Henri Charriere

I figure 21 (post high-school) to 35. Teenagers don't have much money to "invest." I would settle for 30.

🐓 : I believe Kurt is speaking from first-hand knowledge and experience. Q.A.: Surely you are NOT suggesting I ask him! [On the other hand, I seriously doubt a coin can sustain this type of damage -- and most assuredly not from a single blow.] It's a dated thread. Fuhgettabouitit.

I should have known better. My, my, I cannot believe Forbes has stooped so low...

"The Fed Quietly 'Admits' Gold is Replacing the Dollar As Collapse 'Fear' Predicted To Trigger A $15.7 Trillion EFT Billion Price Flip," by Billy Banbraugh, Forbes, Updated Je 4, 2024, 0604am EDT.

Danny Downer here. Awful lot of optimism in the air, but I come equipped with an app for that: my pending proposal, briefly noted as TBSOL. TIME-BARRED [BY MY] (PROPOSED) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. Time is money and an inordinately disproportionate amount of time is being wasted on 20th century alleged ERRORS. A collector has a quarter of a century to bring forth his claim. If he, and a succession of others, fail to do so... my sincere condolences. True, varieties have been "discovered" 200 years after the fact, but nobody has dedicated a Forum on their identification. Maybe what's needed is a separate Forum devoted to fanatics of these numismatic mutations. IMNSHO.

I will have to cop to a charge of "evaporative reasoning." The coin appears to look a lot better from a distance. I can definitely see why you would suggest a Mint State-67. [I believe a -68 would be a wish upon a star.] I believe having been infected with the virus that results in automatic incrementalization of coins via Sheldon has irretrivably skewed my ability to view coins the way the Europeans do: all grades in the range from MS-65 to MS-70 comprise a single grade, and that's that. Realistically, while your Merc falls squarely within that "grade," having pored over the comments thus far submitted, my gut feeling is the reverse appears finer than the obverse, and may even qualify for a + grade (depending, of course, on which side of the bed the Grade Finalizer falls out from that morning) but an MS-66 or even MS-67 would not be unrealistic expectations. It's actual collectors of this series who are better qualified to pass judgment on this coin. Worse comes worse, you have a very attractive "silver" dime and silver has risen dramatically.

This is neither here nor there, but crypto, to me, entails risk and risk-taking is advisedly the province of the young. I wish there were some way to determine the median age of folks who engage in this type of activity.

Looks like I really missed a good one here. This is typically the damage you would find after a coin is placed on a railroad track. Considering the date, more likely a trolley track. With the speed of trains today, and the weight of carriages, the coin will vibrate on the rail as the train approaches and very often fall off the track before being struck. Sometimes, the unintended occurs: a train approaches slowly and the coin and track become one. Disclaimer: I vociferously deny gaining this insight from first-hand knowledge and experience.

(If I were to ever consider compiling some of the more memorable replies or comments made on the Forum, this one would be included. Come to think of it @VKurtB, a prolific writer would deserve his own Topic, entitled: "The Best of VKurt.") [Comment made in good faith; posted at the sole discretion of Moderation.)

I don't know how or why I let this unobtrusive assertion slide by me unchallenged. If what you've written here is true, than @Just Bob deliberately lied to me. He figuratively offered to show me the ropes in this business, including the etched-in- marble correlation beteeen supply and demand. I believe I am owed an apology. From someone. No one at anytime in all the years I have spent following the hobby, ever extended to me the courtesy of bringing this indispensible variable to my attention... "listing unrealistically low prices for moderns to avoid offending their customers: boomers." Is this thing on?! Why was this critical information withheld from me? I don't want to hear any apologies! I am 72! I've got one foot in the grave! Inexcusable! 🤣

🐓 : No need to ask. Just Like it! ... rather be safe than sorry..

🐓 : What's he hidin'? Q.A.: It doesn't matter! 🐓 : How come??? Q.A: 'Cause Pistol Pete is watching our e-ve-ry move. 🐓 : Yeah, better Like it just to be on the safe side.

All French 20-francs gold rooster coins have quite prominent edge lettering. However, I fail to see why the dates of any coin series, such as the Sacagaweas were relegated to the edge. Just my opinion...

Thomas Numismatics, the very first time I stumbled across it, was very formal and intimidating. It read like the NGC Guidelines, covering EVERYTHING from acceptable forms of payment to settling disputes. I got the distinct feeling they didn't just sell to anyone. Perhaps an exaggeration, but it seemed to me they reserved the right to choose their buyers and the only option a complete stranger had was to be referred by a previously vetted source. I believe when that money in that simple greeting card addressed to its founder fell out of the envelope, it must have left them gobsmacked. The hard part was over when I received an acknowledgment which I actually solicited from them! It was out of the blue. I made no inquiry as to the availability of the piece. I never became a member, subscribed to their newsletter or received an order number. Set the money aside and I cease to exist. We"ll see what happens... I remain hopeful your nickel will show up -- minus a stye. 🤣

Lovely topic, Mike. Who doesn't love a CC dollar? Only one thing... I believe the same culprit(s) may have been involved in stealing this Mint's smokestack as well.

