Henri Charriere

[I hope your problem is resolved to your satisfaction. As for me, I got a big kick out of your choice of words... "rarest modern Chinese error coin in existence." I do hope the gentleman who stated I had no inkling of what certifications, censuses, and populations represent, views this. It will make his day and mine. 🤣

Mindful the Original Poster (OP) a newly-minted member, has accepted the answers provided to him by some very knowledgeable and experienced hobbyists on this Forum, I should like to emphasize that when you submit a coin to a Third-Party Grading Service (TPGS) such as NGC, the fee you pay covers authentication, grading, certification and encapsulation. Everything is documented and comes with a written guarantee (as long as your numismatic treasures are stored properly) and some have adopted holograms and Near-Field Technology to insure additional security and give you peace of mind. The top TPGS should not be confused with the plethora of private concerns that issue their own display holders along with superfluous Certificates of Authencity boasting low numbers on a limited mintage run. There are coins which collectors refer to as Original Government Packaging (OGP) issued by the U.S. Mint usually consisting of Uncirculated or Proof sets, the earliest ones packaged in filmy plastic and presented in flat cardboard boxes. It is your prerogative as to whether you wish to have them formally graded and encapsulated. Rest assured that when you choose to have your coins certified by NGC, you can proceed with confidence as all your concerns will be addressed generally and by the many members who have specialized in the specific coins you collect. Again, welcome!

Good guess, Hog! The only time I heard manganese used in any meaningful numbers was in the short-lived Sacagawea dollars (or was that Pocahontas?) 🤣

Actually, a gentleman's signature written with an old-fashioned flourish. It is my understanding some collectors do not object to a personal touch on an old coin. The only other instance I can recall where coins are purposely "damaged," with "chop marks" are the Trade Dollars which are accepted as historical artifacts.

This is a trick question.* If the Morgan and Peace dollars weigh 26.73 grams, respectively, why not place the holdered coin onto an appropriate scale and subtract the difference from the total. A purist will insist the coins are weighed in Troy ounces, being precious metals, but I seriously doubt any TPGS will authenticate and certify a coin without weighing it first. The only acceptable alternative to consulting an experienced "crack-out" artist would be to present your question to the ready, able and willing personnel who may be consulted on the "Ask NGC/NCS" thread. * Robert Ripley ("Believe It Or Not") demonstrated this by stating a pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold. The former weighs 16 avoirdupois ounces whereas the latter, a precious metal, weighs 12 troy ounces.

Of the scores of sites I consulted (I call it research, others call it cheating) three represented they possessed the secret which I, as a user, tried to access unsuccessfully, being warned to back out before all manner of harm befell me. So I learned a great deal about the 1938 (except why the 8 in the date was compressed) along with the usual 75/25 nickel/copper composition. I do have a theory based on my familiarity with the Periodic Table of Elements: cobalt and zinc which sandwich the two metals used on either side. Bear in mind the nickel's standard weight is 5.0 grams, the same exact weight as its predecessor, the Buffalo Head nickel. I don't think I am old enough to venture onto the dark or deep web, so I will await your disclosure.

I have dealt with these people for years. The very worst that can happen, already has, to some extent: unable to produce, they beg off. On the other hand, my entreaties may prompt others to examine their stocks of FDC bullion, inspire networking and chatter. It takes only one person to go the extra mile, take another look at existing inventory, and after consulting with others, submit it for certification. I have nothing to lose.

No Mega Millions top-prize winner yesterday... next drawing Tuesday, Aug. 8... Jackpot may exceed the highest ever attained: 1.537B, or put another way, over one thousand five hundred million dollars...

The following is a verbatim reply I received, in pertinent part, from Robert Nagy, Senior Sales Manager, Numismatic Advisor, International Markets regarding French 20-franc gold roosters ".... Meanwhile, I did send your request to our experts: as soon as a[n] MS-70 is available for the mint year you are looking for [1910, 1913 and/or 1914 (all resrikes) I will inform you personally." His contact: robert.nagy@numiscorner.com. FYI: the number of MS-67 grades awarded by the top two TPGS can be counted on two hands. MS-68: Zero; MS-69: Zero; and MS-70: Zero. Rather than question the optimistic expertise of an experienced Frenchman, I have chosen to let nature takes its course.

