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centinel

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Journal Entries posted by centinel

  1. centinel
    U.S. Mint Superintendent Medal
    Earlier this year I submitted a 1895 Herman Kretz U.S. Mint Superintendent 76mm Copper medal to NGC ( NGC ID: 2655617-001). NGC slabbed it with a grade of MS63, which was worthy of its beautiful mahogany patina. However, it is not listed in the Medal & Token Census. I have sent NGC e-mails about this and never receive a reply. I suppose it should go under Medals listed by Julian, and would like to see it listed for the sake of population information, and am wondering if anyone else had this problem? After all, that's what population reports are all about.
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  2. centinel
    Using "$1" on our coinage leaves much to be desired.
    While the most recent presidential dollar coins are doing alright, I still have a problem with the reverse, namely seeing the denomination given as "$1" instead of being properly spelled out as "One Dollar." I believe this hurts the overall design and cheapens the coin to collectors and non-collectors alike. It makes the coin look like "play money' sold at Woolworth's and is one of the reasons I have avoided the series. As much as I hate to say it, the Susan B. Anthony dollar even looked better. When a coin has ample room to include "One Dollar" it should, because the dollar deserves respect as the nation's base monetary unit. It looks worse on commemoratives too, and is one of the reasons I believe the 2013 Girl Scout Centennial Dollar failed.
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  3. centinel
    An interesting history of slabbed coins & sample slabs.
    In the new (May 2015) issue of The Numismatist, author David Schwager has written an interesting mini-history of slabs, particularly "Sample Slabs," which are becoming a collectible in their own. Schwager's article is very informative, not to mention interesting, and well worth reading. He also provides two interesting websites, sampleslabs.com, and samplecoinslabs.com, which provide a wealth of information. One website (sampleslabs.com) features photos of slabbed coins by companies which are no longer in business or have fallen by the wayside of NGC and PCGS. Schwager's article is well written, and the websites worth checking out. You may think twice about breaking out any old slabs after reading it.
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  4. centinel
    Herman Kretz Mint Superintendent Medal
    Not many non-medal collectors are aware that at one time the U.S. Mint struck medals for the superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint. Only five superintendents were featured, and all are considered scarce. I rarely find them at auctions and eBay, and when I do I am always searching for a better specimen. The older strikes (pre 1900) have a wonderful chocolate/burgundy patina that you just have to see in person. I recently had this one slabbed and am happy with the MS-63 grade. William Barber did the engraving, and I consider his 1895 bust of Herman Kretz one of his finest moments. Mint records indicate only 148 pieces were struck. These cost $2 when issued, which was also the daily wage for an average male worker in 1895.
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  5. centinel
    Double reverse Large Cent Error for $199!
    Last week I happened upon a eBay listing for a "Double Reverse" Large Cent offered at $199 or Best Offer. The photographs showed a Large Cent supposedly struck with matching reverses, but no obverse. However, both sides were well worn, making me question how such an oddity (even for its day) could have stayed in circulation for so long. Other critical photographs showed the coins edge with fingers and a thumb in the way. How on earth could something like this have escaped certification by NGC, I asked the seller. About 7 or 8 other watchers were looking it over,to see if anyone took the bait, I guess. The seller offered a 7 day return privilege so I asked if he would take a 30 day return so I could submit it to a third party for certification, and go from there. Needless to say, he never replied. Makes me wonder how many collectors would have gotten stung by something like this 50 or 75 years ago. Just mentioning NGC seems to have scared the guy off.
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  6. centinel
    How I purchased a 1971 Assay Commission medal for $17.
    To everyone who enjoys searching through eBay for a few hours, I can truly say there are bargains out there waiting. Last year I came upon a 1971 Assay Commission medal mistakenly listed as a Mint Director medal. After quickly confirming it was the real thing I was able to "Buy It Now" at the seller's price of $17 with free shipping. Oddly enough, the seller was a eBay coin dealer who had been around for a while, but he just didn't know his medals. It reminded me of the story of Cadillac Jack, a fictional antique picker from author Larry McMurtry who's motto was "Nobody knows everything" so "anything can be anywhere". Good words to live by. I was then rewarded when I submitted the medal to NGC and it came back MS-65. NGC Certification #2628773-001. The last time one appeared at auction was in 2008 and it sold for $4300.00
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