Henri Charriere

To the above, you could probably safely add France, and any other country that has adopted its own grading system. As you are aware, the grade FDC covers the entire range of Mint State coins from 65-70. I have come to accept @World Colonial's observation as true. Not.unlike a feature of premium customer service. And TPGS having already been established, the added incrematization is offered to meet the needs of fanatics like me. 🤣

I wrote to Dena Skeffington directly. It may have been her decision to post my query on this thread [which all members would benefit from reviewing intermittently]. I dare say no member more scrupulously observes the letter and spirit of the Guidelines than I do.

My question was directed to Dena Skeffington, the Website Coordinator. The "If you Violate the Guidelines,' thread is an Owner's Manual that never goes out of date. My question, properly directed, is not a poll or referendum on the subject.

Very interesting token! Lacking sufficient magnification on my end, I would guess the text is rendered from the ancient Greek. Nice find!

An unusual application of the word "emission" appears in a single line of an article regarding the authentication of coins, entitled: The Genuine Article, by Kyle Clifford Knapp, June 13, 2023, PCGS. ".... all five known 1913 Liberty Nickels have been extensively documented, photographed, and studied -- their likely emission sequence determined; any purported additional pieces would have to make sense within this context...." (Now, if only I could have learned to write like that!) 🤣 Another interesting assertion made is: "Even when excluding 'obvious' or low-quality replicas, there are multitudes more fake 1804 Draped Bust Dollars or 1913 Liberty Head nickels in existence than there are genuine examples. [Italics mine.] (I would urge any fellow member able to do so to provide a helpful link, if possible, to this article which I believe would be of interest to anyone curious as to this aspect of grading.)

because I do not know where to post it. Hot off the wire... Heritage Auctions Private Offerings, this week: 1907 $20. "High/Wire" NGC PF-67. Pop: 19/5. Current price: $232,500. (NGC price guide: $205,000.) FIVE graded finer!

I believe everything is in a perpetual state of flux until z decrees otherwise. 🤣

Sure would like to know if C.L.R. caught any static the way V.D.B. would years later.

One legitimate concern every collector has entertained at one time or another, subconsciously or not is, Will the non-stop juggernaut in relentless certifications by TPGS [or discovery of hoards] devalue my collection(s)? Surprisingly, for me, and I am being brutally honest, particularly with the F20FG Rooster line, I see it as a possible inevitability. But one concern trumps all. Now, you've heard the quote, "I think therefore I am." Well, I am prepared to take that thought a notch up: "I am what I collect," and unfortunately for me, ranking means everything. It would not bother me a whit if subsequent finds or collector interest or disinterest affects the FMV of what I have compiled, but without that # 1 ranking for a series of coins which have attracted not much more than a passing interest from but a handful of committed collectors, attaining rank is one thing, but for me maintaining rank is everything. I leave to accredited professionals to speculate why as I do not honestly know.

Greetings Dena, I have a question I believe you are eminently qualified to answer. I notice that beside the last comment posted on some threads, a small, figurative hand with fingers splayed, appears encircled in black on a white background. Is this an informal internal signal to moderators indicating, absent a notably relevant reply to the topic, that "stop sign" indicates no further comments should be accepted? (If this questioned has been addressed elsewhere, my apologies.)

To be fair about it, I am naturally suspicious when confronted by any post-mortems conducted after a presumed quarter-century of circulation, but it never hurts to get a second opinion.

To he who sat me down and patiently explained the utility of clad coinage, I offer the following clarification relying on z's universally acclaimed style manual of writing... ... food stamps are no longer being used having been replaced by state electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.... at some NYC outdoor "green markets," (primarily in sketchy neighborhoods) patrons must "purchase" at face value wooden tokens in the amounts of 1, 5 and 10 dollars at a EBT kiosk. However, if your purchase amount, e.g., totals $1.45 or $4.25, you would have to give the merchant $2. or $5., respectively, knowing full well you would not be getting any change back... your only option is to buy more goods closer to an even dollar amount... i believe the foregoing is an example of consequential "rounding-off" taken to an extreme, and is a slap in the face to the food insecure who are encoraged to eat more healthily with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables--that ironically comes with a little-known penalty.... to my knowledge this has gone on unchallenged for decades.