I have three questions concerning terms being used right now in connection with a coin being auctioned by Great Collections. The description reads: 1856 FLYING EAGLE CENT - ANACS NET Proof 12 - DETAILS GRAFFITTI. The current bid is $6500. with minimal further bids accepted in increments of $250. The auction ends Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, morning PST. GC Item ID: 1413432. Q1: What does NET Proof-12 mean? Q2: Would those members who insist on an explanation of DETAILS be satisfied with the the characterization "GRAFFITI" as sufficient? Q3: GC accepts payment, of among other things, check/money order. Today, members who [secretly] denounced me as an unenlightened nincompoot for "parking" my money in "non-interest-bearing" USPS money orders will be delighted to learn their instincts were correct. My wife attempted to redeem a $1000. m.o. placing the recipient's name (her sister) on both the m.o. and stub. [She had done this without my knowledge and consent.] Remedy proposed by the USPS: Report it stolen, and wait for the result. Cost: $17.30 for "Money Order Inquiry" i.e., an intensive nationwide search for an instrument we were holding in our hands. [Savvy collectors know there is a limit of $1,500. per USPO money order and no more than $3,000. may be purchased by one person at any one time.] Such instruments do not expire! However, banks are not obliged to accept them. I do not know what GC's policy re money orders is, but I do know if a buyer wishes to retain his anonymity, he's going to need help. So what about all the other [unfilled out] postal money orders? They cannot be used internationally and it is pretty clear domestic sellers are leary of them for the same reason they refuse to accept personal checks. I suspect there is a special postal unit dedicated to resolving such matters. The clerk behind the counter asked me why I did not charge my wife, of seven (7) years, standing right beside me, with attempted theft. [She was walking out the door with an envelope held palm up before I intercepted her at the front door and asked her, "We are leaving in two minutes. If you are going to mail something downstairs or take something to the refuse room right by the elevator, why can't you wait?" She froze like a deer in headlights. Theft? This is the same woman who told me I told her she should send money to her sister when she injured herself, lost her job, lost her income -- and her apartment. "When did I tell you that?", I asked her. "You know, when we got married.".[SEVEN YEARS AGO!] How do you reason with a woman who refused a deli clerk's offer of a sample of cheese, without tasting it, saying, "I don't want it! I don't need it!" Outside, I asked her why she refused to taste the cheese. She told me with a deadpan look, "It had holes in it." (It was Swiss cheese.) * * * Attn: Moderation... In the interests of preserving band-width, feel free to remove this any time as you see fit.

I have three questions concerning terms being used right now in connection with a coin being auctioned by Great Collections. The description reads: 1856 FLYING EAGLE CENT - ANACS NET Proof 12 - DETAILS GRAFFITTI. The current bid is $6500. with minimal further bids accepted in increments of $250. The auction ends Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, morning PST. GC Item ID: 1413432. B7 Q1: What does NET Proof-12 mean? Q2: Would those members who insist on an explanation of DETAILS be satisfied with the the characterization "GRAFFITI" as sufficient? Q3: GC accepts payment, of among other things, check/money order. Today, members who [secretly] denounced me as an unenlightened nincompoot for "parking" my money in "non-interest-bearing" USPS money orders will be delighted to learn their instincts were correct. My wife attempted to redeem a $1000. m.o. placing the recipient's name (her sister) on both the m.o. and stub. [She had done this without my knowledge and consent.] Remedy proposed by the USPS: Report it stolen, and wait for the result. Cost: $17.30 for "Money Order Inquiry" i.e., an intensive nationwide search for an instrument we were holding in our hands. [Savvy collectors know there is a limit of $1,500. per USPO money order and no more than $3,000. may be purchased by one person at any one time.] Such instruments do not expire! However, banks are not obliged to accept them. I do not know what GC's policy re money orders is, but I do know if a buyer wishes to retain his anonymity, he's going to need help. So what about all the other [unfilled out] postal money orders? They cannot be used internationally and it is pretty clear domestic sellers are leary of them for the same reason they refuse to accept personal checks. I suspect there is a special postal unit dedicated to resolving such matters. The clerk behind the counter asked me why I did not charge my wife, of seven (7) years, standing right beside me, with attempted theft. [She was walking out the door with an envelope held palm up before I intercepted her at the front door and asked her, "We are leaving in two minutes. If you are going to mail something downstairs or take something to the refuse room right by the elevator, why can't you wait?" She froze like a deer in headlights. Theft? This is the same woman who told me I told her she should send money to her sister when she injured herself, lost her job, lost her income -- and her apartment. "When did I tell you that?", I asked her. "You know, when we got married.".[SEVEN YEARS AGO!] How do you reason with a woman who refused a deli clerk's offer of a sample of cheese, without tasting it, saying, "I don't want it! I don't need it!" Outside, I asked her why she refused to taste the cheese. She told me with a deadpan look, "It had holes in it." (It was Swiss cheese.) * * * Attn: Moderation... In the interests of preserving band-width, feel free to remove this any time as you see fit.

