Henri Charriere

@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!

If link inoperative, as the late, great Oldhoop advised: "Look it up!" PCGS Cert # 42188163.

🐓 : In deference to old-school members who insist on documentation, references, footnotes -- possibly a link, I think it would be wise to provide that information to the extent it is available Q.A.: Thank you, Ricky. The link is, as follows: https://www.pcgseurope.com/cert/42188163 France Essai Coin - Marianne - Gold Pattern 20 Francs or tin uniface hexagonal planchet - PCGS SP-62 (Highest grade; the only example (UNIQUE) Top population: 1/0 Unlisted in reference books - unpublished - undated - date/mintmark ND (not determined) circa 1898. Jules Clement Chaplain (Marianne type). Material: tin; weight: 3.69; diameter: 27.00 mm. Pattern struck on hexagonal planchet; superb eye appeal joins superlative rarity with bright original [mint] luster. Very scarce in this grade. 1 638.97€; expedited shipping (from Meylan, France.) 60€; Total: 1 698.97€ [1 700€ = 1 820 USD] Projected delivery date: Mon. Je 10 - Mon. Je 17. [Delivery effected: Thurs. Je 13.] ... all in time...

What I wanted to weigh in on was the line, "pretty much people to conduct warfare against". But it's off-topic.

Some "off the top of my head" comments... If we are talking U.S. modern coinage, not in its present deplorable state. The Lincoln cent is a gaudy caricature of what it once was. It's had its 15 minutes of fame, served its purpose, and with copper up at record levels, will soon be withdrawn from circulation altogether. All coins containing copper will be debased even further. The cent no longer serves any useful purpose and if you persist in thinking it does, congratulations, you've successfully deluded yourself. The Jefferson nickel was nice the way it was. It no longer is and that childish scrawl that passes for J's signature is proof positive there is a lack of serious talent out there. The Washington quarter has had a good run but as it's centennial approaches, a design change is in order. I have nothing bad to say about the Kennedy half but the very fact you rarely come across one is proof positive the public can get along very well without them. The dollar series has all been disasters from Ike on. Moderns HOT again? Don't kid yourself! The last time coins were alluded to was when that group Menudo was formed. Now it's 🎶 "Cash Rules Everything Around Me, CREAM, get the money, dolla' dolla' bill y'all." The classic coins -- you know, the only real coins out there -- were hot, are hot, and will always remain hot. If it weren't for JB, NN, and RWB, I don't believe I would have known about tokens, half cents and the use of the toggle press in minting coins. You know when Moderns will be HOT? When they stop minting them.

🐓: I see where your Topic dropped to 23rd place. Looks like the Forum wrote you off, as in, "a fool and his money are soon parted." Q.A. Oh ye of little faith... That's before the phone pinged at 4:41 a.m. this morning confirming my status as the Greatest Evel Kneivel of the coin world Of All Time! If you, gentle reader, failed to reply to this Topic in a timely manner, you're too late. I received a confirmation that the twenty benjamins I placed in a greeting card had been received in France, is being converted to €uros and processing of my order is proceeding. Truth be told, it does not even matter if I receive this essai (test) pattern... described as uniface, undated, unlisted, unpublished -- and UNIQUE. I am now its proud new owner. As a practical matter this means no air travel, no extended car drives, no overnite hotel stays and no, I don't care how many real numismatists or artificial ones pay a visit whether to every roadside stand in the Commonwealth of PA or auction house in the country. You're not going to find it because it's mine and it's being prepped for shipment from overseas. Is there a slot for it on any Set Registry? No, there isn't and I couldn't care less. You don't see EC complaining about lack of accommodation for his '33 D/E on his set, do you? So to all the Danny (and Debbie) Downers who long ago wrote me off as meshugana, I'M STILL HERE, STILL STANDING, STILL STRONG. I now hold a few records: member who owns a #1-ranked set registry of a series few ever heard of; a [certified] pattern your average numismatist never knew existed; most disciplined member who clawed his way back from multiple deportations; and, as far as I am concerned, the only person to send a stamped envelope stuffed with U.S. currency -- uninsured, unregistered, uncertified, etc -- to a stranger I never saw, met, or spoke to before in my entire life. I am going to close this with a quote Kurt dislikes intensely: "you don't have to be smart in this business. You just have to pay attention." I would add, it pays to broaden your horizon, use a little ingenuity and be resourceful. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. (Posted at the discretion of Moderation.)

[Anecdote: When Albert Einstein was recognized on a flight, he was asked why a world-renowned highly-accalimed physicist such as he was flying second-class? His dead-pan, matter-of-fact response was: "Because there is no third-class."]

