MIKE BYRNE

On 2/27/2019 at 11:58 AM, Just Bob said:

Thanks for putting up the pictures.The Franklin Press is a nice one, in really great shape,  and the Kempson piece is a real beauty.

If you go to Washington the original press he used is in the Smithsonian Institute. Thanks. Mike

On 2/24/2019 at 7:53 PM, Just Bob said:

My RedBook does not call these American tokens. It says they are "English tradesman's tokens of the kind collected by English numismatists..." Quote: " The Franklin Press tokens did not circulate as money in America, but, being associated with a London shop where Benjamin Franklin once worked, they have long been included in American coin collections." Bowers also states that they were struck in England, and Breen attributed them to Lutwych's mint in Birmingham, England. (Breen did not always get things right, rhough.)

I am looking forward to seeing pictures of your token.

That's were the mistake started. They used The red book not The book Conder collectors use and NGC. It doesn't belong in the red book. It was collected here never used for money never circulated that's from Q.David Bowers. So why is it there. I have no idea I think they needed to fill space. It has none of the information we need to reference it. Read my updates maybe you will get a better idea how important Chris information is. The red book doesn't even say we're in England jigsaw made of who commissioned it. Why it was made. Th e difference in rarity. The one with edge writing is worth thousands.. But The red book does not tell you that. So I went to the net. One dealer has it made in Philadelphia. This is why it has to be removed. By the way Matthew Boulton ran the Birmingham mint not Lutywchs he worked there as a die sinker. Thanks Mike

On 2/19/2019 at 4:12 PM, thisistheshow said:

I have heard these tokens mentioned but never really learned much about them. After reading your post I did an image search and was surprised at the HUGE variety. I look forward to learning more as time allows and as you share more. 

 

Thank you

Not only that but many collectors don't know the value of thes. You can buy the circulated one on ebay for forty dollars or buy the ones I do from England and profession sellers. Some go into the thousands and some the tens of thousands. Some are not cheep at all. So it has detail workmanship and they have vakue. Thanks.

On 3/26/2019 at 9:33 PM, jackcoppercoincollector said:

I find it interesting that private citizens made tokens, and that the government could not afford to ramp up production, but I guess the same thing happens in the United States. I saw your set... There are some very nice examples in there. 

They were made in the Soho Mint and the Bimingham mint. The government has very little silver and gold because of there was with France, the U.S. There own civil war they were in the verge of bankruptcy. That would of been a mess. So they used tokens just like the ones made here during the civil war. Soldiers had to be pai. They went them home to keep the farm going they bought shoes for themselves and food to live and fight. Tokens were used in many countries. Thanks Mike.

As I write this my token should be back this week. I'm very excited to see it. I supplied the correct information and book and page it was on. This will be a rare one with the right information. Not even P.S.C.G.has the correct version.  So I should have it by the 13th of May I will post it with The other one. Thanks NGC for understanding. And your great cooperation. P.C.G.S.  sometimes circles the edge lettering. That could me hundreds if not thousands. That's why I stopped sending my tokens there and coins. Thanks everyone. Mike.

Hi thanks for the Journal. These guys show up at coin shows to promote there own coins with autographs when there not in jail. I started watching it in the beginning I watched them rip off a young woman. That was it for me. There in business to get there best price for what you own and know the real value. They will undercut anyone. Your right it's fake. I wonder when us hard collecting  people pass on will they make a coin of us. That I will never understand. I have seen people walk out. Those are the smart ones. Well I'm not going to discuss this show anymore since I don't watch it anymore. Many people enjoy it. If you enjoy something watch it and enjoy it. That's what shows are for. Thanks again Mike

I think since there corporate problems they have made many. My friend sent some currency to be graded. Months ago. It's seems that department is a total mess. I have heard lost items. Items not returned for various reasons. I believe there corporate problems are just the beginning of  company  falling apart. I don't mean going out of business but there always in the magazines they have tried to spin there problems but I don't think it's working. That's my opinion I believe they will be around a long time. But they better get there act together fast.

