RWB

Unfortunately, we still haven't seen one. The photos have far too much contrast to be useful. Look at some of the other photos members have posted and see if you can provide comparable images.

The current situation is that although we have technology to support greatly superior numismatic information, it is not being used and no organization seems to be interested in its use. Right now we can, with little work: Consistently examine and grade bulk coins and bullion tokens. Objectively determine the reflectivity of proof and proof-like coins and apply subjective categories. Measure the elemental composition of alloys. Separate originals from restrikes. Quickly identify counterfeits. Identify the origin of certain gold or silver used in coinage. Quantify design relief of original coin specimens. Identify and validate overdates, etc. through accurate surface characteristic determination.

Here is the disposition of the first five Trade Dollars struck at the Philadelphia Mint July 11, 1873. #1 Secretary of Treasury Richardson #2-5 Charles Broadhead of Philadelphia (letter below) Hon. Charles Broadhead, Philadelphia October 13, 1873 Sir: I enclose herewith as requested by you and promised by me some months since, four of the first five Trade Dollars, struck at the Mint. They are not so handsome as those since struck, as the dies are now in better working condition. Dr. Linderman was in town on Saturday. I understood he was to leave last night for Washington. He was stopping at the Washington House. I am, Very truly yours, A. Loudon Snowden, Coiner

Nope. It's not an authentic coin so it can be called anything -- maybe a "quints."

Not if they can't pay for it. Transactions are blocked, so all Russian dictators get are IOUs.

What a silly remark. The standard of truth MUST be high enough to exclude the false and the lying. Have you accepted the "lie at will" position of so many, as if it did not matter? Are all your roosters really hens?

Not quite coins but some medallions. Enjoy it! https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0cjd7kw/the-ancient-golden-treasure-rewriting-danish-history A piece of the newly discovered Iron Age golden treasure from Denmark depicting Roman Emperor Constantine. Photo courtesy of the Vejlemuseerne, Denmark, Conservation Center Vejle.

Edit to read: "...only adds incredulity..."

Good! By making careful measurements on 1848 CAL quarter eagles, we might be able to identify the district from which the gold originated. (Although the coins were made from refined gold, the Mint's work left many trace elements including iridium, osmium and platinum.)

Yes.

What an ugly piece of dictatorial rubbish! "Republic Belarus" "20 Rubles"

The same process can be used to aid determination of restrike vs original based on alloy differences caused by both immediate alloy mixing and time-based changes in refining capability. A simple example: 1836, 38, and 39 flying eagle dollars were evidently restruck on one or more occasions approximately 20 years after the original manufacture. Silver refining improved over this period, and the restrikes were almost certainly of higher quality alloy (fewer and/or different impurities). These data can be collected from multiple samples and used to separate originals from restrikes and empirical resolve current controversies about die orientation and other factors. As USAuPzlBxBob implied, current technology makes this a simple, non-destructive data collection and statistical correlation project. If the two major TPGs decide to cooperate and coordinate data collection, results could be available within a year or two as the dollar coins cycle though sales and owners. The TPGs could also make a meaningful, positive contribution to numismatic knowledge by offering to reholder specimens gratis.

Your 1982 cent is worth 1 cent --- but even less to a collector due to the green corrosion. Almost all of the stuff you see on-line are lies. The perpetrators are trying to hook-in buyers of their junk lists and other garbage.

Overdating a die was a way to save money and time. Each working die cost about $25 in 1887. If unused dated dies remained after the close of a calendar year, they could not be used (leftover 1886 obverse in January 1887). Rather than deface and discard the prior year die (1886) and loose all of its value, the Engraving Dept could anneal the die and fill the "6" digit with soft steel. This was forced into the "6" until the hole was tightly filled. Any excess sticking above the die surface was smoothed with a graver. A new digit was punched into the die. The die was given its final hardening and temper, then gently rebaisened (abraded to a uniform radius or curvature), dipped in acid to remove oxidation from heating, and released to the Coiner for use. It might have cost $5 in labor to do this and could be accomplished in half a day. Raising a new die from the 1887 hub would require 7-8 blows from the hubbing press with an annealing between each blow. Only two annealings could be done in a day, so the full working die required 3-4 days before it was complete. [I suspect overdating worked best if the die had never received its final hardening -- as would be the case with dies reserved to be mintmarked.] The work would be invisible on coins if the repair held. If the repair began to fail under the high pressure of use, tiny flakes and grains of the filler would fall out, mostly along the edge of the original digit. This is what is seen on an 1887/6 dollar and the many overdates of 1880/79, and the well known 1900-O/CC varieties.

Here is the disposition of the first five Trade Dollars struck at the Philadelphia Mint July 11, 1873. #1 Secretary of Treasury Richardson #2-5 Charles Broadhead of Philadelphia (letter below) Hon. Charles Broadhead, Philadelphia October 13, 1873 Sir: I enclose herewith as requested by you and promised by me some months since, four of the first five Trade Dollars, struck at the Mint. They are not so handsome as those since struck, as the dies are now in better working condition. Dr. Linderman was in town on Saturday. I understood he was to leave last night for Washington. He was stopping at the Washington House. I am, Very truly yours, A. Loudoun Snowden, Coiner

the OP bought 2,022 Mint sets? Peppermint or spearmint or beemint?

Can anyone mention any "famous Morgan dollar collections?" (Real collection, not hoards of bags.) I recall only a couple....

Not illicit. 1913 Liberty nickel is dated after the new design was accepted in Dec 1912. 1884-85 Medallic Trade dollars also come to mind.

VF, lots of obverse scrapes. Mostly bullion value.

All are circulated and seem to range VF (F ?) to EF condition. Most of the value is in their silver content.

Puts the cart before the horse. It presents the attitude that collector involvement is not worth (worthy of ?) the money-industry's attention. This has never been the case in the hobby in the past, and it presents a disturbing dictatorial hubris from those who pump out "official grading opinions." All past coin grading guidance was developed collaboratively. The present was not.

It's a matter of how each person views value. An experienced, astute collector might look through hundreds of specimens of a certain date/mint before finding the "right one."

They gave you kids the coins as representing something unusual, or a gift that might be cherished for the sentiment accompanying them. It's very unlikely anyone thought of some sort of immense future value. A suggestion is to buy a little plastic holder for each, then write a short description of where the coin came from and who received it. [My great grandparents’ farmhouse was assembled from hand hewn beams using timber joinery and wooden pegs – no nails or other metal. When the house was torn down my mother saved a basket of the pegs. She wrote a short message about how the pegs were used and who lived and died in the house, and packaged the story and peg. She addressed each story to a family member and signed them. Everyone in the family received one set. They are among the most enjoyed family remembrances.]

Good point. We got off-track! Opinion, #3 is a high end VF - at least that's what I feel it's worth.

Good point. One minor correction. The 1886 die was first repaired by filling the "6" as completely as possible, then smoothing the field. Then a "7" or and "87" logo was punched into the die and the die hardened for use. During use small parts of the filler separated, making the faint lines pointed to by the red arrows. That is, the new 7 was not actually punched over a 6.