Henri Charriere

20 minutes ago, Conder101 said:

I think this is the talk that Kurt was referring to. (I can only find two talks by Kurt in 2011 and the other is on Jefferson nickels)  This is a direct link to the the video on the NNP.

https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/578823

[Well, I kept my promise. I took one look at your photo and today being my birthday ( I am not 70 but I prefer round numbers) I promptly cut off my four year-old beard and handle-bar moustache -- the first time I have been clean-shaven since I got married. Constitution Day has nothing to do with it.] Thank you for the inspiration!

8 hours ago, gmarguli said:

You can take TruthTeller (Dave Baptista) off your ignore list. He won't be coming back. He died around 12/2017.

In that case, those so inclined may wish to accord me that honor.

I am STILL HERE, STILL STANDING, STILL STRONG and loving every minute of it.

13 hours ago, Conder101 said:

I estimate is less than 1%, probably closer to 1/2 of 1%.

[With the figures (percentages) heretofore cited, which I believe coincide with those of in pauperis pro-se litigants filing their petitions to be heard by the New York State Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court (not to mention those who ultimately prevail on Section 1983 Civil Rights matters, only to be denied review, why am I not surprised at the deplorable state of U.S. coinage and currency today?  Maybe what's needed is a limited run of purposeful errors. One way to jump-start the hobby would be to introduce an anomaly in the regular run of coins which would then become the official "designated by intentional aforethought error."  That's something a TPGS can get involved in. An off-kilter design element or a "blast from the past" feature everyone can relate to, produced in limited quantities.  How does that sound, erwindoc?]  

1 hour ago, Zebo said:

Adding the territories and DC was a bit much. 

You've got a point there. What's the point of having no representation in Congress if some guy from the District of Columbia comes down during the aftermath of a natural disaster and tosses rolls of paper towels at you before national television?

[Is it within the realm of possibility, gentlemen, that the owner's estate simply wanted to secure not only a second opinion, but an opinion for all time, smacking of cutting-edge, state-of-art, professional grading for their once in a generation offering?

[They didn't call Murray Richman, Esq. "don't worry, Murray," for nothing.

Justice triumphs again!]

On 9/13/2020 at 4:13 PM, ldhair said:

You have your facts mixed up. I never said that. I don't think we have ever even had any cross words, here or over on CT.  

[Nice maneuver VKurtB!  I am on the gentleman's ignore list; you, indubitably, are not.]

Definitely would pass VKurtB's Trial of the Pyx!

On 9/11/2020 at 12:16 PM, Zebo said:

Re:  Registry Participants poll

[Granted, I failed Statistics 101, SIX TIMES.  Still, I feel with no more than fourteen members participating, we are not getting an accurate profile of registrant's usage patterns.  I know this poll's been open only a few days but the sample gleaned is woefully insufficient from which to draw a valid conclusion.  Considering my user name occupies a prominent place on nine members' "ignore" lists, nineteen ain't saying much. I would be curious to know who declined to vote -- and, more importantly, why?

There is no one more unqualified to pass judgment on this coin than I am.  Fortunately, I have Just Bob's observation to rely on and, as everyone knows, he hasn't been far off the mark on things numismatic since 1959.  To be on the safe side, MS-67 does not seem far-fetched.  My problem is an anemic reverse which, as an amateur, I would peg at as MS-66+, if that.  Does the coin deserve a *?  The obverse certainly looks nice but there is nothing on the reverse that I see deserving of such an accolade.  Stars should be reserved for pieces exhibiting exceptional eye-appeal. A lovely war nickel in all respects!

[Note:  There are two reasons why I have since declined to engage VKurtB in a strenuous manner.

One, it would be hazardous to my health. My 3.7-cm. aortal aneurism has inexplicably grown to 4.2. cms. with atrial fibrillation I have been told will not go away of its own accord. Surgery is inevitable; and

Two, with our esteemed colleague, VKurtB + HBP,  busy making arrangements to transport the bulk of his lares and penates due South shortly, there is nothing to be gained from baiting him unmercilessly. 

I think it fair to say without his participation on this Forum -- and this is no reflection on others -- we would have a suggestion of a Fourth of July, without fireworks.  I believe it best to approach all topics and members with flexibility, moderation and accommodation to include giving our seasoned veterans wide latitude if not wide berth.

5 hours ago, VKurtB said:

The appellation "anti-intellectual" applies to those to whom "I got me some common sense" is allegedly a virtue. Repeat: common sense is neither.

[With all due respect to Prof. VKurtB -- and @ erwindoc, the member who began this unassuming thread, I offer the following. I am not sure where it fits in, but here goes]:

"In the United States today (1970) we have more than our share of nattering nabobs of negativism.  They have formed their own 4-H club -- the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history."   --V P Spiro Agnew (via William Safire)

41 minutes ago, RWB said:

Unfortunately the South Carolina "MASER" design is so poor that nearly all would have associated it with magnets not microwaves. 

[Not old Quintus, wisenheimer emeritus!   I still remember it as an acronym, standing for: Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Anybody remember these Radio broadcasting cousins, once removed:  AM - amplitude modulation;  FM - frequency modulation

And who can forget the W in WABC and WNBC, stand for "Wireless."

