Henri Charriere

Would you mind telling me whether you can recall seeing an appreciable difference in quality between the MS66 CAC and the MS66 you chose above?

[Just an obsevation... in any other endeavor in life a mistake, an error in judgment, something little that results in catastrophic loss of life -- the Tacoma-Narrows Bridge see-sawing before collapsing into the icy waters below (1940), the flammable doping used on the skin of the Hindenburg (1937) the Triangle Shirtwaist fire 1911) the Challenger's O-Rings pushed to the limit(1986) -- is investigated at length, fingers are pointed, cover-ups occur -- but in Numismatics they are worshipped: the die broke (so what?) the collar was too tight, how does a coin get minted on the wring-sized planchet with the wrong metallic composition? It's okay, it's just an error! So, it's worth a loss less, if anything at all right? Nope, to the contrary, mistakes or errors by inattentive employees are, at times, worth considerably more. The 1943 penny copper penny was unauthorized but is legal; the '33 double eagle was made to specification, but is illegal to own. Interesting hobby.] Time is money. Perhaps a coin club whose specialty is errors may be able to assist you.

I don't know what to make of this in light of the Mint's supposed exacting standards, but two words come to mind: blasphemous and/or sacrilegious. On strikes for public circulation this would not surprise me, but on the numismatic line, collectors are entitled to near perfection. As is well-known, I have a problem with so-called "errors." Particularly manufactured ones involving substitutions of hubs, etc. (And this extends to currency. I would not pay a cent over the face value of that "Del Monte" sticker error.) And the only doubled-die I personally recognize is the '55 Lincoln.

[Somehow a comment from you without an emoji just seems incomplete.]

Novel presentation. (And has anyone noticed how well the white background complements the gold? Kudos to NGC and their lovely holders!

Every wheatie is worth saving regardless of partial dates due to their high copper content. On the Periodic Chart chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium... appear to be closest in weight. Some elements can be ruled out as unsuitable but I am sure the mettalurgists and advisors to the Mint know this. One thing is certain... the Lincoln Cent as we have come to know it is obsolete, expensive to make, and unsustainable in its present composition. I found seven on the subways alone yesterday and predict its discontinuance is inevitable. Coinbuf's collection is magnificent.

(I can't believe this guy took the time and trouble to look up the total rooster run -- most of which were melted (as were quite a few Saints) -- but zadok, you are definitely a contender.) I have a question for die-hard Saint's fans, and numismatists, everywhere... What has it cost (and what is it continuing to cost) the government, and presumably tax-paying public, to pursue this matter which has plodded along with no conclusive resolution in sight since the days of Bonnie and Clyde? My prediction: the crime, as my learned colleague, VKurtB, has chosen to characterize it, will continue to go unsolved and my good friend zadok's ownership of a '33, with all due respect and for lack of a better expression, is a moot point.

I agree; few can make such a claim.

Much ago about nothing. Nearly half a million '33's were made. What's the point of owning something like that you can never do anything with. The very fact the author more or less meticulously pieced the story together as best be could makes for an interesting story or little else. It is fairly obvious those involved had trouble keeping their mouths shut. By comparison, when's the last time we heard a new development in the thefts from the Gardner museum? Knowing how stubborn I can be, I would have said, No comment, and carried a toothbrush to the Lewisburg pen. But that would not have solved my problem or anyone else's. An interesting story nonetheless. Can anyone think of a single fact militating against release of a gold coin today, some nearly 90 years after the deaths of all principals? No wonder Dillinger had free reign over the midwest; our Federal agents were chasing bootleggers and coins.

You will be delighted to know that I have renewed my membership and am seriously considering compiling a #1 ranked French 20-franc gold rooster collection on the Set Registry (no doubt to the dismay of those now holding the top three spots.) I may even start a thread emphasizing the top ten reasons why I love NGC. Thank you, NGC!

To echo a remark I have heard many times before, it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. (That goes for the gold electro plated quarters you may have seen or heard of.)

