Henri Charriere

Most states use one or the other; the latest is "person of interest."

I don't know from smoo, and neither does Google. Now schmoe, I know which I do not find objectionable in the least. It is always a pleasure to hear from you as you rarely speak up. 🐓

They all crossed the Atlantic using global aerial arcs before their time. Besides, Lindbergh had nobody to depend on but himself including time for sporadic sleep. Political leanings, notwithstanding, the young aviator deserves recognition beyond being reimbursed for gas money and having to contend with losing his son afterwards. [Endnote: Wikipedia via Google] "In April 1913, the London newspaper The Daily Mail offered a price of Pds 10,000 to the aviator who shall first cross the Atlantic in an aeroplane in flight from any point in the United Statrs of America, Canada or Newfoundland and any point in Great Britain or Ireland" in 72 continuous hours." @GoldFinger1969... the idea of transatlantic flight came about with the advent of the hot air balloon.... The first successful transatlantic flight in a balloon was the Double Eagle Ii from Presque Isle, Maine to Miserey near Paris in 1978.]

Why, because the low numbered ones are usually reserved for VIP's. Maybe this was a case of a poet, who didn't know it. Poetic justice is sometimes unpredictable and subtle as karma. Jerry Rubin wrote, Do It!. Here's a guy, in cahoots with whomever, who Did It! -- and more importantly, got away with it! Question now is where are all the guys now who said it couldn't be done?

Thanks to @Lem E for sharing. The fields are clear; the devices/legends clear and the denticles and stars well-defined.

Unfortunately, you're right. That is why I believe TPGS now grade them.

[I don't know if a centennial coin was struck marking the observace of the first ever east-west flight across the Atantic by the R[igid]-34 airship as well as the first-ever west-east return flight a week later, a largely forgotten chaper in British aviation history and historic events which took place in July 1919 with 66 passengers and crew. Translation: Lindbergh was not the first. Charles Lindberg flew a custom-built, single-engine, single seat, high-wing monoplane, christened the "Spirit of St.Louis from Mineola, Long Island, New York to Le Bourget Air Field some nine years later. It took him roughly 33.5 hours to cover 3,600 miles with rudimentary instruments. (The plane was shipped back.) My primary reason for this recapitulation is to recall an astounding feat of aviation and secondly to politely suggest this nearly forgetten milestone is but five years off with sufficient time to come up with a design for an appropriate commemorative collectors will approve of. (I know My Cousin Vinny will approve because he can't seem to get enough of centenaries and multiples thereof.)] 😉

[I was going to suggest a mere oversight, but who's going to listen to a chiffonier, authenticated and certified by a prolific scholar? No one.] 🐓

I don't know the first thing about any "deep state part" of the U.S.S.S., but I would be willing to go so far as to say its mission has changed after it became a part of the Department of Homeland Security. [For members who are sticklers for irrefutable scientific proof, I refer you their association of retired S.S. agents, and leave it at that.]

That's where I'm going to go. There might be an MS-68 Rooster or two lying around. Ya never now. Word to @tigerbait... I believe all PROOFS pretty much look alike but it's the date of the coin you seek that is really important. IMHO.

And if I may be so bold as to ask, what is or are the authoritative sources upon which you so cavalierly apply in support of your belief? Forget True-blue-view, Heritage, and Great Collections? What about "our own" tried and true @Buffalo Head or does he not qualify for a mention? If I had my druthers, he'd be the man for the job. (It's not even dawnin' in the mawnin' and I'm spoilin' for a fight!. Hope y'all have your spurs handy?)😉

Vraiment? [Truly?] I do know, however, that someone -- not necessarily a collector, had no idea what they had, sold it for a pittance to a collector who did, who was familiar with the concept of certification, submitted it to PCGS and recently had it cross-graded to NGC without placing it in either Set Registry. All I know is PCGS was the first to get them, and instead of showcasing them there, swiftly cross-graded them where, once again they languish in anonymity. For all I know, they may have been spirited outside the country. But it is time-consuming to check a dozen possible sites here and abroad. Hence the appeal for more eyes on the ground -- including relevant auction houses. If both have been certified, we have some consensus of opinion. Now all I need to know is who's got 'em, where are they, and what's it going to take to get them in my hands, with, or without the assistance of an expeditor or bloodhound. Someone somewhere knows something and I aim to find out who it is before the year is out.

