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RWB

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Everything posted by RWB

  1. RWB
    The easiest way I've found to grade a large bunch of cents is to put them into piles based only on appearance -- everything that looks a lot like the OP's coin goes into one pile; another pile for better, etc, When all the coins are into condition "bins," you go back and grade only a couple of coins in each bin. Coins tossed back from circulation are rarely worth the $$ to justify time for individually grading each piece. PS: The 1914-S I posted in a nice Fine condition coin.
  2. RWB
    Advocates commemorate; antagonists commiserate.
  3. RWB
    Here's an ebay 1914-S being offered for $12.50. If the OP can find a buyer at $3.50 he/she/they/them/it/us'ens is probably fortunate.
  4. RWB
    VG - if not grainy. Buyers for coins in that condition are scarce and won't pay much. (I prefer grading coins rather than grading opinions, or the back yard.....)
  5. RWB
    That's why, in part, they are as accurate as the Old Farmer's Almanac.
  6. RWB
    But...all things are not remaining equal, nor is there a causal relationship.
  7. RWB
    A few years ago, crude oil prices tumbled. Other commodities -- including gold, bulk peanut butter, and pork bellies -- did not.
  8. RWB
    Regardless of cause, the quarter is worth 25-cents.
  9. RWB
    They felt it cheapened their art and presentation; turning their work into tawdry baubles fit for carnivals and crude entertainments. One must also remember that the designs did not have simple geometric configurations, but were entirely medallic in concept and execution. These characteristics prevented polishing except with careful manual work --- something that failed in 1909, 1913 and on all three initial 1916 versions, and was not attempted again until the master dies had been altered by Mint engravers.
  10. RWB
    Collector William Woodin (of $10,000 $50 gold pattern fame) negotiated the deal between Mint Director Andrew and the ANA during the ANA' august 1910 convention. (See Renaissance of American Coinage 1905-1908 for details and correspondence. (Red cover with TR at a ship's wheel.)
  11. RWB
    Both of the accepted artists (Weinman & MacNeil) objected to polished coins, as did all other top-tier sculptors of that era.
  12. RWB
    Kimball was dealing with low demand for new subsidiary silver and, like other directors, wanted the Mint to stay out of creation or support for coin speculation. This included issuing proofs to demand not a fixed quantity, and in the 1880s minting unnecessary circulation coins in quantities that, at the time, seemed great enough to prevent price manipulation. He was also concerned about proof sets and in 1889 refused to approve them until Congress had adjourned without acting on discontinuance of the 1, 3 dollar gold, and 3-cent CuNi.
  13. RWB
    Not sure I understand....
  14. RWB
    So---how much does Saint-Gaudens gold thread cost? This is a "price of thread" thread, right?
  15. RWB
    Amputate their middle fingers. That'll slow 'em down... They'll have to "think" of obscenities not just do sign language.
  16. RWB
    This little letter to the Philadelphia Mint shows that not only was Director Kimball aware of the potential for speculation in low mintage coins, but was actively trying to prevent it. He was also hoping to reduce pressure on proof coin manufacture, although is was a profitable business for the P Mint. Similar letters occur in the last part of other years during his term of office. [Note: The original journal was written in light gray ink with a fine point steel pen. The result was faint, difficult to photograph text.]
  17. RWB
    The upper-most surface of letters was at the same "height" as the field -- that is, the highest part of the design was the field and top surface of the Indian, etc.
  18. RWB
    It would look much like a die --- the field was highest and everything else lower.
  19. RWB
    The correct art term is "sunk relief." Ancient Egyptian sculptors use it a lot in tomb decoration. They smoothed a wall with plaster-like material, then cut relief into the wall and added colors. Bela Pratt did much the same thing. It is effective for larger areas, but awkward for details such as stars and inscriptions.
  20. RWB
    Eagles had rims, except for the small issue with knife rims (i.e., field curving up to the edge. The uncuse design on QE and HE was the reason there was no rim. President Roosevelt approved this aberration of common sense on assurances from Sturgis Bigelow that it would wear better, so that's what was made.
  21. RWB
    Could be Unc or AU -- difficult to tell more from the photos. Better to begin a photo sequence with full obv and rev shots. RE: "1943 Mercury Dime purchase, grade?" The coin shown in your first photos is dated "1943." The coin in your last photo is dated "1945." Which coin do you want an opinion about?
  22. RWB
  23. RWB
    I deliberately picked a 50s style, so it wold be both obvious and not so "skanky."
  24. RWB
    You can buy better for less. Keep looking. Spots belong on dalmatians, polka dot dresses, lady bugs.
  25. RWB
    RE: "NGC asked me to pay extra for conversation then graded the coin as 'cleaned.' " Unusual request. What did you talk about in the conversation? Was this a video conversation or did they come to your home? Was conserving the coin discussed...what about grading options afterward?