RWB

The OP's complaint is possibly founded on the crowded content and layout of the submission form. Were everything spread among two, logically organized pages, I suspect the whole submission experience would be improved. Also, a 2-sided paper form would make it easy to extract user data. That could improve data handling and analysis with little cost. The electronic form would also be easier to use with data going directly to the NGC submission database. Small changes in process can produce large positive returns.

Yep. Always nice to save a few "Loonies." Further -- maybe I could send in only the high points from the obverse of an AU coin?

That's good to know. Next time, I'll save money by sending in only the obverse.

Don't see signs of the quarter being struck from doubled dies. Poor strike with incomplete/weak inscriptions - note chisel-shaped letters. Nice detail photos.

What collectors call luster is the visual result of metal movement on the surface of a die. A new die had little or no luster, but this develops quickly during use. 1921 Peace dollars were made in two batches. Many coins from the first batch of about 100,000 pieces have limited or no luster - the dies broke too frequently for it to develop. The remaining 900,000 were made at lower pressure to better preserve dies, and many of these have excellent luster. 1921 Peace dollar with the best detail likely were made the first day and will have little or no luster.

The material referred to doesn't relate to the Whitman books mentioned. They cover subjects not well researched, never heard about before, or badly confused.

Worn, beat up, corroded. Weight is immaterial - you might get 1-cent in trade for it if a store will accept it. Maybe it should be returned to the local 7-11 parking lot for a bit more "seasoning?"

Compare your 1921s to the one posted on the US & Foreign forum. The best one you show looks well above average in detail, but a better photo is needed. The NGC photo shows considerable cleaning which would explain the lack of a "grade."

The "O" mintmark is simply damaged. There is little premium for Morgan dollar varieties except for a few scarce ones and a few others in high grade. There are simply too few collectors for minor varieties to have much added value..

Might be VAM 6, which is similar to this photo but without the small cud below 1. (Photo by Leroy Van Allen, courtesy VAMWorld.com) This is a repunched date on the obverse die.

Don't really know. But I would like collectors to get the best value for their money - and that means separating the tripe from the prime fillet.

You folks are embarrassing me.... A daily "parting of the golden sea waters" is performed at noon. Afterward, manna is distributed to all who attended along with a good lager. Free use of a boot scraper is available for those lagging behind the camels.

There seems to be an increase in threads and posts about 1921 Peace dollars on various hobby message boards. Presumably this is a by product of this year's centennial of the design, and Congress' mandate to produce a commemorative version of the design. Because much of the long-term value in these one-year type coins is in the quality and detail of striking, the following photo is presented to aid collectors in points to look for in coin details. This has been posted before, but it seemed relevant again. In addition to the highlighted areas, also notice the detail in rays, and fully rounded digits and letters. Regardless of labeled "grade," buyers should look for the maximum amount of detail visible on the coin -- that is, ignore any superlative descriptions unless supported by the coin. (I own the coin...and the little blue arrows.)

I'll add that material was prepared for several more issues of JNR but not published. That is being expanded and revised/updated and will be released in several new books this year.

No Saint-Gaudens coins are discussed except incidental to the Merkers Potassium Mint. That design was the bulk of US DE stolen from other countries.

What suggests the quarter has any premium value?

It's a fuzzy picture of a damaged dime. The coin is worth 10-cents.

Franklin Peale brought the US Mint into the 19th century. It was not until near the turn of the 20th century that substantive changes were made.

Slightly off center. No collector premium.

Knock-off chickens....that lay 'taters, too.

A bookbinder will do that for you. I don't know the cost.

No. Ross J was kind enough to have a copy hard bound which he presented to me. It was and is much appreciated.

Aside from some obvious difficulties of sealed rolls, is the problem of feeding the seals. Organic, all natural seals prefer fresh fish, squid and similar foods. However, organic Navy Seals will eat anything. Another difficulty is why rolls? Would not croissants, baguettes, bagels or maybe cinnamon rolls be more worthy of protection than common "rolls?" Also, using Navy Seals would seem to put the rolls in jeopardy. (Is that in the form of a question?) Well, collectors can decide.

Ross, I don't know what their plans are. Heritage is an auction company and publishing a book or two is not in their line of work. I have not seen a digital version of the book. And I thank you again for the hardbound copy of the book....very thoughtful gift!

