Jason Abshier

That’s a good one @RWB ! I remember that musical movie little shops of horrors that was a classic ! You just gave me an Idea for Christmas I’ll buy her an Audrey II replica . Hide it between her plants some where I’m sure she’d love it … Feed me !

@gmargulithanks for explaining that to me . I don’t collect specimen or pattern pieces or off struck metal pieces (they sure are unique and interesting) but over the years I was always confused by the three but learned they are category of their own … On few other coin forums some collectors said they are same thing makes it confusing …I figure they weren’t nothing the same otherwise the grading company wouldn’t be grading them like that

@gmarguli I have a question is a specimen graded coin the same as a pattern graded coin ?

Well @Woods020I’m working on my raw set of German Baden state kreuzers coinage this year … I’m looking for Unc. to Gem (MS62-MS65) raw condition. Which I highly doubt you’ll find here in USA (but let me know if you see any) , I’m getting a little annoyed with having buy my coins directly from Germany the shipping sometimes is fast (1 week) then the shipping is super slow (whole month) I’ve seen a snail move faster my list below 1/2 Kreuzers KM#241 (years 1859-1871) 1 Kreuzers KM#242 (years 1859-1871) 3 Kreuzers KM#211 (silver years 1841-1856) 6 Kreuzers KM#210 (silver years 1839-1856)

@MohawkMy wife is pretty easy going too . Between coin collecting and Gun collecting she never complained or questioned me about my hobbies. Thanks goodness my wife had her own hobbies with her friends, she not really into jewelry either. She spend a lot on rare exotic plants some of the plants cost a couple hundred dollars for a single plant … if my wife was ever to complain ? I’ll start complaining back at her about the plants ! Our house looks like a jungle inside probably a good 300-400 plants in here and down in basement in green house she built she sells some too sometimes her plants takes up more room than my coin collection vault and my gun vault so there have it she knows better not to complain

Thats what this forums needs from time to time a little humor to keep it alive

I often wondered that , I know some brick and mortar shops needed a license to do business and also in some areas licenses to deal in precious metals but a numismatic or antique license dealing should cover that both ways . I don’t know , I don’t do business selling coins or precious metals on daily basic . but lugging coins around from show to show ? Seems like a a lot tedious work! buy yourself an handgun for protection and learn how to use it … I happen to carry a 9mm for daily protection pray I never have to use it on someone but the way society is today , who knows where the S**T gonna hit the fan ! I’ve heard stories of coin dealers getting robbed outside the shows or at hotel place or diner coin dealer Julian Leidman comes to mind the time $500,000-$700,000 worth of coins were stolen off him while he was chowing down on food in a diner they broke into his vehicle to steal the coins. He never got all of them back either so carrying a handgun isn’t a bad thing it’s your god giving rights thanks to the 2nd amendment !

@Woods020 I wish you luck if you get into dealing hope it works out enough for you to pursuit a hobby/career out of it. Maybe you can start a small private online website to help sell even more of your coins to help keep your inventory fresh and new from time to time when I went to shows I’ve got tons of business cards from dealers with websites (that have inventory) I do business with them all time at the shows and online private websites . I haven’t bought on coin on eBay since 2010 was last time I ever bought a coin on eBay . I haven’t been to coin show for about 3 years I’m guilty of converting over to internet coin buying dealing with only dealers that I trust that I’ve met in person at coin shows

Only problem with those 70 graded coins as we know .999 pure silver gets these little flyspecks and milk spots that show up much later after it been slabbed off that happens it’s no longer a 70 in anyone eyes . Same could be said for 69 grade as well or any type of pure .999 silver at least the 69 didn’t break your wallet too hard … Now if someone was building a registry set I can see them buying a 70 grade for that purpose . I myself don’t need to build a registry set of ASE that badly

@James Zyskowski When it comes to American coinage nobody makes the eagle more prouder than Americans! I really dig a well engrave and detailed eagle on American coinage such as flying eagle or landing eagle 🦅

I read them , not like anyone forcing me to read them or not

@James ZyskowskiI really like the eagle on reverse of this proof I might buy one later on in secondary market someday just to have and look at . The old Type 1 eagle was kinda boring to look at I’m glad they gotten rid of old eagle style reverse on ASE … I always loved the eagles on reverse of walking liberty half dollar and eagle landing on reverse of Ike dollars very detailed what an eagle supposed to look like (hand downs both those coins had best engravers doing the eagle’s detail . As well as the new ASE type 2 gets 2 thumbs up by me for our beloved eagles) … the old ASE had ugly eagle on back just like Morgan dollars always though the eagle on back of Morgan was a mediocre so-so and ugly on Morgan dollars I was never to thrilled to collect Morgan dollars although my grandfather and my father used to collect a lot of them back in the days… Peace dollars eagles are okay nothing exciting about peace dollars

On another note biggest difference between a 69 and 70 ? Is when you go to buy a 69 is more forgiving leaves some cash in your wallet to buy other coins … where as 70 is a greedy SOB! That will make your wallet so thin leaving you standing there with 1 coin to show for like you’re Gollum in lord of the rings rubbing the slab whispering to yourself “my precious” ! But in the end whatever helps you sleep better at night , your money -your collection do as you please