[Note: I've no objection to having this post, and potential thread moved to the thread devoted to thr "French 20-franc gold rooster" at the Administrator's discretion.] It has just come to my attention that the two (2) recently authenticated and certified French 20-franc gold roosters, both adjudged to be of MS-68 character, have "defected" to the NGC Census. By whom, or why, I do not now. Accordingly, I am issuing an "ALL POINTS BULLETIN," AND A "BE ON THE LOOKOUT" FOR BOTH AN NGC MS-68 AND 1908 and 1912 COINS (certification numbers unknown to me.) If you, or someone you know, knows anything about the whereabouts of these two coins, kindly drop me a line, as soon as practicable. (I do not have a manufacturer's suggested retail price [MSRP]. I will leave that determination to be made by the pop.1/0, Fair Market Value gods to engage in physical combat over. Quotable quote; "As a mere undistinguished chiffonier, I am nothing. With an MS-68 GOLD Rooster, I am a somebody. I am a contender. I may well relinquish my titles of Current and Greatest Of All Time" Q.A.

I do not know the first thing about Mint operations -- or even whether your question is rhetorical, but it is my guess, where precious metals or jewelry are involved, employees are required to don form-fitting one piece coveralls minus pockets and hemmed trousers but I suspect only written records, official mint employee manuals, the offspring of those with first-hand knowledge and institutional memory, tour guides if such were or are employed -- and @RWB(or his hairdresser) would know for sure. 😉

The first time I saw a gold shield on a silver coin, I was shocked. In fact, at least on World Gold., I thought they were mandatory and paid for them accordingly. I appreciate the clarification.

Handling, i.e. mishandling a true numismatic treasure is not the same as carrying and showing around a current piece. To be fair, proper handling has been so ingrained in me over the years that I cannot bring myself to treat newer, larger, centennial coins as one would an older one.

That explains why some of my coins lack them. They were already slabbed when I got them and I simply added them to my loose-leaf album. But you raise an interesting question: if an enslaved coin is cracked out, and sent in raw, and PCGS checks their photo collection archives, however cumbersome, on a hunch and a retired NSA employee working part-time discovers beyond a reasonable doubt that Quintus Arrius -- already a repeat offender with an internal Red Notice has evidently re-submitted a coin authenticated, certified and photographed in the past -- what then? Of greater importance to me (since my religious beliefs prohibit willful decapsulations) am I correct in assuming that that True-View photography necessitates such action? One thing for sure: if the #3 ranked rising star at the NGC Set Registry for Roosters snags one of two known MS-68 graded coins known to be in existence, I am not going to rain on his parade. There is nothing worse than spending time and money on a supposedly sure thing, only to be upset by an upstart. Bad enough I dashed PCGS Kirk's dreams of fame and fortune (and award/plaque) by an infinitesimal number of points that will require a considerable effort on his part to overcome. In the meantime, I will be monitoring the Rooster threads for disturbing updates and if they come up with a vaccination to discourage such window shopping I will join @Alex in PA. and his pals in Alaska to show me the ropes in ice-fishing, if my boss, the wife, lets me. 🐓

I am sorry to hear that.

@Coinbuf With all due respect, if True-Views pass muster with @VKurtB I may be inclined to accommodate @Cat Bath's request -- but there are still other thorny questions to consider, particularly when one considers total, complete surrender of items that are irreplaceable, insured or not.

If any person is truly knowledgeable in all the myriad nuances of gold, from mining to investing, that person would probably be you.

I can't wait.

Looks like my wife and I will be in it for the long haul. I am ashamed to say that though I will be there to view the site in its totality, my driving ambition is totally selfish.

Having never been to a coin show in my life and choosing to go the one in New York City in January 2022 which I understand emphasizes world coinage, I will be happy to re-visit your question with my own impressions. 🐓

but inoffensive... There is a 20-year old "HERMAN" cartoon which features two men sitting opposite each other in a prison visiting room, bars on a nearby window indicating where the interview is taking place. The attorney asks two single, simple, self-explanatory questions: "So you left school in1937 and became a bank robber" What happened after that?" The number stamped on the back of the prisoner's shirt is 1239... "The first person imprisoned at Auschwitz on June 14, 1940.... "Numbers were tattooed on prisoners' arms in the order of their arrival. The first 30 numbers were given to German criminal prisoners who would serve as camp guards. My Ryniak's number was 31. [He died in 2004 at age 88.] I have very strong opinions on this seemingly minor matter as I am sure older members do. If certification numbers, along with other numbers signifying coin series, etc., can extend to and exceed a dozen numbers, there is no reason why members cannot be similarly accommodated. The first federal inmate admitted assigned and admitted to the Administrative Maximum (ADX) (supermax) in Florence, Coloado with a life sentence, and subsequently released, was assigned Re. No. 00001-000, a number which remains if he violates release conditions but changes only if re is re-committed a new offense. Numbers matter. In many cases they allow others a sneak-preview of exactly to whom they are directing their remarks and whether appropriate deferential treatment is called for. My best advice to all newcomers is familiarize with the Guidelines governing the Chat Board and allow yourself ample time before speaking up. 🐓

Liquids? That's not a hunch; that's a multi-count indictment in the offing!