The Journal of Numismatic Research (JNR) was begun nearly a decade ago with the goal of giving authors a place to publish their research without limitations of length, subject, or sources. After five issues it was discontinued because of limited interest in the concept by writers. However, the published issues contain numerous articles by the present writer on multiple subjects affecting US coinage. In the interest of making more collectors aware of this "hidden resource" and its content the following abstracts are presented. Internet searches will reveal reviews and other comments. Journal of Numismatic Research (JNR) – Autumn 2012, Issue #1. “Oberlin Smith – Patent for a Coining Press, 1896.” United States patent number 574227 was issued to Oberlin Smith on December 29, 1896. Smith was owner of the Ferracute Company and had many years of experience in designing and manufacturing industrial and machine shop presses, lathes and other equipment. His company produced only two sizes of coin presses and sold a few to the U.S. Mint and others to foreign governments. This is the first publication of Smith’s complete patent text and illustrations. “Victor Janvier – Patent for a Model Reducing Machine, 1899.” (translation by Margaux C. Thieme-Burdette) Among American numismatists Victor Janvier is known almost entirely for the model reducing machine of his invention that was installed in the Philadelphia Mint in 1906. The French patent, number 294123, was issued on November 8, 1899 and amended in February 24, 1902. This is the first publication of his patent and includes all documents remaining in the French patent office archive. Journal of Numismatic Research (JNR) – Spring 2013, Issue #2. “Benjamin Franklin Peale – Inventions and Improvements for the United States Mint, 1835 to 1852.” During Franklin Peale’s employment at the U.S. Mint from 1833 to 1854, he invented machinery and improved processes. These changes moved the mint from an outdated backwater, into the forefront of international coinage technology. This issue of JNR presents the first comprehensive review of Peale’s important contributions to the economic growth of the United States. “Improvements in the Method of Making Working Dies and Reductions – 1835.” One of the goals of mint officials was uniformity of the coinage. Every piece of a certain denomination should be identical in weight, purity, size, shape and design to every other of the same denomination. To accomplish this, the mint went to considerable trouble to verify the all the blanks and planchets for coining were uniform. But when it came to actually making dies and striking coins from them, a multitude of factors intruded. “Improvements in Assaying and Parting Silver, and Recovering Precious Metals from Waste Water – 1835.” The two primary reasons for sending Franklin Peale to Europe in 1833 were to learn how to perform the “humid assay” of silver, and how to perform large scale parting of gold and silver using sulfuric acid. As with most tasks, Peale overcame reluctance by some of his European hosts and succeeded admirably in his assignment. “Invention of a Toggle-Joint Coinage Press – 1835.” The steam powered coining press designed by Franklin Peale is simultaneously his most recognized invention and the least well understood by coin collectors. This is understandable when one realizes that popular descriptions emphasized the use of steam power, rather than the singular technology of the press. “Improvements in Rolling, Drawing and Annealing – 1835-1839.” Among lesser known mechanical improvements made by Franklin Peale were changes in the rolling mills, drawbenches and annealing furnaces. At present we have none of Peale’s drawings relating to these improvements and only incomplete descriptions of his work. “Invention of the Eccentric Drive Blank Cutting Press – 1836.” The new presses were fast and required large quantities of blanks and planchets. To solve the problem of cutting blanks, Peale designed two somewhat different blank cutting presses for the U.S. Mints. A small version was introduced in 1836, and a second much larger type was designed and built between 1837 and 1851. Both designs dispensed with the obsolete screw press mechanism. “Invention of the Upsetting Machine – 1836.” While Franklin Peale was melter and refiner he invented and introduced the upsetting (or milling) ma­chine, moved by steam power, for placing the raised edge on the rim of the coin. This machine was substituted for the imperfect and inefficient band machine, the only one previously known in the Mint. Such was the efficiency of the machine introduced by Peale that eight hundred (800) of the smaller denominations of coin per minute do not by any means limit its capacity. “Improvements of the Piling Box and Coin Counting Board – 1837 and 1839.” Counting boards and piling boxes might appear to be trivial innovations. Making piles of coins or blanks was a simple matter and counting was basic to most mint operations. Counting coins has been an important requirement of money-based economies since the first use of coinage. Stacking or piling coins is a more recent, though still very old practice. As a growing economy demanded larger quantities of coins, simple piece-by-piece counting failed. “Design for a Steam Engine – 1839.” Peale’s 1839 horizontal steam engine was not the first used by the Philadelphia Mint, but