On 2/11/2019 at 7:02 AM, Jack Robinson11 said:

Mike,

Great write up..... And, your final comments can also relate to most any goal in life--take up the challenge, stick with it and in the end it will be extremely rewarding not just personal but for family and friends.   Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I Have been sick sorry for the delay. Mike

On 3/8/2019 at 2:52 PM, longstrider said:

It seems hard to believe the mint didn't see this problem during research and development. It's not like they haven't made 9.99 silver before. If that is the fineness. These coins are made only for collectors. Not for circulation. No excuse for everything grading a 70 or 69.Thanks for pointing this out Mike.

Have you noticed that most items coming out of the mint are not silver? Clad other metals no silver. Years ago I was reading about the above ground silver. They predicted that by 2026 there would be very little left.. Could it be we are seeing the beginning of this? Just a thought. Thanks. Mike

Just a note. I was putting my silver proof sets into my books. And when I took out the books I needed I found a complete set of Eisenhower dollars. !! Everyone looked like it just came of the die. I bought the book and filled it with coins from sets I forgot about it. Well after twenty five years I guess it's ok to forget one set. It may not have a large value  as money goes but it's valuable to me. It brings happiness to me. It reminds me collect the coins you like and you will never get tired of them. Thanks for reading that I'm glad I found it on the bottom I'm just glad I found it. Thanks Mike.

On 4/30/2019 at 11:37 AM, longstrider said:

I am like you, disabled and don't get out much. However my wife does. I will be watching for one of these quarters. I don't expect to get one, with such a small number released, but who knows?

There is hope. If I can find one anyone can. I believe there is to much being out into this. Yes rumors have it that famous people were given high grade coins and were the first found. That's an incorrect statement. It should say they were sent  in first. It's impossible to tell which was found first. Common sense will tell you that. Who's to say  seller or dealer found one and didn't send it in? It's just another spin and another label. This is to make this a valuable set that's all has nothing to do with collecting. Let's see who gets the complete set in high grade . 

On 4/18/2019 at 10:38 AM, Mokiechan said:

LOL, If your method is ghetto, then my method is third world slum.  I basically hold my iphone over the coin and rest my knuckle on the surface to steady the hand as I take the pic.  I probably should try and devise a method, maybe a lego cradle to hold the phone and slide the coin under the lens.  Hmm, time to hit the stem box. 

That's exactly what i do. The same way with my camera. The problem Is to much  lite. Two much the coin looks very ruff. I try to get the picture the way they do in books. Sometimes it looks worse than what it is. But most of the time with slabed coins they come out great. We have to keep trying. Mike

On 4/30/2019 at 10:20 PM, Numismatic, A.A.S. said:

Good characteristics and detail strike on that Ancient. Planchet shows some lamination but from strike or something...I like your coin.

That's the great part of this hobby we collect what we like. Expensive or not. It's what makes you hapoy. Thanks. Mike. Sorry for The delay.

On 5/1/2019 at 3:41 PM, thisistheshow said:

I know from reading coin forums for a few years that some dedicated coin collectors always search their pocket change diligently (like me) and some do not. I have a feeling that the W quarter program is getting not just non-collectors but collectors to search even if they never used to. That in itself is fun. However, I know some will just go ahead and buy an overpriced version on eBay. I will keep looking. I have read numerous people finding them just in reegular change from the store. I myself have only seen two 2019 quarters, and no W yet.

Don't buy it in ebay. Talk about not knowing what you will get. The fun is in the hunt. Try a bank two of three rolls. Not six hundred dollars worth.!! Lots of luck. Mike.

