Henri Charriere

On 2/4/2021 at 2:50 PM, VKurtB said:

All privately held metal will re-enter the market, whether put there by the purchaser or his heirs, or theirs. The idea that any durable good “disappears” or “goes permanently “off the market” is insane. We are the ephemeral bit, not the metal. 

[It is a comfort to know every shipwreck will be located and its payload raised, and that every hoard of coins will be found.  The so-called Treasure of the Sierra Madre, I'm not so sure about, but then I only saw the movie version (1948) with Bogart and Huston.]

On 2/6/2021 at 9:37 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

It's usually the case that when something is "broken up" the individual pieces are worth more than the whole.

True in corporate M&A.....true in breaking up collections of tangible assets.

[Notably auto parts.]

[Everyone touts the power of FMV -- until FFF, the Fickle Finger of Fate, shows up... then all bets are off.]

If these have minimal value they'd be good candidates for that hobo line of artistry. 😉

On 12/1/2020 at 4:39 AM, Modwriter said:

Sestercenntennial? You have got to be kidding me.

If Albany, New York can be honored with a commemorative half-dollar on the occasion of its 250th anniversary (1936) would it really be asking too much to respond in kind with a special line of classic coin designs to mark the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the United States (2026)? Seems to be a lot of resistance to this by the collector community but I am not sure exactly why. Do you feel the coins [and currency] currently in circulation are the very best we can do? There's something missing and it's not just denticles.

On 2/8/2021 at 2:01 PM, ldhall said:

Thanx so much , I will take your advice. The seller actually said that NGC removes 70's before certifying ? Therefore there are only 69's and 68's at best ? Thanx again

[Probably the most disheartening thing I've read this year.]

On 1/28/2021 at 10:25 AM, Edward Plato said:

I am getting off point here,...

[It's your thread, friend.  You are free to do with it what you wish.  Besides, some tangential off-thread remarks inadvertently evoke rich veins of little-known historical facts. How many collectors can accurately describe exactly what distinguishes a Choice or Gem from a Brilliant Uncirculated coin? Sheldonization was inevitable.]

Coin Talk a scam?  I don't believe so but something funny happened on the way to that Forum.  I followed through on my threat to join, and after lurking about intermittently for a month or two -- without uttering a single word, tapped a Like of a comment of a member who ignores me here, and presto!... I became one of the vanished.  It really ought to be illegal for anyone to have that kind of power. 

1 hour ago, VKurtB said:

Flat box? Is that anywhere near Flatbush?  I figure the qualifier finest known is sufficient to make the point.

[I defer to my peer and do so politely.]

Welcome back, old-timer!  I, too, stopped out of the hobby in the Sixties and though I have followed developments over the years, only jumped back in two years ago. I have a small pet project I am working on as I am at that age when divestment seems to be the only sensible pursuit.  It may interest you to know that old Red books and blue Whitman albums have become collectibles in their own right. You have the right mind-set and approach and will do fine in a hobby that offers infinite possibilities.  I wish you all the best! 

On 1/7/2021 at 7:42 PM, VKurtB said:

It is literally the finest known with no peer.

No known peer until every '59 flat-box has been opened and examined.

[Here's a thought that is sure to rile up some folks.  Imperceptible to all but the most attentive is the thought that numbers on coins are larger in the hotter summer months and smaller during the frigid winters.  This principle also explains the clickety-clack of train rails.]  The serious collector would do well to familiarize him/her self with all aspects of already authenticated examples and consider too that the FDC (fleur de coin) you seek will find you, before you find it.

On 6/1/2020 at 3:36 PM, MarkFeld said:

Can a coin with a population of more than five (still) accurately be described as rare? Of course. A coin which is one of two hundred forty thousand? Of course not. 

I believe the mintage of '09 "S" V.D.B. cents runs twice that and have always been considered scarce, no?

Was numismatics called the "Hobby of Kings"?  Yes.  Was it once, was it ever, the "Hobby of Kings"? No, never.  Any chance it could become the "Hobby of Kings"?  Considering the hobby's apparently irreversible and increasing vulgarization, no.  Not by a long shot.  Coin collecting neatly embraces the entire spectrum of wealth and where you stand on the continuum of mental illness vs. eccentricity is largely dependent on who you are and how much money you have in your pocket.

1 hour ago, RWB said:

Doubtful that his scale is big enough for a truck -- unless it's a Matchbox truck....

True, but would not the weight reflected be skewed and inaccurate?

On 2/5/2021 at 2:28 PM, Just Bob said:

What actually happened? Did the coin not cross? Was it declared not genuine? Did it receive a lower grade?

There is a gaping hole in my Set Registry at the 1912 MS66 position.  For esthetic purposes, I long ago decided I wanted to maintain the re-strike line (1907-1914) at MS66. Suddenly, an MS67 surfaced which put me in a quandary: buy it as is and become one of the few collectors to display one at NGC, or cross it and allow it to fraternize with its many associates on my PCGS Registry.  The dealer was within a stone's throw of PCGS and I requested he send it directly to them for cross-grading (something I would not be able to do because I had allowed my membership to lapse). With long turn-around times, pandemic sanitation precautionary measures in place and the USPS apparently reverting to dirigibles for air delivery, I promised myself I would allow all parties to proceed at their own pace without annoying calls to Customer Service inquiring as to order status.  Eventually, I got a call from a surprisingly amiable Christian at Liberty who told me the coin failed to cross. Just Bob, this has never happened to me in my entire life. My money would be refunded after adjustments had been made complicated by my refusal to use PayPal, my involvement with two separate TPGS, the cost of registering and insuring a coin based on FMV, and ultimately time, postage and resources. Decapsulation/re-encapsulation. What a mess. Naturally, I apologized for putting them through all this a process through which all parties maintained their cordiality and professionalism.  [Some trivia: There are presently 619 compilations in NGCs Set Registry for France.  Of those, 326 feature 20-franc coins from 1870 - Date.  A grand total of 34 French 20-franc gold rooster collections remain extant.  [During the last run-up in gold prices, dozens of previously unseen roosters were submitted for formal grading -- mainly in Europe (France, Germany) with only a few assessed at MS 67, all in the restrike (1907-1914) range many of which have since been sold.]

