Henri Charriere

Nice racket, if you can get it. Up until now, if I am reading this correctly -- and willing to incur member MF's wrath -- a gentleman (singular) sitting at a table accompanied by his grand-daughter, gives a coin a once-over, and with a simple nod passes it to his biggest fan who squeals with delight. And why shouldn't she? The entire concept is a lucrative construct. Ninety-nine point forty-four percent of the [grunt] work, grading, is already done! Who gets penalized for withholding a sticker? Nobody! Review? By whom? The gentleman who presides over the ritual would rightly recuse himself on the grounds his participation would constitute a conflict of interest. (The child would still get an extra helping of vanilla ice cream just for being a good sport.) If I were inclined to change anything, it would be the shapes and colors of the stickers. Mine would be stars and, in lieu of green, I would choose silver. The other two would be gold and platinum. I regard stickers as one would a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval or Better Business Bureau rating. The beautiful thing about this hobby is there is something in it for everyone. Enjoy! 🤣

Visuals may be subject to subjective opinions, but facts remain facts. Under two headings, accessible to all members via the internet, are the following: 1869 2C RB (Proof) Two Cent -- CoinFacts, and 1869 2C PCGS/CAC PR64RB Source: D.L. Rare Coins Grey Sheet. Over 20 million of these coins were minted, 600 in Proof. Several examples exist of the Proof strikes, some of which are featured on-line. I know what Red is supposed to look like and I know what Brown is supposed to look like. Red/Brown has elements of both. Neither of the photos accompanying the text posted on Google (one of which is PCGS-graded) remotely resemble the OP's example in color. I dare say, no person chosen at random on the street, collector or not, would describe the example depicted as being Red, Brown, or a combination of both. I assume by Proof is meant the matte and not mirror finish. Nevertheless, in every respect, it is a rare, handsome find and a coin anyone would be proud to own.

For reasons I myself cannot begin to fathom, I would not accept this cent (or any other remotely like it, with or without a wreath, in its present deplorable condition) if it were offered to me for one cent -- or free. In fact, if the Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York threw open its doors and stated in plain English everything held within the walls of the impregnable fortress were mine, under one condition: receiving and accepting this coin (in my eyes worth less than melt) I would graciously decline, and do so politely. There isn't a numismatist worthy of his calling who would take this cent home and present it to his mother for her approval. 🤣

Aside from its date, are there any other principal redeeming characteristics exhibited by this "coin" that would encourage a collector to acquire it?

No comment.

I accept your explanation unreservedly. Carry on, sir!

[Governors come and go. No elected official's policies can possibly prompt anyone to pull up our roots, assume the task of moving heavy metal, particularly at our age, with or without assistance. I prefer the unexpurgated version of your narrative buried in the Chat Board archives: you retired, your better half made you an offer, and you graciously accepted. The downside? Heat, humidity, severe weather threats, motorists driving as though they were in Karachi and the absence of the kind of roadside stands and auctions you had become used to. Who could blame you?] 🤣

I am frankly surprised not a single experienced collector has weighed in without so much as a query as to the availability for viewing of the other 50% of the coin.

Me thinketh you protesth too much! To remedy "that," entails costs and risk. And what if it fails to cross-grade? And what if it does, but despite all the costs, it is lost in transit, either going or coming? Then what? Exceptionally well-preserved coin!

First and foremost, they are scarce because they are "prison tokens" which were minted in limited quantity, not for circulation outside the walls or fences of the correctional facility, but inside in a controlled setting. Dunes was decommissioned after a dozen years of operation. The site, now lying in ruins, was built for a wealthy industrialist and his wife, both of whom died two years later. At some point it was used to house the developmentally disabled. Any $5. denomination would be the scarcest of the series -- and command a higher price than all the others.

[I do not know who runs "The Hobby," but maybe they ought to consider issuing an 'Annual Report.' "? ]

I am guessing the reverse reads: GOOD FOR, 25 [Cent symbol) -- IN -- MECHANDISE. The obverse is unintelligible-- and riddled with raised dots. Using your other tokens as a guide, what should it read, especially in the middle? What is the county or closest town today?

I see a Mint State coin. Now comes the hard part.... a strong WE... a possible sulfur (carbon) spot... all things considered, a pristine coin... strong, well-defined denticles... I see a well-deserved MS-66, at a minimum.

Respectfully, as a long-time collector, what's your stance on incandescent bulbs for photographing coins?

I would like to suggest, without further elaboration, that this is a trick interrogatory.

An incandedcent light, like the sun, provides a single source of warm light Fluorescents, like LEDs flood the focus of your interest compelling the human eye to seek out contrast. There is.little or no contrast. The human eye tires quickly under the prolonged, day-by-day stress. I dare say a substantial portion of the reading public, myself included, have suffered loss of vision for no other reason than economic interests.

This is a difficult topic to negotiate. My gut instinct is the only way a collector would know the answer to your question is if he had acquired one, but, in so doing, he would be acknowledging he made a mistake. Who would want to do that? Purchasers of that 1995-W Proof (no further ID necessary) are not exactly going to crow about what has happened in the years since its issuance. The Centennial dollars came out with much fanfare, but if a collector picked one up at price of issue, what has he lost? Same goes for that 3/4 z Kennedy. (Come to think of it, when's the last time a collector conceded he bought a coin at an inflated price that subsequently tanked.) The top six threads on the Forum feature desirable coins, many in exceptional condition. Now, ask their owners what they're worth, and you'll get ready answers. 😉

A most laudable and unfortunate invitation. 🤣

As you may know, I do not relish the thought of passing judgment on other members' coins, but now that you've disclosed it's counterfeit, one more comment won't hurt. All of the other comments, notwithstanding, there is only one thing about it that irks me: the suggestion, coincidental and unintentional, of an apostrophe in STATE'S. I find its perfect placement to be a distraction. Not to take you away from your long-standing obligation to monitor the Forum's longest running thread, but what was it about this coin in particular that prompted you to acquire it? You know what I collect, and why. I am just curious.

Blast from the Past! 🐓 : Big Bertha!??? Q.A.: I have no idea what those gentlemen were talking about. 🐓 : That can mean only one thing... you're not as old as you thought you were! 🤣

Is it safe to assume, as regarding "proper light," this is a veiled reference to incandescent? 🤣

Very lovely war-time line-up!

[V.P.: Collapse? Nyet! Coup? Nyet! Quid pro quo? Nyet! This is all, how you say, Western propaganda.] 🤣

Preparatory to posting on your Token Thread, I, too, made a grievous error. On the recommendation made in a comment posted either on this Forum or another, I soaked two copper tokens, separately, in [undiluted] apple cider vinegar, with disappointing results. It occurred to me then that this is why users of cleaning agents are urged to test first on a sample area, particularly where carpeting and clothes are involved. Applicable advice for hobbyists.

Funny how the last time I was in the hospital, amongst the flotsam and jetsam flowing non-stop into and out of my room, was an ambulance-chasing orthopedic surgeon who introduced herself, withdrew her business card from a pocket with a flourish preparing to proffer it to me, but not before asking, in words garbled by her face mask, "Whu* **sur*nce d* **u ha**? I told her, and with a stunned, "never-heard-of-it" demeanor, stammered, "What's that?" Needless to say, wheeling around smoothly on one heel, and deftly replacing her card, she was out the door in a flash. Did this really happen, or did I imagine it? I was left wondering? I am up and about now, but a simple fall was my wake-up call. After all, without your health, exactly what have you got? 🤔 My thanks to @Zebo for putting a face on that coin.