On 4/30/2019 at 10:19 AM, Mokiechan said:

I will not actively be searching for W quarters, I do check my change always but rarely get change as I usually do all my purchases through debit or through Amazon.  If I get any W quarter in my change, even if it is rode hard and driven over, I will still be very pleased.  Kind of sorry to hear that one seller was able to obtain rolls of W quartes, I do think it is a shame the W quarters were apparently not well mixed with the P or D quarters.  To me, that is a failure in planning.

Well as you know by now I did get one. Brilliant Uncirirculaded from a bank roll. Not The whole roll just one. If I didn't check it it was headed to the washing machine. That reminded me the longer there out there the more of a beating they wil! take. So I hope you get one soon. It seems there all in bank rolls. My wife deals with a Savings bank. I thought they would be released through a business bank. More stores. Lots of luck. I hope you get one. Mime

On 5/1/2019 at 3:41 PM, thisistheshow said:

I know from reading coin forums for a few years that some dedicated coin collectors always search their pocket change diligently (like me) and some do not. I have a feeling that the W quarter program is getting not just non-collectors but collectors to search even if they never used to. That in itself is fun. However, I know some will just go ahead and buy an overpriced version on eBay. I will keep looking. I have read numerous people finding them just in reegular change from the store. I myself have only seen two 2019 quarters, and no W yet.

Thanks for the comment. So far I have heard they are in banks. Read the sellers on ebay. They will tell you were they got them. While your there look for another quarter besides Lowell . As a collector unless my wife brings one home in change I'm not paying thirty dollars for a quarter that might be worth five dollars. Think of the condition. My advice if you find one and I hope you do don't slab it. Put it in a two by two. And file it. Lots of luck. By the way one seller baggage bought them at the mint. I would not even entertain that. Thanks. Mike

On 4/22/2019 at 10:26 AM, Mokiechan said:

IMHO, a few folks here are highly competitive and have the financial means to put together spectacular award winning sets, nothing wrong with that.  Most folks here do it for the love of the hobby, or the specific item they have collected.  A good example of the latter is Gary's Laura Gardin Fraser Custom Set.  Gary did his set for love of the hobby and his subject, the fact he poured so much research and effort into his set is justifiably rewarded.  A set like his, educates and amazes me at the same time, and ultimately, as Revenant stated  "While it is a "competition," the awards are more about recognizing contribution to the community and encouraging participation - particularly the big overall awards. Those go to well researched, well presented sets that add something unique and fun to the registry community".

I give my personal award to Gary's Laura Gardin Fraser set, It is the best set I have ever seen. 

Totally agree and am on record as saying that. Thanks. Mike

11 hours ago, Numismatic, A.A.S. said:

I have looked if I see any quarters but I haven't actively searched yet. Not sure when I will freak out on them? At first I felt I wanted an enormous amount of them....then only a few highest graded and looking absolutely Gem really good strike one...now I'm not sure...funny, but I know if you ordered a $50K Ballistic Bag from the Treasury there on Top Nice and Uncirculated for your collection OR resell...

Maybe I'll wait till it just happens....back in change only collection?

I'm sorry the feeling that I had is coming thru. Private citizens. Machines. There in the system and getting beat up. I will never figure out the logic in these profgrams. I hope you get ine. Thanks. Mike

18 hours ago, thisistheshow said:

I know from reading coin forums for a few years that some dedicated coin collectors always search their pocket change diligently (like me) and some do not. I have a feeling that the W quarter program is getting not just non-collectors but collectors to search even if they never used to. That in itself is fun. However, I know some will just go ahead and buy an overpriced version on eBay. I will keep looking. I have read numerous people finding them just in reegular change from the store. I myself have only seen two 2019 quarters, and no W yet.

If you read some of these stories on ebay you have to laugh or worry. You see one class he bought them from the mint. So maybe not all were released. With the information found out about the West Point mint I am having a hard time believing anything. Thanks Mike.

