Zebo

On 3/14/2024 at 6:22 AM, VKurtB said:

Yeah, maybe the CCP needs gold for bullets when they invade Taiwan. Me? I’d prefer to collect broken fuselages from downed Communist Chinese planes. 

Your comment reminds me of the coins produced in the Polish Ghetto using metal from downed aircraft during World War II. 

@goldfinger1969 - a blurb that you might like:

Data from the World Gold Council shows that consumer demand for gold in China (in the form of jewellery, coins and bars) rose 16% in 2023, with gold jewellery demand up 12% and bar and coin demand up 27%.[1] Whilst this data is significant in and of itself, it’s the specific dynamics of that demand that may shine a light on what the future holds for gold demand in the world’s largest gold market.

Sure would be nice to find it! Interesting - I might have to pick up that book as well.

Some more notable than others on the list. None for their coin collecting as far as I know.

Well maybe just outside of DC. DC is a mess.

On 3/10/2024 at 12:24 PM, RWB said:

This letter, written long before William Bigelow became involved in half eagle coin design, suggests that no Saint-Gaudens half eagles were struck for circulation because of Congress' debate about requiring "In God We Trust" on the new coin designs.

Inaction is often the better option.

On 3/6/2024 at 6:54 PM, VKurtB said:

Because Juan deserves another. 

Kurt, you’ve been noticeably quiet lately - how did your trip end up? Any spectacular finds?

On 3/6/2024 at 3:13 PM, GoldFinger1969 said:

You should see if the French Central Bank has some publications or internal communications on Roosters, French monetary policy, etc.

France's role in The Great Depression has gotten alot more attention in the last 30 years.  I just ordered GOLDEN FETTERS by Barry Eichengreen.   Lots more coverage on gold flows (and maybe gold coins like Roosters ?) between the citizenry and the CBs.

 

Looks like an interesting book. Will wait for the review.

On 3/5/2024 at 4:58 PM, Henri Charriere said:

🐓:  You know what this means don't you?

Q.A.:  Yup, a book on gold roosters is but a pipe dream. When we're long gone it'll be every collector for himself. 

Maybe you should write a book. 

After twenty years for a second edition, I might buy it for the heck of it.

Information may surface between editions, but is it really worth publishing a new edition for the small amount of new information? If the new information was significant - maybe, but condition rarities - no thanks. 

On 2/28/2024 at 4:12 PM, RWB said:

Thank you! Your kind remarks are much appreciated.

I enjoyed the article as usual. Nice work.

1858 Pikes Peak Gold Rush occurred and the Carson City Mint closed in 1893. 

On 2/27/2024 at 2:56 PM, RWB said:

I don't know. Could it have ended up in the Philadelphia Cabinet? (It does not appear in Comparette's 1914 "CATALOGUE OF COINS, TOKENS, AND MEDALS.") Possibly the Coiner? He gave one to his brother, why not himself.

A "big deal" was made of striking a few 1905 bronze tokens and donating one to the state archives. But nothing mentioned about DE #6 or any of the first coins....quarters made Feb 15, 1906.

I would not put it past the Coiner and possibly why he didn’t document it. This reminds me of the first six Sydney sovereigns that were struck and documented where they went (or to who). The last year of operations for the Sydney Mint. 

On 2/27/2024 at 10:41 AM, RWB said:

Collectors are likely familiar with my persistent objections to the use of words such as "Specimen" or "Branch Mint Proof" or "Special Strike" on TPG labels. These terms are usually meaningless and not supported by anything other that blind guesses and silly tall tales. However, there are coins which are legitimately entitled to be labeled "Specimen" or "Special Strike." Here is one of them. Notice not only the quality of the coin - sharply made and carefully handled - likely struck from new dies, but that it is accompanied by a document attesting to the coin's manufacture. Signatures on the letter match other routine correspondence for the signatories.

So what about the sixth?

On 2/23/2024 at 4:42 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

I was hoping that the listing would discourage people from bidding and that I would be able to pick this up for a deal. No such luck this time.

The listing for this piece, and a few others, is what prompted my previous thread on GPT descriptions.

Sorry…. At least I now know that you placed a bid, so I won’t. Good luck.

I was wondering where the GPT thread came from.

On 2/23/2024 at 4:06 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

I had placed a bid on this one. 

The use of the word token is what popped out at me when I saw the listing previously. I'm not sure it's an AI description or not, a pretty short one if it is.

Beats me if it is an AI error or just the person cataloging it. Pretty weird listing in any event.

Since we are talking semantics - here is a good one for you posted by a well known auction house/dealer. What’s wrong with their description???

AND - they listed this piece as they did even though it is correctly described on the TPG holder. Maybe its an AI listing.

I like the pattern reverse better and am leaning towards the obverse as well, but haven’t made my mind up quite yet.

On 2/21/2024 at 7:50 AM, leeg said:

Almost reads like a love letter.

That’s what I was thinking, but didn’t want to say.

On 2/18/2024 at 10:00 AM, Fenntucky Mike said:

I guess I'm a little surprised not to see Germany on the list and that earnings are supposedly tops in Switzerland. When compared to the NGC top 10 most coins graded list there are only four crossovers.

NGC's Most Graded List by country, top ten.

1. U.S.
2. China
3. Canada
4. Australia
5. South Africa
6. Great Britain
7. Mexico
8. Russia
9. Poland
10. Germany

I was a bit surprised by Germany not being on the list as well and was a little surprised that Spain made the list. As far as the top ten graded populations, no surprises there.

From the research in the image below, do any of the countries on the list surprise you for the potential of building family wealth? How do you see that relating to coin collecting? Several of them have a  fairly large collector base. You would expect those with a higher level of disposable income would collect, but are there any surprises in the list? Any country that you would think should be on the list that isn’t? Do you believe that there is a close correlation? 

On 2/14/2024 at 10:55 PM, Henri Charriere said:

My take, unsubstantiated by cold hard facts, is if I were to acquire one of these storied pieces, I would want it to be a beauty and a sight to behold.  Instead, I see myself having to rationalize their glaring faults (random chaos in the fields) to discriminating connoisseurs for the rest of my life and a thought and prospect I do not relish.  The perfect coin speaks for itself.  It needs no narrator. And that's the way it should be.

Ah, but where is the story and character of it?