Henri Charriere

The 🐓 "quandary," if it even exists, is one of my own making. @Revenant I automatically assume every member is aware I started my collection here at NGC after a gentleman from New Hampshire inherited a small collection of coins and, sharing my dislike of PayPal, offered to sell his coin to me for wampum, among other things. I took him up on his offer and it was the very first time I held an NGC encapsulated coin in my hand. At some point, it became clear to me that the "original" series was primarily available only thru PCGS, slabbed (raw was too risky in definitively finite MS grades) and only thru Europe. Moving along, Custom Registry or hybrid compilations are against my religion and to those concerned about recouping one's investment, a question: How come nobody asks the climbers of Everest, many of whom knowingly risk their lives, how they intend to recoup theirs? Sherpas, or guides cost upwards of $75,000 (and that's exclusive of airfare, equipment, food and lodging?) Anyone entering this hobby now should know going in that unless they are in it for the long haul, they are not going to strike it rich (otherwise numismatism would be inundated with collectors and investors and that is simply not the case, given enough distance. I am sure all of you have viewed my #1 ranked Rooster Roster at PCGS with a link thoughtfully provided by @Fenntucky Mike. The sad truth is though I have been awarded a plaque for "Best French Set," it is merely tentatively and provisionally the best now, but not the best possible. I had no real competition until the gentleman here at NGC I refer to as Mr. Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, for his patience, strategy, stamina and endurance debuted without fanfare at the #3 spot. Little-known incontestable fact: He presently is in possession of the highest graded 🐓 certified by any major TPGS 1912 MS-67+ There is no doubt in my mind that with the right network and cooperation he will unseat the #1 ranked member whose collection has lain dormant racking up awards for the past ten years without lifting a finger. @USAuPzlBxBob has come closest to expressing my feelings. I think I will take the advice given me under advisement, maintain my standing at both NGC & PCGS and divest myself of the rest. At age 70, my options are limited. My thanks to all who've taken the time to respond. 🐓

[Localized wear has obfuscated (obiterated) the hairline profile on the obverse and with half the clouds and E PLURIBUS gone along with an obliterated eagle head, minus the eye, on the reverse, this coin has technically disqualified itself as exempt from grading. NO SALE!] Sorry. 👎

Be nice... 5.5

[Buffalo Head's Buffalo Heads are buff!]

[Maybe that's why Johnny Carson left.] 🤔

Some things are too important to be left unsaid. I say, Let it ride. And I'm glad the threadmaster chose to do just that.

I, Quintus Arrius, have been seriously thinking about transferring my entire #1 ranked collection of 🐓 to NGC, a move that will necessarily entail time, money 💰 and the expense and risk associated with mandatory cross-grading. I have given this idea a considerable amount of thought and would like the membership here, unless expressly unlawful and illegal and against the NGC rules, regulations and guidelines, to freely share their thoughts both pro (and con, if they can summon up the courage to do so). Accordingly, speak up, or forever hold your pieces.

@Just Bob the consummate gentleman if ever there was one. After sufficient investigation taking the time and trouble to review his comments with an open mind, he will announce his findings with a neutral tone, and place the ball back in the other member's court. Every well-meaning member should emulate his fine example. 🐓 🐓 🐓 🐓 🐓.

@Coinbuf. Now that's the spirit! Welcome back!

@Revenant I believe I have seven (top pops) but all are shared honors; none have been graded higher [elsewhere]. Perhaps, that too, is true for you. It is an incredible accomplishment, well-deserved, any way you look at it. 🐓

Mighty Conder, just hearing from you gives me great pleasure! And refreshes recollections I had of jumping a freight train in New York disembarking in Elkhart [to walk the two miles to Niles to claim I had "been to MI]; the 1934 jail break of Dillinger from the Lake County jail with the aid of an original wooden Colt gun whittled from a block of wood; and the 1930 speech Carl Panzram delivered on a hastily-built gallows: "Hurry up, you Hoosier ! I could kill ten [more] men while you're fooling around!" Great state; great stuff!

I was going to re-ignite the rancor by suggesting a posthumous pardon for slick Switt, et al. But as is usually the case on long-running, seemingly resolved matters, my timing is way off. Curses!