it was the first to be fully designed and built with specific needs of the mint in mind. Power production was modest – just twenty-five horsepower – but the machine was quiet, reliable, and simple to operate by standards of the time. “Improvement of Balances – 1835-1847.” Accurate analytical and bulk weighing balances were critical to the quality of American coinage. But when Peale visited the Paris Mint in 1833 he realized that the U.S. Mint was laboring with poor quality equipment. He acted quickly to relieve the situation and continued improving weighing equipment for the next fifteen years. “Improvements in Electrotyping from Models of Metal, Wax and Plaster – 1840.” The miracle of electricity was a primary subject of scientists and philosophical experimenters in the early nineteenth century. Working mostly as individuals, and collaborating through numerous letters and publications, electrical researchers rapidly gained a basic understanding of what electricity could do. Franklin Peale worked with a very simple electrotyping apparatus known as single cell deposition. This method did not require constructing a battery, but depended only on the small current developed within a container, to deposit copper onto a mold. “Hiring of Women to Adjust Planchets and Operate Presses – 1850.” Men were employed to adjust planchets and operate presses until early 1850 when women were given a trial as adjusters by coiner Franklin Peale. His innovation was to turn a significant part of the coining process over entirely to female employees, and to do this within a major government bureau. His decision was evidently inspired by a combination of errors by the male adjusters, and the drive to save money. “Design for a Steeple Engine – 1851.” The last major design project by Franklin Peale was for a new vertical steam engine for the Philadelphia Mint. By this time the science of machinery had left the designer in the dust and his best effort was functionally obsolete before it was completed. “Opinions and Comments on Coinage and Mint Operations 1855, 1870.” Peale’s opinions about American coinage were remarkably consistent during his lifetime. Some found their way into the Coinage Act of 1873, others fell by the wayside, and still others have yet to be considered. This brief article presents his opinions and suggestions for present and future numismatists to contemplate. Journal of Numismatic Research (JNR) – Summer 2013, Issue #3. “Saving Philippine Gold at the beginning of World War II: January to March 1942.” Following the surprise attack on Manila on December 8, 1942, banks and individuals sought to get their valuables, including gold bullion from local mines, to safety. One American submarine was able to help by using the gold and silver as ballast. “Silver Divers of Corregidor, World War II: May to November 1942.” Just before the Philippine island of Corregidor fell to the Japanese, large quantities of silver coins were dumped in Manila Bay. It was hoped that the coins could thus be hidden from the invaders. Within days, the silver coins were located and American prisoners conscripted to bring the valuables to the surface. “U.S. Mint & Nazi Gold, Merkers Kaiseroda Salt Mine Treasure, World War II: June to August 1945.” Under orders from Nazi leadership, primarily Hermann Goering and Heinrich Himmler, conquered people and nations were systematically stripped of art, gold and other valuables. Recovery of the treasure after the end of the European war had an unexpected connection to the U.S. Mint. Journal of Numismatic Research (JNR) – Autumn 2013, Issue #4. “Origin of the 3-Cent Silver Coin.” Beneath the angry public debates on slavery, new state admissions and regional commerce, two important topics permeated the country. One was the need for a consistent national currency of gold and silver coins that was uniformly available and of equal value everywhere. The other was revision of the postal service so it could cheaply and securely ensure written communication across a vast, largely unpopulated continental nation. “James B. Longacre as a Die Engraver” A reassessment of the artistic and engraving talent of the Engraver of the United States Mint. “Purpose of the $3 Gold Coin” Coin collectors have long wondered why Congress approved introduction of a $3.00 gold coin in 1854. Numerous speculations have been put forward, but none identified the initial motivation for this odd, seemingly useless denomination. “Gold Dollars Used for Jewelry” Necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks, rings, pendants and a multitude of other items of personal adornment became the final resting places of thousands of tiny gold dollars. Coin collectors were the only refuge for these forgotten gold pieces. Journal of Numismatic Research (JNR) – Winter 2014, Issue #5. The Women Who Ran the Mint The United States Mint was one of the first Federal government departments to hire women as full time employees. It was also among the forefront in promoting women to positions of managerial responsibility, and having them testify before Congress as civil service professionals. This article presents the stories of three outstanding women who helped open the doors to equal employment opportunity. “Margaret Ellen Kelly – Acting Director of the Mint” “Mary Margaret O’Reilly – Assistant Director of the Mint” “Nellie Tayloe Ross – Director of the Mint”