Henri Charriere

"Bless his/her/your heart," is used exclusively by women. "Have a blessed day," is used primarily by church ladies. "Have a nice day!, under a particular set of circumstances, may be positive, and often is, or as the equivalent for the vilest epithets anyone can hurl at you. One of the more interesting applications of an expression that can have two meanings that are polar opposites is, "Get the eff out of here!" The movie actor, Eddie Murphy, used it in speaking to a gentleman of the gay persuasion, in one of his L.A. movies, authentically and appropriately, with an air of mock disbelief or wonderment to mean: "You've got to be kidding me!" or "Get out of heerRRRe!" Minus an applicable emoji, much of what I post on the Forum never sees the light of day.

Respectfully, I would not pay the owner of this numismatical nitemare ONE RED CENT -- much less 300,000 cents.

Maybe so, but no discussion of this fragment is complete without a mention of the precipitating event... the series of volcanic blasts which culminated in the eruption of Krakatau in the Sunda Strait in 1883.

To answer your topic question in deference to the universally acclaimed "Robert's Rules of Order" and "Uniform Rules of Citation" as developed by the Great Zadok which is universally acclaimed and accepted, notably for its classic, simple brevity, the answer, without further elaboration, is "No."

That's because it is comprised of no part of any coin, as that term is used by hobbyists, presently. [If I were willing to sacrifice my vaunted "Rising Star" status, so benevolently bestowed upon me by our hosts, I would recklessly suggest they are parts of a clay cuneiform tablet -- or an inscription found on a counterfeit Ming Dynasty vase discovered among the personal effects of that terra cotta contingent discovered in the Forbidden Palace]. 🤣

...fwiw..." 'ey, yo' " is universally accepted, inside or outside, some of the more marginal 'hoods of new york city in places you wouldn't want to wake up dead in...it is my understanding "yo" has an entirely different etymological derivation and application in baltimore for reasons one researcher studying the matter has been unable to get to the bottom of...

A Blast from the Past... 🐓 : Hey, Q! You're not going to believe what I just found. Look! Remember you said you were blocked and banned, and there was nothing you could do about it because you were warned there would be NO MORE WARNINGS? And no appeal? Q.A.: Yeah, I was crest-fallen, to say the least. 🐓: Well, some of the finest members had apparently been experiencing the very same problem! READ THESE POSTS! Q.A.: SO WE'RE NOT ILLEGALS? 🐓 : WE HAVEN'T EVEN OVERSTAYED OUR VISAS! Q.A.: That's Great News! Thanks Ali! Man, I love this place!

INTERMISSION Drawing on my fifty (50) years of fine, distinguished service in a multiplicity of decidedly non-numismatic experiences whatsoever, I should like to direct the attention of the devoted reader to the fact that member Hoghead515's area of expertise was limited to the flight characteristics and patterns of PMD as it relates to dryers. The coin, as hereinabove displayed, exhibits damage of a different sort: prolonged, intermittent, or continual subjection to forces, centripetal vs centrifugal better explained by minds far greater than mine. Proof? Why one only has to perceive the distinct concave surface of the coin's reverse which, whatever the reason -- adhesives or fluctuations in temperatures gone wild -- resulted in the features as prominently displayed thereon.

I do not know if what I have to say extends to gift-giving in general, but the analogy has some validity. Accordingly, I am going to allow you to answer your own question. Firstly, how would you feel giving this coin to someone you respected and had a great deal of admiration for? Would the recipient be wowed, and walk away saying, Dave sure put a whole lot of thought -- and sacrifice in this? How admirable of him! Secondly, turning the tables, how would you feel receiving same? Awe-struck? Maybe there is something here I am missing, but as a newbie myself -- I certainly do not know everything there is to know about this hobby but if I am going to buy something for myself it will be representative of my discriminating taste and a reflection of me. And if it won't, I will just wait a little longer until a real contender shows up. There are, of course, a coin's overall presentation that just "occurs" to you, like the member who simply likes proof die cracks. If there is something distinctive about this coin that appeals to you, then by all means acquire it. Note: if the coin is a bargain price-wise considering its grade, my advice to you is, You can do better. Anyone in the hobby who jumped in with hopes of making a killing, whatever that may be, is going to be sorely disappointed. The usual pattern is acquiring quality coins and working your way up to the examples or sets that speak for themselves.

