behind it, collectors are hedging their bets and, I think, trying to avoid the emotional nonsense that came with the World Set debacle. Who wants to have to worry about all that?
    I wonder if there are any NGC and PCGS fanboys like Mac and PC users... I feel a parody commercial coming on!
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  15. SPHansen
    What is your opinion?
    I wrote NGC about the nickel type set... currently, the set has only one slot for the Westward Journey nickels of 2004 and 2005. Kathy answered saying that they consider the WWJ series as a single type, and that most type set collectors would want it that way. I think that two distinctly different designs on a coin, regardless of the series name, each deserve a slot in the set. She suggested I write and get the opinions of the other collectors, so here I am. I want to have the set changed to reflect the two unique coins.
    What do you think? If you agree, I would like to know so I can petition for the change. Hopefully, this journal will go to the boards so answers will be public and easy for NGC to see.
    Thanks!
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  16. SPHansen

    Numismatic Geneaology!

    By SPHansen,

    Specials coins get the special treatment...
    Today I sent in some very special coins to be conserved and graded. These will not be very high grades, in fact, I hope they will grade in the fine to very fine range. They are special for another reason. First, here are some of the coins I sent in:
    1899 Indian Head Cent
    1852 Braided Hair Large Cent
    1854 Braided Hair Large Cent
    These are part of a very special custom set I am going to put together... what I will call my Numismatic Geneaology Set.
    The 1899 coin is the actual coin that my Great Grandparents saved on the day my grandfather was born. It was passed on to me by my maternal grandmother, and now I am going to have it conserved, graded and encapsulated for posterity.
    The 1852 and 1854 cents were from my Great-Great Grandparents who were merchants that immigrated to the US and opened a shop in NYC. I got these from my paternal Grand Mother, who did not collect coins but had these stored away. I got them along with many other genealogical treasures after she passed.
    I also have the pocket change that my maternal great gandparents had in their pockets when they arrived in this country in 1895. They are not US coins, but I will have them conserved and encapsulated on the next round of submissions. Also, I have the coins and notes my Great Uncle brought home from Nazi Germany after he competed in the Berlin Olympics in 1936 (he kept them in a Bell Bank that he bought there... the bell was the symbol of that Olympics)
    I want to add photos of my ancestors along with the newly graded coins when they return home, as well as the story of the coin itself. I finally thought of a way to combine two loves into one presentation!
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  17. SPHansen

    Plugging Those aps

    By SPHansen,

    Grabbed some nice gap-fillers
    Continuing my change-over from raw to certified coins, I managed to grab some gap fillers...
    1985 PF69UC Jefferson Nickel
    1992 PF69UC Jefferson Nickel
    1965 SMS MS66 Wshington Quarter
    2009 SMS MS67 WH Harris Dollar
    Each of those for under $5... as well as:
    2001 PF69UC Kennedy Half
    This one for for just under $7
    Not bad... the coins for my other collections are running a bit high atm, so I'll let them slide by for now. Also have bids on several Wheaties in MS66 that are super cheap. Lets see if I can snag them, and add to my pathetic Wheaties graded Wheaties collection
  18. SPHansen
    ... I think so too.
    It is time for the Kennedy to retire... however, what is the likelihood of that? On one hand, they only make the coin because they have to.. it's not used in commerce, so will they take the time, effort, expense, etc. to change it?
    On the other hand, the Mint is in a phase of pumping out coins to generate interest and boost sales, so it may come to pass. Maybe they will pull a '09 Lincoln', make an anniversary set, and change the design for 2015? Only time will tell, I suppose.
    While MLK is a worthy subject, I'd much rather see a return to Liberty coin designs... the recent SSB commemorative seems to be a great success for them, and perhaps they will take the hint.
  19. SPHansen
    ... I think so too.
    It is time for the Kennedy to retire... however, what is the likelihood of that? On one hand, they only make the coin because they have to.. it's not used in commerce, so will they take the time, effort, expense, etc. to change it?
    On the other hand, the Mint is in a phase of pumping out coins to generate interest and boost sales, so it may come to pass. Maybe they will pull a '09 Lincoln', make an anniversary set, and change the design for 2015? Only time will tell, I suppose.
    While MLK is a worthy subject, I'd much rather see a return to Liberty coin designs... the recent SSB commemorative seems to be a great success for them, and perhaps they will take the hint.
  20. SPHansen

    Results!