No sir-ee Bob, that anti-intellectual tag being bandied about does not apply to this transient.]

1 hour ago, VKurtB said:

And @jtryka, what ever else you may be, you also come across as my least favorite type of being, an anti-intellectualist.

 

[All this anti-intellectualist stuff, notwithstanding, the best line to come out of the Chicago Seven conspiracy trial (late 1960's)  was:  "Conspiracy?  What conspiracy?  We couldn't even agree on lunch!"]

However expropriated, whether by hook or crook, would the OP, author, or any other viewer, care to speculate as to the possible motive behind effecting a transfer of goods Izzy Switt (or co-conspirator or confederate) knew, or should have known, he could not profit from, personally, in the ordinary sense of the word?  

1 hour ago, VKurtB said:

I am in the market for a physically large well made 5x loupe.

Why do I feel the shipping and handling on the trebuchet you seek will exceed its actual cost...

1 hour ago, Joshua22855 said:

It is definitely discouraging, the very first coin I buy for myself turned out to be a scammer. What a shame these people do this.

The 1909-S V.D.B. also happened to be the very first coin I bought in 1967, or thereabouts, from Stack's, in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, with exceptional eye appeal and original mint lustre, for the then princely sum of $200. (My salary as a part-time delivery boy was $1.25/hr. + tips.)  This is why your story struck a chord within me. Now I'm going to have to come up with a solution...

One final note... though I have not seen this mentioned elsewhere, I suspect some incidences of counterfeit scams are attempts on the part of unwitting victims to palm their losses off onto unsuspecting buyers in a misguided attempt to recover their losses, much like passing a bill one knows to be counterfeit which would otherwise be confiscated and forwarded to the USSS DHS (though this practice on the part of shopkeepers and the government is no longer assiduously followed.)  This does not excuse the conduct.  I note it here as another motivational factor to consider.

I am dissatisfied with the responses evoked by Joshua22855's query.  This is not the secret life of Walter Mitty we're talking about here.  What's been suggested amounts to little more than putting a scammer on a Do Not Call Registry -- knowing full well the name, number and address will be changed, and the egregious conduct will continue, unabated.

I characterize the responses for what they really are: nothing more than an ineffective feel-good measure that  seemingly "addresses" the matter, while doing nothing to eradicate it.

"So what do you suggest?"

Ideally, I like the approach exemplified by the police dispatcher in the 1980 film: "The use of unnecessary violence in the apprehension of the "Blues Brothers," has been approved."  Unfortunately, that is not an option.

Second up, John Walsh -- or Dr. Phil, who promises to hunt scammers down, smoke them out, expose them publicly to embarrassment, accountability, and worse.

Spraying cockroaches and cajoling them to move along is too passive. I don't knock lists, but something stronger than a band-aid approach is called for.  I do not like to criticize without offering a solution but let's not pretend calling 311 to report a no heat, no hot water-problem is going to resolve the complaint.

(Note:  I will try to come up with a suitable alternative; in the meantime, my wife is waiting very patiently for me to return her phone.)

1 hour ago, World Colonial said:

I presume you are referring to the introduction of clad and the removal of silver from circulating coinage.  I started collecting in 1975, never did collect out of circulation and doubt I would have if I had been able start before 1965.  None of this coinage ever interested me, even as YN of 10.

[At the risk of getting yet another PM from an incredulous viewer demanding to know if I have any idea to whom I am directing my scattershot to, allow me to phrase my response cautiously...]

In all fairness to you, sir, anything worth saving from circulation by 1975, was long gone. I hesitate to ask just what it was that prompted you to develop an interest potent enough to inspire your user name if not everyday circulating coins. (I do not believe I have ever met, or know, anyone who has made a similar claim.) 

1 hour ago, World Colonial said:

....but it's my opinion that anyone who is looking to the US Mint (or any other mint) to "rescue" the hobby has got it backwards. 

For the record, I became disenchanted with "the hobby," not long after JFK's body lay in a catafalque.  I now accept that one cannot rescue anything beyond resuscitation.  If embrace the "change" means embrace the "clad,"  sorry, I'm not buying.  (Time to get back to work. Now, where's my slide ruler, protractor and No. 2 leads...?)

[I cannot, sir, I cannot.  Bad enough you risk ostracism and marginalization for simply acknowledging my comment.  Besides, VkurtB is surely watching. And I do not want to overstay my welcome on 1917's thread.]

1 hour ago, Alex in PA. said:

I have eaten Groundhog and it is absolutely terrible.  I would recommend Catfish and black eyed peas.  BTW:  For any of you who might ask - I have hunted, killed and eaten just about everything that walks, crawls or swims on the North American Continent.

[I would like to ask, but the very nature of my proposed inquiry would reflect very poorly on me.]

1 hour ago, ronnie stein said:

Longhorn saw its shadow today, back to the shade tree. 4 more weeks of hot weather in Texas. Good thing heat kills the 'virus', at least that's what I heard at the casino, and my favorite café, and at the lake yesterday.

[Heat kills the virus; hurricanes blow the dead carcasses away.]