GoldFinger1969

On 6/24/2022 at 2:15 PM, World Colonial said:

The first is graded XF-40 which was 50-50 to me whether it would receive a numerical grade... Yes, it's been cleaned at some point (virtually all have) but it had nice peripheral toning on one side and light hairlines in the fields on the other.....I also have a third coin which is in an "XF Details" holder with gold and blue toning on both sides with somewhat more noticeable hairlines in the fields on one.  I consider it "market acceptable" to anyone who actually collects this series.

Did you see my post which quoted JA on XF coins and grades ?

EDIT: Yup, you did. 

On 6/24/2022 at 12:39 PM, Oldhoopster said:

I'll make a blanket statement and say that professional graders are trained to look for defects whether that's on a 3Cent silver or double eagle.  If they're there, they will see them regardless of the coin size.

I don't disagree with you, OldH.  But as we know, graders miss things and at other times focus on different variables.  A coin with a few extra dings or rim damage might escape a lower grade because of great luster, etc.

I'm sure the expert graders are good at what they do.  But a newcomer....recently hired...or someone getting tired at the end of a long day ?

People make mistakes and miss things.  It happens -- humans can't be perfect.

On 6/24/2022 at 12:42 PM, FlyingAl said:

See, but that one word "might" changes the whole thing. The coin in this example has been stated to be an absolute, no questions asked specimen. It would be like that bag in your example being cataloged as "absolutely guaranteed to be the bag that held the stolen coins, even though we have no proof." The story is also based on truth - at least I assume a bag of Saints were actually stolen. There's no proof that the SF mint ever struck specimens, there's actually pretty good evidence against it. Therefore the whole thing has been made up. I do get your point, it's true for a lot of cases. Just not this one . 

I think we're in agreement.  Stories are OK so long as they are NOT presented as fact.  And some stories or information that is not 100% verifiable is definitely being used with some coins.

I remember that 1921 Saint Specimen sold earlier this year had some questions raised about it.  However, I assume whoever bought the coin (7-figures) was aware of that.

On 6/23/2022 at 3:15 AM, silvergold1700 said:

I recently ordered a MS-65 from an online bullion dealer 

Always best to buy a coin that is in front of you when possible.  Try attending a coin show or visit your LCS or even an auction that has Hi-Def pics like at HA and GC.

You may pay a bit more (maybe not)....but you'll LOVE the coin. 

On 6/23/2022 at 1:42 PM, silvergold1700 said:

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I’m glad to hear that I wasn’t expecting too much.  I will try to send it back.  

Have you checked out the 1923-D ?  Much better surface appeal and luster than a comparable 1924, IMO.  And I too got a 1924 Saint as my 1st.

Also....how it looks TO YOU is most important -- lighting and camera angle can change a good-looking coin to mediocre or vice-versa for us viewing the pics.

On 6/24/2022 at 12:24 PM, FlyingAl said:

Yes, Roger is absolutely right. What created those stories? Greed. At least for the coins, I don't know much about Babe Ruth's called shot.

I'm not talking about clearly false stories or facts that don't pan out, like on Pawn Stars .  Just "flesh on the bones" so to speak.

For instance, when Heritage auctioned off that bag that once contained 1928 Double Eagles, the speculation was that the bag MIGHT have once held the 250 Saints that were swiped from the Philly Mint.  The commentary (which Roger worked on) told the story of the theft.....Dressel the Super......etc.  I loved the story -- I learned alot even if not 100% of the information/commentary was absolute fact.

Now, maybe it's really just a bag that had NOTHING to do with the 250 Saint theft.  But I certainly appreciated the story.

On 6/24/2022 at 9:51 AM, RWB said:

Babe Ruth's called HR costs nothing. "Just part of the mythology costs $$$$ and falsifies history."

Agreed.  Caveat Emptor !!

On 6/24/2022 at 10:20 AM, MarkFeld said:

Was my previous answer unclear? 

No, it's just that it seems logical that as a coin shrinks, it is harder to see imperfections.  Especially when human judgement is involved.

On 6/24/2022 at 4:36 AM, MarkFeld said:

I’m sure CAC can see and evaluate smaller coins, just fine.

You don't think that the much smaller fields play a part ? 

On 6/23/2022 at 4:36 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

Gold stickers seem to be more prevalent in the Mercury dime series than anything else (in my experience).  A gold CAC sticker is supposed to signify that the coin would CAC at the next grade (MS66Gold = MS67Green).  That said, I scratch my head anytime I see a 66Gold sell more than the 67Green (or, a 66CAC sell for more than a 67).  Always just seems "weird" to me. 

