Henri Charriere

According to the late, great Oldhoopster, there is only one answer: "Go look it up!". Fortunately for you, Sandon (inexplicably a "newbie," consigned to their ranks, or strictly by self-choice) has given you the correct answer. Next thing you're going to want to know is, How do you tell? Someone coming along will be delighted to tell you... or refer you to the latest "Red Book" for your education and edification or that of others. (This is not my area of expertise, sorry.)

True. It was filmed in its entirety and accompanied by many officials. But a lot can happen in nearly a half-century (and, as I recall, not every vault -- I believe there were eight, was opened). Just how much gold is stored at West Point is anybody's guess. "Need to know," is the rule.

His name rings a bell... I commented on his stock and told him point-blank he was lying. He asked me if I was "buyin' or just cryin'?" I wrote back "Neither: I am reporting you to Federal authorities for engaging in interstate commerce with intent to defraud consumers." There are different Federal agencies that respond to complaints depending on the specific method used. Unfortunately, individuals that were scammed get top billing. Those that raise the hue and cry are critical when their collective complaints suggest a pattern worthy of further investigation. Thank you, Hog, for taking the time and trouble to control the rat infestation

In all fairness to you, I did not want you to report this guy, at least not until I had had the chance to investigate the site. As you may be aware, I was scammed by two different "dealers" on eBay who debited my card for the 2021 Centennial dollars, deleted their handles, and disappeared. On my screen, it was clear that the items I ordered were paid for, but shipping (and obviously delivery) was never attempted. Ebay was unhelpful and, writing to them directly, I was informed their eBay monikers no longer existed. While the transaction remains on "My eBay account," I was unable to locate the one bank statement I needed to prove my case. You live, you learn.

To avoid haggling, arguments and backtalk, I would add an extra coin to every roll, be it cents, nickels or dimes. They did not point out the error because up to a certain point, banks started charging merchants for rolled coins. Rolled quarters, for example, cost an additional 25-cents.

Attn: Grand Master: There are no top unanswered questions in American numismatics today, or other any other day, for that matter. There are, however, many unasked questions -- top, bottom, or strictly back-burner, in American numismatics, the answers to which, while not classified, fall squarely within the realm of "need to know." For example, I was told point-blank yesterday, from a presumably knowledgeable source, that "THERE IS NO GOLD IN FORT KNOX." Frankly, I don't bother asking questions I already know I will not get a credible answer to. PARTING SHOT: No one, I repeat, NO ONE CAN PROVIDE CONCLUSIVE PROOF I HAVE GOLD IN MY POSSESSION, CONSTRUCTIVELY OR PHYSICALLY.

@VKurtB : There's your answer: prior commitments. There is a precedent with a twist. George C. Scott appeared at the Academy Awards in 1971, but refused the award for Best Actor, on principle (presumably for his role in "Patton." The distance you cited, 1400 miles, RT, closely approximates a one-way run to the end of the Florida Keys from New York City. The gasoline alone would exceed my annual rent.

Where is the emoji for "Uh-oh!"?

You raise a good point! One of the more insidious means by which sellers attract buyers is to advertise a grossly inflated price, then offer on OBO (or best offer) option. Psychologically, that sounds good. eBay gives you three shots. The seller, if unable to unload an item quickly, will most certainly consider your offer along with those made by others. With the clock ticking and little time to do due diligence, I half-heartedly took 37%, my lucky number) off the list price. Only what seemed minutes later, I received a reply... Your offer was accepted, etc., PAY UP! It was at that moment I knew I had been taken. But was I? Nowhere in the "ad" did the seller misrepresent the facts. The truth is I wanted the item. And got it. Incidentally, if I were a Jefferson nickel collector -- excessive wear, notwithstanding -- I would prefer mine minus the tracheostomy tube. 🤣

All well and good, I am going to suggest oh-so-politely, that the Grand Master pose his Topic question to Mr. Heritage, c/o Mark Feld, for a definitive response.

Respectfully, citing one source whose revenue streams are derived from the "sales" of coins from disparate parts of the world does little to acknowledge the Grand Master's emphasis on "American numismatics."

[Here's a hopefully palatable "short" answer... the bicentennial quarters were a one-shot deal. What else are coins made for but to be released? And if they all appear to be in high grade, that's what happens to coins that just sit there until they're released to circulation. The state quarters program was introduced, in part, to stimulate interest in the hobby which needed a boost in the arm after silver was removed and collectors, unlike die-hards, left in droves. To maintain interest, state quarters were released incrementally, a few at a time, over a year or so, until they moved on to possessions and territories. At some point, five-ounce pieces were introduced.]

