RWB

Another piece of conspiracy krap. You need evidence. Try the most likely approach: How about a die setter put the wrong rev die in service. The mistake was discovered and they thought all had been recovered and destroyed -- except a few got through. It has happened before, so why conjure anything elaborate and nefarious?

"Full Steps" is a modifier -- and added bit of information --- It is not part of the actual "grade" or "condition" of the coin. Therefore the coin's grade is "PR70DCAM." If it has "full steps" that is a different matter and might add to the value, but not the grade.

It might be the approval spot from the Tidy Bowl boatman ? If it's merely a blue sticker, then it is "merely a blue sticker" and of no importance unless you really like that color or shape. The $2 store has these.

Left my "Karnak the All-Knowing" hat at the cleaners. Tell us about your coin, the problem/complaint, and what your question is.

Until about 1915, collectors also have to contend with authentic proof coins that were put into circulation either as mint rejects or intentionally by purchasers.

There are PL coins in all series and from most years after about 1860. The real difficulty is that TPGs have not recognized them until recently. These are the result of normal die maintenance and repair.

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts sold off most of its coins 30 years ago -- this included the ONLY pattern 1908 $5, which had been donated by Bigelow to the Museum. The coin was unknown until my research and nobody knows where it is now. It will seem distinctive only to someone who understands what to look for. As for SI, I think they loan items, but do not sell them. They got burned on the fakes that JJ Ford and Stacks foisted off on them with the Lilly collection.

A nice article is in preparation which completely debunks the entire "1964 SMS" lie. Members will have to be patient.

Sounds like an advantage to coin collecting....Buy $500 in nickels and hunker down.

Had all three shots: seasonal flu, Covid update, and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) on same day in September. Slight soreness at RSV site. Had nothing but a common cold since then. (I recall the governor of Alabama telling residents to "use a little common sense!" But from the Covid death rate there, her message didn't sink in. Certainly hope VKurt gets better soon.)

Yes. Polish is only on a die and deteriorates quickly unless planchets are also polished. However, overall surface smoothness of planchets was good. The range of "PL" appearance depends on the extent of die repair performed, and the number of pieces struck. (I think some of the Morgan dollar VAM collectors have examples of this for the same die pair...but look on VAMWorld for the data.) Our hobby bias also ignores coins with one PL side and one normal, and gives a lower opinion to coins with deep mirror on one side and ordinary mirror on the o0ther. We don't see these described in a special way because collectors expect "PL" to be present on both sides. The hobby thus self-selects for only a portion of coins that have some, but not all, PL surfaces.

Most of the lanthanide series metals are precious - although much of that is due to the expense of purification. Actinide series metals are precious and many do not exist in nature.

Combination of the two letters shows the #1 coin went from the Mint Director to the President to the Secretary of State (John Hay, President Lincoln's personal secretary) who will hand it to Robert J. Thompson who will present it to the President of France (Émile François Loubet). The Smithsonian accession journal should include this information. (I suspect it was presented by Robert Thompson, Secretary of the Commission. Coin orders were handled by him.)

The top coin appears the have been handled and is not uncirculated, that is, it would be PR58. I agree that it might be too far gone for conservation to help. The bottom coin might be helped - esp the reverse.

Nice coin and monument! Great spot for a parade. Here's where the #1 coin went.

Nope...well, not quite. The non-proof but somewhat reflective surfaces are the result of ordinary die maintenance, including rebasining and polishing, to remove small cracks, damage and other defects. The terms "proof-like" and "deep proof-like" are arbitrary appearance descriptors and have no relationship to planchets or how coins were struck; i.e., these were not purposefully made. Added: the final step in die preparation for 19th and 20th century US coinage was a dip of the die face into nitric acid. This was done to remove any "fire scale" or oxidation produced when the die received final hardening and tempering. The original die surface was satin-like, but quickly faded to 'luster.'

Ugly.

Dave and I had several brief conversations about so-called "wood grain" tarnish, but could never come to agreement on the cause. Attributing it to "imperfect alloying" could not be demonstrated without precise testing, and Dave did not have data. This left toning attributable to some near-final step in planchet manufacture possibly copper rolling prior to blank cutting by Scoville Mfg Co., the supplier of cent blanks. That this "wood grain" is found among Indian and Lincoln cents from all mints for nearly twenty years, points to a single source. Further there is no mention of any visual defect in new cent color by Mint sources -- it seems noticeable only after passage of time. It is always if the form of linear streaks, indicating it arises from an analogous linear manufacturing process. Last, not all coins are affected implying that there could have been several sets of production equipment, but only one that created the unusual toning conditions.

I must also mention that these data would not have been available for research without the work of R. W. Julian, supported by a grant from Central States Numismatic Society, and the NNP supported by EPNNES. THANK YOU!

Here's a link to another discussion: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1098971/legend-rare-coin-auctions-is-no-more

You will also pay-through-the-nose and expose all four coins to possible contamination by doing this --- and you will gain nothing but a pretty holder. Consider other options such as Mr.Bill347 suggests.

It's a pill that gives your wallet diarrhea.

Yep. The practicalities of auctioning coins likely got to her, despite her disclaimers posted elsewhere.

They are now known for solidified air pollution, streets lined with cattle poo, and the haven of those people named "Jim" speaking barely intelligible English who call your phone 50 times a day trying to scam access to your bank account. (There are good people and magnificent structures, too. But we seldom hear of them.)

But the gut it to the bone and grab all the meat before leaving the remains for scavengers.