Is this your quaint way of suggesting Chris Rock got slapped i/f/o a live studio audience of millions, for nothing? 🤣

Pending a forensic analysis of the, er, coin roll wrapper, my spy at central intelligence took one look at that 5-digit number, 9-7-5-3-9, broke out in a grin and proclaimed, "Why that's my zip from Jackson County in SW Oregon!" (Sounds a whole lot better than taking that old refrain from my one-time nemesis to heart to "go look it up!") When's the unveiling? This whole matter is getting to sound like Geraldo Rivera's much-heralded opening of Al Capone's mystery vault which, accompanied by intense media coverage in 1986 revealed -- nothing. Your friend is assured at least $20.(minus your consultation fee). 🤣

FWIW... Unlike the illegal marijuana dispensaries which have sprung up all over town (NYC) and conduct their illicit activities on a cash-only (tax-free) basis -- understandably attracting the unwanted attention of armed robbers -- "Farmers' Markets," depending on location, do not accept cash for purchases of fruits and vegetables! Plastic is okay and so are state electronic benefit card(s) commonly called E.B.T. cards which are used to convert an available balance to wooden tokens (an example of which I once posted on member J.B.'s "Token Tuesday" thread) in denominations of $1, $5. and $10. Printed unobtrusively on each token are two points: "Eligible Foods Only" and "NO CHANGE GIVEN". Irrespective of one's views on "freeloaders" and folks who subsist on fixed low incomes, I think it fair to say it is inherently unfair to legally deprive any citizen of monies owed in the amount of a few cents to just under a dollar unless, of course, he buys more. I suspect many members were wholly unaware of these perfectly lawful transactions practiced routinely.

To put this incredible feat into perspective, your output works out to the near equivalent of 12 hours every day of the week for however long you could do so and even more hours should you choose to work 6 days, or 14 hours a day, etc. Coins? When did you have time to come up for air? 🤣

Never opening a roll that has already been opened and sealed, re-opened and re-sealed, any number of times, will not solve the mystery as to its contents. My guess it what your friend may have is a mixed roll of halves, some possibly silver, none 90% silver or dated before 1964 and all bearing what I would describe as "industrial strength" post mint damage. Nothing to fear here but fear itself. 😉

In all fairness, if a merchant or vending machine accepts it, it is worth one cent. (In cases of unrequited love, it's value is limited to the sentimental feelings it evokes.)

Exceptional! Nice catch!

[FWIW, Following is one interesting answer to the question, How many coins constitute a hoard? Two or more coins from the same find provided they are at least 300 years old when found and contain less than 10% gold or silver (if the coins contain less than 10% gold or silver there must be at least ten of them). Per Google. The ANA defines hoards more liberally in the manner most collectors do without any specific references to number, age or composition. Among the famous hoards recovered, it notes: "The WF hoard was a hoard discovered in the early 1990's that had thousands of 1908 no motto St-Gaudens double eagles in amazing condition. Ten coins were even graded MS-69. The coins in this hoard were some of the best double eagles ever found." (Parenthetical Note: I was unaware any of these coins some members have described as being "heavy" and, being gold, "soft," had ever been graded so fine by any TPGS.) ] Great update!

Rightly or wrongly, the answer would lie in large part to the TPGS you choose to submit your coin to. 🤔

If it is any consolation, EVERY ONE, prince or pauper, collector or not, will leave this world in exactly the condition he entered it.

I don't know about that. Members still around today recall vividly the sound thrashing I was given by one veteran seasoned member who "opined" the standard range was 5-to-7 power and proclaimed anything exceeding that was "Never!" done. I did not dare challenge him. 🤣 P.S. Mine was [and still is] 30x.

[Don't mean to be out of order but when was engraved letterhead made available for use by employees in official inter-Mint correspondence?] 🤔

No more so than in any other field of endeavor. Too numerous to mention. Most of the time, nothing happens until something does. Why would anyone question a Bernie Madoff? You can exercise due diligence and stick to reputable firms but what you'd like to know, very often, is available on a "need-to-know" basis only. Some things that are too good to be true, really are; others, with hindsight, are not. Much of the time, a win-win, is limiting one's exposure thereby limiting one's losses.