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RWB

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Everything posted by RWB

  1. RWB
    The item shown is a product of Barclay's experiments. See the book Fads Fakes and Foibles [by the present writer] for details. The old auction descriptions and Judd guesses are entirely wrong as proven by new research data.
  2. RWB
    Not a chance. Far, far too crude. Work-in-progress checks on master dies, master hubs, etc. were made in fusible alloy (often called "lead splashers") for, sharp accurate impressions without damaging the original.
  3. RWB
    Good maple syrup works well for stickering, too.
  4. RWB
    Check out a copy of From Mine to Mint for explanations of how edge collars were made. [Disclaimer: I wrote the book.]
  5. RWB
    Likely the best option, unless a currency dealer has a want-list customer.
  6. RWB
    Maybe he thought the shield was a "bottomless shot glass?"
  7. RWB
    There were not enough coins for initial demand. Original buyers were interested in a quick profit. A Treasury clerk cold probably not afford to stash 1 or 2 pieces - that was a big chunk of his salary. Once that subsided, the HR pieces became a glut - there weren't enough real collectors to absorb 12k coins.
  8. RWB
    Double eagles were about $42-48 during and after WW-II. They hit about $55 in the early 1970s - I bought some from Switzerland back then. (Mangy, dirty, lightly circulated.) It was the late 1980s before gold spot prices pushed DE upward. Appearance of coins from Europe was based on several factors including economic stability and banker willingness to take a profit, changes in French and Belgian law that altered when a bank/custodian could declare custody items abandoned also were a factor. Two or three US dealers also realized that some pricey coins were mixed with the common stuff and bought all they could to cherry pick. (The US collector market for gold was, and remains, very thin.) To Europeans the coins were merely a form of gold. To US dealers they were individual commodities with individual attributes - and thus sold for a hefty premium. This changed when European holders realized they were loosing profit by cherry picking, and they reorganized how US gold coins were sold.
  9. RWB
    The connection with Saint-Gaudens was likely very limited for most -- some knew the name, but that was about all. (The knowledgeable had Century magazine to read.) The design was new, different, and the coin was unusual thus the immediate premium. The 1907 panic had little discernible influence on gold coin or currency. Each sub-Treasury received at least 1 bag (250 coins, $5,000) which were supposed to be apportioned to National Banks and their correspondent banks. Few coins made it to any bank. I recall Republic Bank got a few, but they were gobbled up by employees. Wealthy could easily buy one with the premium.
  10. RWB
    Aghhhh/.....that is painful. A half-trained chemistry "teacher". Might have been a retired ambulance chaser.
  11. RWB
    You'll have to check the SG book for the number of patterns. I forget.... MCMVII HR were widely publicized and quickly brought a premium of $10 to $22. That's why none of them initially reached circulation - Treasury and Sub-Treasury clerks gobbled them up and resold for a nice profit. The bubble soon burst and $22 was about all that could be gotten.
  12. RWB
    In reality, many collectors likely asked the tooth fairy for one, but it took TR's order to make one available for Augusta Saint-Gaudens. It was not actually the predecessor to HR MCMVII or any coin. The MCMVII HR came from a second pair of models, of somewhat different design and relief. None of the pattern pieces made were preserved, so the MCMVII HR are the only progeny. (That is -- the EHR MCMVII was a dead end design.)
  13. RWB
    This has to be one of the most ignorant videos about coins on the internet. (OK -- I know that's not possible....) Rather than cleaning/polishing/ruining coins, the perpetrator could have used the dremel tool on his grungy fingers. ;(
  14. RWB
    MCMVII EHR pieces are all patterns, not legal tender coins. Thus, it should not be on a list of coins. Very interesting list. Wish there were good documentation on these. Coin seller anecdotes are notoriously unreliable.
  15. RWB
    That's unfortunate. Can someone play polkas on this accordion fiver? Maybe the famous "Too Fat Polka" by the polka master, Frankie Yankovic ? [Link -- if you dare ! ]
  16. RWB
    Ask away! Members will do their best to help.
  17. RWB
    Not an error. The coin got whacked on the obverse by a hard object.
  18. RWB
    It is also possible that the coins were simply not being consigned. I occasionally feel that "repatriation" used to be a cataloger's excuse for "not bothering to look more deeply." When writing descriptions for these things a little copy-cat fills a lot of space.
  19. RWB
    Very Good!
  20. RWB
    The photos suggest a note in F or VF condition. Any thoughts about the squiggles at upper left?
  21. RWB
    Could be modified as: "Where children are concerned, there ought to be a mandatory exam before access is permitted unless accompanied by a pre-approved chaperone."
  22. RWB
    Don't ya'll mock Gram'er. Mock the turtles if'en ya'll want and make some soup! My Gram'er is just fine, thank you! She, the Harley Hogg, and a case of Bud are on a road trip as we write! She'll be back when she gets back -- or when the beer money runs out.
  23. RWB
    RE: "Who may attend FUN next week?" Anyone "may" (has permission to) attend. But "Who 'might' (has a conditional option to) attend FUN next week?" is a different matter. (No offense intended -- just being picky about language.)
  24. RWB
    The "thing" is a counterfeit being sold to the ignorant on etsy by this crook: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1510792563/ancient-knight-on-pegasus-holding-fish?click_key=515359f11a682eada47648149201846435965edf%3A1510792563&click_sum=5aa65f46&ref=shop_home_active_64
  25. RWB
    What? Not one does that except to their own benefit. And -- there is certainly no "fiduciary obligation."