Henri Charriere

The "Ship of Gold," S.S. Central America sank in September 1857 after encountering a hurricane off the Carolinas taking with it 425 passengers and some 15 tons of gold [not all of which has been recovered to date.] In 2001 an 80-lb. gold ingot was sold to a private collector for $8 M. Last year a 866.19 J & H ingot, one of dozens bearing that hallmark, was sold by Heritage Auctions for $2.16 M. (I myself acquired a few gold granules after it was pointed out that those grains, vacuumed off the sea bed, were irrefutably Gold Rush gold.) The details regarding the wreck and the aftermath are by now well known. The ship was located in 1988 and recovery operations began shortly thereafter. There was an article published in Reader's Digest followed by a book, "Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea," which was followed by a large coffee-table sized book replete with remarkably detailed color photos indicating exactly what the debris site looked like and the precise position of every coin, ingot, dust and relic recovered as well as a narrative and chronology of the entire expedition from beginning to end, save one: What happened to the research scientist, Tommy Thompson? It turns out he was convicted of cheating investors out of their share of the investor funds raised and gold recovered and was subsequently sentenced to 2-1/2 years and a quarter-million dollar fine. However, that sentence was deferred, as per plea agreement, until he disclosed to the Federal Court in which he was tried, the whereabouts of 500 coins [then] worth $2.5 M. In the meantime, unbeknownst to those familiar with the story going back more than 30 years now, he has spent every day since 2015--i.e., 7 going on 8 years--as a detainee in a Federal lock-up for criminal contempt of court. The discovery was deemed so significant that the editors of the Red Book devoted an entire section to the find in an edition circa 1990 or so due to the recovery of California coins and ingots produced by known and heretofore unknown assayers. It was a blemish on an otherwise incredible find made possible with an underwater submersible outfitted with bright lights and mechanical arms and fingers which worked the site some 7,000 feet below the surface in open ocean. My question is why would a man, now 72 and in declining health, be so intransigent and determined to have his way knowing Federal authorities (who caught him after he fled once before) will never allow him to live in peace with his cache if he lives long enough to attain his freedom? Your thoughts?

I would like to go on record as saying not for one second do I believe this provocative assertion. I have since seen the projections for the next two years and see wild galloping reined in to a tame trot. (If the ceiling were stopped dead in its tracks, what would the interest payments on its humongous amount be?) The good news is nobody loses regardless who wins. One will claim, "I didn't have the support of Congress," and the other, with a straight-face, will say, "Hey, I inherited this problem from my predecessor." I don't regard these as political observations and wouldn't want it to be construed as such. It is a simple recognition of human nature coupled with economic factors which are always in a state of flux.

... not to mention the wholly inadvertent, serendipitous discovery of a source for a 67-certified 1910, 1913 or 1914 you-know what!

Asians I have spoken to today confirm all the details you have provided, including the expressions of Gook Luck. I Googled "Tempo Tsuho," and found 49 being offered for sale. I bought mine for a pittance (bargain box price) at an open-air flea market in the 1970's and was told it was bronze and the square hole was to enable hanging on a line or stacking on a wooden dowel. All cautioned that the series is rife with counterfeits, but the OP's appears to be authentic. (He may wish to consider the online listings to get a feel for where his fits in relative to price and condition.) I believe they are generally referred to as "Japan Tempo Tsuho 100 Mon cash coins."

Prices range from as low as $20 to $50 to as much as $99. presumably due to date (mine I was told was either 1857, or the 1850's and looks exactly like yours) condition, and source bought from with shipping costs extra, on eBay or Mercanti.

Having been employed at various times by the Strand, arguably one of the largest used book stores in the nation, and having spent time in their Rare Book Department, I believe it safe to say that save for the embossed leather-bound books with their fancy gilt-edges, the dust jacket, much like the daily newspaper's banner headline -- "Headless Body Found in Topless Bar" remains memorable some 40 years later -- the "dust jacket" may make or break a potential publishing coup. True, numismatics may seem to be a staid field, but the secret to the hobby's success lies with catching and keeping the younger coin collector's attention. One of the first coin books I purchased (yes, when the skies were patrolled with pterodactyls) was simply titled, "Coin Collecting Made Simple." (1964) It's large colorful cover and pages covered with exotic coins in living color was designed to catch and hold a young person's eye. For mature readers, a hook is needed. The book "Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea," preceded by excerpts before its release date is a fine example. A foundering ship and a sea filled with passengers at the height of a hurricane (1857). Reference works speak for themselves, but for the story behind a story, another book is needed and the dust jacket or quality paperback accompanied by drawings and photos as well as a catchy title may very well be a determinant of success.