Welcome to the Forum where everyone who "comes correc[tly]', as it is said on the street, gets a fair shake. While I am sorry for your  loss, not all fakes and counterfeits are bad.  Many, in fact, fetch top dollar and are stunning to behold. Right now, as we speak, the Intagliomint, which bills itself a private, boutique mint, is churning out 1873-CC Trade Dollars that are of exceptional quality and a sight to behold. On the reverse you will find a rather amusing but likely accurate "960 Grains" and ".999 Fine Ag." These "Tribute"  reeded edged coins are 6mm. thick and weigh Two Troy Ounces. Now, I am aware precious metals such as gold and silver are weighed in troy ounces while metals such as copper are weighed using the avoirdupois system.  Question:  is that a tare weight balance you are using for your coin and, if so, why? Ordinarily tare weights are used in connection with the trucking industry at weigh stations and such or is the presence of a "mode" setter provided to correct that?

6 hours ago, jtryka said:

I'm not sure I understand this post.  What does the 20-euro note have to do with the rooster?  Did you buy the rooster for 20 euros?  Where does the 13.45 euro shortage come from?

Good point; my fault... when you purchase a coin from overseas there is the small matter of paying to have your USD to euros.  That's where eBay comes in.  In the U.S., payment on a winning bid is expected as soon as the clock runs out. You will get something, in substance, like: YOU WON! NOW PAY UP! I had become so programmed to pay up without delay that I had forgotten that I was obliged to wait until all costs had been calculated.  In my haste to pay, I tried my local check cashing place. No go. They are contracted to use Western Union to transmit funds to specific individuals in certain areas of particular countries.  I then went down to my bank: "That'll be $50, (for a formal bank wire transfer from your bank account as opposed to currency from your pocket.) After all was said and done, I got a polite reminder that there was still the comparatively small matter of 20 euros due for the currency conversion which would cost me an additional $13.45.  I told them it would cost me $50. to send that to them then thought the better of it, threw it into an envelope and mailed it. In due course, I received a lovely note saying they could not accept the payment as it had since been written off as a "global discount." I told them, "It's Christmas! The coin is beautiful! I don't want you spending money to send money." And it all ended on a good note though I feel somewhere our seasoned, globe-trotting veteran is sitting there shaking his head in utter disbelief. 

9 hours ago, VKurtB said:

My “savant skill” is finding cheap transportation options, so yes, the only people I buy coins from remotely are several national mints, and the odd occasion in which the grade is unimportant. 

One point you have in your favor is never having to say you're sorry.

On 9/10/2020 at 5:29 PM, Quintus Arrius said:

Out of all the comments made, I find yours to be the most intriguing. Yes, even after sixty days.

Eighteen months... and counting.

On 2/3/2021 at 5:02 PM, Sdm3 said:

In view of the fact uncut BEP sheets of various denominations are (or were) routinely sold through the U.S. Mint, their value is strictly in their novelty. Two things we do know are they were not printed in Fort Worth and all were earmarked for the Philadelphia FRB for distribution.

16 hours ago, Sdm3 said:

Interesting damage.  Too bad we will never know how old this thing is.

10 hours ago, Greenstang said:

Hear is a photo of a genuine Lafayette Jeton. They were made of bronze. Yours seems to be lacking a lot of the detail. Also notice on the date how on your medal the 8 is perpendicular while on the genuine one it leans to the right.

This particular one is selling for around $50.00

Every formerly uncirculated jeton, considering the purpose for which they were designed and produced, is going to exhibit wear.

5 hours ago, Follis said:

I have a couple of coins that I'm thinking about having graded but I don't know if they would fall under US coins or World coins since they are Cook Islands non - circulating leagal tender. I don't have anything so that I would be able to scan a picture of the coins in question but I'll describe them.

Coin "A": It is 16mm in diameter and made from 1/10 oz of .24 gold. The obverse has two eagles in flight, the 2021 date and says "American Double Eagle". The reverse has the Liberty Bell, $5.00 demonation, says "A tribute to the United States" and Cook Islands mint. The coin came with a COA attesting to it's privately minted  non - circulating legal tender status, proof striking and the gold from which it was made from. The COA is signed by Angela "Bay" Buccannon who was the 37th treasurer of the US and by Barry M. Goldwater Jr who was a congressman from CA.

 

Coin "B": It is roughly 32mm in diameter and made from 1/2 oz of .999 fine silver. The obverse has two eagles in flight, the 2021 date and says "American Double Eagle". The reverse has the Liberty Bell, $2.00 demomanation, says "Atribute to the United States" and Cook Islands mint. The COA for this coin is exactly the same as the coin I listed above exect it says .999 fine silver instead of gold.

Any help would be appreciated thank you.

Re Goldwater. I believe AZ is a designation used by the BOP to designate Alcatraz in California.  Goldwater (and "Sammy the Bull" Gravano) are inextricably linked with the state of Arizona.

On 2/2/2021 at 8:36 AM, MarkFeld said:

Of course there is such a thing. A coin can easily be both - not uncirculated, yet almost uncirculated.(with very slight wear). 

Kind of like pleading guilty -- with an explanation.