Henri Charriere

You were grading on an assembly line. I am conducting autopsies. Like that all-seeing eye on The Great Seal of the one-dollar bill, nothing escapes my gaze.

On another site that routinely, liberally, and some might say, unjustifiably "collapsed," i.e., censored contributors' remarks -- Be Nice, Be Respectful, was their constant refrain -- I would very often refer to their "Moderation Committee" as the "Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue" squad, a real-life entity not unlike the clerics in Kabul who carried little whips to enforce religious edicts like not cutting off your beard (men) or exposing too much face or ankle (women). If I wanted something more rambunctious than simple courtesy and respect, I could always tune in to Jerry Springer. There have been some eloquent orators who have more than made up for the wild cowboys on this thread, now a respectable 200 post, seven page, thread, long enough to be woven into a garment. Great stuff!

I wonder where my esteemed colleague, VKurtB, stands on this. It was he who, utilizing his Toolbar for added emphasis, lambasted my use of a 30-power loupe (in lieu of a five-or ten-power hand-held lens) as NEVER done. And here we have (the rather aptly named) INSIDER casually confiding that no less than a "stereo microscope" was employed routinely for grading. This is arguably the most interesting and informative recitation I have come across since I stumbled into this chat room. (I am not even going to ask who Old Crack Eye was.) Thank you so much for sharing your memoirs!

I cannot help but feel our learned colleague, VKurtB, is an outlier, erudite and confident enough to consult historical sources at will, and quote them freely with such well-lubricated ease that one may attempt to engage him only at one's peril. I, for one, am both impressed and intimidated. This thread lost me by going off on a tangent with mines. Next thing I know, someone will sweep us along on a spelunking safari. Onlookers to the fray fervently pray Zink Zonk under contract with NGC (at least in my mind) will exterminate the nuisance pestilence this strain of thread has devolved into, but rest assured, we haven't lost a single (allegedly) disinterested party who regularly monitor the site quietly, without comment. Poor RichieRich2020, he never got the validation he sought and matte whatevers are not my area of expertise.

Good point. I have never done so and, quite frankly, never tampered with the flimsy stapled together specimens, pre protective holders (circa 1950s) but then, the gentleman wishes to photograph his coin(s) preparatory to sale. That's his prerogative, I guess.

I am not comfortable with the definition of opinion as used here. Wasn't this analogized with a certain unmentionable part of the human anatomy, followed by the phrase Everyone's got one? An opinion is what the weather's going to be like tomorrow which carries no value. On this very site a collector was mocked for rejecting the experienced assessment of a professional, highly-respected grader (Fred Weinberg?) who gets paid a fee to appraise a coin which may be pivotal to presenting it at an auction. An opinion is who's going to be the next Kentucky Derby winner to win the Triple Crown at Belmont backed by spurious claims and selective statistics. The only exceptions are opinions which are handed down by the various federal courts the majority of whom wouldn't be caught dead expounding upon their reasoning in a gossip column or as a guest on the talk show circuit.

Obviously, I stand corrected.

This dialogue reminds me of that scene in the restaurant where Joe Pesci grabs that waiter by the tie, and says "You embarrass me in front of my friends, and you don't think you're being out of order?" (Goodfellas, 1990) The simple unvarnished truth is I was at home recovering from major surgery -- and had been warned not to make any important decisions (under the influence of painkillers, oxycodone) was surfing the internet when, out of curiosity, I decided to see how coins I had purchased 50 years ago had held up in the interim... one thing led to another, and all of the sudden, a lovely little gold rooster caught my eye, and I made up my mind, then and there, she was to be mine, no matter how high the bidding went. I kept my promise, and then suddenly encountered another, another, and then an encapsulated one! I bought, I believe three, and only then discovered there were only 16 in the entire series. Every rooster I encountered was a challenge and I took every bid as a personal affront. I waited until three minutes to post time, bid furiously, and that's alI I remember. Many of the earlier ones resided in France, Germany -- even Serbia. I didn't buy these roosters, I paid a ransom to obtain their freedom. So, as far as I am concerned this was not the actions of a sane man. One day every slot was filled and then the upgrades began. Truth be told, VKurtB -- and you will never hear this from another collector, I was purchasing upgrades BEFORE I received the lower grades! Would you buy a coin before receiving the first of that date which was still in transit from an overseas location? One time my shipment, a real doozy comprised of three upper echelon grades, sent via FedEx, was seized by Customs which issued something akin to an Interpol Red Notice demanding action on my part within five days. Did I submit to their unseemly interrogation which included divulging my full name, DOB and Social Security number over the wire? What would you do if at the slightest hint of resistance they informed you the shipment was being returned? I didn't like it, but I submitted -- even as the questioning took a personal intrusive turn. So, yes, my friend, I plead guilty with an explanation. Now, you embarrass me in front of all my friends and you don't think you're out of order? Set registry? I am guessing I had most of the pieces prior to discovering there was a set registry and recorded their arrival en masse in the order of their arrival. Thank you for honoring me with your query. If it had come from the likes of Ratzie33 or RichieRich2020 I would have been gobsmacked like Gleason in the Honeymooners: "HAMADAHAMADAHAMADA!"

