Henri Charriere

[UPDATE: The opening of East Side Access (which I doubt you will ever need to use) has been delayed another month. You may vaguely recall it involves connecting the LIRR's Main Line (out to Jamaica, and beyond) directly to Grand Central Terminal on the city's east side. I assumed it would be a 4-track job but it's 8 tracks. One other odd fact, to build it into Manhattan from Queens, it had to be really deep, and boy is it! Some 175' feet deep, or twice the depth of the bedrock when all the wreckage was removed from the WTC site after 9/11. As it stands, the deepest point in GCT was always the super-secret nerve center reportedly built at a depth of 90'. Incidentally, I have doubled the number of sources to resume my set building and though I've gotten acknowledgments, the horizon is a desert. I am giving it 90 days. The intense monitoring of all that goes on in cyberspace is a bit much for me. After that? Who knows? It'll be spring. My thoughts will turn to other things.

@GoldFinger1969: At the risk of being accused of bashing, I should like to politely remind the congregation here that in making a few basic inquiries on the West Side this past week I was thoughtfully reminded they were Number One, among other things (over 50 million certifications to date, was cited as evidence) and that price increases on submissions, etc., were in the works. It's a comfort to know that like the Duke and Duke Brothers of "Trading Places" fame (1983) they continue to make money whether the average collector wins or loses.

A lot of strong language in here! Good to hear from you again! Now about those BGS Beckett-graded coins... Ah, I definitely have it in me to become a sucker for a scam! Happy New Year, fellow bird-lover!

I am afraid I see little in the way of notable innovative quality being produced which would justify the inclusion of its particulars in an authoritative book devoted to numismatic knowledge. Right now, papers of record are devoting their time and energy to formulating a suitably sensitive but accurate formal Epitaph for the hobby, but pockets of resistance persist.

[I'll let you in on a little secret only you and I will know. Yesterday, for a few hours the # 2 ranked Rooster set registrant on the West Side, inadvertently and unknowingly, became # 1 because I was suddenly seized with the notion of "professionalizing" my presentation without delay. And if you are in a hurry, and all thumbs, you make errors. I called the West Side on their dedicated set registry line. I was placed on hold for 52 minutes after which I was told to leave a message. My call was never returned that day, or the next. Is it because I was longer a member? I will never know. I eventually figured it out on my own and restored the deletion and my # 1 rank, but realized two things: a). losing your top rank can be psychologically devastating (your ratings are reconfigured; there's no way to know whether it can even be done w/o reconfirming what you've previously submitted, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY... b). for neglecting to extend to me the common courtesy of returning my call, I was possessed with the vision of vacating the premises there, permanently, and wheel-barreling my collection here to the East Side where, according to my calculations (and after considerable risk, loss, and expense, e.g., an expensive coin or two that won't cross-grade, insurance, you-name-it) I would be able to assume the # 1 rank pushing sixty-some-odd registrants down a notch. Funny how inattention to detail and discourtesy can encourage mammoth change.] here's z's take on all this... "ok so the guy who is # 2 never knew he was # 1, once." Exactement! Man, I love this place!

ARCO? The really surprising thing about your topic is the fact that I seriously doubt anyone who pursued their various studies in high school, college and beyond hadn't at one time or another used an Arco Publishing book to advance their educations or careers. All the major exams one needed to take and pass to go to the school or career of their choice was put out by Arco. Entire sections of bookstores were set aside to accommodate their titles. They virtually monopolized education and professional careers. So to find this title, on the U.S. Mint and Coinage, was a real surprise. It never even occurred to me that they would even carry a title like that. Sorry I can't share any info about the book I never heard of. Good thing Ol'hoop isn't around to find out the last time I went into a public library and asked where the card catalogues were I was told there weren't any and to add insult to injury they confiscated my cardboard library card (manually date-stamped 1969) telling me it was obsolete and issued me a plastic one with a bar code.

Q.A.: All this talk of trophies is making me bleary eyed. The way I see it, all we have to do is one thing. 🐓: What's that? Q.A.: Win the Mega Millions. I hear it's up to $640 million. And the drawing is tomorrow nite. 🐓 : Bet!

The only certified low-baller I have ever seen and likely one of the few sensible candidates for encapsulation. Funny how it wasn't set aside a lot sooner. I like it!

I AM GOING TO TAKE THAT TO MEAN WE GO FULL SPEED AHEAD ON REKINDLING OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH NEVADAS&G.

