Henri Charriere

Regarding the theft of the bag of the 1928 gold dollar.  If the government is still interested in recovering them, they will get the inside story on someone's deathbed likely inadvertently from an aged female patient, via a spontaneous declaration, who was told: DO NOT SPEND THEM, and, KEEP YOUR MOUTH(S) SHUT!   I experienced that dream  last nite and was left with the impression they were buried, hopefully, with instructions to their last location.

On 3/19/2021 at 10:33 PM, VKurtB said:

Why? Even encapsulated red cents will (and do) turn red/brown and then brown. I swear that some major TPGS slabs actually ACCELERATE this change, rather than slowing it.

Take a guy like me with no axe to grind and no reputation to lose owing to ignorance...

Question:  would one make out better with standard encapsulation using high tech, space-agr plastic and chip technology or use very virtually inbdistructable tempered glass featuring an "unreakable" glass, to maintain glass coins in conditon originsl condition interred?

Related question to our learned colleage:  is there any trutj to the fanciful thinking I seemed to have developed that U.K. coins experience far fewer deficiencies durjng the course of production. -- across the minting spectrum -- than their U.S. counterparts?  Maybe what's needed is a Trials of the Crypt (my joke) to maintain consumer confidence.  I am still a Closet believer in the virtues of plastic currency as used first in Australia.

48 minutes ago, Buffalo Head said:

Who is VKurtB?  A critic?  

A well-known member who apparently dislikes toning, period.  😉

4 hours ago, Buffalo Head said:

Twins

Twins?  Alright then, I double-dare VKurtB  to say something about these tastefully toned examples!

1 hour ago, GoldFinger1969 said:

QA, which European countries annually mint gold coins today ?  Or does the EU/ECB now do that for them ?

Good question.  The only ones I am familiar with are strictly bullion class. The  U.S., U.K., South Africa, Austria, Australia, etc.  There was a 10,000 gourd honoring Francois Duvalier which I had never seen before for sale on eBay and last residing in China of all places, but I am sure it was a limited edition struck for ceremonial purposes. 

1 hour ago, GoldFinger1969 said:

European coin dealers are now using the American TPGs for coins ?  Which coins -- European, ancients, what ?

My periscope is aimed at you-know-what exclusively. Little by little, the long arc of all things numismatic, is embracing encapsulation for their coins.  I regret to say that to me, personally, choice- or gem- B.U. is -- as VKurtB has made clear -- not very helpful to anyone seeking upper-tier coins.  To quote that old musical, "If I were a rich man..." I would probably take a chance -- and have -- but am reluctant to do so after a gorgeous specimen with absolutely no fault to my eyes, described as FDC, a range of MS-65 to MS-70, came back MS-64+ by PCGS.  (As a favor to you, I will check the tony shops with top shelf merchandise in Europe and have a definitive answer for you tonite.)

On 3/18/2021 at 11:52 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

As with the SAINTS 

We SHOULD support other posters here who are publishers and/or authors.  If someone has a book or article or piece of research, I want our community to be aware of it.

I agree.

35 minutes ago, VKurtB said:

Check the 1972’s (Philly) for the Type I, II, and III varieties. The Type II is the “good one”.

From the looks of the end coins on the twelve rolls of 1776-1976 Ikes (120coins) I picked up at a local bank (I assume never wants to see them again) I really ought to confirm my theory they were held hoping they would appreciate some day. And, who knows, I may very well discover hitherto unknown varieties and mutants and barring that, be compelled to offer to donate the most presentable Ikes to young collectors who've never seen them on that post where such random acts of kindness are encouraged.  Coin, padded envelope and postage on me.

49 minutes ago, jtryka said:

If I recall correctly, the original reason for the TPGs note guaranteeing copper for extended periods had more to do with coins certified as RED turning into something less than RED in the holder.

For some reason, I find that I can find no fault with that reasoning which means any coin collector who manages to acquire red encapsulated cents deserves a premium.

The one thing I haven't mentioned is the rise in popularity of TPGS.  European coin emporiums have acknowledged U.S. collector demand for their services and have responded accordingly. Bear in mind, coin prices overseas already run higher.

1 hour ago, V33J@ said:

Yes. I read that dollar coins take a beating. I guess that's why they put Ike on the front of it, LOL. I saw an MS64 on EBay that sold for 25 and an MS62 trying to get 499. I love EBay, LOL. They both had a bunch of marks on them too so I guess grading is less stringent for that year.