Maybe it has something to do with smaller coins.  Tougher to see blemishes and imperfections, dings, etc.

Big fields on Morgans and Saints and Liberty DEs makes it tougher to get that gold CAC.

On 6/18/2022 at 2:32 PM, dragon said:

When I see a super common low value coin like a 1940's Merc in MS64 sell for $200.00 because it has a gold sticker on it I really have to laugh, but I suppose it's really no worse than the vintage holder mania that has been around for many years now. 

Every now and then you read something somewhere that sticks with you for years or even your entire lifetime.  And I remember that someone said that if you have a problem with grading inconsistencies by the TPGs...then you can't argue against CAC's presence.

Really brilliant, when you think about it.

On 11/10/2018 at 11:16 AM, Rollo Tomassi said:

I ....started... re-thinking... a few years ago when Legend (or Laura) stated that they would no longer be dealing in non CAC approved coins. Legend is without a doubt.... INFLUENTIAL .... in the coin community.   I try to stay ahead of the train.   

That's because Legend/Laura deals with ultra-HNW clients.  They can AFFORD to only deal in CAC coins because they don't need the business of 2nd-tier or 3rd-tier coins....and they have enough wealthy clients that will pay up for coins even if it involves huge premiums.

Legend not dealing in non-CAC coins (and I'm sure they make exceptions)....is akin to a Porsche dealership stating they will no longer service folks who earn under $40,000 a year. 

I don't want false advertising but the stories that accompany some of these coins -- "urban legends" or the like -- are just part of the mythology of the hobby.

Like Babe Ruth's "Called Shot." 

Not sure if we caught this before......February 2022 article on 1921 Saint:

https://coinweek.com/coins/coin-profiles/us-coins-coin-profiles/united-states-1921-saint-gaudens-double-eagle-20-gold-coin/

On 10/31/2019 at 1:20 PM, coinsandmedals said:

The phrase “buy the book before the coin” is often encountered in this hobby and is a point that I wholeheartedly support.

Still probably true -- heck, I bought Roger's SAINTS book expressly for that purpose -- but I think unlike 30 or 50 years ago you can get lots of information from the internet that in the past you had to get from a newsletter, your LCS, a coin club, or a book.

Tons of free information on the major and even obscure coin types. Useful threads here and elsewhere.

On 4/14/2022 at 6:25 PM, casman said:

In 2008 I had 120 2008/Reverse 2007’s.  I’d sent the best ones to California and the second best to Florida.  ÇA returned ZERO 70’s, whereas FL returned 45 70’s.  For that good for you.

That's hard to believe.....

Not familiar with Mercs, but I would think you'd be more interested after seeing the True View pics, no ?

Looks more colorful and toned in the True Views.  Looks more "scuffed" in the dealer pics but again, I'm not a great grader in general or with Mercs specifically.

Can I get Rooster Basics 101....when were they issued ?  In what size (ounces or fractions of an ounce of gold) ?  Mintage by year (approximate) ?

As an example, for Saints....I would say:  1907-32....1 ounce coins only.....mintage ranged from a few hundred thousand to a few million....annual survivors 400,000 and below, usually a few thousand.

On 6/18/2022 at 2:32 PM, dragon said:

When I see a super common low value coin like a 1940's Merc in MS64 sell for $200.00 because it has a gold sticker on it I really have to laugh, but I suppose it's really no worse than the vintage holder mania that has been around for many years now. 

I'm not an expert on CAC....but a gold (2-upgrades ?) sticker is VERY rare.  Not sure what that coin sells for with a Green CAC and without any CAC....but very special coins sell for very special prices. 

On 6/22/2022 at 8:17 PM, CSdot said:

Dang. I basically stopped posting here when the company limited their registry (though I understand that has now been reversed), and now I see that I cheated myself out of 6 years of this gem of a thread. 

Lots of good threads with large numbers of post beyond this....a few on gold coins (including Saints) and some interesting "quickie" threads where Roger posted rare/unique but interesting information (old letters, etc).

On 6/22/2022 at 2:10 PM, VKurtB said:

I’ve added France to this fall’s travel itinerary. 

The Fall of France ?  

We'll have to wait until Tuesday to see if the off-hours trades are reflective of an active market, but if you want to read about what happened....

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/18/bitcoin-price-drops-below-18600-as-sell-off-accelerates.html

It's a VERY LONG STORY and unless the story includes a totally made-up BS thing -- like Douglas MacArthur using the coin to buy essential supplies in WW I and then buying it back  -- stories (factual and semi-factual) are what makes this hobby interesting.

Crytpo "currencies" are not currencies at the present time.  They are highly-volatile, speculative, digital assets.