🐓: "Numismatic impressionism." Aren't you going to say anything, Q? Q.A.: Pointillism, a form of neo-imprressionist art, I heard of, but this? I am going to have to let the Great One slide on this. Besides, is it important enough to spark another parting shot like "Outta here"? I think not. He wins!

Finally, something that's been quietly vexing me for the past three years since I got this thing hit paydirt. I am not a Winged Lady aficionado so there was nothing for me to compare this with. Correct me if I am wrong but if this is pure gold, it stands to reason then that imparting the most basic detail to it should not have presented a problem to modern minters. In fact, it would seem it could be accomplished with less pressure. But what do I know? No full split bands? I want my money back!

We're it not for the nick at 5 o' clock, I'd've given you a million bucks for it, but such is life.

WARNING! OFFENSIVE CONTENT... It's got a fancy all-inclusive name today: "domestic abuse." I don't know what they called it back then because being truthful was considered impolite and potentially problematic.

Wanna bet? I automatically assumed a U.S. Mint product encapsulated and showcased in OGP was a Proof. Surprise, surprise! What in heck is a "business strike"----and more importantly, where's the detail? I don't know what I paid for it (and I don't want to know) but unfortunately for me I don't have an enemy in the world worthy of bestowing this golden atrocity upon.

Further to my earlier reply, It seems I owe you a debt of gratitude for urging me to give HA a closer look. I have no idea why that site stymied me off and on for years. Everything is compartmentalized logically, and the filters work so well that it took me only seconds to realize my presence at NYINC is absolutely not required No gold Roosters, period. I revisited my set registry at PCGS and reviewed the auction records provided on their site and realized something I only suspected. Due (I suspect) to manpower shortages, the info compiled is sparce and so old that many coins bought years ago were acquired at below melt. Now, to respond to @RWB's query, I shall take the liberty of paraphrasing Desiderius Erasmus: When I get money I buy Roosters, and if any is left I buy food and clothes.

Good afternoon, gentlemen: I may not be smart enough to know the respective pros and cons between this type of film or that, but I do wish for it to be known for posterity that ol' Q, his innumerable shortcomings notwithstanding, was and has always been unalterably opposed to old classic movies which had been "colorized" without the owner studios'/director 's/producer's knowledge and consent. Say what you may of the Woodman's choice of mate, but if he, and others, choose to film in b & w, it is safe to assume they had their artistic reason(s).

And here I was getting ready to tell my wife to put away the Brillo and NOXON.

Geez, I hope you know who doesn't see this. That and cats gets his goat.

The mischievous part of me says, "Aw pipe down with all this talk of survivors!" Then again, and there are enough collectors to remember this, an 1849 "proof" was produced encapsulated in a [sufficient] presentation case which could be yours unless you don't like shiny 24-karat gilt gold and the description, "replica archival edition" emblazoned across the slab. These were lovingly banged out about 20 years ago by some historical "society" nobody ever heard of in an edition of 9,999. Hey, who knows, if you "mint" 10,000, maybe you had to submit one of those pesky special forms to the U.S. Treasury. Anyway, if you absolutely, positively must have one of these things, the ads are still being run. Who knows, maybe you can be the first on your block to own one. Less than a hundred dollars. [It's copper, but you'd never know it--unless you drop it.] .

If it's good enough for the Walker-guy, it's good enough for me. (I have zero expertise in this area beyond what I've heard and read.).

There is nothing I don't like about your coin. Any idea what "SP" stands for in the grade? Your avatar is ever-vigilant and I've got your back, come what may way.