FWIW... Until 2010, the cost of renouncing one's U.S. citizenship was $00.00. In 2015, the fee rose to $2,300 £ 2,394) (€2,245). Movement is now afoot in a Federal disrict court here to reduce that to $450 (€429) which is higher than that of a few other countries. Examples: U.K. £372 (€429) ITALY (€200) CANADA CAN $100 (€70) and SINGAPORE S $35 (€24). So, you see, you can have your cake and eat it too. In the meantime I will affect my best Clifton Webb demeanor (you remember, Waldo Lydecker, in Laura (1944) and in the absence of roadside stands, and the like, give you a hand with your metal detecting skills. 🤣

Sorry if I appeared to have advanced that perception. On magnificent examples like yours, that qualifies as truth-in-advertising. Undeniably unfortunate, but hazards to be expected in the hobby. My concern is circulated coins which would undoubtedly look better if their denticles were flossed or legends rudely sporting muddy muck, rinsed off using plain running water. My subjective test is simple: you wouldn't show up at an important job interview with uncombed hair, dirty clothes and unshined shoes so why would you showcase coins on this Forum that, at the very least, could simply be rinsed off -- with water?

Question: What is the lowest graded certified coin you have ever encountered which bore the verdict, "cleaned"? An even more pointed question which, depending on the collector being asked: "Have you ever seen photos of Before- and After-Cleaned [usually older] coins that appeared to look quite a bit better after the least abrasive method had been used? Apart from the above, are electronic currents ever used, under any circumstances, to dislodge foreign debris from a copper, silver or gold coin? I do not believe I have ever seen this mentioned anywhere in print.

Perjure... Ha! Ha! Ha! I appreciate your input! Nothing I write surprises the old-timers here -- or the Moderators. 🤣

I suppose I could go but I doubt my old-fashioned wife would remove the bracelets linking my wrists to hers. For those dead set on going, a brief review of where the nation stands on Covid now. The primary series vaccination rate for all ages remains at 69%. For those 65 & older, it is 94%. For the newer bivalent boosters which only recently became available, the rate for all ages is 17%. For those 65 & up, the rate is 43%. [I should like to thank the distinguished, long-time OP, for his patient indulgence in permitting me to post this up-to-date info.]

Elsewhere on another popular long-running thread is a coin member Sandon posted which, for lack of a better word, is Outstanding in every respect. It is an 1857-O Seated Half-Dollar, uncertified, but which he has self-described as "AU details, "cleaned." Now that non-Mint State has been alluded to, there is a natural inclination on the part of the viewer to ferret out the alleged deficits. Sandon's personal photography is superior. My eye is drawn to surface phenomena I don't know whether I would have looked for otherwise. But in doing so, I am guilty of the same inclinations every serious collector is afflicted with: minimization, maximization, or in the case of one viewer, not given to observing the niceties of cordial conversation: firm and final, outright condemnation. Herewith my bias on the subject, phrased as a rhetorical question: Can anyone state with complete certainty that NONE of the numismatic items recovered from the S.S. CENTRAL AMERICA Shipwreck were subjected to "cleaning," a/k/a "conservation?" No, because the pros were determined to outweigh the cons -- which evidently included those coins which were adjudged to be Mint State, some of which undoubtedly displayed original mint luster. What about high-tier coins generally? Proofs, Uncirculated coins -- and my favorites, the AU-59's the gods have proclaimed do not exist (with the requisite sepulchral awe!) I am prepared to say, absent exigent circumstances, no high-tier coins should be tampered with. But what about the majority of coins occupying the lower end of the scale? Is it not peculiar to single out coins that appear to be Poor, Fair or Good, with the harsh designation "cleaned"? Briefly, but directly, should there be (or is there) a threshold beyond which pejorative such labels ought to be dispensed with and the coin deemed to be exempt from that kind of scrutiny? Many members, I believe, are reluctant to submit coins they feel may be problematic for no other reason than having their worst fears officially substantiated. Your thoughts on this?

Viewer discretion advised... Curley of The Three Stooges: "Da noive uh dat guy! 🐓: Well, they did bust three fentanyl drug mills up in the Bronx; gave the guy who shot up the subways 10 life sentences, and caught that guy in that senseless bus stop slaying in record time. Q.A.: Valid points all, but none of these guys have ever even been to the really bad parts of the city! They scurry in and out. I don't how they can all get a good nite's sleep without all the boom-box radios, the pulsating bass-line rap, flashing lights, screeching cars, sirens from prowl cars, gronks from fire engines and the never-ending nocturnal procession of ambulances racing here and there attending to the gunfire and collateral damage resulting from all the mayhem. 🤣

A 1937 German Third Reich - 2 Reichsmark

Nah, 'bama'd be just a pit stop. Sounds like after a bit of rest and recuperation you'll be ready to check out those roadside stands in PA. again. 🤣 Either way, welcome back!

