Insider

Often. When you are #3 and get no respect, the ONLY thing we have to offer is fast turnaround, cheap cost, and great customer service. Actually, one Friday I drove into the parking lot and only the bosses car was there. I figured that I drove to work on a Saturday by mistake. In reality, it was a Friday and everyone was told to park in the back of the building! We call this a "Senior Moment."

Shucks. He will miss the blue image I just posted.

This is a little harder. Please fill in the blanks: This is an image of a _________ nickel with a ___________ date. The date has a _______ _______ running through it.

How the heck did you get the correct answer? The colors are terrible. Only one is close but the white balance is off and only 1/2 of the reverse is shown! I wonder if your answer would change if the other side of the coin was a gem, white, frosty Unc. I didn't think so.

NEW Quiz: What is the clue that this is an example of Artificial Toning?

Hey Mark, Don't give up, your posts and comments are very important to all of us. Additionally, no need to explain any of your comments to me. I expressed that in a post that was "blocked" and would not post in another thread.

I forgot to set the clock back last night. I got to work today ONE HOUR BEFORE I should have. No wonder traffic was so light!

That my fried is a problem with the "snowflake" student! The definition of a "student" is someone here to learn. There are a lot of folks who fall into the category of "instructor" dealing with something. I've never been smarter than my instructor and I've had to deal with all kinds - even those who could smack me around physically. Perhaps that is why "words" or the attitude of my instructor never bothered me. I like to think it PREPARED ME FOR REAL LIFE. BTW, In case you have not looked at many of my other quizzes posted elsewhere, I got really tired of someone answering the question in the first post after all the time/trouble I went through to make it interesting. I asked advanced collectors not to post right away so beginners had a chance to think and reply. It worked very well over there. On this site, the knowledgeable folks like to post about "white balance."

Do you know what is much more than a little sad? In fact it is extremely sad to me! Folks who either cannot understand English, misquote my posts, or leave things out to make me look stupid. Did you read this in my post? "When I'm wrong, it is both embarrassing and like death. Fortunately, I'm still alive and have learned something." That's OK, I forget that people in other countries post here too.

Look, I've heard it all before. This is not a personality contest. I can be a very abrasive person and at the same time quite a softie. I tend to grow on people who hate me at first. As far as being put on "ignore" - its their loss. I enjoy being sarcastic when called for and I like a good discussion. I can dish it and take it. I can already see the effect a few of us are having trying to reactivate this old forum. Everyone that posts here has something to contribute. We also have different levels of knowledge in different fields. That includes numismatics. To even think that someone here is a "know-it-all" smacks of either ignorance, incompetence, or some form of jealousy! I was not "spoon-fed." I post the way I do because there are several ways to learn things and I learn/remember more when I'm challenged. You don't know a subject unless you can respond correctly to questions. When I'm wrong, it is both embarrassing and like death. Fortunately, I'm still alive and have learned something.

I think I just figured out the answer. It means that a particular member is no longer interested in my opinion and has "left the field." Checkmate! It can also mean that something in my reply was blocked by the software.

I tried to reply to a thread I STARTED and Was "Blocked." Does that a member has blocked you or the NGC forum has?

BUMP. Has Roger ever posted his opinion to his question? I'd like to read it although it may be one of those questions that cannot be answered to everyone's satisfaction.

As a teen, I sealed an attractive XF 1770 8R with a dark patina that my grandfather gave me in Lucite. Many, many years later I wanted the coin out and used a hammer. Unfortunately, much of the patina came off and the coin did not look as nice.

When I joined the company we used a 6X6 Rolliflex mounted on a box.

If I were to write the entire story, I should need to stay off the interned for over a month - O' Darn. Anyway, I've been publishing/posting little snips over the decades. I can only speak for ANA from '72 - when they left DC and then INSAB that Hoskins and a group of dealers started as the Authentication Service (later the first TPGS) for the International Numismatic Association. We were a big thorn in the ANA's butt. ANA leaders even tried to ruin my reputation. They believed I broke into the authentication services' offices right before they left town. It ended OK. After a decade or so, I was allowed to come back and teach at the Summer Seminar for a few years.

If he had a say so, he may have put a gold coin in the slab.

Care to tell us why? Please try to be short, sweet, and very specific. Examples: Poor customer service, too expensive, slow turnaround, the previous owner wears ugly Hawaiian shirts, etc. Then someone may disagree.

Hey, you should be on the list of best dressed former ANA Board Members! In the "old days" you would have gotten a gold pocket watch to wear with your suit..

When you've done what he has, he can wear any shirt he wants. I've heard some Hawaiian shirts are very expensive. IMO, some are very attractive. Best of all, it must be very nice to reach a point in life where the of the chat room mavens don't even register in his universe.

Thanks for verifying that. I suspect that a list w/o all the deserving dead numismatists left off should be a clue but I agree with you that it should have been stated that only living people were on the list. Betting that Hall, Salzburg, etc. do not deserve to be on this list would lose you every bet. If I were ranking the contributions of the three you mentioned, I would place Hall's contribution above JA's. However, when someone reaches the top of their chosen field as these numismatic businessmen, we are splitting hairs trying to rank their contributions (some that are unknown to most of us).

"Congrats on buying the book, Insider....let us know as you progress through it your thoughts on the various sections that stand out." I am presently reading/in the middle of five books each night in the half hour+ before I fall asleep. Only one deals with coins. The fun here on coin forums has taken away lots of reading time.

Unsolicited Advertisement. I saw this thread a week ago and started reading some of the questions addressed to Roger dealing with things he had written in his book. I figured that I should order the book to better understand some of the posts. I received the book last week and it was completely different than I thought it would be, This is like the Red Book for Saints. I've been studying this series - especially the 1907 HR for decades and I don't see how this book can be improved. There are color images of varieties and each date is discussed. Much of the information about patterns in the first part of the book was totally unknown to me. I've got a bunch of Roger's books and this is an excellent addition to my collection. Books go up in value as soon as more folks want them and they are out of print and in strong hands. I don't know how many were printed but if you collect Saints or just wish to learn more than most know about them, I suggest you order a copy TOMORROW. I'm actually thinking about getting at least one or two more copies to barter with in the future.

I thought that's the way it has always been. It would be interesting to know the exact year "moderns" began to be graded by the big two.

What you are doing when you grade a coin is called "micro-grading." It is frowned upon by those who are in charge of a grading room. I am also a micro-grader. I've trained my eye to see "cabinet friction" ,defects, chemical or mechanical alterations, and repairs. What I find gets passed on in the computer notes.