Two uncomfortable trains of thought... 1. Using the example displayed by Wikipedia provides a reference with which to compare topographical features. Right out of the starting gate I see a coin that is shiny and "brass-like" as compared to one that is subdued and golden. 2. Rhetorical question to the O.P. that can probably put the matter to rest: From whom did you acquire this and at what cost? Irrespective of artistic talent and acclaimed reputation, no respectable counterfeiter, worthy of the title, would contemplate or attempt to counterfeit any coin sure to be subjected to intense scrutiny prior to certification which in cases such as these require authentification prior to sale, most likely at auction. P. S. I think it telling that this post, undoubtedly viewed by knowledgeable and experienced members toiling at the highest levels of the numismatic profession, perhaps beset by combat fatigue, have declined to weigh in.

The French Red Book, the color and dimensions of which coincide with the Yeoman editions. Which came first? Ours, debuting in 1947.

[Always liked the Carson City's. What I don't know is why C was assigned to Charlotte and CC to Carson City, whereas D was assigned to both Dahlonega and Denver.] 🤔

Troo dat! But I still can't believe out of all the agencies they picked on, IRS was not sacrosanct.

Blast from the Past... 🐓: ...why do I feel they're taking a shot at us?... Q.A.: ...they may very well be.... freeloaders?... why, I never!...

Note: The following is in reference to the 1794 "Head of 1793" large cent. I find the combination of formal grading terminology perplexing and jarring. We have a coin in a PCGS holder, apparently certified but (ungraded) -- and seemingly magically, skip "reconsideration" and baldly state, "Good to Very Good details" skipping Poor, Fair, About Good--even Good... Huh? This is your considered opinion, No? Would you be kind enough to clarify?

I can only speculate that because "the compositions of these planchets vary," they can only go so far as to say "high purity," on ancients.

[Afghanistan, North Korea, Myanmar, have abundant supply stocks but they are known by a different name. An audit conducted by the U.S., and its coalition partners disclosed there were no significant stocks, if ever, left but at least they were able to locate a hermit in a spider hole to show something for their efforts.] 🤣

... there is an app for that ... kindly avail yourself of the "ignore" feature which will effectively block any and all replies failing to meet your exacting standards ... personal attacks on other member's replies made publicly are violations of the board guidelines... in the alternative you can make your concerns known via PM ...

My first acquisition was a 1909-S V.D.B. BU coin, purchased from Stack's, for $200. in the mid-1960's. I am certain, having sold it since, it resides in another member's collection. Lacking it, I offer my first improvised slab holder which, while the correct width for all slabs, had a maximum capacity of 12-13 coins, or just under the 16 required for my Set Registry. Feel free to post your very first acquisition, if available.

BEGGING THE O.P.'s INDULGENCE (MINDFUL OF YOUR ADVISORY TO SAFM...) I'VE BEEN WATCHING THESE EXCHANGES--SOME IN RE-RUNS--FOR YEARS AND I STILL DON'T GET IT. MEMBERS HAVE WEIGHED IN FROM TIME TO TIME, YOURSELF INCLUDED, BUT TO NO AVAIL. NOW A CRITICAL SOMEWHAT PIVOTAL EXCHANGE WAS REMOVED AND I AM BEGINNING TO FEEL THIS IS SANCTIONED SPONSORED ENTERTAINMENT LIKE BUD ABBOTT & LOU COSTELLO. . . BUT TO WHAT END? CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG? 🤔

[I suppose I could advance a good argument suggesting the sun does not actually rise, and does not actually set, but that would be an exercise in futility. If a coin is placed vertically on its edge, any deviance is off the perpendicular using the obverse side with the date as the point of reference. If the ANA objects, they will release a statement stating succinctly, the complaint will be reviewed when it is received.] 🤣

[Well now, see, this is what happens when the lines are drawn on the Forum. Only one seasoned member is permitted to speak ex cathedra for the congregation on a topic and no one dares alienating anyone else for fear of gaining or losing favor with followers.]

I am sure Herman McNeil upon seeing these was emboldened by their risqué rendition inspiring him to test-drive his own interpretation of a goddess on the Liberty Standing Quarter which understandably upset a few folks a century ago.

Very perspicacious of you.

Very lovely examples.

Your reply prompted me to dig further. I was aware SOS William Seward purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867 for $7.2 B, it had been a "Russian colony" from 1744-1867, which begs the question, Were any Russian coins ever used there? I'll have to consult Alex from Anchorage. 🤣 [For the record, Hawai'i, pronounced ha-wa-YEE, sharing that idiosyncracy with Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, pronounced suh-nah-UH... ] I have never seen Filipinas coins in so fine a condition as to notice the anomaly of the absence of formal denticles on the obverse sides of denominations greater than one centavo.

I wouldn't know what the average collector's opinion would be -- I don't even know if these genetic mutations command a premium, but if they do and this one were 25% off FMV, would you still have been interested in acquiring one?

It is an accepted use of an unarticulated point of reference, seemingly idiomatic e.g., trains pull into stations, you either get on line, as in New York, or in line, elsewhere. And coins exhibit rotated reverses. I believe the term "rotated obverse" would sound awkward and not a bit clumsy rolling off one's tongue. Reversed die recognizes the dated side as being superior. Like all the time zones deferring to Greenwich Mean Time as a point of reference.