    By SPHansen,

    Nice surprise
    After reading about the quickness of the grading at NGC, I decided to check on my first order.. I had hoped it would be scheduled for grading, but to my great surprise, the coins are graded and on their back already.. about a week since I mailed them.. that's awesome! Here are the results:
    LineItem Year Mint Mark Variety/Pedigree Denom. Grade Comments
    001 2012 S CLAD EL YUNQUE 25C PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
    002 2012 S CLAD CHACO 25C PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
    003 2012 S CLAD ACADIA 25C PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
    004 2012 S CLAD VOLCANOES 25C PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
    005 2012 S CLAD DENALI 25C PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
    Not bad... not bad at all
  21. SPHansen

    Slim Pickings

    By SPHansen,

    ... or people wanting stupid money for mundane coins!
    Coin Journal for the week of 03/05/2012 through 03/11/2012This week saw a drastc drop in bargains on all the sites. Sellers putting up auctions with outrageous starting prices and insulting shipping costs. I shook my head, and went looking for some baragins in raw coins, especially those for my Bulgarian and Space Themed custom sets. I also did some selling this week, and made a dollar or two. Here are the treasures I added to my collection this week: 1991 Roosevelt in PR70 UC (Heritage) 2008 Kazakhstan 50 Tenge Space Ship Vostok of 1961 BU (raw) 1992 Russia 3 Rubles Year of Space Proof (raw) 2000 Jefferson Nickel in PR70 UC (Heritage) 2003 Jefferson Nickel in PR70 UC (Heritage) 2004 WWJ Nickel Keelboat in PF70 UC (Heritage) 2005 WWJ Nickel Ocean in PF70 UC (Heritage) 1992 Washington Quarter in PF70 UC (Heritage) 1995 Washington Quarter in PF70 UC (Heritage) 1996 Washington Quarter in PF70 UC (Heritage) 2009 DCT Quarter Puerto Rico in PF70 UC (Heritage) The Roosie was obtained at a decent price... I think this is because they seem to have at least one in each auction and it was just my turn. Looking to see if I can continue to add a top pop dime at least once a week. I was looking over the higher ranked sets and there are LOTS of PCGS coins in there. If NGC pulls them, there will be a big shake up there, as I imagine there would be in all competition sets. A couple of nice space coins from around the world were prioced just right, and are on their way to me. I think it is a shame that the US does not have any real space themed coins... commemorative or otherwise. Ohio and Florida statehoods, the Ike dollar reverse and possibly the SBA reverse are the only ones I know of. Grabbed several coins from Heritage this week since eBay has been bargain free this week... these are both upgrades and additions to my nickel and quarter sets. I've been looking to fill in gaps in the proof sets, and beef up the type sets. Speaking of which... I noticed that the nickel type set has a single slot for the Westward Journey nickels, covering both 2004 and 2005. I think this is a mistake, as the 04 has the originial Jefferson profile on the obverse, while the 05 has the single year type obverse. These are two different types, and should each have their own slots. Am I wrong here? As I prepare to p[ost this journal, I read a new post from John Robinson... and would like to respond. I am not surprised by your finds. The 50s were a time when people hoarded coins by the rolls. I often come across entire rolls of coins that were obviously hoarded. Some try to sell the coins on eBay, but when they find out that the coins are not very valuable, they just release them back into circulation. I can't tell you how many rolls of nickels from the 40s and 50s I come across! The most surprising find I had was a 1906 V nickel... I guess not many know what it is, and just assume its a foreign coin (which I see often as well). Nice pull on the 58, tho. Also on the way this week are several proof and mint state examples of the beautiful new Star Spangle Banner commemoratives. I really do like the way this coin looks! I'm going to get them all slabbed, and sell most to help pay for mine. THis weeks image is the oldest slabbed coin I have, the 1835 Capped Bust dime. It is a details coin, but I still enjoy it so much. I can imagine the feeling of getting one in MS condition! Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!
  22. SPHansen

    Sniped!