To: The Office of the Administrator However unlikely it may be to find one, a ballpark figure being unknown to my knowledge, would NGC consider recognizing an apparently little-known and seldom seen "variety" of the 1906 French 20-franc gold rooster which instead of bearing the standard motto, "Dieu Protégé France" along its edge, bears the newer legend, "Liberte, Equalite, Fraternite," effectively straddling the line between the "original" 🐓 series, 1899-1906, and the so-called "restrikes," bearing the dates 1907-1914, [although re-distributed in 1921 and the 1950's thru the 1960's].

@USAuPzlBxBob As one of the few pseudo-numismatists (to borrow from the Great Zadok): still "tolerated" on the Forum -- me, not you -- you have presented a clear, convincing and compelling case and made a believer out of me. As one of the few people lucky enough to be bereft of a reputation to defend, I salute you. 🐓

AUSA: Sir, did you, or your designee, authorize the removal or sanction the expropriation of the coins in dispute from your facility at any time during the years in question? Director, USM: No sir. The Court: Matter adjourned for sentencing. (Bailiff, call the next case.) 🐓

Nothing in sealed holders. Engelhardt 100 oz bars were distributed in original cardboard 📦 boxes. The kilo-sized Kookaburra was fully accessible in a Mint issued air-tite capsule.

@Coinbuf I was unaware Set Registries -- if that is what you were discussing, had become so complicated. Nevertheless, enquiring minds do want to know...

Surely you must have heard or seen the broadcast. If you listen closely to FDR's Pearl Harbor speech, you will hear him say not a "day" that will live in infamy, but a "date." My wife may not have known man had been to the moon owing to where she is from (difficult as that may be to believe) but she, you and I, when asked where we were on 9/11 can state with confidence, we were there; we saw it. 😉

Not necessarily. I may be a confirmed chiffonier and rank amateur but my entire compilation was accomplished blindly. 🐓

[On the advice of counsel, I am going to recuse myself from re-litigating this matter outside the court room, and do so politely.] 🐓

[Not enough starch; lack of collar stays.] 🐓

Malicious mischief. 🐓

Idk if you are joking or not. Both the 2-1/2 cent "Panamanian pill" and massive 20 Balboa 4-oz [sterling] silver coin would likely require their own custom-made holders. The GENI 4-prong octagonal holder is standard but would have to have a modified line to accommodate the smallest and largest of coins. As I recall, the One Kilo silver bullion Australian Kookaburra coins were presented in their own original Perth Mint lucite holders. Aside: I have found, without exception, that if you take a numismatic or bullion bar to a local gold & silver exchange, they will not respect a hallmark such as Englehardt and insist on testing your precious metal using intrusive methods such as drilling and treating it as one would common "scrap" destined for melting. None will bother using standard weights and measurements to determine authenticity. Finally, none will make an offer. They will test your knowledge first asking, How much do you want for it? It goes without saying a pawnshop will take you to the cleaners.

@USAuPzlBxBob A correlation between businesses that manage IRA's and Top Collections? @GoldFinger1969 is better positioned to answer your query than I than. Apparently, I have labored under the misapprehension that IRA's were comprised of generic bullion. The one comment that I thought interesting, made only once either on this Forum, or elsewhere, suggested the majority of members were dealers -- and obviously they would have the ability to network amongst them and acquire the specific coins they desire for their own collections and Set Registries. One day, I chose to look into the breadth of a collector whose three collections I was familiar with and was astounded to find his interest in my series was but the tip of the iceberg of an empire that encompassed coins from all over the world. Could such a one be termed a full-time collector. I believe so. [A bit off-tangent but pertinent, nonetheless. Speaking 🔊 as someone who has more "ignorers" than my favorite fans have followers, I can assure you there is a dynamic afoot that is difficult to put a finger on. There are members who have boldly declared, "I am not here to make friends," or "I'd rather be right than be nice." No big deal. We all have our good days and bad days. Sometimes it becomes difficult to appreciate the complex relationships forged years before we got here, e.g., the enemy of my friend becomes my enemy by default. It gets so that you are waking a tightrope, or on eggshells. I prefer to believe we can all be out of sorts at one time or another, so I don't take things personally. Some things I can do nothing about: being from New York, collecting a foreign series of coin, allegedly being old (70) uninformed and uneducated -- and we haven't even gotten to political leanings and religious persuasion. Oh, and being wordy. Exceedingly wordy!]

[What I have noticed is the entire model used is far more modest. What is the significance of that single groove missing from the reeding directly at the bottom of the bottom coin?] 🤔