(I do not know if those unfamiliar with French know it or not but while a number, say, 80, in English, is simply "eighty," in French it is "quatre-vingt," or four- twent[ies]. How about 61? In English, it's 61; in French, it's "60 and one," or "soixante et un.") Okay, fun-time over... Back on Track! Thanks, GF1969, Roger!

A bit off the beaten track, but I'm curious. Did they ever catch the guy(s) who stole the chimneys off the Mint's roof? They are prominently featured in the first photograph but noticeably missing from your "before" and "after" photos.

As my faithful followers -- and my biggest fans, those who've keystroked me into oblivion (my army of Ignorers) know -- it has been three (3) years since I added a coin to either of the two Set Registries I own, here and "there". I seriously contemplated acquiring what one "house of coins" with a sterling reputatjon to match, called a "Counterfeit Forgery," but the backlash on the Forum while not intense, was nonetheless persuasive. I thought rising gold prices would prompt French peasants, long believed to hoard considerable numbers of gold roosters (see article by fellow member GF1969 upthread) to shake their trees. That failed to materialize. I settled for the next best thing and sent the proprietor(s) of Thomas Numismatics in Meylan, France an amount in physical U.S. currency, to cover all anticipated costs for an odd test "coin" The details regarding this transaction that no one in their right mind would engage in -- an arguably "sight-unseen" purchase from an establishment I have only heard of and a contact I have never met, do not know, have never spoken or written to, is described in more detail in the Topic: "Sending Cash Through the Mail." In a few words the "coin" is a uniface (one side only) hexagonal planchet, PCGS-certified SP-62, Highest grade (the only example) Top Pop., 1/0 UNIQUE; unlisted in reference books - unpublished -- undated (ND) Not Determined, with no mintmark (basically of unknown provenance though my guess is circa 1898) and the work of Jean Clement Chaplain (Marianne type) whose name appears in small print on every 20-Francs gold rooster.. It cost me all of $2.40 to send T.N. $2,000 in U.S. currency through the international mails, unregistered, uncertified no RRR with no tracking number and uninsured in a greeting card, so as not to attract attention. The cost of shipping this test "coin" to me is $60.00. It took them two weeks to acknowledge receipt of my order and will take another estimated two weeks to send it to me, privately insured. The link is: https:www.//pcgseurope.com/cert/42188163 The precise cost involves their conversion of USD into €euros as well as the fluctuations of the metals markets -- and there is no question in my mind the shipment will be intercepted by CBP which will exact a customs duty fee and subject me to a long intrusive interrogation. To give you an idea as to how unsettling this can be, imagine being "ordered" to provide your full legal name, date of birth and Social Security Number over the phone to a total stranger under penalty of having the shipment returned in five days if you decline to comply. There is no space for the encapsulated "coin" on any Set Registry but for all intents and purposes, acquisition of this example will figuratively crown the already complete set I have maintained on the West coast for the past five years. A Note of Caution... I would not encourage any collector in his right mind to duplicate my feat. I take calculated risks which remarkably turned out better than I expected. I would not advise anyone else to do the same. Collect with your head, not over it. 🐓

Breathtakingly beautiful! * * * * * Now If it please the congregation, let us refrain from disrupting the natural progression of this orginal long-running thread and re-dedicate ourselves to its natural orderly trajectory.

Funny, as one of the few people I know ow who read the best-selling book of all time (which Board Guidelines prohibit me from mentioning by name, I can't tell you what's in it, but I can confidently tell you what's not. Same with grading. Especially high end gold roosters. I can't tell you what the upper MS grades look like, but hand me one and I can tell you with but two glances what one isn't. No two are alike. All have aggravating and/or mitigating factors. In an ideal world, there would be an appeals board to which you can assert with confidence, this alleged MS-66 certified by [TPGS] is nothing of the kind. All you're left with now is re-consideration, which I consider a long shot, and cross-grading which I do not advise for the faint of heart.

The Pi-Guy would definitely be interested in this. I cannot recall his user name. He publically announced an ultimatum to all on the Forum: Either you get rid of him (me) or I'm gone. I'll say this mjch for him: he is man of his word. He fled the premises and ventured back once in the past three years. He's blocked me. His User handle was physics3.14 something or other. It's a shame he left for nothing. Nice find!

I still can't get over the fact you posted this THING on that other thread. I see no socially redeeming aspect of this coin. If you needed an ashtray, anyone on the Forum would have volunteered go get you one. You have volcanoes which appear to have erupted and you're concerned about, what? A scratch! What you have here is someone's former nitemare! The coin has zero numismatic value. Why do you think it was sold to you for a pittance above melt? I have advocated for an AU-59 grade but the powers that be laughed me out of the room. It exists somewhere in the Twilight Zone, but is inapplicable and irrelevant here. I am very much aware your joke is on me, but frankly, I can take being punked. Tomorrow is another day. Cheers!

What would possess you to desecrate the sanctity of this long-running thread... with THAT???

@leonardbrit : Welcome! I would prefer to believe your post was made with the best of intentions. If the replies you have received thus far are puzzling, it's because your post suggesting a resource for research runs afoul of chat board guidelines and is, in fact, a violation. Review the Guidelines and see for yourself. You are a new member and you might as well make the most of your membership. All the best!

Never crossed my mind... your perspicuity on such matters is astonishing!