FWIW: MEGA-MILLIONS JACKPOT IS UP TO $1.35B @ T MINUS 3-1/2 HOURS, AND COUNTING. DRAWING AT 11 P.M. E.S.T. CCP, DPRK, RUSSIAN FEDERATION... What, me worry? Carry on, gentlemen!

Note: to my fellow starry-eyed members, no one won the main event [though the drawing produced six "millionaires."] The next drawing pegged at $1.25B, which is expected to rise, will take place Friday, August 4, 2023 at 11 p.m. Good luck to all!

Undoubtedly, a trick question of some type for which the broad catch-all term P.M.D., lacking specificity, is apparently woefully inadequate. (I don't know which of the two is worse: losing my "Rising Star" status here or # 1 Set Registry ranking elsewhere.)

To paraphrase [Pvt.] Stockdale (a young Andy Griffin) in No Time for Sergeants (1958): "You're the best dang coin man in the whole dang coin show!" 🤣

Speaking strictly for myself, I was disappointed with most of the grades I got, but I didn't fret and with my limited knowledge of the ins-and-outs of grading -- and lacking a near perfect sample by which to conduct a side by side comparison, I chose to study my slabs closely. Graders have seen many, more coins in my series. For the.most part I accept their verdicts. The least I can do is study the coin more closely and attempt to identify the factors the graders found to be troublesome.

[To Moderations' eternal surprise, joy and gratitude, I am going to defer to the bevy of experienced numismatists on board to tackle this in their own inimitable ways.]

Very fine summary of the facts concerning this generally overlooked series accompanied by some splenidiferous examples.

As most members know, I do not relish the thought of passing judgment on other collectors' coins. There is one aspect of this hobby that isn't generally acknowledged and that is while to you and me this is a hobby, there are those whose approach is all business. It is what their chosen livelihoods depends on and if a misjugment was made, the only viable option is passing along a problem coin to others. Some may regard this as despicable. I choose to look at it as an unethical "necessity." The problem as I see it, is the age and the otherwise admirable condition of a coin neatly 200 years old. You confidently state the coin was not cleaned. If it were, it would make a difference to me as to when the cleaning was undertaken. Certainly, no one is pointing a finger to the seller of the coin who sold it to you. Can any collector honestly say the seller committed the desecration, or was simply passing it along? Formal authentication and certification is needed to establish as close as one can come to the truth otherwise you will be preoccupied with things which may or may not be true. If you feel strongly about the matter, I would approach the seller and review with him the comments made in this column. You've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain. My limited experience suggests a reputable dealer with positive feedback would, at the very least, hear you out.

PCGS ran a piece about the 2014-W Gold Kennedy Half Dollar two weeks ago. Here's what they had to say... Almost 75,000 were minted, the maximum number authorized. The Mint's issue price was $1,240. Within days the price more than doubled to $2,500. and some shot up past $5,000. The first specimen sold at the coin show in Chicago, graded PR-70 DCAM, was later sold in a "private treatise transaction" for $100,000. Today, the .999 fine gold coins weighing 3/4 oz. troy have since settled to melt which was close to $2,000.

Caveat Emptor! A timely reminder: past performance is no guarantee of future results and doubly so if you are looking to make a quick killing.

The truth is if it is ACCEPTED by a store merchant, a vending machine or any person who doesn't reject it on grounds of its appearance, then it may be worth 5 cents. I have a quarter-dollar that is its genetic twin. I had no takers. I sent a dollar bill that had gone through the wash & dry cycle rendering its still recognizable appearance as bleached linen, directly to the BEP which declared it to be counterfeit and confiscated it. You win some, you lose some.

... tonight's Mega Millions lottery -- jackpot now North of One Billion Dollars, would the trajectory of your numismatic pursuits change and, if so, in what way? As this question may be perceived as an invasion of privacy, it is posed solely for those inclined to answer it in a specific or general sense, as he is inclined. Anyone have an interesting or fanciful bucket list?

Perceived shortcomings, notwithstanding, considering the coin's vintage and limited circulation, this is a half-dollar collectors of any series would be proud to own. Great catch!

To the OP: In your Topic heading, you make reference to coins, plural. What other coins do you have that you may have questions about that you wouldn't mind sharing? You might not get the answers you were hoping for, but the information elicited may be of invaluable assistance to others.