Henri Charriere

The thing that kills me is by simply investigating that seller, my inbox continues to fill up with eBay scamsters with come-ons -- and I never even got a chance to place a bid! It was already 3x melt w/postage, and I guess the seller was obligated to wait out the full bidding period. Very sorry state of affairs.

It's taken me 17 years to solve this enduring mystery -- and an extra 90 days to summon the nerve to present my findings here to the numismatic community. No one denies that PF-70 and MS-70 examples exist and are accepted by the industry, dealers, auction houses and collectors alike. Is there any dispute as to the utility of the grade MS-69? No, none at all. I can personally attest to the fact that a coin graded MS-67 has a FMV twice that of an MS-66. So grades, particularly in the upper tiers, are both worthy and noteworthy. But what of the AU-59? It is a concept, the mere contemplation of which, subjects the heretic to the whims of the boogeyman. Have you, dear reader, ever laid your eyes upon one? What about that video wherein a gentleman formally unveils a bucket, double canvas bagged with 1964 90% silver half dollars? So improperly was its contents mishandled with unsheathed human hands that it prompted one viewer to submit a comment addressing that astounding act of "public" desecration. Beyond that, however, something else of great significance occurred: every coin which had come into contact in the manner heretofore described, lost its alleged Mint State status (which prominent members have vociferously denied it had ever enjoyed to begin with right here on this Forum.) Having dropped ten (10) notches, I submit to you that these formerly Mint State coins, FMV aside, are at most, nothing more than AU-59's. Anyone beg to differ?

@Fenntucky Mike I never knew the tragic event at Chernobyl was commemorated. Thanks for the narrative and fine photos!

I respect your beliefs, but in no particular order I would like to hear a few other members weigh in on this, including, but in no particular order, the following as they wish: @DWLange, @RWB, @VKurtB, @Just Bob & @Coinbuf.

Smart move!

Funny thing is I was waiting for an opportune moment to place a bid. And by the time that came, it was too late. It was over.

As John "Johnnie Dio" DioGuardi was quoted as saying while cooking a steak in the Lewisburg pen, after asking a fellow prisoner, "How do you like yours done?" The disembodied voice responded, "Mediun rare," to which Johnnie, responded: "Ah, an Aristocrat!" I am going to hold judgment until I've received mine in hand and give it a quick once over which should take no more than a minute. And if the secretive Great Zadok who wisely guards his privacy zealously is interested in viewing an authentic replica vs what amounts to the Real Deal is interested, I will forward the one he "prefers" to him and the other to the Youngest Numismatist on record at NGC, with a holiday greeting straight out of the mouth of Tony Montana in Scarface: "My gitft to you." On the street, this thoughtful gesture is known as reciprocation. Late breaking upshot... Not content to leave matters be, I am now being inundated with offers by eBay, sellers, et al. assuing me there are many more offers where that came from to presumably cement my status as King of the Silver Dollar Suckers."

[Note to the numismatists for whom Truth in Advertising still has meaning... if you intend to collect the finest U.S. one cent pieces compiled anywhere on this planet, do not succumb to expediency and call them a contiuation of the copper cents series. They are not. The transition period is interesting, but superfluous. Stick to your slingshots and state the matter as it is: Any Lincoln Cent produced over the past 40 years or so contains 97.5% zinc [Zn] with a barely perceptible finishing school look of 97.5% Barbizon copper [Cu]. To refer to these coins as anything other than what they really are is a disservice to numismatists and coin collectors alike. 🐓

@EdG_Ohio You have a comparatively small old gold coin with a fairly respectable high grade as assigned by a top TPGS. So far, so good. Now your only concern is predicting the future performance of precious metals markets. It's been said gold, subject to fluctuations, has held its value throughout history. You've done just about all you can in terms of prolonging preservation so all you can do now is wait. No one can predict the future -- and I do not know how many other such coins have survived in such condition or whether what you have is rare -- but these are questions your progeny will have to contend with. You have done all you can with what you've got so be sure to safeguard it as you would any other valuable.

"First Day of Issue" is self-explanatory. But at what point does a "First Srike" become a second one or is that where First Day of Issue comes in? Alternately, is there a limit as to how many "First Srikes" can be so designated? Enquiring minds, newbies and oldies alike, want to know.

