Henri Charriere

I believe you are correct. The loss of the exterior copper plating exposes the inner zinc-copper alloy core to environmental erosion.

The "problem" with this War nickel is lack of the customary wear one would expect to find most noticeably on the shoulder where it would appear as a dark gray owing to the coin's tri-partite composition. Not only is your nickel an authentic silver-bearing coin, it is of a higher grade than any I have ever found in circulation before they were all gobbled up by collectors and speculators. The silver melt value of war nickels on the lower end of the grade spectrum is currently worth: $1.38.

I would direct my inquiry to Jarden Zinc Products the outside manufacturer responsible for producing these blanks. (This is colloquially known as the "Zinc-Linc-Jinx." The rejection of one metal (copper) by the dominant one (zinc) it is forced to co-exist with for an extended period of time under unimaginable pressure.

Speaking strictly as a rank amateur, it seems to me -- without taking sides, that as regarding incandescents vs fluorescents, one light source may very well be well-suited for grading (and all that that entails) while another is hands- down perfectly positioned for photography duty. Does this mean one is deficient to do the work of both well. Yes, that is what I am suggesting. Another observation: the dual Reading Rooms of the New York Public Library's main building (now named for a benefactor as are most of the bridges and tunnels) are outfitted with ordinary table lamps outfitted with incandescent bulbs which have proved sufficient for the needs of all patrons none of whom have ever tampered with the devices for some special need or advantage in the fifty years I have dropped by to more closely examine mysterious striations on coins -- or catch up on the daily news.

Re: the "Report Post" function... Whether I'm right, or whether I'm wrong Whether I find a place in this world or never belong I gotta be me, I gotta be me. What else can I be but what I am *** I'll go it alone, that's how it must be. I can't be right for somebody else. If I'm not right for me I gotta be free, I just gotta be free. Daring to try, to do it or die I GOTTA BE ME-E-E! -courtesy Sammy Davis, Jr.

[Note to earlycoin-migratio... Coming out like a cicada every so often, I bet you never thought a simple query would re-ignite a firestorm of opinion on a residual matter that has been lying dormant until you reawakened it with only your third post in years. Welcome back to the Forum, a scaled back, more closely supervised Gladiator School of Numismatics where common courtesy reigns supreme!]

Valid concerns.

"Only" an MS-66? It happens to be the rarest date mintage-wise of the so-called re-strike series, 1907-1914; only the 1900, the second of the so-called original series, 1899-1906, is scarcest, with the 1899, the first date of the series coming in at third place. Your 1911 is very nicely toned and speaks for itself. Great catch, and thanks for brightening up my day! (I grew up with cats, all male, no two alike with different temperaments, one of which formed a lasting friendship with a mouse we had.)

PUBLIC APOLOGY The following is made necessary because the gentleman to whom I directed my scurrilous remarks, by mocking his, and his reputable concern's, professional ability to grade a specific category of early Colonial coinage was unwarranted and without foundation, as the above example and following admission exemplifies. This is a 1910 [PCGS MS-64+] French 20-franc gold rooster a/k/a or coq Marianne. Description: bright honey golden hue and original mint luster. I purchased it raw in the grossly mistaken belief it would become, upon certification, the very first such coin in the 16-piece series to be adjudged MS-68, by any TPGS in the entire world. While both the obverse and reverse appear flawless it is clear I had, and with the subsequent acquisition of many more such coins, continue to have a very limited understanding of basic grading apparently exacerbated by an extended absence from all things numismatic. It is my fervent hope seasoned veteran, MarkFeld accepts my sincere apology for the rude and intemperate remarks I directed to him on another thread. [I thank the OP, Outlaw, for inadvertently providing me with an opportunity to present my coin and afford me the opportunity to reach out to a member who is otherwise inaccessible to me.]

And I thought that was only possible in air travel while crossing the International Date Line. Daylight Savings... no wonder the roosters started crowing later. 😂

Now there's a place Ratzie33 can send his phenomenal discovery to! Great scholarship!

One day a pile of 1933 $20 DE's, is there; the next day, it's gone. Theft, investigation, location, confiscation. Asset forfeiture. Justice triumphs again. Everybody is happy.

I don't know about illegal, but membership has its privileges and this seems more like a perk or professional courtesy.

You enjoy the rare luxury of being universally liked, what can I say?

Reminds me of the no carbon required (NCR) paper, or litmus paper of old.

"Kick it around"? Are you sure you're not Noo Yawkuz?

