RWB

Hold the slab at an oblique angle. That will let you see the coin surface without looking directly through the front of the holder. Use a good 5x or 10x magnifier to slowly examine the coin surface and the under-side of the slab window. It should not take much to decide if the mark is on the plastic (inside or out) or the coin. Another way is to use a stereo dissecting scope (slab slat this time) and at about 40x slowly shift focus from the coin to the slab window. At some point the line will be sharp and the coin fuzzy if the mark is on the plastic. (This is all very very basic stuff and it's disappointing to see your ambiguous response from a major authentication company....just an opinion.)

Look on NNP. Someone might have donated a batch.

No original "First Stricken" issue in the NGC building cornerstone?

What suggests a "pattern piece?" What's different from former designs and why do you think that was done? How many 1831 half cents are known? Pattern pieces prior to 1836 are extremely unusual. Can you describe how a proof (aka "master coin") were made in the 1820s-30s ? Your can't really prepare an article without knowing how processes operated and what differed between "master coin" and production coin. Will help in any way I can.

Search "Long s" for info.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer May 2, 1792. Page 2.

There are some historical medals that might be worth the "grading" and package protection, but none of the modern qualify in my mind.

Read the Peace dollar book chapter. 1964 Peace dollar info is the best available. Thought you were referring to the SD&TD Encyc he wrote. The Morgan design copies were known years before Bowers visited in 2015, but photos were not available. Bill Fivaz reported them long ago but had only photos of the Peace dollar casts. I proofed the Morgan Dollar material for Whitman and made corrections. The information was generally correct on those models. There are many more things that the Mint folks have not permitted access to. They will eventually reach the public. Now, kindly go back to your counterfeits. I do not care to assist anyone who supports counterfeit coins or counterfeiters in ANY way!

The Bowers info is very old and based on no facts. That Treasury has not put a counterfeiter in jail does not mean the crime does not exist, or than anyone holding these is not culpable. It merely means that on the priority list of danger to Americans and free commerce it is very far below fake airplane parts, medicine, clothing and the whole range of garbage other crooks turn out.

Tourist trash.

Where's the "Modest" ribbon ?

I guess these kids weren't very good apprentices. Maybe that became coin dealers....?

The reinforcement of certain anecdotal trends, and the relative absence of really "big ticket" coins. Nice slice of reality.

Unexpectedly interesting information! Thanks.

You don't get a lot of "melt value" for your money with these....

Why was this guy at ANA if almost all he had were knock-off watches and pocket change?

I'm anxious for the "Satanic Verses" commemorative half dollar.....

Are the slabbed coins in a "register set" or something similar? If yes, then check the site for how-to information.

Mr. Bill -- Did not know your real name was "Valued Customer." nice to see the personal touch returning.

This little invoice from Baldwin Iron Works will give members a general idea of the cost of parts for ingot rolling machines (called "rolls" in Mint letters). Notice the use of parts patterns carved from mahogany wood. There are a lot of such lists with cost for construction materials and machinery for the 2nd Mint.

The Mint letters say that Asian markets greatly preferred the Spanish dollars in both content and size. For those reasons, when US dollar coins ceased, halve (of equal content) did not replace them, Small denominations were seldom exported except to Canada where a dime was worth 11-1/2 cents. Also, the Bank of the United States noted that Mexican dollars were selling at a 7% premium because they contained residual gold. (Letter Dec 11, 11831 to Moore from Pres. Bank of US.) I've noted Asian trade as a possible topic for FMTM-2.

...and where did you get this idea that "grading" would increase the sale value? Are you going to flip them? Each time a coin like this is exposed to the atmosphere it increases the chance of contamination and later development of spots.

EagleRJO - The Peace dollar book includes a detailed chapter on the 1964 dollars. This includes all the factual information known from research, and none of the nonsense. A counterfeit coin is anything that bears a "likeness or similitude" to a legal tender coin. It does not matter what it is made of, or struck on, or what the date is, or any other excuses. Effectively, if a piece has "United States of America" and a U.S. denomination, and was not issued by the U.S. Mint, it is a counterfeit. The act of making or distributing it is by definition intent to defraud.

The document's from the first 20 years of the 19th century suggest that delivery time for halves was several weeks shorter than for any other silver denomination. By requesting halves, depositors got their cash sooner rather than later. I'll pull up a couple of examples. Here's a quick one ---- April 27, 1829 The wish of depositors generally is to have their bullion coined with the least practicable delay, which is most effectually accomplished in the larger coins. An attention to their accommodation has been at all times deemed important, since the Government sends no gold or silver to the Mint. It was in this view, specially enjoined in a letter of the 13th June 1805, Mr. Mr. Jefferson to my predecessor for his guidance. The coinage of dollars was, however, suspended in 1806 by direction of the President under date of May 1 of that year, founded on a suggestion from the former U.S. Bank, that dollars were more liable to be exported than half dollars. This was referred to in the annual report of January 1, 1827 with an expression of an opinion in favor of this policy. Under the influence of these considerations, the determination [or] what coins shall be executed from time to time, devolves on the Director of the Mint, and is regulated with reference to the pressure of the supply of bullion, and the state of the machinery at any given time, the denominations less than half dollars being reserved for periods of a less copious supply. [Sam Moore to N. Sanford, MC]

Yep....just a name, and not even a rose !