    By SPHansen,

    A week of last second losses, but still fruitful...
    Journal for the week of 01/23/2012 to 01/29/2012Seems I was very unlucky this week.. having been outbid in the last couple of seconds for many auctions. The one that really got me was not even a coin, but related to them. I put a bid on a table top light studio so I could have a real setup to image my coins. I stayed high bidder until the last seconds, and lost it. No matter.. there was another one only a couple of hours away from ending, and there were no bids on it at all. It was the same set up, but used, and one of the bulbs for the lamps was burned out. No problem... I did the research and found replacement bulbs pretty quickly. So, I left the site for the bulbs up, placed a bid and waited. And again, in the last 2 seconds, someone put in a crazy bid, and stole it from me. Mad was not the word to describe what I felt! So now, I have to wait another week for the next one at a reasonable price to come up... which brings me to another thought. It makes me wonder who is selling coins on eBay. I watch auctions, and I see what certain coins are going for... it is usually fairly consistent over a period of time. Then I see the 'Buy It Now' offers and they are outrageous. What sort of insufficiently_thoughtful_person thinks they can put a coin up for 2 to 3 times the price they go for in an auction? And not only that, but inferior coins at inferior grades! Are they greedy or really just that stupid? Or another thing, where they put up a coin at around the same price, and then want to charge $15 for shipping? WTF? I just filter out the BIN listings now; they never sell anyway. . I remember what one pawn shop owner told me when I made an offer on an item he had way, way overpriced... 'I'll find some sucker to sell it to." So that being said, here are this week's pickings: 2011 P Gettysburg Quarter in MS67 1968 S Washington Quarter in PF68 Ca 2007 D Jefferson Dollar in MS66 2004 D Handshake Nickel in MS66 2004 D Keelboat Nickel in MS66 2011 P Australia Colorized Christmas Tree Dollar in PF69ER 1964 Memorial Cent in PF68RD 1941 Mercury Dime in MS65 2008 P JQ Adams Dollar in MS66 FDI 1971 S Jefferson Nickel in PF67 W UC The Gettysburg ATB quarter is an upgrade from my current MS66 that I got cheap (of course!) The 68 Quarter makes me smile, since that is the year I started collecting.. I was the ripe age of 6 The 07 Jefferson Dollar was a great score at $2.99... I thought about picking up some of the Prezzy dollars in MS65 to fill the holes, but I held off and will stick to my MS66 minimum for the set. Also, I see alot of those dollars graded at only BU... Why bother grading them at all? Seems a waste, and I rarely see them sell at all. The 04 Westward Journey nickels were less than $5 a piece shipped. I enjoy these nickels, especially since they lead to the changing of the coin's obverse in 05 and again in 06. I really like the new obverse for the Jefferson Nickel, and was excited to see if they would do the same for the (then) upcoming revision of the Lincoln cent. The new obverse makes the coin look modern and sleek, IMHO. Too bad they didn't do it for the cent, an opportunity lost. The Australian Christmas Tree coin (my first Australian coin!) is just fun... liked and got it! The 64 memorial cent is a great looking coin, and I was lucky to grab it at a really good price. I'm really enjoying getting certified versions of the coins that I first collected way back when. Of course, 1964 is the year that the first Kennedy Half appeared, and its staggering to realize that the 50 year anniversary is only a couple of years away! Wonder if the Mint will do something with the half like the Lincoln cent in 09? And another great find for my newly created 41-45 Mercury short set! The second coin I was able to pick up for under $20, which makes me and budget so happy A quick little grab was the JQ Adams P dollar, as real steal at $3.25 shipped. I love the presidential dollar series, not only because the coins look so good, but because I'm a history buff. JQ Adams was the sone of our second president, John Adams (the only father/son pair along with Elder Bush and W). For his first term, Adams ran against Andrew Jackson, and actually lost the popular vote. Jackson, however, did not get a majority of the electoral votes, so the matter was taken to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay (who came in fourth in the 1824 presidential race) chose Adams, to the outrage of Jackson and his supporters. Clay was then appointed as Secretary of State by Adams. This became known as the 'Corrupt Bargain', and ruined any chance for Adams to accomplish anything during his term. The 1971 Jefferson proof was a nice little find... especially in and Ultra Cameo. Getting that UC is tough before they refined the minting process, and I'm estatic that I got this for the whopping price of $2.23 That's it for this week... I think I'll have a chance to add a few choice PF70UCs to my Roosie collection, and happily so since its been rather a slow month for this collection This week's pic is one of my favorite modern coins.. the 2010 PF70UC Lincoln Shield... I'm only sad that they did not take the opportunity to update the obverse image like they did with the Jefferson nickel; an opportunity lost IMHO.
  23. SPHansen

