RWB

You can't. Both are subjective terms without empirical definitions. Thus, the difference between "cameo" and "ultra cameo" is also subjective and will vary with the observer, or whatever language the slabbing company cares to stick on a label.

Is there on for "Rosie Franklin," Ben's little sister?

This short article, Little Letter Explains a Lot, in the current issue of "Longacre Ledger" might be of interest to members. It was the product of a letter I found in the archives and posted on VAMworld and here.

In this instance, I think "MS-70" is an abbreviation for "Merely Slabbed - Number 70."

The roughness resulted from failure to correctly fill the small MM. When a large MM was punched, it stressed the repair and it began to deteriorate -- kind of like a bad tooth filling.

Very nice EF. The pleasant (JKK says "beautiful") coloring is common on these and others from the period. Many remained in bags and the sulfur from coal burning in St. Petersburg and Moscow created a gentle toning. This makes the intricate obverse designs (or reverse on the ruble) extra attractive. When poured out of a bag, these things glitter like fireflies. Gold from the same period also can have attractive toning, but not as nice as the silver. These run from $40 to $55.

Well, geezzz... if FDR had only worn a fur hat.

Your description is consistent with a cousin's father's culling from circulation -- although he was a postal counter clerk in NYC in the 1930s and mostly pulled Indians and anything earlier, including a couple of quarter eagles and some commemorative halves..

Thousands of 1857 and '58 FE cents were saved after the Civil War when rumors circulated that they contained a tiny proportion of gold. Was not true, but it saved some coins from being redeemed and melted by the Philadelphia Mint.

Will these help?

Thank you!

I found it easier to collect the "holes" than the "coins." Got the album completed very quickly....

The thread GoldFinger1969 started several months ago is highly unusual, and might offer some instruction on how to record and preserve subtleties connected with a specific subject. For those not familiar with this 50+ page thread, GoldFinger1969 asked the author of a book on Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles (me) questions that occurred to him as he read through the book. These were both immediate questions and longer-term context and international questions and comments. By doing this, GoldFinger1969 was not only able to get the author to be more specific about certain coins or situations, but stimulated follow-on comments from other collectors. The result was a much deeper and richer experience for thread participants and readers, and (from the author's view) an opportunity to delve into details that were impossible to put into one "slim" volume of 650 pages. The questions and comments also provided opportunities for the author to learn from readers about how to better communicate complex and previously unknown ideas and concepts. This is an approach that I wish were available to all writers of well-researched numismatic books. I sincerely encourage book readers to consider entering a similar Q & A thread for books they enjoy. The patient exploration coming from this approach will be of considerable value to numismatists in the future - if others will follow GoldFinger1969's example. RWB

one can hope.....

This thread might have overwhelmed him, and he is now in short-term rehabilitation.....? That first cockerel looks like he lost the last fight...his lower beak is missing. That 1891 medal reminds me how "dinosaurian" birds look.

At least these tiny bits will survive when I die.

Damage -- possibly from someone running a gear over it, or pliers, or a very very old and hard lemon.

Rotated the OP's first photo, but still no "D." Must have fallen off. Ahhh ---- now I see! It fell into the thread below....but now the "S" is missing....

Multiple threads on the same subject on Jan 19 and 20. Same reaction there as here.

Sketch and coins will never match.

...but coin #4 looks promising....

Responses to questions, above: 1 & 3) A toggle press from Ferracute Machine Company in New Jersey cost approximately $4,000 – they were individually build to order. (See their toggle press patent in JNR #1, along with Janvier’s reducing lathe patent.) Hydraulic presses were made by several companies and were also custom built for coin and medal work. They cost from $9,000 to $16,000 depending on tonnage. Striking a coin work hardens the metal, if not softened between blows, fine detail would not have been brought up. It has little to do with surface “shine.” The MCMVII HR had almost no luster – that results from die use. Coin press manufacturers routinely verified orders for presses through the US Mint. If the Mexico Mint ordered a Ferracute coin press, the company would verify details through our Mint. (See comments about coin presses for Imperial and China Republic.) 2) Twelve (12) minutes was the estimated total time to make one coin; however, the coins were made in batches so about 1 coin could be given 1 blow each 30 seconds in a medal press. While these were being annealed, another batch could be struck, then a 3rd batch. By this time the first batch was ready for their 2nd blow. These took longer because they had to be carefully seated in the lower die to avoid getting a double image. (We don’t know the number rejected because of doubling.). The whole cycle of batch striking and annealing would be repeated for the 3rd blow – again with more time to seat the coin and also to replace the plain collar with a lettered one. They had only one pair of dies and one 3-part lettered collar (same as for pattern pieces). A second pair of dies and collar were added in November 1907. (I suspect the first approx. 500 from the original dies are pieces some call “proofs” – which they are not. All the coins were made the same way. But, this was not known until I did the research and found written descriptions and related information.)

Yes. The appearance of only one specimen of a rare date/mint can alter the sequence. Although, as a practical matter when there are more buyers than sellers, any coin becomes more difficult to find. Once NARA fully reopens, some of the numbers can be further refined based on the Cashier's daily reports. Here's a sample from Denver for September 28, 1927. It shows $500 in gold coin paid out, but does not specify denomination. If these were DE for the Treasurer's sale to collectors, then 25 1927-D double eagles left the Denver Mint - possibly bound for coin collectors -- or possibly not. Comparison with adjacent dates will reveal the denomination, but can only suggest a possible use.

---the early 1907 pattern - at the bottom of your posted list. True - there is little difference. That really shows how good Akers' estimates were. My list was created from different sources, but the two align very well.

Enough questions to justify independent authentication. This is one I'd send in. Do it before Feb 2 and save a few dollars.