18 hours ago, gherrmann44 said:

That is a fantastic idea that has not been lost on me. I have collected the gold Liberty's of this series, the first spouse medal and presidential dollar cards that I left in the original mint packaging, plus a complete set of the bronze medals to be mounted in a Dansco album. I bought generic Dansco pages about the same diameter as the medals and bound them together in a generic Dansco album. I think I got the best of all worlds in this package. Every once in a while I pull the album off the shelf to look at the medals as I page through the album. Since the medals have been in my album for quite some time, I have noticed that some of them are becoming attractively album toned. I bought the medals and the sets directly from the mint. The medals came in a annual package of about four or five.

Gary

18 hours ago, gherrmann44 said:

That is a fantastic idea that has not been lost on me. I have collected the gold Liberty's of this series, the first spouse medal and presidential dollar cards that I left in the original mint packaging, plus a complete set of the bronze medals to be mounted in a Dansco album. I bought generic Dansco pages about the same diameter as the medals and bound them together in a generic Dansco album. I think I got the best of all worlds in this package. Every once in a while I pull the album off the shelf to look at the medals as I page through the album. Since the medals have been in my album for quite some time, I have noticed that some of them are becoming attractively album toned. I bought the medals and the sets directly from the mint. The medals came in a annual package of about four or five.

Gary

I happen to think it's one of the best sets the mint came out with. Today everything is value how much is it woth? You can't open a hobby magazine without gold gold expensive coins. That's great there is nothing wrong with it. But value to me is beauty also something that makes you smile when you open the book. That's what this set does. It catches your eye to me that's value. Thanks bringing this set to our attention. Mike.

I would like to see people.get one. Not sixty years from now. As the gentleman said he would like to have one. But that feeling in my gut is coming through poor quality poorly released. Another program falls flat. Remember I was very upset for those disabled being left out.

Well you know I highly respect your opinion I wanted to go get some collectors who like coin rolling this might be a good.time. Buy one roll. Nothing put  it back in the machine get your ticket get another roll. You don't have to spend anything. We have that machine in our bank were you bring your change dump it all in and get your ticket get another roll. Doesn't cost a thing. I Just check change from my wife's shopping. For once I just want to see collectors get something for nothing go back to my opening statement I did say I had a feeling in my gut. It's like everyone gave up. They still roll for cents and half dollars why not quarters. You might get lucky with another quarter. By the way as of May4,2019 eBay has the quarters. All every single one Lowell. That's just plain wrong. There were five different coins were are the other four. I mean it flopped but at least put the other quarters in the mix. I'm sorry for all collectors that there grading low. One quarter not give and a big bust. I would love to see the breakdown of what actually went into circulation. I feel terrible sorry Mike.

On 3/29/2019 at 8:19 AM, Mokiechan said:

Probably a result of their inexperience handling Condor Tokens which resulted in improper attribution.  Everytime you send in a token, you help increase their knowledge of the area. I know how tough you are Mike, you are helping the whole Condor Token collecting community everytime you send one of yours in. 

You are a hundred percent right. The book we use can be confusing. It took me a while to lean it. But they should know if better than me. That goes for them all. If they don't know how to use it right by now they never will. I learned by the teaching of a auctioneer and dealer. It took time but know I know exactly were to go. If they don't have it by now that scares me. Because there going to continue to make the same mistakes over and over. Thanks my friend.

MS means it's uncirculated. And an old be slabed. There were proof coins they are mention in the labes. The mint mark would probably be A that's from San Francesco. That's a proof. Mike

I'm totally disabled. I asked my wife to buy those plastic eggs. Then I put a note and what kind of coin was in it. Wheats, English tokens Kennedy halfs walking liberty. On and on. We did fifty of them. Well I never expected the feedback I got some for the kids some from the parents. I had my wife make sure there was a ten year old in the house if not have the parents do it. Now I know what I have started. I enjoyed more than the kids. One yelled out hey dad I think I found a penny but it has an Indian head on it. That's priceless I wish I heard it. But being nose go in its not that easy. So try something with the kids and parents. You don't have to go to a school. Do it on your bloxk. Thanks. Mike