Henri Charriere

Re 30x loupe... finally, someone who understands why I also use one and states his reason why. I don't know what this means, but there is definitely a shadow or indication of the residual presence of a not quite thorough die alteration. I know of no collector who would instinctively glance to the bottom of a 1910. My friend, you are no longer new to the hobby! Welcome to the Forum!

From a recently released press release... PCGS Reclassifies Early American Fugio Cent as Regular-Issue Federal Coin (and will list them under the Topic heading above). Comments?

Their saving grace is they are clearly engraved with the elusive author's name: COPY. 😉

"Prime focal area," hmm. So going back to Exhibit A, the '44-s, had half the date been obliterated instead of half the LIBERTY, would you have the confidence to march into your local coin emporium and insist: "Damage, what damage? That's merely die erosion. No damage at all, whatsoever!" Anybody remember that 600-lb. armed security guard they had at Stack's back in the late 1960's? Gus, I think his name was? He'd pick you up, and throw you clear over to Carnegie Hall's doorstep on the south side of West 57th Street!

That's not erosion of the coin, that's damage to the die. Really? And at what point does erosion supersede damage? Edit: I believe the graders in Europe a lot more common-sensical.

I know. I let my fingers do the walking and they don't miss a thing. For reasons that elude me, the graders all agreed to let it slide. (We may have to wait until one of them retires and discloses all the secrets in a book, entitled: Confessions of a Coin Grader.)

I have two Roosters, both a year apart, graded MS63 and MS64. In my heart, I just don't see it. The '63 should be a '64, and vice versa. My only reason for never returning for an exchange is my fear the gods of grading will be offended and stick it to me with something worse. And on the international level, that entails too much risk.

The only thing I have to say is I hope they caught the guy who bulldozed those letters off LIBERTY on the '44-s' obverse. Shameful.

Currency... the three notes, very likely EPQ, I attempted to post, from North Korea, Iran and Iraq, Moderation took down immediately. I then decided there was no point in posting my notes from Somalia, Turkey, Zimbabwe, etc. Some of the nicer notes I've had, silver certificates, not really worth much, even in the late 1960's, I took down to N.Y. Assay Office on Wall Street and traded them in for a clear plastic bag of silver pellets secured with a tag indicating source, weight and purity. I had a 20-peso note from pre-Castro Cuba and gave it to a local bodega owner who opened my envelope, and flooded with memories as a child, sat down and stared at it wordlessly. He had done me a favor years prior and I went back to him with it to offer my thanks. I've had both the Cleveland $1,000 bill and an EPQ McKinley $500, encased in Lucite but was relentless criticized by my friends who were convinced they would never appreciate in value. I am way too old to acquire the bills I always wanted: a $20 gold note, rendered in orange with Washington in the portrait oval, the Watermelon note, and, most of all, the Educational series. All three denominations. In all fairness, the majority of notes I set aside were unusually old to still be in circulation, the teens, 1920's and 1930's but they're long gone now. Thanks for the memories, guys!

🐓 : This has been going on for nearly two years. The silence 🔕 is deafening. Q.A.: What would you say? 🐓: What can I say? I'm Ratzie; not Ritzie like Banksy. With me, what you see, is what you get!... Pro-ve-nancy?... No.... Pro-ve-NAHN-see?... No, never heard o' either of 'em... Come to think of it, maybe I should switch gears ⚙️ and go Roman: How's RatzieXXXIII sound? Or should I shelve that for 2033? Decisions... decisions... 🤔

Laugh all you want! Truth is, the "Lion" coin club, got it right: It is a Bison, and a mighty fine one at that! 😀

I am familiar with Title 18 of the U.S.C., but this is the first instance this particular section was brought to my attention. Interesting!

Ladies, simmer down! One thing for sure, I will never be accorded the grant of immunity @RWB enjoys. I am green with envy. [No way. No way, Jose] 🐓

[@RWB I just received a notification that your comment, dated yesterday, was posted 20 minutes ago. That's impossible! In New York City it's only an hour and fifteen minutes to midnite, and Tuesday, January 11th. Where are you posting from? [Rhetorical rant; no reply needed] I am living proof that the Twilight Zone exists!

One thing I can say without reservation: You are definitely NOT a New Yorker. And that is the ultimate compliment I can pay you! 😉

Better pictures? I cannot imagine how. With an opposable thumb and forefinger, I can see E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G ! Probably the best quarter I've ever seen!

It's okay. It is not easy passing judgment on another member's coin. Kudos to Hog for being an honorable, gracious and thoughtfully accommodating gentleman!

@Woods020

To Messrs. @Mohawk et @Greenstang... I have just recited your comments to my wife and she heatedly insisted, mind you, in French-accented English, that I retract my [intemperate] comment and apologize. I do! I do! I am totally undeserving of your unconditional adulation. 😉

Legitimate inquiry... I don't know the formal numismatic term used to describe it, but there appears to be a suggestion of asbestosis on the obverse: a light 🤔 white dusting of "snow" bracketing the silhouette and legends, IGWT, LIBERTY, and a comet transiting thru the date, SW to NE, none of which is evident on the reverse. Great coin, 👍 Hog! Carry on, 🚹 gentlemen.

Etsy, eBay, caveat emptor!

🐓: Oh No, you di'int! Q.A. Oh yes, I did. I Googled it, and here's what I found... There is no unanimity on pronunciation. I like "eh, si," ("t" is silent) but it means different things in different languages. And there is no consensus on what those letters stand for. I like Expanded Truncated Structural Y, but Electronic Transmission System sounds much better. And when I read the stats on traffic and revenues generated on the site, I nearly fell out of my chair. I never did get those centennial Morgans but it wasn't etsy I ordered from. It was its cousin, eBay. Just lovely...

I believe dimensions, weight, etc., have to be taken into consideration. I have an 1857 Flying Eagle, an exact copy, w/o the "COPY," probably because it was 3" in diameter, and an antiqued, brass replica. I have a gorgeous St. Gaudens... 😍 ... but it's rendered in a 2-oz. .999 silver planchet. Not legal tender, but not stamped "COPY".

Thank you, Mark! You're making old Quintus look mighty good right about now. 👍

Hey Hog! So I was right, huh? Almost Pregnant!