Which, of course, begs the question:  What does one in pristine clean condition go far? I guess the answer to that is whatever a collector or investor or speculator is willing to pay for it at auction.

3 hours ago, World Colonial said:

If I ever complete my current interest which I doubt will happen due to both lack of budget and coin availability, it isn't like I can't find something else to collect which interests me.

But if I do, it still won't be with coins or a series where I am likely to lose a noticeable proportion of my outlay if it is "material".  I expect most coins to lose noticeable value going forward, especially when adjusted for price changes.

I long ago resigned myself to the very real probababiliy that I will unlikely to recover my total outlay.  I base this on the fact that certified coins on what I regard as the top leading economic indicators, census figures, continue to climb, dashing all my hopes for landing a unique example. That, and one other thing... An unknown member (to me) who quietly assembled a collection of Top Grade roosters which, but for the exception of thirty-plus collectors, debuted at #3 on NGC, effectively knocking everyone one else down one notch. I am still #1 @ PCGS, but his strategy and commitment cannot help but give the rest of us pause. This is the risk one takes when using titles like, "all-time finest" and "world's finest."

Just now, Quintus Arrius said:

 

But what do you sat to a seasoned veteran like VKurtB who last year outright questioned the "desirability" of any collection that can be assembled in 90 days, or less?

22 minutes ago, World Colonial said:

As an example, outside of the 1913 LHN, 1933 Indian Head Eagle, and few Saints, I can reasonably expect that every single other 20th century US circulation strike and proof is either available right now or can be acquired in "high quality" in at most a few months (usually less). Every one of these series except for Indian Head eagles and Saints can be completed in "high quality" in one day.

On 3/17/2021 at 9:50 PM, VKurtB said:

Not a Speed Graphic. A Linhof view camera. 

[Thought I'd bait you with something Weegee used whose name, understandably, would be unfamiliar to new and younger coin collectors. 😉  My childhood friend had a nice Leica. With the advent of cell phones, they had a good laugh about seven years ago when I walked into a CVS and asked what happened to all the disposable one-use portable pocket cameras. I believe Willoughy and Peerless are the only survivors of Photography Row In the Penn Station area.]

I love the all and the dark backgrounds on some accentuate the positive aspects of all.  That Jefferson is something else. Fantastic find!

48 minutes ago, Woods020 said:

The guide book lists it as aluminum. I agree it’s almost too clean. But it looks great In my newly started Alabama token album 

What does the guide book say were the years of circulation for this coin? If there are signs of wear, I don't see any. This is one of the more interesting [generic] tokens I have seen.  If you have to ask, Which 'coffee shop?, you're obviously not from the area.  Never seen anything like it. Nice find.

5 hours ago, VKurtB said:

"Take the jab or stay home."

😂  My understanding of this pandemic is with or without the vaccine. -- there are so many variants to the virus and varieties and errors to the vaccines developed thus far -- that you will still have to wear a mask.  On a side note, I cannot recall the last time there was a coin show in New York City and that's probably why I have never been to one.

2 hours ago, DWLange said:

White metal is a more or less generic term for any alloy that is primarily tin or zinc.

That rules out aluminum which is what I thought it looked like, however unlikely.  Thanks for checking!

2 hours ago, VKurtB said:

But continuing to put out Kennedy halves and dollar coins that aren't intended for commerce is a sort of obscenity.

I agree.

23 minutes ago, Lem E said:

Here is a good thread that discusses this subject. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-ngc-t-w-designations-the-lost-designations.208532/

[I never heard of either designation or the reference to "Appalachian" nickels in the link.]

3 hours ago, VKurtB said:

Entertainment is strictly forbidden at ANA dinners. 

[I am still trying to picture you running around with your 4 x 5 speed graphic at coin shows.] 😉

[Not to belabor the matter but there was an earlier reference to "white metal."  Anyone know what a genuine coin's composition is, or is supposed to be?]

On 3/14/2021 at 6:37 PM, Revenant said:

I think anything nazi related is banned in Germany - so maybe the coins too. They don't seem to mess around with this subject. 

[It is still a sensitive subject that is openly discussed behind closed doors by the few surviving war veterans of the period who, despite the losses and devastation, are still unapologetically loyal to the old order no different from those who participated in campaigns waged by Stalin, Pol pot and the empire of Japan.]