[Edited for clarity]

I don't believe I have ever seen a private Hoard like this. My best advice to you is organize the inventory with the help of your Red Book -- that's how many of us old-timers started, and familiarize with the grading terms used in the hobby. And above all else, proceed slowly. Make inquiries, seek advice -- don't be too quick to commit to a deal that sounds like a lot of money until you are confident you know what you have and its approximate worth. It is very possible that buried in the inventory are a few coins deserving of special attention. All of your pre-1964 silver coins including those halves with the walking lady and Franklin's bust, as well as your "war-time" nickels, easy to spot with the darkened shoulders, irrespective of wear are worth many more times than face value. It may not have made much of an impression on you growing up, but your father and grandfather left you something valuable -- and who knows, maybe even a surprise. I wish you all the best and don't be afraid to consult this site and cyberland for further advice and guidance.

[I never thought I would see the day a member, presumably a seasoned veteran who vows repeatedly he will never be a slave to a brand, launch a rocket grenade launcher at our beloved resident scholar, RWB. In fact, it smacks of anti-Americanism. Are not each of us entitled to express our opinions freely? And what points do you seek to score with your unauthorized disclosures of alleged activities elsewhere? "He that is sin among you, let him first cast a stone..."

I visited the Strand Book Store as early as 1975 and worked there briefly in the 1980's and 1990's. [I believe they had to let go of 70% of their employees in the wake of the pandemic] and in all those years, this largest used book store in New York City boasting 18 miles of books had never had a section devoted exclusively to coins or stamps. If I may, I would suggest an institution that caters to researchers and one such place is the New York Public Library which over a hundred years ago built a mammoth building to accommodate the Astor, Lennox and Tilden trust under one roof. I was going to suggest the ANA or Library of Congress but am unfamiliar with their holdings or operations. Any First Edition, limited edition or out-of-date book, hard-covered with dust jacket intact, would be particularly valuable.

I caught the article, read it straight through, enjoyed every minute of it... then slammed into the news item about Citibank losing $500 billion on a wire transfer and a federal judge's response to their lawsuit for recovery. Basically, too bad.

My very first French 20-franc gold rooster! [Never presented for viewing; certified now, but bought sight unseen; never made a part of my Set Registry here or anywhere else; Not for Sale whether spot gold hits 3, 4, or 5,000 USD. [Edit: assigned a grade of MS-64+ by PCGS].

And what do you suggest for a 3.7 cm. ascending aortal anueurism. I told a P.A. I couldn't wait for it to relax and go away. She stopped, wheeled around and eyes widened said, "who told you it was going to go away? I don't worry about me. My only concern is my wife.

If you were one of the 33 bidders on eBay I outbid on this [then raw] Venezuelan 1904 20-franc gold Bolivar two years ago, feel free to PM me. It was PCGS-graded AU-58.

Either way, they will require separate submission forms.

I took the liberty of diving into the shark-infested, murky waters of eBay minutes ago and while I did not find a 1971-s matching your description, I was stunned to discover entire 5-coin sets issued by the Mint in original blue quality government packaging were on sale now some 50 years later at $5.99, $6.00, $8.25, $12.85, $19.89 on up to $39.95, along with descriptors like "excellent condition" or "gem" along with "seller does not accept returns" as well as the boilerplate forms of payment accepted. It seems to me that you should arrange to have the most detailed, technologically advanced photos of the coin taken, slap a carefully worded description on it with a sale price of 499.99/OBO and leave the matter of grade for the buyer to decide. You don't want to emphasize the negative, misrepresent or mislead. So you let the pictures do the speaking for you. The rest is up to you. I have considered the points raised by each of the commentators above but feel the positives outweigh the negatives. Many of us who've ordered products directly from the mint discovered previously unseen "carbon" spots in later years. Some of us have gotten so accustomed to seeing them that we accept them as just being another phenomenon in the natural order of things. All things considered it is a very lovely [proof] coin and I, too, would caution against tampering with it.

Thanks much. You are never too old to learn.

Not for nothing but the exuberance for your coin as expressed by the above member is truly noteworthy as he has the eye and hands-on experience with the finest examples this series has to offer. [I have never seen photos taken under such pressure with only minutes left on a charge. Nice work!]