Henri Charriere

My thought is what's 20 or 25 years to a man who's lived to be 164, thus far. 🤣 Seriously, I would check official mintages with certifications. Personally, I would choose the 31-S, but again, check what's out there, what it's going for and buy from reputable sources with a return policy if buying online. (P.S. Thanks for declining to dispatch that Mama bear in MS. back in '03. You'll be delighted to know your birthplace here in NYC remains in picture-perfect order.

While I do not know the first thing about such things, I do know having heard it said, that one's taste buds change over time as one ages. Other variables to consider are changes in formulations, the passage of time and proper storage at an ideal consistent temperature.

I don't ignore a comment by a grader who no longer grades. My first thought, which I assume most collectors entertain is, What makes this coin extra special; what does JA see that exceeded a coin's normal attributes and prompted him to reach out for a sticker? For those who submit coins for CAC consideration, it reaffirms their feeling. For those whose coins are rejected, the big question is, Why? We tend to forget there are fallible people staffing those assembly lines who, like us, are partial to some features and not at all to others.

For some time, I had been led to believe a coin without a date, was ineligible for grading. Apparently, I was wrong. At post time, NEN of Concord, MA. has a category listed under U.S. coins devoted to Mint Errors, many of which have been graded by a number of TPGS despite their (ND) status. Low-balls lacking dates due to any manner of PMD are ineligible for a grade, but a clipped planchet minus the date is? I always thought the date was key. What am I missing here?

@Michael Blaine : I believe you were given a "hot shot." If that sounds like a street drug term, it is. The "precise" percentages of the alloy used in war-time nickels was 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese. When you say it was "tested," I would like to know the "method" used, and more to the point, if it were sophisticated enough to indicate what the specific percentages were. Let's not forget, over half the coin was comprised of copper and, adding manganese to the mix, indicates fully 2/3 of the coin was non-silver. Further testing is required. No more simpler than that. IMHO.

First time I have seen these videos. T.T. can be seen twice with a dark head of hair and bushy beard. There are many losers here. The investors that bankrolled the expedition; T.T whose last booking photo showed him to be old, gray and haggard; a betrayal of trust with possible theft of the coins which were spirited out of the country possibly to Belize; an unforeseeable death in custody; and a great loss to the numismatic community of a significant "hoard" of California Gold Rush coins. [It is possible T.T. was counting on being released on the contempt charge and inadvertently boxed himself into a corner he is unable to extricate himself from. A truly sad ending to a ground-breaking venture by a research scientist and treasure hunting genius whose motive continues to be a mystery.

Diameter: 3 inches. No way this can be confused with a legitimate, genuine counterfeit!

...what would I know... my first flight was aboard the goodyear blimp "mayflower" over the n y world's fair 1965... no boarding pass no metal detector no cash... personal invite from the captain... ... never should have taken silver out of coins!...

I could probably secure a letter from the Secret Service declaring my 3" diameter Flying Eagle Cent, historically antiqued and produced to precise specifications, was nothing more than a paperweight or coaster, but @RWB would declare the crisp Crane and Company missive typed on engraved letter to be a fraud and if you lose @RWB you've lost it all. You can't win for losing.

Me? Revive a thread? Not a chance. I regard this topic as current today as the day the OP had posted it. I believe it is incumbent upon every member (lurkers included) to peruse it at his leisure and, all jokes aside, meditate on its content and implications. Thus far, two distinct groups of collectors have become apparent in skimming through these posts. There are those that have heirs, and those that do not, which begs the question: for whom are we all collecting? Young collectors presumably haven't given their pursuit of coins much thought. It's an enjoyable hobby. Older collectors experience an epiphany and a change in perspective. What does one do when all the holes are filled and the finest examples of a series have been acquired? At some point, collecting for the pure enjoyment of the hunt turns to interest in investing and, as a matter of course, to final disposition. Fine points to ponder and kudos to the OP for introducing them.

To the OP: See what I mean? 🤣 I believe one of the finest reproductions of this coin was executed by the Intaglio Mint a few years back which did not require a COPY mark for at least three reasons: 1. It was rendered in .999 fine silver; 2. It weighed two troy ounces and was double the thickness of the original, and 3. If it were certifiable, it would likely grade as a MS-68, or better. As a practical matter it would make little or no practical economic sense to pass it.