🐓: What about the Set Registry? Q.A.: Yeah! What about that? I'm 72. You think I'm in this for my health?

My opinion has never counted. On the other hand, Kurt has a legion of followers. I wonder how they feel. I only want two things for Kurt: don't worry, be happy and s-l-o-w down. No one can outrun the inevitable. Or as Archie Bunker would put it, You done good, Kurt, you done good! You've accomplished your mission.

I do not believe I am informed enough to offer a generalized view.

This only supports my view that graders are also appraisers. If am a grader, that should be my only concern. Not who submitted it, how many had previously been certified or current FMV as compared to higher grades. That, ideally, should be the way it ought to be. EOM.

I am a "one-and-done," but I have a universally recognized extenuating circumstance: I collect a series limited to just 16 coins and, due to no fault of my own, I single-handedly did my part to outstrip existing supply. Proof? An outstanding $500, no questions asked reward, as posted on the Coin Marketplace to anyone who can provide a lead on three coins of Interest -- which has gone unanswered for some time. I leave it to others as to whether I am a numismatist, coin collector, hobbyist, accumulator, hoarder -- or perhaps poseur. I am the only eye-witness to my collection and the only person who can vouch for its existence and I did it all sitting in a chair at a table with my wife's cellphone in hand.

The complaint should be reported and will be reviewed when it is received. I have addressed the matter in my own inimitable way. [The offense alleged is worse than the colorization of black-and-white films without a director's consent.]

COURT: No, not cool. The jury is directed to disregard, in its entirety, all testimony following the words of the original last line of the court reporter's transcript: "Object lesson: sharpen up your writing skills." Infractions of this kind, covert tampering of witness trial testimony, shall not be tolerated. SO ORDERED. (Posted at the discretion of Moderation.)

Reminds me of the time I got on a NYC bus behind 9 other people who simply walked on, and kept walking. I told the driver, "Maybe they need a fare for the homeless?" Without missing a beat, he turned to me and said, "They already got that. It"s called FREE."

I think it safe to say the TPGS to whom these coins were submitted and the last person who purchased them, made out like bandits.

A bit off-topic but the problems of Boeing are being experienced by all airline manufacturers who outsource their maintenance inspections to countries where parts and labor are cheaper and rigorous standards are lax.

PCI is okay. It's PVC you've got to be concerned with. 🤣

Q.A.: "Trauma"... "open wounds in the hobby"... "boomers (Me!) are never going to accept clad coins"... Say, I wonder how this guy was able to get ahold of my life story??? 🐓 :

Gratuitous comment Re: 'Bute Butte, a geographical feature? Nope; no context. Butte, MT, where errant Special Agents of the FBI were once exiled? I don't see the correlation. Bute, short for Butt? No, the apostrophe wouldn't be needed. That leaves Beaut, as in, That's a real beauty! Bingo.

Blast from the Past! 🐓: Oldhoop derided you for practicing "wordsmithing," remember? Q.A.: I sure do... I wonder what he'd call all this? You know what they say, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Man, I love this place! 🤣

Nice photo array. Would it be too much to ask for a close-up of "V.D.B." on any of your coins or Lincoln seated on the throne between the columns? Those cameras are able to pick up things "with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men." 🤣

I don't know why you would sell yourself short like that. By now you should have gotten the thing back. It's an impaired proof, right?

I believe I would be remiss in my duty as a responsible, dues-paying member of this Forum if I failed to note the absence of comments from at least two well-known fellow members. Malheureusement, in practical, everyday terms what this means is they, and any others of like mind have irrevocably lost their misperceived privilege of criticizing the OP for his unique artistic creations for the duration, meaning no belated apologies or appeals, with no expiration. This applies whether the absence of their remarks was inadvertent or intentional. Not acceptable. This Topic has fleshed out, in a way no other can, the irreproachable virtue and undeniably sterling character of a man's innermost thoughts, feelings and emotions. I do not believe I have ever experienced the rare privilege of observing anyone delve deeply into a more controversial but little-discussed subject matter than the OP related here seamlessly with intensity and sensitivity. [Posted on the "It's Token Tueday" thread is a token I had taken the liberty of posting last nite which conceivably could have been used by the author of the book cited in that column. In the last line of the last page of the Forward to that book, he made an interesting observation: "I have learned the junk equation. Junk is not, like alcohol or [marijuana] a means to increased enjoyment of life. Junk is not a kick. It is a way of life." (Emphasis mine.)] Any further comments I may wish to make must be respectfully withheld owing to Chat Board Guideline policy. I thank the OP (whose works I find no fault with) for sharing his account with unusual conviction and compassion. (Posted at the discretion of Moderation.)