So what you're saying is there are no more stiff upper lips, little Lord Fauntleroy-types running around or flower girls with Cockey accents. 🤣 Oh well, at least they've still got that trial of the toothpyx. Did you know they're made from the finest mahogany? The sun never sets on the British Empire. Incidentally, are you sure the Europeans are Europeans? The majority of New Yorkers are not New Yorkers. In fact -- and you'll have to take my word on this, they are not even Americans. They just happen to be here. I have no opinion on the matter. I am simply stating the facts.

@RonnieR131 : I had to think long and hard before I dove into that, but carrot was too delicious to pass up. I even learned something! Who knew the accent circumflex was a proofreader's mark when used a certain way? Man, Iove this place!

I inadvertently learned something from the USPS and my personal branch bank which may be of interest... While it is true they never expire, like your personal check, no one is obligated to honor it. While it was not spelled out to me, it seems enough personal checks AND money orders have been used after their having been reported stolen, that no business or bank is obligated to accept it. I deposited a pile of cash on a platform assistant's desk to be used for a wire transfer overseas, and she calmly handed it back to me and said I would have to deposit it [presumably in my checking account.] Seven. years ago, I misplaced my rent check with everything filled out. I took it to a local post office branch who, after a stepping away from the window, informed me the m.o., totally intact, would have to be traced -- the very instrument she was holding in her hand! What could I say? She fed the serial number, amount, date issued, etc., into her computer, asked me for my credit/debit card which I promptly handed her, and was issue a receipt for seventeen ($17.30) dollars and thirty cents as well as the money order which had been stamped eight times, front and back. So, to be honest, there is a catch to my best laid plans. I appreciate your keeping me in your thoughts! 🤣

A great many valid points are raised here. It used to be if a purchase I made halfway around the world was finalized, I could add that coin to my Registry on the West coast immediately. Then, registrants were told they could not add a coin until it had been delivered and in hand. A procedural detail was added: the seller was given three (3) days to confirm the sale and "relinquish" ownership of it formally. For local buys, I would send them a copy of the invoice to expedite the process. Another thing, which I thought to be intrusive: they would not permit the Registrant to list the price paid for the coin(s) in euros. I did, but it didn't stop me from wondering aloud... Whose set is this, yours -- or mine? I agree with Coinbuf. If we could exercise more discretion in who can remain on the Registry, we could free up 37% of the staff, across-the-board, to devote more time to fine-tuning the Registry census, reduce turn-around times and enhance what is already an admirable, user-friendly experience.

I believe I would be remiss in my duty as an occasionally rambunctious self-described guest-moderator if I failed to note, publicly, the part I played in this debacle. True, I own no CACkled coins, but my, at times, childish antics amplified by needless wordsmithing detracts from the quality of experience enjoyed by the majority of members. While I have dispensed in large part with the tomfoolery, I alone must assume responsibility for the musical chairs involved which has grievously impacted on turn-around times and rankings earned by legitimate hobbyists due to the reconfiguring of scores. I sincerely apologize to all who have suffered and re-pledge my commitment to broaden, to the extent I am able, the "body of knowledge" as espoused by a late, great, distinguished numismatist whose name I am no longer permitted to utter in polite company.

Possibly some good news here. Earlier today I wrote a seller to remind him the reason why his coin was still unsold was because, being a jeweler, he was unaware that nobody is going to splurge on a gold coin (in admittedly MS condition) lacking formal certification. He bombards me regularly with queries, such as, What is your best price? failing to realize that the coin in question, if an MS-66 would sell for $600, whereas an MS-67 might go for $1,250, or more. He insists on $1,500, OBO. This time when I reported his unacceptable listing practice, I noticed that the "box" you referred to earlier, magically materialized! Maybe eBay received complaints or maybe they wanted me to be more specific. Fortunately, I already have that date in MS-67 and my sole intent in engaging with the buyer was to enlighten him to the wonderful world of numismatics. That's all. Briefly: if you're going to throw over a thousand dollars to a private party you never met or spoke to, "Great Condition," a meaningless term is presumptuous. A basic starting point is certification accompanied by informative photography. I have never had to return a coin yet.

I had to think twice before I wrote my reply, but as you know, I got my comeuppance. 🤣