RWB

"creme de la creme" literally the very richest [best] of the fresh cream - undiluted cream.

There is a more "popular" version available from National Geographic - but you have to pay for it without seeing a preview.

Whenever Dave Bowers was involved in grading coins, the work was consistent, reliable and accurate.

Geeeezzz. I never go to Starsucks.....Not sure if Marks drinks the stuff either....

[ "Thud...." ]

ПРОБА [proba] means to "try" or "test" as in "test of the fineness." It would be understood in Russian as 0.990 fine silver [Серебряный]. A Russian золотни́к (zolotnik) is a weight unit equal to 4.2658 grams. The piece shown should weigh 42.658 grams, 0.990 fine silver (or 42.23142g pure silver). These were a common way of returning silver to gold mine owners after parting native gold and silver. US Mints initially kept the parted silver from California gold deposits to pay for the cost of parting and refining. Eventually, they returned silver to the depositor by check, currency or bullion bars.

The full coin photos are fuzzy. They should be as sharp as your detail images to be of use to viewers.

Your photos are very good - just try to reduce the contrast and avoid cyan "blow out."

It's also a cautionary tale of the lengths to which "telemarketing crooks" will go to cheat people. $17 each for 1964 Kennedy halves is an all too common occurrence. We'll see much more of this as the generation of victims from the 80s die off. Since the hobby/business lacks standards and a strong hobby protection organization, it is extremely difficult to bring a successful prosecution against the crooks.

With Roosevelt dimes in those grades, there are likely to be some specialty collectors interested in them. The GC suggestion seems like a good one if you plan to sell.

The ANA Grading Guide will give you useful definitions for circulated coin grades.

The only better circulated coin grade is AU = About Uncirculated. An AU coin will have only a trace of abrasion/wear on the highest points and minor disturbance of field luster. (Note that my definition of "AU" does not permit any of the Eagle you illustrated to be called "AU." Some TPGs and others disagree that strict interpretation. Some will go so far as to label a coin with obvious wear "MS" "Mint State" as if everyone else is blind to the falsehood.)

Sorry--- "EF" = "Extremely Fine." Minor wear on highest points and fields; all design details clear but wear is evident. Gold coins taken from international trade are often found in EF condition, largely due to repeated handling by clerks in counting and rebagging.

All are lightly circulated - EF or a bit nicer.

Some of the 1943 cent dies were plated with chromium. They lasted longer and produced better looking coins with less clogging than normal steel dies.

The links are being blocked. Just copy the photos and past them into your post.

The sources are given in the book, plus additional analysis of TPG documents and some private communications. There is more to the story, but I could not get participants to disclose everything. That's unfortunate, because it leaves a gap that will be filled with speculation and lies.

Every time an original mint capsule is opened, the coin is exposed to contaminants in the air. That greatly increases the likelihood of future spotting and degradation. Leave them in the originals -- and save your money to buy other coins.

The attached link will be of interest to collectors who want to know more about the archeological use of coins in dating and authenticating ship wrecks and other historical events. This wreck is of a Portuguese coastal trading vessel, known as the Bom Jesus which was lost on a voyage to India in 1533. The cargo included copper ingots (half spheres), gold coins, tin ingots and approximately 100 elephant tusks. The ivory has proven helpful in identifying human predation and diversity destruction among West African elephant populations. http://www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/media/uploads/dans/TheOranjemundShipwreck.pdf

Follow Mark's good advice: leave them alone....and they'll come home...wagging their tails behind them.

Not a pattern piece. Likely made of a pewter-type alloy. Liquor/beer trade token. Someone expert in merchant tokens might be able to help.

He bought 1,000 1964 Kennedy halves for $17 each? That is "criminal" of the seller. One can hope he did not pay similar markups on the other coins.

No "Special Mint Sets" were made in 1964. The so-called "1964 SMS" coins are normal coins made from fresh dies. The bogus designation was invented out of ignorance and greed, and has remained for the same reasons. Your quarter is a normal coin in very nice condition.

Try turning off the phone's flash or light and using only diffuse skylight coming in a window. Approximate values based on metal content and quantities from the OP’s post: 25 gold Eagles $1,200 ea, $ 30,000 300 Swiss francs (20 Fr) $ 350 ea. $105,000 5 Maple leafs $1,850 ea. $ 9,250 186 silver Liberty dollars $ 35 ea. $ 6,510 1000 Silver Kennedy halves $ $ 9,350 (1964 date) Total approx. $160,110. Assuming all are genuine and in AU/Unc condition.

It's an ordinary cent. No US coins dated 1964 are rare, scarce, unavailable, or special in any way, with the possible exception of accented hair proof halves. ...and there are plenty of them to go around.