RWB

Agreed -- It is also critical to acquire the basic knowledge necessary to understand the specifics mentioned in specialty publications. That was part of the purpose of From Mine to Mint: put the 'basics' in one place. Explain the basics. Nurture truth. Having a source for the How and Why, means collectors can share a common understand of the mechanical and organizational structures common to nearly all US coins.

Government research grants are for things of wide potential or national benefit. Most of the things highlighted in media as frivolous turn out to be quite different than the headlines imply. Think back to the "rivolous" research into atmospheric lead from car exhaust and other sources, or long-term consequences of smoking, mercury traces in water supply, DDT's effects of birds' eggs, nanoparticle plastics in living cells, etc. I've attempted to make the American history and economics argument regarding numismatic research for our own country, but have found no interest except in archeology - and that is scant. (U.S. coins are very rarely chronological determinants, and Mint/Treasury documents likewise.) One would think that at least one wealthy coin or currency collector would fund research, or endow a research position at Smithsonian -- but nope.

St. Petersburg Mint. There's nothing in the star. Here's a similar coin with a different moneyer (from NGC):

In the era of the 2nd letter, there were few "form" letters. Clerks had to prepare each response individually. That likely led to short tempers and abrupt comments. The letter is a draft. Common practice was to add a note to the correspondence's original letter and mail it back to them....this left no trace of the correspondence unless there was some sort of follow-on. [Very few individuals had telephones. There were no mimeograph machines; a form letter had to be printed and that required multiple approvals. Such items were issued as "Circulars" or "Circular Letters." NNP has a separate small collection of these relating to the US Mints.]

Yeah, that sounds about right. It's troubling that so much potentially insightful information will be delayed or simply lost to current generations.

It would be funny and ironic to see gold stackers also buying "crypto currency." I.e., hard money advocates buying vapor money...!

Transcriptions for 1895 have been uploaded to NNP. 1896 is currently being worked on. That will be followed by 1889.

ANA has copies available for loan to members. Also, most community libraries participate in "Interlibrary Loan" (ILL) where anyone can borrow books, etc. from other libraries for a small fee - usually $2 or $3. Even the Library of Congress does ILLs !

PS: I now have doubts this book will ever be completed. Costs are too high and audience is too small. There's also another 6 months of research before a final version comparable to the DE book could be ready. My time might be better used on other subjects.

In reality there is no "grant" money for numismatic research or publication. Central states once had small grants of $5,000 but that stopped several years ago. The Newman Numismatic Education Society calls their small awards "grants" but there are multiple conditions that make it just another way to generate content at very low rates. Historical academic grants and stipends have shown no interest in numismatics except in the limited archeological role. Likewise, with Smithsonian, NY Museums, British Museum, on and on..... Not one "deep pocket" coin collector has ever, to my knowledge, offered to fund even the smallest research or publication project. Heritage Auctions has clearly done the most to aid research, but I don't see any other company doing even the slightest thing unless it leads to immediate profit. Research is not "immediate profit" -- even David Sarnoff understood that at RCA.

The chapter missing in the ANA class is titled "Coins Are Always at Least One Grade Lower When You Get Them Home."

Danke.

No. Please don't take that one seriously.....

RE: "...there look to be quite a few rim ticks/hits on each side." This can be prevented by getting a flea-market and tick collar for your rolls of coins. The collars are adjustable,and will last through many coin shows -- even the AKC New York show.

Comptroller of the Currency and Treasurer of the US had washing machines for paper currency n the early 20th century. Lots of popular newspaper features are available. There is a modern "Dirty Jobs" show about a luxury hotel in NYC that until recently had an internal coin washing/cleaning department. [Episode 158, Season 4 January 3, 2012. "Water Softener Technician." Maintenance on water softening basin at municipal water treatment plant in Moorhead, Minnesota, cleaning coins at Westin, St. Francis Hotel.]

That's fine. The book is in "kinda chronological" order, but I tried to group subject together so differences would be clearer. Still....the CD is a real boon to finding things.

Hope you find it enjoyable and informative. It can be read in any order -- even backwards. (But the CD only plays in one direction....)

My words were clear to any coin collector. There is nothing special about the 1964-dated coins. They are entirely normal for their date. The same applies to 1944 or 1945 nickels....now for 1943, we have to be a little more specific about alloy.

For many years a steel or pen compass was used to scribe guide circles for inscriptions and other hand-punched details. Usually, these guide lines and the center point were effaced from completed dies. Sometimes, possibly from haste, removal was incomplete. It is this surface abrasion that created most of the so-called "early proof" coins -- much like proof-like Morgans 50 years later.

I recall Dena mentioning that the forum is a commercial product and that there were limited options for customization. There might have been reasons for combining several topics under one broad title, although mumu's objections are certainly valid.

Sorry...you'll have to pay bullion plus shipping and insurance....if I decode to sell. But, I have only a couple of stray rolls bought when they were first issued. But thanks for the offer!

The radiating obverse line pattern is characteristic of severe die deterioration - the Mint calls this "starburst." The dies should have been condemned long before this coin was produced.

This post is for those collectors awaiting US Mint archival information, or who want to do research in the archives in person. Recent increases in COIVD-19 infection rates have generated additional conversations with NARA regarding access to material for research. It is presently expected that NARA facilities will remain closed to the public until the 2nd quarter of 2021. RWB

The Newman Numismatic Portal (NNP) has posted transcriptions of selected documents for the years 1890 through 1894, with 1895 to be uploaded soon. Additional material is being transcribed. These are all from Entry-1 General Correspondence. The original document and transcription are linked in a single PDF file that can be read or downloaded at the user's option.

Given the amount on money involved, it might be useful to check with an estate accountant to see if it is possible to use your father's basis in the coins rather than the inherited basis -- too many variables in your individual situation to suggest more things. Hopefully, you have access to receipts for the other coins also although the gold likely cost less than the inherited basis.