    So Close!

    By SPHansen,

    ... but just a half step too late!
    Just back from a show in Ft Worth... met some familiar faces, and a few new ones. It was a great show, and picked up a few choice items for my collection and the site.
    As I was chatting to one dealer, I learned that he had just sold a 1942 T1 NGC MS66 5FS Jefferson, which I have been looking for to finish out the nickel portion of my 1942 Mint set (as a memorial to my late mother). And I really groaned when I heard the price... $90
    That would have been such a coup for the day, but that's life in Coin City. I guess.
    Pic is one of my Bulgarian beauties
    S.

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  24. SPHansen

    Some Advice Please

    By SPHansen,

    To conserve or not?
    Check out this merc...
    http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=131303&lotNo=29045
    I'm looking to add to my 1942 mint set, but I'm not happy with the toning... to me it detracts from the coins appearance. Do you think it is worth getting, and having conserved and reholdered? Would conserving the coin run the risk of changing the grade?
    Appreciate any advice. Thanks
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  25. SPHansen
    Inspired to share my Bulgarian coins
    Inspired by JAA's excellent and inforamtive series on his Phillipine coins, I wanted to share my growing interest in Bulgarian coins. My wife being Bulgarian, we often have occassion to travel there. I did some reasearch on their coinage, and learned a few things that interested me.
    First, the Bulgarian National Bank is also responsible for minting coins. You can go to the bank in Sofia, and they have a specific teller who handles proof sets and the commemoratives. Mintages are very low (the below example commemorative has a mintage of 4000), and I rarely, if never, see a Bulgarian coin certified. I did find two examples so far, of an NGC certified proof coin from the last proof set they minted in 2002.
    The certified coin is a 2 Stotinki coin in PF67UC. The commemorative is a very interesting coin, and is the one that made me fall in love with Bulgarian commemorative at first sight. This is a 2011 .999 silver and gold 10 Leva coin honoring Gena Dimitrova, a Bulgarian Opera Singer. The Obverse shows the logo of the Bulgarian National Bank, the denomination and the year of issue. The reverse shows Gena Dimitrova as Princess Turandot. The inscription reads 'Great Bulgarian Voices' above her, and her name below. I love the three tone look of the coin, with the outer ring double-oxidized, the obverse silver and the reverse in gold.
    I'm thinking of sending in my Bulgarian commemoratives for grading... I'm wanting to pick up a few more before I do, especially the ones deling with space flight so i can add them to my custom set dealing with that subject.