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RWB

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Everything posted by RWB

  1. RWB
    He means "on the die," producing the coin as shown.
  2. RWB
    Nope. More "1964 SMS" bologna.
  3. RWB
    Nope. Not remotely close.
  4. RWB
    Nope. Also, excessively processed photo just makes it worse.
  5. RWB
    Found a bank holiday era letter where the woman writing said the only cash she had were a souvenir Columbian half and quarter. She wanted to know if they were real money. There is a lot of quality in those old one-reelers. As a kid, my Dad and I would get up early on Sunday and watch L&H and other silents and talkies on TV. It was the only time they were shown - mostly as filler for otherwise dead air time.
  6. RWB
    Are those 7 Hummel figures or some other sort?
  7. RWB
    Observation suggests that Sesquicentennial quarter eagles seem to tone/tarnish more than other gold of 1926 --- or maybe that's just a biased sample....
  8. RWB
    The coins incorrectly referred to as "1964 SMS" are nothing but very early strikes off new dies. Examples from the DM are in Smithsonian. They are a NORMAL part of the products from entirely NORMAL dies and NORMAL die use. They are NOT specially made as were the 1965-1967 Special Mint Set coins.
  9. RWB
    The spot was caused by contamination after the coin was struck. Since it was removed from the Mint's original packaging, no one can determine where in the handling chain the contamination occurred. Each time a coin is removed from its packaging (plastic holder) the chances of contamination increase. The defect, once visible, cannot be corrected.
  10. RWB
    Geee....that might help...after a few thousand photos, photomicrographs, SEM shots, or several hours of video, the coin might look like Marilyn Monroe.
  11. RWB
    Nope.
  12. RWB
    Correct. On re-reading, my comment above is confusing. (PS: We now have access to a group of US Mint letters and "show reports" from the 1893 Expo. They will soon be posted on the NNP and include transcriptions.)
  13. RWB
    Reduction of tin to a "trace" began after May 1941 and continued until the formal change in 1962....not that anyone paid much attention. The bronze assay tables are being extracted from Mint documents for general information and to aid counterfeit detection via careful XRF measurements. Modern fakes of early bronze 1-cent and 2-cent pieces will likely have an incorrect alloy. Presently, I have bronze assays #1-11 for 1864. The planchets came from Waterbury, CT.
  14. RWB
    But --- did Philip find his pants?
  15. RWB
    There are no SMS 1964 coins. There were no SMS sets. The OP's coin is not one of the first coins off a new die pair for 1964.
  16. RWB
    Also a main character in an old, old TV show about a place that almost never existed. :)
  17. RWB
    Some find that using a very small - point source - light helps accentuate the effects of cleaning and surface alteration.
  18. RWB
    Looks like strongly clashed dies, but not a dime restruck with cent dies.
  19. RWB
    It's value is 50-cents. But....see Mark's comment.
  20. RWB
    The Franklin half was bored out and a cut down Kennedy obverse inserted. Note the seam just outside the date/inscription on the Kennedy side. Novelty piece.
  21. RWB
    Thanks! Good info.
  22. RWB
    No, but a nice looking 1817. A "master coin" of that era would be very sharply detailed, crisp denticles and a mirrored surface - although not as deep as a modern proof. There is considerable disagreement about the "proofyness" of some early master coins. Unfortunately, your coin would not be part of the discussion. Conder101's comments are spot on.
  23. RWB
    OK. I'll do penance: I'll say three Hail Larrys, two Moes and one Curley.....and only pray for one new Mercedes-Bens.
  24. RWB
    Wellllll -- no need to lose your lunch over it. (Hope you're not a pickled beets fan....)
  25. RWB
    Sculptor Lee Laurie did a lot of "coaching" of John Sinnock before the final obverse and reverse were ready for reductions. [I have a detailed FDR dime article ready for publication. It's built on previously unknown letters, descriptions and photos.]