Henri Charriere

My "resume" is set forth with the name of my latest humble abode, East Harlem, listed first. I was born on Riverside Drive in Morningside Heights--now a Columbia U. dorm--next to the building that bears the plaque noting Chief Justice John Harlan Fiske once lived there. In a snippet of an eloquent dissent he maintained "the Constitution was color-blind."

To my knowledge, excepting quoted remarks, every vestige of that name was scrubbed from the website.

Actually, you do. If you wish to change your legal name, you take the matter to court. An "alt," as you refer to it, is nothing more than a User Name change which is an administrative matter handled internally. There is a subforum called "Ask NGC/NCS." I presented my case drawing an analogy to Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd who set the ankle of Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, drawing a term of imprisonment for conspiracy. The expression, "my/his name is mud[d]" was derived from that historical incident. NGC granted my request.

It is an application of local custom. Perhaps coincidental, but not personal.

And... who will promote it, the language used, the hype attending its attributes, and demand. As one member put it, it's amazing sometimes how you can push a product no one knew he wanted or needed and formerly never even knew existed!

Let's see now... briefly: "rare,"..."hard to get a value,"...."none have been graded at this level and none sold." So much for the myth of Fair Market Value. What I see coming is an auction with all interested parties tuned in and, barring fanatics (who must have this coin at all costs) including taking any auction quite personally and will not let any prominent collector or anonymous man woman or child prevent him from claiming his God-given eyes on the prize, a top bid will be made and value established that you and the seller, in that one moment in time, will accept. Then, as sometimes happens, some whippersnapper with a straight-grade MS-67, bearing all the attributes you've mentioned--and additional ones, according to the gods of FMV, though a finer coin in every respect, fetches a lower price than your fine example. Such is life. I wish you all the best.

Yes, but there are too many variables involved to state them all. The only thing I would be concerned about now is date of receipt -- that the coins were delivered safe and sound.

I have only one question: why wouldn't a dealer whom I assumed helped you fill out the submission form(s) correctly have any idea or an inkling at what you can expect as a ballpark figure for your shipment?

Muchos gracias!, as the migrants say up here in New York, the sanctuary city. 🤣 There is an important lesson to be learned by anyone new to the hobby: Set your sights high and bide your time. Be patient! Don't expect to get rich quickly. Do the very best you can within your means.

I don't have anything of an evidentiary nature to add, but I feel these irregularities -- a numeral that can't stand up on its own and shallow graves, pardon "depressions -- along with unwieldy size and weight, provided the impetus for something smaller and simpler... like the Flying Eagle cent. "Matter o' fact, where's Percival? See if he's got that pattern yet. It's time we think big -- and go small." You get the drift... 🤣

The unvarnished truth is though it may seem feasible, it would not be possible. (One more thing the graders and forensic technicians in conservation will be on the lookout for.) 🤣

Gentlemen: Much as I appreciate the accolades, my interest lies in the latter part of my opening comment: " -- what impact would it have on you and the coin collecting hobby at large." All replies are welcome!

Playing out quietly in real time as I write this is an auction at Great Collections that has been ongoing since the first bid, for one dollar, was placed nearly two months ago on March 20, 2023. The current bid, the 79th, is $505,000. The initial bid was $1.00. The next acceptable bid must meet or exceed the current bid by $10,000 or more. So why all the hoopla? For one, GC has described this lot in unusually glowing terms: "One of the most extraordinary sets of coins we have had the pleasure to handle.... certainly the only remaining set in private hands." It includes All Gold Coins as well as a "Vintage Custom Case from Time of Issue,"13 coins in all. (A photo accompanies the text.) If an interested member can provide a link to the site I believe it would be of great interest to the membership at large regardless of principal area of specialization.

Valid question. Moderators, kindly dock me three (3) points for introducing this topic.

Setting aside for a moment my deeply-held views against counterfeits and copies, by whatever name known 🤣 I nevertheless would have no problem accepting at face value in change the lovely Walker look-alike as exhibited in the lower right hand of the trifecta, yes, even absent a view of the reverse, sight-unseen, solely on the basis of the declaration, "Silver Round," as set forth on the bottom of the obverse. Nice piece!

Gentlemen, as the reigning rank amateur on the Forum, which all agree has remained largely unchallenged, I should like to volunteer a [possibly premature] observation as regarding the disc as displayed in the second position: not one to recklessly cast aspersions on the good name and otherwise sterling character of the counterfeiter(s) involved, or the quality of the art as executed, I nevertheless feel the pudgy numerals in the weight depicted, not to mention the "filled-in" aspect of the numeral four, invite attention for further scrutiny. IMHO. 🤣

The $24 trillion U.S. Treasury market is the primary source of financing for the government as well as the largest debt market in the world. If it were to occur -- June 1st, or two weeks from today -- what impact would it have on you and the coin collecting hobby at large?

