Henri Charriere

[Don't even think about it, Prof. Poe! We're all mature adults here simply reviewing historical artifacts.]

[Pardon the incongruity, but that helps explain what happened to all the cherry-picked virgins...]

Coinbuf is correct. The difference between a 60 and a 70 is dramatic, but imperceptible between, say, a 66+ and 67. In my R series the former (of a random date) was adjudged to have a Fair Market Value of $650., while the latter commanded in excess of $1,300., exclusive of sales tax.

[Except the overriding one (for me): Would it be bad form to request NGC relay a message from me to any one of the holders of top-graded French 20-franc gold roosters, stating, e.g., "Par-don, monsieur, but we have a member who is prepared to make you a very attractive offer for a 1902 French 20-franc gold rooster NGC-graded at MS-64 (pop. 1; none graded higher) presently believed to be in your possession?"]

As I cannot recall the last time I had personal contact with a seller, I am unable to answer your question. The waters are shark-infested and, recognizing my shortcomings and irrational obsessing, I rely on TPGS and recognized authorities to do my thinking for me -- effectively shielding me from the distressing things and disturbing commentary regarding events on the periphery. And for all that, I have to be prepared to act decisively lest an opportunity be lost. Here is what passes for full disclosure on the internet: "Rare Lincoln cent. Scarce, only one left! $5,000. (Accompanied by a photo of a circulated penny with a common date.) What makes it rare? Well, you don't see any in circulation, do you? And so it goes... I am a risk taker. Bottom line: I buy from people I do not know and send money to people I have never met, and so far, have been incredibly fortunate. Scams abound. I read everything I can get my hands on with antennae fully extended. This is not for the faint of heart. I am only as good as my last buy.

Nope. You're on your own.. Caveat emptor!

[At the urging of a colleague, just read "This Dying Hobby" at dirtyoldcoins.com and must say your kind offer and words of inspiration are a much-needed breath of fresh air!]

[I hate to embarrass myself in front of my friends like this but one day I realized that an empty cardboard box of tea bags (Bigelow/Twinings) could accommodate well over a dozen different sized slabs from every TPGS on the planet unlike the custom-made sarcophagi manufactured by the various services to fit only their own products. True story!]

[To whomever is responsible for the sneak preview of the sleek new look for 2021: the Eliquis and Lipitor are working. Thanks for clearing out the pipes!] Man, I love this Forum.

Well, that changes everything and also explains why sellers, particularly outside the U.S., are quite candid in expressing their dissatisfaction with PayPal and the fees they charge for currency conversions -- and encourage bank wire transfers instead.

This issue was brought up on another thread recently and I didn't pay it no mind figuring it will all be sorted out eventually. But you've got to love this creative line, and I quote: "When eBay manages the end-to-end payment experience...." Come to think of it that experience approximates the sensation one feels when driving North from Jackson on Hway 49 to Yazoo City, MS. One giant roller coaster ride that beats the Cyclone in New York's Coney Island. (Thanks for that quick-link!)

Once bitten, twice shy. The only people following me are those who are ignoring me. Go figure. Great hearing from you, as always.

You do, and that has to count for something. 😉

Raw coins... yeah, I remember them. I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest the problem with selling them started with misrepresentations being made aggravated by poor photography, switcheroos, unsuspecting consumers (many with inadequate grading knowledge) deceitful sellers, outright thieves, problems with returns, hour-long waits to speak to the single available teenager tasked with resolving PayPal disputes using inadequate logarithms from Nebraska -- and the collection now of sales tax. Do you know the sales tax for each of the fifty states? Of course not. Why would you? The problem has gotten so tedious what with registering requirements and paperwork that the average person will take the path of least resistance and resort to selling their goods (raw coins and refined antiques) at a deep discount to roadside yard selling stands and dealers. The high cost of postage and all that it entails, has obliterated profit margins and put a real damper on those who would pursue a hobby with some measure of satisfaction. At my advanced age, I will likely wind up giving away my treasures to some wide-eyed children and divesting myself of an organized collection with the assistance of an auction house. I never thought I would live long enough to see someone post a question like that. What a shame!

For what it's worth, these blanks with beveled edges may be found all over the streets of New York. I always thought they were simply pre-punched washers. I never knew of the electrical connection.

So far none has graded higher than MS-67+. Dozens have been added to the 66 and 66+ columns. I picked up a 1908 PCGS MS-67 from France, and a 1910 NGC MS-67 from California (which I requested be forwarded to PCGS for cross-grading before being sent to me). There are still no 67s for the original series, 1899-1906 and the number of 67s for the so-called "restrike" years, 1907-1914 by each of the top two TPGS, can be counted on one hand. I own a few of which none have been graded higher, but nothing unique. I still cannot account for the peculiar obsession I have for these coins.

Respectfully, yes, you Mr. private citizen, won before a "state" court. The matter Prof. Hill has the admirable audacity to address has the potential to trigger the full weight, power, prestige and infinite time and resources of the United States Government. I was going to suggest sending a policy-before-politics-type like VKurtB down for a fireside chat after the change in Administration, but this is no time for levity. Sorry, but errors and me just don't mix. I don't understand all the minimization and resistance engaged in by spectators. I stand behind Prof. Hill 100%. We have enough garbage in circulation out there as it is. If what Prof. Hill has brought to light is true, it needs to be nipped in the bud. And where does the ANA stand on this???

[Aside: You probably remember the story of Andrew "Jack" Whittaker, Jr., already a self-made millionaire who won the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history back in 2002. Powerball $315 million; he opted for a direct payout of over $100 million. He passed away at 72 just this past summer at home in West Virginia. If you don't, you may want to Google him and read the write-ups under Wikipedia and his N.Y. Times obit. A cautionary tale that will have you saying, "Well, that would never happen to me!"

As you may have occasion to recall your reply was the first posted to the only question I have ever submitted to the Forum since becoming a member and is as true today as the day it was written. The run-up in gold prices loosened a veritable hoard of gold roosters, most submitted to PCGS (as evidenced by their sequential certification numbers) and I was fortunate enough to snag two. Overall, however, your observation rings true. The acceptance of Sheldonization continues incrementally in Europe and I keep monitoring the more reliable sources.

Trials of the "crypt."

Nice even wear. No drama or trauma. Gotta give credit where credit is due.

You are, by any measure a lucky man. You were given an unprecedented opportunity to vent your frustration and valve off some pressure, command a wide audience here, put in some dazzling footwork and still emerge unscathed. Unfortunately, for those demanding proof of this or that, I wish them luck. There are opinions and there are immutable facts. Maybe one day they will solve the riddle of those '33 double-eagles; maybe they won't. It's all relative and at best interesting. Nothing to lose sleep over.

[Well, I for one thoroughly enjoyed this friendly, good-natured banter. What I have never been able to figure out is why some members allow themselves to become so heavily invested in the outcome with one or two suggesting the OP, who just got here, leave the premises immediately and the thread left behind be in incinerated forthwith. It's too bad VKurtB chose to take a powder when he did. He missed something truly invigorating. Kudos to all the contenders!

[Well, as Alice observed, things here have gotten "curiouser and curiouser." I've always liked happy endings. Thanks to all! Now I can go to bed.]

[Would it be fair to say that the production of similar such scarcity of supply vs. unpredictable demand scenarios lay at the genesis of the advent of tokens circulating in rural communities much like those posted regularly on Just Bob's Tokens Tuesdays thread?]