AU, About or About Unicirculated, is about as helpful and informative as AP, or Almost Pregnant. A Proof is a Proof is a Proof regardless the trials and tribulations it appears to have gone through. (No AU to my knowledge) has ever been described as APL, or About or Almost Prooflike.) And to the members who are fixated on "cleaned coins," or "cleaning" generally, how may coins recovered from the S.S. Central America were presented, displayed, or sold to the public, without" conservation. And if conservation in no way, shape or form involves "cleaning," I don't know what does... or is there a distinction between sorcerers on the Forum who use distilled water, vinegar or acetone, without a license, in some way looked down upon by the licensed, credentialed, experienced accredited, "professional conservationists"? Hmmm...

I see an unfortunate choice of words being used. You state ""roll," singular, the "1800's" as well as "never circulated" and "never cleaned." And "unopened". Two-by two flips, I believe, were not available in the late 19th Century, so any inscriptions on them could not have been made by the deceased or his or her heirs unless the roll (singular) was re-opened. You have chosen to post no more than a dozen coins which begs the question; Where are the others and what conditions are they in? Your topic mentions a single roll including two half-dollars and two Trade Dollars, but seamlessly yields to two rolls. Unopened roll(s) suggest unsearched rolls and I have never encountered a mixed, unsearched rolls of varying conditions and denominations, particularly where a claim of unopened and uncleaned roll(s) have not been unsearched, It's in Heritage Auction's hands now so any routine cross-examination is up to them which includes determining provenance and resolving the mystery of why coins in mixed series and wildly different conditions were chosen to reside in a coin roll along with those represented as being MS-70 and DMPL (minus formal certification). You have managed to snag a truly magnificent coin residing amongst the others. I would have retained that one, and sold, or auctioned off the rest.

Try Etsy and eBay, but walk softly and carry a big stick.

It all depends on whose opinion is sought and what grading service is consulted. (Nobody thought it odd that bidding on an AG-03 '31-S Saint began at $60K or a '33 a rocket-propelled grenade wound featured prominently on one leg sold for $10M, right?) And besides, do matte proofs feature any luster at all? Is "toning" technically PMD, as one member opined?

It is a Mint State coin. (I reject as less than useless any reference to cleaning or details.) If that were true, no "debris" would be found on its legends.) A lot can happen in nearly 200 years, none of which its latest owner should be held responsible for. To me, improper toothbrushing technique as it relates to denticular structure suggests no attempt -- not even amateurish -- was made to restore them to their original state. With great misgivings, as an unaccredited guest grader, I am not prepared to yield to my far more learned colleagues and dare suggest this coin deserves less than MS-62 assessment. Irrespective of any opinion, any card-carrying collector would be proud to own this coin in the absence and knowledge of official mintage figures and subsequent certifications.

(Well now, looks like I get to keep the "Rising Star" status our hosts so graciously bestowed upon me, after all. Very lovely coins!)

Dead ringer!

Following is the reverse:

NEWGATE PRISON TOKEN, 1795. I conferred with my wife who deemed the previous descriptive post, originally sans photos, "totally unacceptable," and made a helpful suggestion: "Why don't you unstaple the flip? Accordingly, I post the photos taken moments ago, with the aid of three light sources, which are spread over the following two posts. [I may very well submit the token because it is far superior to similar tokens being advertised presently, which appear to bear unwarranted enhanced grades. For those who must know, I submitted my best offer of 25% off the asking price and fix the value at USD $37. It is the oldest "coin" I own and may be the oldest featured on this thread.

There was never a question in my mind you would never be able to overcome the old adage, ".... and never the twain shall meet." 🤣

It gives me great pleasure to inform the membership that Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, until now grounded since December '22 to his parents' home in Palo Alto, CA. has had his bail revoked and ankle monitor removed earlier today, and ordered detained, by a Federal District Judge sitting in Manhattan, a development a paper of record in New York City characterized as the "latest extraordinary development in one of the most dramatic corporate implosions in recent memory." Investors who were victimized by this scamster, and others of his ilk, may take comfort in the fact that truth stomped into the ground shall always rise again. Or put another way, "Yes, Virginia. There is a Santa Claus," and justice triumphs again. [As the NYC MCC was closed following Epstein's death, it can safely be assumed this former crypto magnate, now defendant, full-time, has been ensconced at the MDC in Brooklyn, for the duration, preceding trial (or more likely, acquiescence to a plea deal) courtesy of the USMS and BOP].

"...without intermediaries such as banks or financial institutions," and presumably Federal regulatory agencies like the S.E.C. Since the dawn of civilization, cavemen and cavewomen have managed to get along just fine without non-tangible soft assets. Incidentally, if something goes wrong, I can walk into any bank branch and speak to a platform assistant. Who do you go see when your ka.app goes kaput?