They do exist but have so little value that only a low-ball fanatic would attempt to assemble a set. The key feature is the date. Good question!

@GoldFinger1969 : The 21 coins were all offered by different coin emporiums operating under the auspices of highly-regarded "ma-shops," based in Germany (with an office in Sarasota, FL., I believe) -- the very same concern the late, great member, Oldhoopster, was dismayed to learn I had unsubscribed from.

For arguments sake, let's pretend I have no idea I what I am talking about. Two questions: What was the FMV of that "manufactured rarity" the silver 1995-W ASE prior to its release? And what happened shortly thereafter? And since? What was the issue price of that coin while ensconced in its original set? What was the highest price it commanded when its entombment was vandalized? [What is its present valuation?] To the numismatists amongst us: how is any of what happened "fair" market value when deliberate man-made manipulation was involved? As to your second declaration, if recent auction results are any indication, I seriously doubt E.C., the present owner of the '33 Double Eagle bid as high as he did without the expectation of recovering back every dollar -- and then some, in his quest to own a unique rarity as defined by law regardless how many more hoards, shipwrecks and safe-deposit boxes are discovered, recovered and opened. I maintain the Fair Market Value of that piece, presently, is unknown and if I understand member, JB, correctly, will remain unknown until its owner is made an offer he cannot refuse. Recently on its website, a consortium representing a number of dealers overseas offered 21 examples of the very same coin with the same date and grade encapsulated by the same TPGS. If FMV exists, why did all 21 coins bear different prices within a $100 range?

The good news is your use of a "rock" tumbler and liquid, the secret ingredients of which you do not wish to divulge because its formula is still "patent pending," has forever enshrined your user handle as one of the more creative minds in the annals of NGC's Chat Board history. 😉

Unbeknownst to the highly-regarded seasoned veteran whose off the cuff statement plainly explaining rarity in terms of supply and demand, it is he who provided the impetus for this topic. In deference to the long-time member, now deceased, who dismissed another's wordsmithing skills, I will briefly cite three cases to illustrate my point. 1. Whatever the trials and tribulations one may endure in acquiring a piece or collection, out-of-pocket expenses are exempt from consideration. And any related costs, e.g., certification, and everything that it entails, is a cost the collector must assume and make individually. Most coins, I suspect, are eligible for encapsulation, but don't expect a return accompanied with a note stating, politely, "Your submission is declined because it makes no economic sense." 2. Elsewhere.on the Forum you will be enthralled by the exploits of those who travel extensively to acquire pieces for ownership or resale. The god known by its abbreviation, FMV, will rear its ugly head and you will be told merchandise acquired during the course of extracurricular activities, doesn't count. Those only apply to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 3. There is a member who, on another thread, reveals an all-too-familiar predicament of collectors, generally. Where my brother kept the chassis of a vintage car on blocks in a garage in the hopes of fulfilling a dream he was never to realize... the rent bills continued to be paid until it was brought to his attention that they had exceeded the cost of his dream car. In response to a query by one member to another on a different thread, the reply lamented the fact the majority of his collection lay in a storage box unappreciated by anyone because he hadn't accessed it in years. If any reader, lurkers included, are familiar with the case of the Collyer Brothers in NYC who lived and died in 1947 in a house stacked floor-to-ceiling with debris, you will understand why I live in my humble abode, windows and front door unlocked (ironically double-locked by my wife at nite!). My feeling is this: FMV will most assuredly rob me blind. And if something untoward occurs in the interim, its finder of my small Treasure of the Sierra Madre is fully deserving of the fruits of his labor. Auction records, Red books, Blue books, White Books and Greysheets notwithstanding, they reflect the then and there. Not the here and now, IMHO. Your take?

Love the neon lights! First inanimate object I've ever seen bearing the words: "I AM INSURED."

Having been married about seven years ago by a woman with blue hair wearing a tie-dyed blouse, "distressed" (ripped at the kneecaps) acid-washed jeans, who mispronounced both my wife's name and mine, what could I say? She was the official marriage clerk of the city of New York. Just as I was constrained not to make a comment then about that, I won't make a comment about this now. Streaks, striations, scrapes and a generally scratched-up- look eliciting ooohs and aaahs here, mimic those of patrons to museums which exhibit "modern art." Taking my cue from the website coordinator, and her procession of administrators, I will withhold comment. I do, however have a question and fortunately for me, a member in attendance qualified to give me an answer... The year 1915 was not the first during which matte proofs were made. Based on your knowledge and experience, do you recall ever seeing the characteristics so prominently featured on this coin on those produced by the Royal Mint, or any others for that matter, at any time, before or since? And if so, how and why were exemptions granted by quality and control inspectors?

Exceptional !!!