RWB

Wet, Dry or Dryer...it's still worthless.

Mint U.S. March 10, 1841 James T. Barker, Esq., First Comptroller Etc., etc. Sir, In your letter of the 8th inst., to the Treasurer of the Mint, respecting his accounts for the second quarter of the year 1840, you introduce the following item: “Robert B. Hughes’s bill for Figure of Liberty, suspended for explanation,” $75.00 I have, sxxx on this notice, to state, that the figure in question was a medallion for the “expression emblematic of Liberty” used on our coins, and was made for the purpose of being used as a pattern for casting in iron to be employed in a [particular] lathe by the operation of which the hubs for striking dies may be turned. The work ordered of Mr. Hughes was strictly for the regular business of the Mint. R. M. P., Director [RG104 E-1 Box 21]

I feel it's temporary - a bit like beanie babies and cabbage patch dolls and painted plates.

If you like them, buy them. Don't expect any coin collector to like them, Plan to lose everything you paid beyond the bullion value. Very few want altered coins in their collections, and that is what these items are. Would you buy a 1909 cent with an "S" glued or painted on it?

Thank you!

"MS-70" applies to each coin individually, so microscopic changes in dies would not be relevant. Is the "5x" approach: A) 5x magnification on the coin as struck, or B) 5x magnification on the coin as compared to some "perfect" definition, or C) is it 5x magnification with no discernible alteration of the surface regardless of cause? [Note that the original micro surface of a gold or silver coin is harder than the rest, so small movement against a metal chute or collar face, might not make any difference.]

Also, remember that PayPal is linked to a credit card, and you should also dispute the PayPal charge there. 另外，请记住 PayPal 与信用卡相关联，您还应对 PayPal 的收费提出异议

For this kind of dispute, it is often best to work with the payment company. The laws depend on your country of residence. If you used a credit card in the USA, you should dispute the charge immediately and in writing. 对于此类纠纷，往往最好与支付公司合作。法律取决于您的居住国家/地区。如果您在美国使用信用卡，您应该立即以书面形式对该费用提出异议。

A post on another forum asks this question. I pose it here because it begs understanding of old and modern minting practices, and is dependent on the definition of MS-70. The Sheldon definition of MS-70 is: exactly as it came from the dies, or "as struck." (This ignores defects of planchet or dies.) The TPG definition of MS-70 is, it appears: Perfect in all respects. (This is a little confusing because it implies we have a "perfect" example for comparison.) Anyway - what's your opinion on the question?

Damage, Nothing more.

No. All the steps have to be complete. The big cut eliminates any possibility, as do the two merged areas in the central tier. (The escalator looks fine...)

Only 4 days? There are collectors whose entire social life revolved around these things....

Possible test of a button or belt emblem stamp ?

One could be fined for bringing clean water to Pittsburgh.

Desperate, yes. Scared, yes. Hopeful, yes. They are the ones risking everything to try. It is a one-way move from generations of the known, to a future on unknowns. They are the strongest and though many fail or are exploited, their presence and progeny push the American economy and society into innovation and productive change. Illegal immigration is a definition, not a motivation.

The US also has a long, treasured history of renewal of our population demographics -- It's called immigration. Except for Native American populations, not one American family originated here. Plus, American immigrants are the folks who will take enormous risk - literally everything - for a mere chance to have a better future. They bring new ideas, new vigor, new understanding, and new challenges for a society that is built on constant change and renewal.

Collapse of a social order or economy is usually known to contemporaries. That kind of disruption is cumulative and the process continues when members/leaders either ignore the evident or have no means to remediate causes. Ask the Maya, or Minoans, or Sumerians, or Weimar Republic Germans, etc., etc.

Yes. Obv is nice; rev is questionable. Since a PL has to have both sides PL, then it does not qualify. However, in-hand examination might produce a different opinion.

This is bullion from the rear end of a bull.

The item is not a US Mint test piece. When the engraver wanted to test a hub or die for design progress, he make a splasher in fusible alloy. (This will be described in detail in the forthcoming book Mine to Mint 2. A shorter description is in Journal of Numismatic Research (JNR) issue for Spring 2013.) The purpose was to check accuracy of manual engraving on the reduction, or a change, but without causing damage to the steel piece. The OP's item is in much too inferior quality to do this, and is most likely a workshop curiosity made in someone's basement.

"Proof-like" is a result of ordinary die use and repair. "Proof" is specific process using different die treatment and coin manufacture. The photos show little of the first and none of the second.

Please do not depend on density alone for the composition. Good XRF measurements of both sides and edge are necessary. Density would then be used to confirm the alloy. (Use XRF data to calculate density based on proportion of elements and individual standard values, Then make separate displacement technique to confirm result. Scale accuracy of 0.1g is insufficient for usable results; 0.01g and 10 measurements might be OK if technique is reliable.)

Worms are OK. The one's we don't set free, we can take fishin'.

Sad. Stupid and sad. Pathetic, stupid and sad. Disappointing, pathetic, stupid and sad.

If you go to the US Mint website and look through Press Releases, you'll find illustrations and descriptions of them all.