"Once or twice a year" oh, and wait, I just happen to have a photo of one... hold on, right here! 🤣 [For the nitpickers amongst us... it's more complex of the two and most complex of the three.] Courtesy Ole Miss where a New York City teen learned to speak proper English.] Back on Track.

Don't sell yourself short. This looks to be an MS-70+*... Then again, I am not permitted to practice numismaticism without a license. 🤣

While it is neither unlawful nor illegal, or worse--a Violation of the Chat Board Guidelines to answer your question with specificity, it will upset the sensibilities of prominent members of the Anti-Counterfeiting League who maintain an influential presence on this Forum.

Now you tell me! No loss. I cut off my meter-long beard for our wedding July 5, 2016 ("City Hall is closed on the Fourth as are most gov't offices on Federal holidays"). My wife stared in wonderment at me through out the ceremony... he doesn't look like the man I was supposed to marry..." Anyway, what's left is coming off on our upcoming anniversary. Society of Bearded Numismatists, huh. Well, one more venue I will be disqualified from. 🤣

Bluetooth? The denticles look fine. Way out of my league all you whippersnappers! 🤣

[From a press release dated June 5, 2023 by J. Morrow-Hernandez (PCGS) entitled: "The 'Ship of Gold' Docks at the Long Beach Expo [Convention Center] June 22-24, 2023. " Visitors can expect to see a 40-foot replica of the S.S. Central America, millions of dollars worth of gold coins and ingots, and many other incredible artifacts recovered from the Atlantic Ocean shipwreck [that] will be on display."]

NOTE: I am well aware this is one of the more radioactive threads being maintained on this Forum, as well as one of its older ones. Age, however, should not be a consideration when entertaining the continued relevancy of the subject matter being discussed. The OP [who became a member a few years ago, submitted a question a day after joining, and departed for parts unknown a month later] quoted a question submitted to Google: "how are matte finish coins made" (sic) (leading word not capitalized/no question mark) The reply, in pertinent part, read: "One method, popularized by the Paris Mint, involved striking the coins with unpolished dies and sandblasting them after after they were struck...." [Italicized text mine.] I believe a fair reading of the reply provided by Google clearly states any action taken in producing a matte finish was undertaken by the Paris Mint inside the confines of same. If this were the case, this does not constitute post-mint damage (PMD). I make no comment on any other aspect of the thread or the hundreds of exchanges engaged in by participating members over the course of sixteen pages of posts. I seek not retraction or rescission but review and reflection.

[Note: the following is not directed at JB; all are welcome to reply.] Imprimis, I am well aware this is a dated column. Secondly, and more importantly, there is valuable information in these posts to which I wish to add the following for review and comment, as set forth in Google and Wikipedia... Depending on the source consulted--and there are many--verdigris is a collective term for copper acetate whose chemical varieties produce different hues. Another source describes it as a basic copper carbonate. Verdigris is poisonous. Symptoms of toxicity include anemia and death. To be fair about it, this relates to the active employment of the substance for coloring purposes in paintings, etc. This matter arose when members on another thread recently opined on whether an old silver U.S. half-dollar appeared to be AU, or MS on a GTS post. I myself do not recall ever seeing any silver MS coin bearing verdigris, but one collector said he had. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Additional info: Venue: Music Center Center in downtown Nashville. For particulars, contact IMEX via e-mail at: Ellsworth@IMEX.show

Something for our globe-trotting member to consider if his itinerary permits it. 🤣

For the benefit of those who were too young to remember or may not have yet been born, this was a 1968 film based on a 1963 novel by Alistair MacLean. Great scene, great movie!

Excellent presentation!

Coin and Banknote Show For those who may be interested, IMEX will be holding its inaugural convention in Nashville, Tennessee, October 26-28, 2023. Further details as they develop.

I shall assume Gold & Silver, ahem, "Gatherer" Ivancovich, had the appropriate security clearance. 🤣 All jokes aside, I believe the membership appreciates the seldom seen fruits of labor of those who toiled in complete anonymity were it not for the work of researchers engaged in a continuing commitment to furthering the body of knowledge in this hobby.