He must have offended the penny people, greatly.

Hmm, on more than a few occasions, I have gotten crisp EPQ Federal Reserve banknotes seemingly straight off the press in Ft. Worth, destined for districts out west, like L Sacramento, in B New York. On only one occasion do I recall picking up a roll of coins from the Dahlonega or New Orleans mints. 😀😉

I am ashamed to say the thought has crossed my mind. After all, non-drinkers do not sit around agonizing over whether they may be alcoholics.

Psychopathologically speaking, we are all complicit in this now seven-page phenomenon.

The gentleman, an independent researcher, simply seeks validation from as many disparate sources that care to respond.

I must be getting senile in my old age.

[Pardon my intrusion, but the Federal Reserve isn't a shot-caller. Congress is the one voting on appropriations and without funding from Congress, neither the Federal Reserve or the Mint can act unilaterally. (If I am wrong, someone will undoubtedly avail himself of the unprecedented opportunity to eviscerate me.)

"When will this hobby, or what little remains of it, decide that basic truth and honesty...." Stinging words that resound in my head as I mourn the unconscionably premature passing of a hobby, once dominated by coin collectors and coin shops, now almost the exclusive domain/province of investors, auction houses and TPGS. Remember when the hobby managed perfectly well with just Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Fine, VF, EF, and UNC, and Proof grades? Some fifty years, if memory serves. But UNC just wasn't good enough. "Almost" UNC crept in. Then UNC itself was split into Choice, Gem and Brilliant strains. That, too, proved insufficient. The earthshaking Richter, pardon me, Sheldon Scale, was introduced and with it ten, count 'em, TEN! gradations for UNC alone, now rechristened, whoa Nelly: "Mint State." Proof was proof, period. But Proof -- not a grade, but a unique process -- was not immune to dissection. Hence "Proof-like," which, to quote Shakespeare again, is nothing more than "wagging thy tongue in noise so rude against me," i.e., an artificial construct and an abomination, pure and simple. (Even "Business Strike" doesn't sit well with me, truth be told.) To all who have been forced to weather my obscenely long, often rude, crude and vulgar rants, my apologies, but RWBs eloquent words -- "When will this hobby" -- have struck a raw nerve within me. We need to get back to basics and keep things in perspective or the commodities brokers running amok among us will destroy every vestige of decency and integrity this pursuit, quaintly known as coin collecting or numismatics, once enjoyed. Peace out.

Lucky you.

Well, I wouldn't go that far. As my, er, uh, sister once said (paraphrasing slightly) there is nothing wrong with the OP. He is what he represents himself to be and how we choose to perceive him. The real problem is US, the collector community, which repeatedly engages a subject that quite evidently is unwilling or unable to yield to mob pressure. After all, with the touch of a thumb or click of a mouse, the problem takes care of itself very nicely. The only spectators who come out ahead are Alex B or Mr. Hinkle who tune in strictly for the entertainment value.

There is a part of me that says, "I object! Leading the witness." Here's why... back when I was a clerk for a Diamond District emporium they would send me, with a diamond ring to be appraised -- only the ring would have attached to it a distinctive colored band and inventory number identifying it as, wink! wink!, so-and-so jewelers. In Trump-speak: Unfair! If you want a completely unbiased opinion, why would you do that? Even your rank amateur, ME!, wouldn't do that.

What prompted you to soak it in olive oil? Oh, I get it now. Olive Street, St. Louis. (Lemme find out VKurtB is not the only mad scientist cooking up concoctions!)

Actually, much worse. He was told what he was holding in his hand, didn't exist! In bureaucrat-speak, of course.

Gold is up 30%. Across-the-board unavailability at the high end has hindered me; unbeknownst to me (owing to my newfound newbie-ness status) I plunged in while prices were comparatively low. There are people out there trying to make a buck. Be extra cautious!

Googled Lucy Bop and got a You Tube video with neither likes nor dislikes for my trouble. I want my money back!

Miracles do happen, a fact worth acknowledging. I keep thinking about that kid who received a letter from a government official stating no 1943 copper pennies were made. Good thing he put it in a drawer at home. He was vindicated years later. Too bad he didn't live long enough to enjoy the fruits of his discovery.

[Forget about giving a thread legs. We, the devoted RR2020 fraternity, have given this thread golden wings. May the outpouring of knowledge and affection from this spigot continue unabated to time indefinite, even forever.]