Nor $25., $30., $35., $40, $45., or even $50! Now that the "winner" has won, what exactly does he have? And let's not forget that $4.95 postage adding insult to injury to the winning $52. which was clearly "bet" to separate all the losers from the serious contenders. Kudos to the OP, @RWB who first brought this item to our attention and, in so doing, encouraged us to abandon the pack mentality and consider the facts. If you listen closely enough you can hear the guffaws of VKurtB to which this is simply history repeating itself: ".... told you so!" The only sad [and dangerous] part of this episode will be the soon-to-be-owner's desperate attempts to recoup his "investment" to which the seller ominously provided an eta of 9/11. Funny how never having placed a bid, I became an instant winner, and never even knew it.🏆

Final Note: Due to time zone differences, $52. was the successful bid. Seven different bidders placed 17 bids -- and in an eyeblink, it was over. I anticipated a last minute flurry of bids but according to the progression provided, all bidding stopped two days ago when someone decided to break away from the pack and he in turn was outbid by someone who was determined to have the last word on the matter. To think, this "junk silver" with no special attributes according to comments volunteered on this thread has cost the "winner" 3x melt value! Where is truth-in-advertising? 🤔

Note: As of 10 p.m. E.D.T., Friday, September 3, 2021, with only hours remaining, the bid is an astounding $52. + postage. If you were already outbid, and feel you missed out on something truly special, read it and weep. I can't wait to see the winning bid. 🐓

The Great Zadok has spoken!

No, still lurking about. And it is always a pleasure hearing from you!

I am aware of no woman, borne by a woman, becoming a man except Chad (nee Chastity) Bono,

[And at 10x magnification, your formerly flawless 70 becomes a 69. Nice.]

I've always wondered whether anyone would be able to figure that out. I do not even know if he is aware his name and accomplishments have permeated the internet. Officially, I am through buying. Never had relatives, my background is shrouded in an impenetrable historical mist, both my parents are deceased, I had no trouble predicting either sibling would marry.. In short, NGC is my extended family as I do not have heirs. My wife? I asked her what's at the North Pole. She said: I don't know. I asked her if there was a sign there, reading North Pole. She guessed, yes. I asked her if anyone had had seen it. She said, yes, but had no idea why such a sign may have put it there, why, or who might see it. She never knew man had been to the moon years ago. She only had two questions: "How did they get there?" and "what did they see?" Attn: Moderators... forgive me. I love my wife!

What got my goat was including EF with FDC. The other three did not help matters any. Think about it. Only one coin, a chart of equivalencies, and five widely disparate grades making a mockery of a coin with questionable attributes. I am really feeling sorry for our brethren who fell for this one...

Great Zadok, it's too bad I am old. If I were many years younger I would be prepared to make you a very attractive offer for your most unusual piece with rarely seen violet toning. And, my, my, my, what lovely denticles! The sun's not up and you've already brightened up my day. You're a good sport!

Empty tables, eh? Seems like a way to winnow down the 🐓 roost with seldom seen specimens I've superseded with upgrades. True, they're foreign, but my needs require no more than a checkerboard square. What do you think space like that would cost me?

For those of you just tuning in, with less than 48 hours left, 5 bidders bid a 1923 Peace Dollar up to $28.10 from an initial $9.99 with 13 bids, on a site replete with red flags and photos of which our own @RWBaccurately described as immunized against magnification due to out-of-focus fuzziness. I had wanted to acquire this piece Just Bob justly dismissed as junk silver but with nearly two days left, the ultimate cost already exceeds $33., with postage. And unknown to those who understandably saw little point in investigating the matter further, the seller's reputation is quite good and has a vast inventory of similar items. To echo Jimmy "the Gent" Burke (Robert DeNiro) in "Goodfellas," "What's this world coming to?" [before Tommy shot Spyder in his foot.] 🐓

Like it or not, the U.S. cent is kaput. What I would like to know is when Crane linen yields to polymer -- it's only a matter of when, not if -- what would be a cost-effective appropriate substitute for the present metals being used in coinage, either here or abroad. And while I am on it, why is it with microprinting, security threads and watermarks, no one has been able to design and produce a $100. bill that is universally accepted by everyone everywhere?

Two shocking revelations: @VKurtB finally met a toned coined coin he likes, and no on recorded a single comment about the most outrageously rendered "9" I have ever seen in my life.