Henri Charriere

It was also an episode of in the old The Twilight Zone... 🐓

The bottom one has my 🐓 crowing.

You're welcome, and always will be.

I lack standing to be in your presence, much less argue with you so, with your indulgence, I shall ask you a single question: What have they found "out there," after spending millions, billions and now trillions of dollars, that has improved the quality of your life -- or anyone else's for that matter?

Based on another thread, I thought I would try my hand at pulling an Annie Oakley with my trusty sling shot and a few ball bearings. If you PM me, I would be more than happy to compensate you with a bi-centennial Ike dollar for your trouble. You may even retain evidence of the crime if you wish. 😉

[My Cousin Vinny, the irrepressible VKurtB was right. Proper lighting is an art. Curses! Foiled again.]

[It's too bad the Chinese lady who lives across the hall from me rarely ventures outside and does not open her doors to people she isn't expecting or I'd have your answer within minutes. Sorry ]

[Fleeting thought... since when is a rubber band an appropriate restraint to be used in keeping formerly sonically sealed encapsulations together?]

@RWB Man was not created to live in an atmosphere devoid of life, gravity and air. (If it were up to me, I would pull the rug out from under the Space Force and cut the space exploration budget, NASA, et al. to $0.00). It is interesting but prohibitively expensive.

Flash forward to the future... three well-known multi-billionnaires launch themselves briefly into space to full-fill life-long dreams. It is not clear to me what, if anything, they discovered beyond the fact that it could be done. I believe we have all been brought up to pursue frivolous pursuits at the expense of serious research.

My only question is why anyone would feel redundancy, using a primitive method, was required in a clear-cut case of a political assassination?

[Too busy processing monster boxes 📦]

Must have had the winning bid on a gold 🐓.

Simple, straightforward question. Complicated answer. (Yes, even years later.) If you are sick and go to the doctor, your symptoms will be noted and a diagnosis will issue. Not so, coins. Every TPGS has its own agenda and "opinion," or advice. The only thing you can rely on is anecdotal evidence. Some report positive experiences; others do not. The truth is you are on your own. You will make mistakes -- we all do, some catastrophic. With experience, information and self-education, you will be better positioned to make wiser choices.

My feeling is the grade assigned to a World coin must conform to the Grading Scale or Standard used by NGC's European office as accepted and adopted by that country. "SP" means different things in different countries. If your curiosity gets the better of you, I believe directing your simple inquiry for clarification is best directed to the source: NGC, the third-party grader in Europe who likely encapsulated your high-grade coin. Good luck!

Respectfully, [waning] interest and demand.

@Mr_Spud Wait'll VKurt B gets a load of this! Same coin, two different sources of light, two radically different results!

They counterfeit mostly their own coins for sale abroad. I believe the North Koreans with their $100 USD "Super Notes" of incomparably superior quality are a far more substantial threat. But hacking ransomware makes everything else seem tame.

Something's off here... China has 4 TIMES the population the U.S. has! (Ever see that old Ripley's Believe It Or Not drawing of Chinese marching past a point five abreast with the caption that if they were all to march forever, you would never see the end of them?) And what about all that free labor they've got? Prisoners, Uyghurs, Falun Gong, labor camp internees? China is an emerging power. Have you seen that 99.999 kilogram gold bar they produced with a purity of 99.999%? They're serious contenders -- and there is no telling what they are or may be capable of. Now what was it you were saying about the 1933 Saints...

It is not clear exactly what was submitted and in what quantity but your reasoning is sound.

I wasn't aware this was a problem, but I definitely see where it would be for someone who diversifies. For me it entails relying completely on TPGS' expert "opinions." That back-fired spectacularly when a 1909 NGC MS-67 crossed uneventfully in California, but a 1910 NGC MS-67 did not. I re-examined all my 67's and quickly realized the 1910 was chock full of chatter. One would think, having been fully reimbursed, I would let sleeping dogs lie. But the fact it was quickly returned to stock on-line, continues to grate at me. Unfortunately, there is no one with the authority to demand a coin be returned for regrading. @MarkFeld's referral to the Heritage database is your soundest option.

Easy enough for you to say, Revenant! Now try doing it on a cellphone.📱 The broke bullion boys [bbb] are our "brothers." Some of the foregoing comments are insensitive and unhelpful even if made in jest. I vaguely recall reading somewhere that authorized dealers -- plentiful in New York City, may be in short supply where the bbb are from -- but they would be pleased to assist you in this regard. The membership, must acknowledge and accept that not everyone is equipped to negotiate the twists and turns submission forms present. I know several people who are eligible for government entitlements, but are helpless due to various developmental disabilities and compromised cognitive functions. They are also too embarrassed to admit their deficiencies and ask for outside help. I gather you boys have already submitted your submission. All you can do now is further acquaint yourself with the standard one-size-fits-all on-line forms and await the results. It would seem to me -- and I've addressed this matter before -- the architect of this masterpiece may want to reconsider providing a short list of forms to be used, labeled Form A, Form B, etc. which would mimic the simple U.S. Internal Revenue Service's 1040EZ format for members with straight, uncomplicated submissions. I wish the bbb all the best! 🐓

A Twenty Two-Hundred Twelve Red Book is most assuredly the rarest volume in the entire series! As Archie would say to Edith: "You done good, [r23!] You done good!"

I could be totally wrong on this but all the [phographs] I have ever seen suggest these piedforts are double the thickness of smaller coins, usually no larger than a U.S nickel. I am not aware of larger piedforts the size of U.S. halves or dollars. Engravers may work on larger pieces but these are not "coins" and to my knowledge are never referred to as such. Occasionally, you will see the term "essai" used with piedfort which suggests a proposed design for a new contemplated series. I do not believe a piedfort, which commonly precedes a series will be found in the middle of one.

Fair enough; on balance I believe it to be unfair to ascribe broad generalizations to others. Your point is well-taken. Sorry 'bout that.