VKurtB

Okay, you asked —-
1) We can expect both major TPGS (I no longer consider ICG or ANACS for anything other than specialized areas) to do everything they can to maximize automation. Many of my slabs have these “slots” in them.
 
2) Left-justified text on NGC slabs says “very recent”. Centered text was the standard for decades. Ditto for those silly graphics. Scales of justice my backside.
3) The only constant is change. Expect any and every technique to minimize labor costs and maximize throughput. DO NOT expect those savings to be passed on to you.

I gave up on the proof ASE’s quite a few years ago. I actually prefer the burnished “W”s.

Contrary to popular belief, no one is obligated to make you feel good with their posts. I don’t know how old our Dena is, but I even disagree with her standards used here. We have the exact same issue circulating with the ANA exhibiting community. Everyone wants comments on their score sheets, but then complain to ANA leadership when not every comment is a virtual “participation trophy”. Grow the heck up. Not everything is A and B+ work. When I went to college, our average GPA was 2.0, as the system was designed. Graduates who left with a 3.0 or better were unicorns. In my son’s high school class, 4.0 didn’t even get you into the top 10%. Different expectations by generation.

While I’m no admirer of CT err, umm, management(?), Chris has always been a good guy, and when I read the complainer was 16, I intuitively knew what the true issue was. Another “wet behind the ears” kid refusing to learn. 

Yes, this. Our generation never learned to candy coat news you’d rather not hear. I grew up in the Philly media market. There is nowhere in this country more bluntly direct in our choice of language. We booed Santa Claus.

Yes, this. Our generation never learned to candy coat news you’d rather not hear. I grew up in the Philly media market. There is nowhere in this country more bluntly direct in our choice of language. We booed Santa Claus.

Your life is improved without them.

Well I am the MOST “liked” poster here for the past month, 2nd for the past year (365 days), and 3rd all time. Not too shabby, eh? Yet somehow Jason dislikes me intensely. Whose problem is that, he asks rhetorically?

It’s a nicely struck ‘45, but now we’re getting carried away. 

I will watch Fox News, because it DOES RATE as the most “down the middle” news source, but no farther starboard than that. 

That depends. Do you call total lunar eclipses “blood moons”? Do you tend to pop culture naming of ordinary things in general? Are you a political consultant or an ad man? Do you believe the Super Bowl halftime act had ANY talent whatsoever? Then give it any fanciful description yon might care to.

50X is of no value for grading. This alone shows you don't have the skills to understand grading. 

Even with the bad focus I can tell this is “purtier’n a prom date”.

Doh!

Zinc plated steel, 19mm diameter. Sound familiar?

Even with the bad focus I can tell this is “purtier’n a prom date”.

Quiz for rocket23: Why are Belgian 1944 2 franc pieces interesting to U.S. numismatists?

I point out those things and I get blamed for not being “nice”. Glad you said it. My belief is that until a new collector actually gets to see one of these “special coins (of many types)” in their actual hands, under proper light, and not in Internet digital pictures, they have little to no business speculating on having one. You have to do the homework, ironically by leaving home and going to see things in person. Mr. Waltz, referenced above, has won many Class 1 (US coins) first place awards at ANA shows for his unrivaled studies on Matte Proof Lincolns. On two occasions, I was on the judging panel. 

There are no 1944 proofs. There were none between 1943 and 1949. 

I do believe there is next to zero likelihood of either being a proof. I have examined many, and these are not similar.

You ARE aware that there are three categories of homicide - felonious, excusable, and praiseworthy. 

I have long held that the difference between a 69 and a 70 is too minuscule to be important, and is just as likely a momentary eyesight glitch as anything on the coin. I consider MY 69’s and 70’s to be identical. But then, I’m not flipping and selling, so my “business model” isn’t dependent on the grades.

Making a buck is SUPPOSED TO BE extremely difficult, but then you’re not in it for the money, right? But you know all the current prices. Yeah. Kids aren’t the target market for slabbed coins at all, nor should they be. My wife’s going in for lisfranc injury surgery tomorrow, and the first two surgeons we spoke to offered nothing other than “you need to be off this for 12 weeks after I’m done cutting”. Ever hear of the WEDGE system? It’s an acronym. It stands for “We Experts Don’t Give Explanations”. It lives every freaking where.

Owning metals in a true financial calamity is like taking several accordions with you to hunt deer. In both cases, you need weapons and ammunition much more.

You’re lucky if it’s only 2x. 3x is more usual.