Just proof for raw coin material … little known dirty secret PF69 and PF70 is only a market grade if the TPG in a good mood that day they’ll give ya 70 … under 5x loupe (which grading company claims they use there no difference between 69 and 70) not even with 30x-40x loupe have I noticed any difference between a “spotless” “blemish free” 69 and 70 side by side (unless it got an ugly milk spot then Its either 68-69 grade which is understandable) so in theory the mint has reach perfection when it comes to proof striking (but not saying they are all perfect regarding milk spots, and so on … but strike quality wise yes) it don’t get any better than that … anyone wants argue there is a difference I’m glad you see it ,and it helps you sleep better at night knowing you have super power vision equal to 100X power loupe you can see that tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny little speck of die blemish

Just ask where is VkurtB. They will give you a look like . who ? Never heard of that name before.. Either that or @VKurtBmight easily recognize you by your avatar Bigfoot @GBrad

Tell him to join in . It doesn’t hurt

Lately I been reading a lot articles online , I also been studying up on German states and coinage (more like history not so much of German numismatics) . I look at coins online on a daily basic just about everyday (it’s like going to a coin show everyday right from your desk). Although I’ll admit I have been lacking on reading about numismatics lately but I know enough not to keep asking goofy questions based on YouTube video made by a some young guy that holds a coin like an amateur talking about rare double die coins that even a drunk coin collector can tell a mile away its machine doubling!

I was rummaging around in my desk inside my woodshop I came across this 1982 Lincoln cent I found it about 13-15 years ago when my wife and I went to a friends house their little kids were playing with a jar of old pennies I happened to check between couch cushions this one stuck out in handful I asked to keep it they said they didn’t care … One of most awkward yellowish toning I’ve ever seen on Lincoln’s hair to this day the yellow/gold color has not changed however the rest of the coin is turning purplish it was sandwiched up against foam inside the couch wonder if that turned it yellow somehow it does look like it was rubbed hard in that area … I didn’t notice it until today when I found it in my desk it also has a small minor die break in “ONE” On the the reverse of the coin … anyone else ever seen bright yellow toning on copper ?

They probably installed cameras at each graders work station they better be looking at each coin too with their eyes open , And not taking handfuls at a time saying they are all 69s and 1 is a 70 grade. Otherwise A blind man could of graded the whole monster box that way just pull out 20 of them and say they are 70s and rest are 69s pass the box onto holding for few weeks then the poor dude that has make all painstakingly labels and cert numbers for each coin and slabbing as well tedious job I wouldn’t want to do

Meanwhile at NGC , those poor graders and the boring monster boxes of ASE sent in for grading every year !

@JKK I agree ,We got a new hybrid of dealers that sell 50/50 of collectible coins and bullion coins “raw” and “graded” these days. In fact I know some longtime dealers who actually sold off all their classic coinage just to focus on bullion and precious metal they make money. It’s all about making the quick money these days seems like a lot footwork just to hustle bullion it can be found just about anywhere on today’s market just no room for competitors they all have marked up prices that are about the same as anywhere else a few of larger dealers might have some nice reasonable prices on older bullion and new bullion they pull in customers to make quick money … unlike classic coin dealing if a dealer has healthy inventory of “demanding” coins and network of collectors they will stay in business I e noticed bullion dealing has brained washed our collecting community seems like the new market these days I’ve noticed it at coin shows as well and all over Internet too just about 90% (maybe even more) of the dealers have their hands in to Bullion these days

@GBradeven coins that been red and slabbed for over 10+ years started turning brownish that’s why TPG doesn’t guarantee copper coinage anymore . When you look at a 1909 v.d.b and say geesh ! How heck it stay bright red ? Or Indian head cent looks pretty red ? How is that ? Storage methods back then isn’t even compared to storage methods we have today even with intercept shield technology copper coins been know to still tone … Although I’ve read silver tone faster than copper that somewhat I agree with … only time I’ve seen red natural cent were in original bank wrap rolls usually in middle they are red (that’s more modern coins 1930s and onward today) not a 150 year old coin

The price may show up online what people are selling them for but I guarantee you a dealer wouldn’t pay $70 for MS70 silver eagle … only way to get that is if you sell it yourself to another collector who willing to pay that price … that’s the thing with graded bullion , it’s a one way street the dealer sells to you makes high profit leaves you stuck when it time to sell your only choice is sell it online to public or another collector who maybe building a registry set

@GBradive heard some guys that could turn a Lincoln cent back red , I don’t know how they do it , but I’ve seen enough red Lincoln cents and some Indian cents to be suspicious . I don’t even think coin conservation can even take a brown Lincoln cent back to red with out turning it pink first then letting it naturally turn back to an orange red or without adding humidity and heat ?… some of the copper coinage I’ve collected over the year (like the last photo I posted of 1864 german Baden 1 kreuzer to me it looks it may have been dipped one time long ago it’s naturally toning back) it’s orangish colored to me not your typical look of copper but again its just a photo I’ve seen photos make coin look awkward color but when I get it in my hand its more of light brown color … Purplish color on copper coins usually is some form of over cleaning or dipping perhaps ? . I’ve heard of people dipping copper in coin dip then boiling eggs smash them up and put boiled eggs on one side of container and the pink copper cent on other side cover the container with a lid in few hours the copper coin will start turning brownish … I’ve heard some strange methods over the years