Henri Charriere

Is there perhaps a middle ground between robust and a wan, undernourished look?

I was frankly startled to find that there are now two NCICs: The National Crime Information Center which dates back to J. Edgar Hoover's tenure at the FBI, and an upstart with the same acronym which stands for The Numismatic Crime Information Center. They say necessity is the mother of invention and after reviewing the latter's site, I can definitely see why this initiative became necessary after a spate of thefts involving ground and air transportation services to and from TPGS. I trust all reputable, highly-regarded TPGS implicitly. Some dealers are so mindful of the consequences of bad reviews, they literally importune buyers to contact customer service first before posting a negative review. I am not going to worry about my comparatively affordable coins until a collector of Brasher Doubloons or Partrick's coins express their lack of confidence in a service. My collection does not fit the criteria of a risk substantial enough to justify national notice, exposure and interest.

Easier said then done. I insured a coin bought raw from an individual in Europe for its purchase price. Little did I (or the seller, apparently) know it was exceedingly rare: only one other at that grade, none higher, and obviously worth a lot more than what I paid for it. Blind beginner's luck.

And the invisible 3rd third rail: liking the post of someone ignoring you on another site... utterly ridiculous. (I wonder what the appropriate emoji for that is.)

[Well, if a grand jury would "indict a ham sandwich" if that's what you wanted them to do, as a former chief judge from New York once observed, I suppose one could sue. But would you prevail? There is a big difference between revoking a privilege and denying someone their rights. Abuse of discretion? I would be willing to give Kurt, whom I can definitely see as a litigious Type A personality, the benefit of the doubt, but then I am deeply prejudiced -- I like his gritty bluster.

Funny how a guy submits for our perusal (elsewhere on the Forum) a photograph of a "Princess," a three-dollar gold coin purportedly the rarest minted for circulation in the United States, and his question regarding its authenticity is met with a barrage of one-word epithets from a bevy of highly regarded heavyweights -- veritable experts in the field of numismatics, denouncing it outright as a fake but dare pose a simple, uncomplicated question loaded with implication, such as, "Is it possible to find an uncirculated coin in change?" and the silence evoked from this same cohort is deafening: No comment. Really? Go figure.

If I may, gentlemen... I applied, was accepted expeditiously -- and decided to try a new tack: sit back quietly, listen and observe, but refrain from making any comments. My impression of CT is it is a serious site for serious members. The Q and A there is conducted with surgical precision with zero tolerance for deviation [of the type regularly engaged in by me] which for the most part, I must admit, is tolerated within limits by the moderators here. The big difference -- make that big, BIG AND BOLD -- is here members who play bumper cars inevitably breach an invisible wall or ceiling and are guided by the application of sanctions which are intended to deter further violations. Here, a member such as myself, is given chances to recover. There, the only way to define borders is by breaching them, intentionally or not, with no trial by compurgation, a commutation of sentence, a review, notice, warning, appeal or reprieve. Is that the actions of certified skeezer, shysters or scammers? No. IMHO, it is not. No one would engage in a practice that is self-defeating. Apparently, that approach works for CoinTalk. Any suggestion that self-immolation is or might be productive, makes no sense. I was banned from CT. I believe there was a measure of justification in the verdict rendered.

I should be one to talk... Have to admit I became totally enamored of a coin from Venezuela for no particular reason that I can recall, outbid 30 to 40 other presumably serious collectors for something I did not need and no longer want. Your coin is special for a number of reasons beginning with the high grade. Your point is well taken. I apologize for the over-the-top response.

I should be one to talk... Have to admit I became totally enamored of a coin from Venezuela for no particular reason that I can recall, outbid 30 to 40 other presumably serious collectors for something I did not need and no longer want. Your coin is special for a number of reasons beginning with the high grade. Your point is well taken. I apologize for the over-the-top response.

Ring a bell? 😉

No, Sir! But I can assure you, having posted your query, the responsible party is having a hearty laugh at my expense, as we speak. 😉

Love those heavy-duty, industrial strength bear claws!

[Whether they be burnished or came fully furnished -- garnished, roasted or toasted, consider the costs involved.]

Holy cow! Money Laundering! Oops, there it is! Seriously, my federal offense was far more felonious. A single keystroke "liking" a post of a member (with considerable clout, evidently) over there, who had given me, and millions of viewers here, formal, official notice that he was henceforth and forevermore "ignoring" me. In an eye blink, I ceased to exist. I have to admit it made me feel very important. 😉

[Theoretically possible, but having immersed myself in the writings and audible musings of VKurtB, a long-time collector with an intimate working knowledge of this very subject, I am inclined to believe finding an example at the highest grades possible is highly unlikely on the circulation as opposed to numismatic line. To my knowledge, I believe VKurtB is the only member with the gumption to question why proof coins are being graded at all. And the inherent risk of experiencing the gut-wrenching agony of defeat on the roulette table of opinions cannot ever justify the sum total of all the incidental expenses involved.]

[What I see here -- which a true collector may find offensive -- is essentially a pile of faux copper featuring a few prime candidates for experiments in cleaning by the mad scientist in the laBORatory that resides in us all. Nothing more. Nothing less.] 😉

Re the '61 Roosevelt... in the world of Peter Paul Mounds, this would be characterized as "indescribably delicious." In the staid world of numismatics, it would be assigned a hyphenated number.

[Speaking strictly as a chiffonnier, I should like to think one [wo]man's trash is another man's treasure. As a matter of fact, if it were not for the Hollow Nickel Case, historically speaking, the names Gary Powers and Rudolf Ivanovich Abel probably would have never been inextricably linked with the U-2 spy plane shot down over Russia.]

[Well, there goes my rarely observed, exceedingly rare, beveled edge Walker theory right out the window.]

[I regret to say my explanation regarding the mintmark -- arguably the most implausible remarks ever posted on this Forum -- were quietly edited out without comment.] 😉

Thanks, GF!

One font used on one side; another used on the other. An absolutely gorgeous #5 and an ampersand written the way it was when it used to be the 27th letter of the alphabet. Great stuff, Just Bob!

Now that we have established that, why the double-loop in the l ? Oh, I get it. The engraver made a mistake but the manufacturer did not wish to embarrass him by emphasizing it, right? I love Token Tuesdays!

It's either Trade, Jingle, Girdle or Giraffe -- none of which make sense.

[I wish Joan "Can we talk?" Rivers, the stand-up comic and talk show host, were still alive so we could really get to the bottom of some of the anything but constructive criticism lobbed cryptically with complete abandon on this site. For example, the unsupported allegation by one observer that the coin appears to be a fake and having doubts on the shape of the two. In what respect? Elaborate! Or, again supported by no evidence, having doubts as to the authenticity or genuineness of a coin and having "strong doubts" that it "looks fake." How is that being helpful? Then, the coup de grace. Holding back nothing, a member, apparently forgetting he is addressing his remarks to a member who will be directing them at his fledgling daughter, intones: "The coin looks a bit strange to me," again without saying how or why. If you are inclined to render a diagnosis, kindly provide a summary of symptoms. When we take the time to offer a comment or observation, let us try to be a little more helpful and informative -- and mindful of the special bond nine years in the making between father and daughter. And if the matter deserves further investigation or inquiry, state the reason why. It is the least we can do for one of our own as we welcome him back into the fold after a prolonged absence.]