Henri Charriere

[I begrudgingly accept the Board Guidelines on Free Speech. On the other hand, there are accomplished members whose eccentric voice and presence deserves a special variance, exception -- or exemption. The Forum would not be the same without you. In real estate, they refer to developments that serve as an "anchor" for the neighborhood. I see you as an integral part of the Forum. I never tire of hearing of your latest discoveries. I am partial to what passes for a mix of scholarly research and critical institutional memory. I appreciate both the knowledge and opinion you imparted thus far. 😉

[Did they ever catch the guy who polished away the Denver mintmark? Very love coin. Superb photography, as usual!] 🐓

FWIW: In N.Y. State, prizes cannot be claimed anonymously. But for those who feel doubt or discomfort in the lack of total transparency, herewith my QuickPick numbers: 04-08-14-24-63 and powerball: 04. Last I heard, the pot was up to 540 mil and there will doubtless be a flurry of activity up until cut-off time tonite.

I, for one, cannot envision something as extreme as that occurring. I mean, what would be the point of tuning in if I could not be regaled by the results of your latest anthropological dig? Not to mention the continual friendly banter. Enormous loss! 😉

I believe you are correct but the entire quotation is chiseled into the granite above the massive main post office entryway in New York City, one of the few buildings left from a time when fluted columns and a grand stone stairway were in vogue. (It had since been renamed for an official, Foley?, and later re-named the Senator Daniel Moynihan Train Hall -- with postal services still available on the main floor, if memory serves.)

I believe it to be staffing issues. When a local post office failed to open up it made front-page news when it was disclosed none of the few clerks employed reported for work. The USPS has been operating in the red for a very long time. The competition from other ground and air transportation companies have not made matters any easier. IMNSHO.

There is nothing like raw and this speci-, er, uh, example, is superb. Only problem I see is it puts you in the unenviable position of having to explain away those two horizontal, parallel "scratches" thru GW's head and neck. With encapsulation: Why, those are just scuff marks on the holder! Right? 😉

@numisport Actually, I did not know that, but it makes sense. And complicating matters is NGC's European outpost and the fact that submission forms evolve and expire continually.

@Mohawk Any idea how many mints remain today? As I recall, there were quite a few at one time or another.

The pot will be well north of its present 525 mil by tomorrow nite at 10:59 p.m. @EdG_Ohio Up until recently, I would have no fears about accessing "Axis of Evil" countries (or former communist bloc nations or countries experiencing instability). But then I got married and with it came responsibility. There were only two people to my mind who have fulfilled your fanciful musings: Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State and Robert Ripley's worldwide journeys as documented by his researcher in the former's Believe it or Not book series. If I were to win I can think of no valid reason why, subsisting on less than 10K a year, I could not subsidize your trips. I am okay with what I already have. I was impressed by the two men who duplicated Marco Polo's travels based on his written account. The only luxury I cannot buy because it's not for sale, is time. Now I understand what is meant by that quote, "Youth is wasted on the young." 🐓

@Woods020 I have a confession to make: the posting of your coin has inadvertently brought to my attention a character flaw which virtually assures I would be unsuitable as a grader... There are a number of factors graders automatically take into consideration, but I do something apparently no one else does. Lady Justice ⚖️ is blindfolded as she well ought to be. I am biased, prejudiced and not at all open-minded. Proof? At some point, subconsciously, I must know who posted a coin before I can formulate an opinion! I know it is shameful to admit to shortcomings, but it's the truth. It is quite possible I love your coin, but for all the wrong reasons. 😉

Quintessential Quintus! 🐓: Enquiring minds want to know, so the answer is YES! We're on for tomorrow -- and every drawing after that until someone hits the Powerball Jackpot, takes the money, and runs 🏃‍♀️.

[Is there anything worse than trying to contribute to the "body of knowledge," only to be told you can't because your time's up, and doing so is committing the crime of "attempting to resuscitate and old thread," or otherwise a "distraction"?]

Truer words have never been spoken!

[Personally, I would have preferred to see the original, unexpurgated text. 😉 Happy New Year, Hog!]

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED... 🐓: Sounds like a drug deal gone bad! Q.A. How's that? 🐓: References by the OP to "junk" and "steering;" references by a member to "cracks" and "shots." Q.A.: The gentleman has a legitimate question. What enquiring minds -- mainly mine, want to know is the power of magnification used to more readily identify the die break details. This may be a reach but, I think 5x - 7x lenses are used for garden variety grading and exponentially more powerful enlargement enables denticle surgeons to determine whether root canal is indicated. Exhilarating thread! 😉

@Hoghead515 I actually like your coin a lot. Whether resubmission for reconsideration warrants the cost is a decision you will have to make. Either way, as a collector who's been through much of the same, I share your pain.

Note to members... The numbers picked were: 06-12-39-48-50, the Powerball was: 09. I didn't manage to get any of them. (The pot grew to $518.7M) I still have a feeling this is going to turn out to be a good year! Happy New Year to all!

@Hoghead515 Before you resort to what the military refers to as termination with extreme prejudice, which is irreversible, why not do what I did: compare the encapsulated quarters of varying higher grades with your MS 62. Give them all a good once-over, and, starting with your best, or better, work your way down to your MS 62 making a note of anything you see that might detract from a higher grade. You can sit and sulk or make this a learning experience. One of my first buys was a raw 🐓 I was convinced would be the very first ever graded MS 68. The grade I got, MS 64+, respectable though it was, never made it into my Set Registry. I was floored! But I didn't have a finer example with which to compare it with, until I did -- and then everything made sense. Try it! You've got nothing to lose.

@RWB Probably the most non-bureaucratic sounding letter, pardon memorandum, I've read since the one I got in 1968 from a General Hershey, addressed "Greetings!"

Certainly looks a lot more exotic than the 🦬.

Personally, I miss the tokens. (They'd been around since 1953 in varying sizes with each fare increase.)

@GoldFinger1969 In a trip to a Las Vegas casino many years ago, my brother reported seeing $1,000,000 in either a thick lucite or bullet-proof case, filled haphazardly to the brim with a large pile of $1,000 bills. I have no idea if it is still there as I have never heard it advertised. 🐓

The one and only time I ever saw one was at the Chase Manhattan Bank' money museum in New York City's financial district. I did at one time have the McKinley $500., and the Cleveland $1000. Incidentally, if you have them and spend them (I bought the $1000, dirt cheap) it is forwarded to the FRB and a clerk checks it off on their records. They are not returned to circulation. They are not obsolete and perfectly lawful to own and use, but their number obviously keeps shrinking. Most bear Series dates in the 1930's and I believe you, being well-versed in all things financial, would see owning one as a poor investment. Incidentally, I am not a gambler, and do not expect the drawing to produce a primary winner. To me, it's all a dollar (actually two dollars) and a dream. Nothing more. I was simply curious as to what was on other member's minds.

There are differences between 18 U.S.C. Sect. 31- U.S. [Criminal] Code, 31 CFR Sect. 82.1 C.F.R.- Code of Federal Regulations and the Federal Register - F.R. All emphasize coin melting, etc., within the United States, or the importation of such coins melted, etc., elsewhere into United States from elsewhere. Accordingly, I stand corrected.