Just curious, as most collectors are aware, the 1995-W Proof ASE were cleverly ensconced in a multi-piece gold set. The only way to acquire one was to purchase the set and defile its sarcophagus to obtain the only coin you were really interested in. An expensive undertaking. Making matters more complicated, a comparatively few number were minted. Last I heard (I guess a quarter-century ago) those silver proofs, alone, were selling for $30,000. Two minutes ago, 11/09/2020, 1245 hrs., I saw one being offered on eBay for $3,000. I would like to know whether anyone has any feeling about this, whether you got in on the ground floor or not, and/or whether you cracked yours out or not. In short, it's been 25 years. How do you feel about it?

Hopefully, some time before I pass, someone will provide me with the scientific evidence needed to correlate indiscriminate flatulence, or poofing, as it is referred to in the intricate world of numismatics, with a hobby intrinsically above reproach and those whose thoughts fail to hew to the party line. If censorship fails to achieve its desired chilling effect, and suspensions, probations, banishments, paroles and pardons prove insufficient, the powers that be can entertain the thought of bloodlust and reinstate drawing-and-quartering. All in favor, say Aye!

Not that what I am going to say will make a difference, but I sent the Mint several money orders totaling roughly $4,000 which was subsequently approved -- and then SILENCE. Eventually, I made inquiry, discovered existing stocks were depleted, and rather than return my money orders they issued a government U.S. Mint check, which then lacking a checking account, cost me $73. to cash. When the young cashier who spoke no English was unable to comprehend my reason for the purchase (bullion) I referred her to the telephone number on the check. The one thing that sticks out in my mind is in all the flurry of excitement over a monstrous check, I was never asked to turn it over, sign it and provide written identification. This incident and the many instances of buyers seemingly simultaneously outstripping supply has soured me on the Mint.

Unless my circumstances change drastically, for the better, this is about as close to copper perfection I can ever hope to ever get close to. If there is anything to distinguish this gem from a higher grade , I not only see it -- I cannot even imagine what it may be. Nice catch! Nothing in my modest holdings comes closer to approaching the Wow! factor. I am very impressed!

STILL HERE. STILL STANDING. STILL STRONG.

Yes. Nov. 2019 - Nov. 2020. If you can manage to access a copy you will find the actual dollar figures. It seems to me the higher grades suffered a worse fate. *** As long as you mentioned the 1915-S, the one in MS63 rose 35% to $2300 from $1700. Perhaps you can direct a reply to: ngcemails@ngccoin.com Finally, the "Market Commentary" features Jeff Garrett: Zoom Sa es the Day. (COVID-19 has forced the ANA to adapt to our new, virtual world) a lengthy piece you are sure to find interesting.

I tried several times to get this information to you yesterday quoting a free NGC newsletter, to no avail. Every attempt was either deleted en masse or blacked out under the all-inclusive "error." I am going to try one more time: the top five performers (minus dollar amounts) were: 1. 1915-S MS63, up 35%; 2. 1922 MS63, up 31%; 3. 1928 MS64, up 29%; 4. 1911-D MS63, up 27%,; 5. 1925 MS65, up 21%. The bottom five performers were: 86. 1913 MS63, -7%; 87. 1907 HIGH RELIEF WIRE RIM, -9%; 88. 1911-D MS66, -14%; 89. 1926 MS66, -14%; and 90. 1924-S MS65, -25% I don't know what upset the censors or why my reply to you was blocked, but I do hope this is helpful (minus the prices.)

The following is but a figment of my mischievous imagination... VKurtB volunteered to tackle the problem of the ANA buoyed by the prospect of having little choice but to duke it out with die-hards in the battleground state [Commonwealth] of PA. In my dreams I fully expect him to knock the Board of Governors' door down with the same ranting and raving Barnacle Bill the Sailor displayed after he busted through Olive Oyl's door in the old Popeye cartoon. So. not to worry. Anyone who leaves his hometown in the middle of one of the most contentious Presidential elections in United States history obviously has a sense of purpose, proportion, propriety and priority. If anyone can solve the mystery of the fate of the ANA, ultimately, it will be the "huff 'n' puff and blow 'em all down"-style well-suited to VKkurtB, a Type A contender on the elevated plain of old-fashioned ruggedness... Then my dream ends.

Terribly sorry, I don't know how. NGC provides a Weekly Market Report (this one is Nov 5, 2020, Vol. 10 Issue 45.) It's a free news letter I always thought was sent to all members covering the entire U.S. spectrum indicating by how much percentagewise coins have appreciated or depreciated in value, unless you choose to unsubscribe. This week's installment focuses on Morgans and your Double Eagles. If you use the CLNTACT US feature, I am sure someone will be able to help you.