Respectfully, as an, ahem, up-threader, I should like to go on record as saying all this talk of what the market wants and doesn't want is hooey, plain and simple. Nobody knows if an Edsel or a New Coke or two guys singing "Macarena," are going to go over big, or become one-hit wonders. I happen to wholeheartedly agree with the gentleman given to speaking ex cathedra, but for reason. Case in point: what is the FMV of the much-vaunted 1933 DE? Nobody will know what it is until when (and if) it ever comes up for sale. Will NGCX make it? Your guess is as good as mine. As the average age of hobbyists (collectors, hoarders, investors and closeted lurkers) is 97 (based on photographs supplied by on-site coin-show groupies) I think it responsible to say the only credible answer is "that remains to be seen. The "market," should it rears its head, is in a state of perpetual flux. What exactly is demand? It's anything the man withholding a hoard wants it to be. Has anyone seen the price of French 20-franc gold roosters lately? They're all over the place. And nobody knows anything about them except how many were "officially" minted. If you ask, "But when were they minted?", you'll get imprecise terminological inexactitudes or unique terms like "restrikes" and "redistributions." As to why the 1914 has an "open 9," while all the others remain "closed," you'll get a blank look. France does not officially recognize hits, runs, errors, curiosities, oddities----or irregularities of any kind. Matter of fact, time to drive this home again (now that the number of Rooster Set Registrants has risen to a bi-coastal 75) there is only one grade which embraces the MS-65, -66, -67, -68, -69 and 70, and that's the FDC (Fleaur de Coin). Half grades? Stars? Plus signs? "What are you trying to do, Monsieur, how shall I say, complicate matters?" Buying is not worthy of discussion. Has addressing the supply or demand of narcotics and dangerous drugs affected the availability or price of drugs in this country? [I don't wish to be a spoil-sport but things look stagnant for all but the upper ranks who dwell in climate-controlled rooms.] Right-minded people, unforunately, have no power to affect the coin hobby in any meaningful way. The wrong coins continue to be made, flaws and defects are worshipped and influential, long-time numismatists are shouted down, discredited or marginalized like long-time lurkers. Funny thing is even the market does not know what the market is, and FMV sounds mysterious enough to look good on paper. The real reason why places like HA and GC--and the rest of the third-party acronyms thrive is due to a catchy saying attributed to Willie Sutton: "because that's where the money is." Devoted collectors of cute cracks and culls will discover this for themselves in due time. Oops, almost forgot... Merry Christmas to all and Good Will to All Men!

🐓 : Merry Christmas!

You will be gratified to learn I took an hour out of my busy [non-existent] schedule to re-visit HA.com, signed in, accepted their invitation to utilize their app[lication] and, voila! Everything fell into place. I still couldn't edit my WANT LIST but cheated and used their form. I got an immediate response. They said it may take up to two weeks to get a response but I expect to live longer than that plus intend to drop in to NYINC to sweep their offerings, so what have I got to lose? HA is okay if you don't allow their portfolio to overwhelm you. Out of a dozen categories, I narrowed my interest to just one: coins. Considering I never bought a coin at auction, confining my activities to eBay and bribing overseas outlets, I cannot say I have a leg to stand on re complaints. So, I thank you for urging me to take another look and I believe I do have a better understanding of Heritage. Now, if you want to insist "cookies" will improve my viewing experience, sorry, I'm not with you on that! When that curtain rises, I scroll away. [Is it just me or has anyone else noticed every conceivable organization known to civilized man has incredibly decided that $19/month is the ideal amount to ask your average person for to fund their administrative expenses? Fuhgeddaboutit!]

Gentlemen, it looks like I've been chump-jumped here. I am using a cell phone. To me, there is simply too much going on in too little space. And if I were pushing things, and enlarge what I see, I might as well be using a periscope. In fact--let me see if I can find it... here it is, a copy of "The Collector's Handbook," free, because their site would not permit me to order one. The lady felt sorry for me (a college grad that cannot navigate a web site) and just shipped on out. It's all water under the bridge now. My collection is complete. For years, I always got zero results when I inquired, in all the appropriate categories, whether any gold roosters were available. I tried it again now. Maybe I will give it another shot later tonite. I believe it is PCGS that lists auction results, but I, a mere individual, am not recognized, and the prices I see listed make no sense to me whatever. They do not align with what I have seen, what I've read, and to sellers who pay homage to the God who goes by the acronym FMV. Why are results realized by HA listed and a request has to be made to see the ones from eBay? I see in my notes where $2,280. was paid for a 1909 in MS-67, but why? The same coin sold at HA for $400. Either few Roosters are sold (very likely) or few if any have been sold recently. Some more rants: it is impossible to make a simple change to your Want List. Everything seems to get added on. Makes no difference to me because none of a dozen different entries elicited a reply much less a notification. They're always hiring; maybe they don't have the people to handle the volume for the people that like me, bottom line, don't count. The site is way to busy. [Only an NGC submission form or an IRS form's busier.] But maybe, just maybe, it's just me. There are a lot of turn-offs particularly when it comes to bidding. Tell you what, Iike that T-shirt says, "I'm not a gynecologist but I'll take a look." One last gripe, I detest passwords, user names, PINs and particularly instructions that specify they must contain X number of letters, a lower or upper case letter, a number and a punctuation mark. Refresh my memory, wasn't there a time when you can let your fingers do the shopping without being asked to produce ID, empty your pockets and take off your shoes?