Henri Charriere

[Throw in a little John Philip Sousa to sweeten the pot and I'll be back sooner than you can utter TROLL!!!

Objective: 1995-W PR-70 DCAM SILVER AE Subjective: "Fair Market Value," $0.00/$999./$86,655./ $15-16,000.

Okay, so what is the most laughable U.S. commemorative coin design, and why?

If we want to reinvigorate the Forum we must resist the urge to denigrate other collectors. The OP is now free to consult this excellent source of information and take his inquiry further from there as he wishes.

To be honest, I cannot help but admire the chutzpah of someone, who, fully vetted coin in hand, is curious to see what the experts have to say about it. I still do not see the doubled-die effect, but perhaps the OP would accommodate those of us eager to see for themselves what a top-shelf TPGS saw in awarding the designation.

As probably the only person who feels the 1955 Lincoln cent set the gold standard for doubled-died coins, a bar so high no other coin to my knowledge has ever exceeded it in self-evident detail in the past sixty years, allow me to make a suggestion. At all times if possible, submit for perusal here a clear, close-up of precisely what it is you wish others to consider including close-ups of the entire obverse and reverse sides. It seems a TPGS has already awarded your coin a much coveted doubled-die classification as well as a high grade. No one on this Forum is in a position to challenge that designation whether it is observable to us, or not.

The line between laughing at someone, and laughing with him, is often thin. I doubt at my age I would have the wherewithal to see such a difficult matter thru to a satisfactory conclusion. That guy could be any one of us.

I haven't the foggiest -- I only collect them, or did. On my desk, in my hand-printing, is a table with years, Mint state conditions, and the census figures of TPGS, updated monthly. I have been unable to upgrade due to lack of availability in the top grades. Complicating matters is a great deal of speculation as to how many such coins were melted and when. The vast majority of upper fringe coins do not reside in any Set Registry. I am a retired rooster meister, by default.

A free-wheeling discussion? An interrogatory? VKurtB, among others, would absolutely, positively not allow it! Out of the question.

Actually, I was just lamenting the fact that if they exuded greatness, the cut-off date would preclude them from consideration.

"Counterfeiting is a prehistoric form of gainful skulduggery. The idea of money was conceived somewhere on the other side of antiquity, and so was the idea of counterfeit money. The idea of money is older than the idea of counterfeit money, but older, perhaps, by no more than a few minutes." -St. Clair McKELWAY

Funny how I thought those California gold issues were universally referred to as octagonals.

I would hope not as the advice of experts militates against such an exercise in futility. Plus, he is not in physical shape to pursue such an undertaking not to mention the related costs involved vis-a-vis food, clothing, shelter -- and transportation. (If you'd've had a 1943 copper penny slip thru your hands, you might be inclined to grasp at straws, too.) You've got to admire the man for his spunk in the face of extreme odds.

Considering the 1899 and 1900 French 20-franc gold roosters, the first and second years of mintage, are also its rarest issues, this would be a personal travesty for me. Then again, "greatness" is in the eye of the beholder.

I vaguely remember the negative press received on the Girl Scouts coin of a few years back. The only correct response, regardless of personal preference, is any coin which failed to sell a fraction of its maximum authorized mintage as dictated by common demand. Like most collectors, I prefer the more classic, symbolic representations on coins. That footprint on the moon just doesn't cut it for me.

Some of this stuff reminds me of a T-shirt I saw on a New York City subway a few years back: "I'M NOT A GYNECOLOGIST BUT I'LL TAKE A LOOK."

One small footnote... the appertunance at the top is a tipoff your coin is a medal.

This is true but, as it is said, there are two sides to every story and I would always be interested in hearing theres, warts and all.

Inexplicable error! Three-inch wide planchet! Scandalous!

Me, too! An unprecedented opportunity to sound off on my French gold roosters! Can't wait!

I don't know that I can. I am born to text and this site has gotten into my DNA. If this Forum hews toward the more academic, I will simply have to dispense with the theatrics. Let's see what happens.

[Failure to attract good talent, is not an option, gentlemen. Bear in mind, marginal types intermittently infest the thread -- and you've got Quintus Arrius biding his time patiently in the wings ready to make good on his threat to jump back into the fray in T minus sixteen days and counting...] 😄😉

Thoroughly enjoyable thread! I look forward to seeing many more such conteubutions from you.

I don't know about the die-doubling D -- which I seriously doubt can be detected with a regulation five-to-seven power glass -- but I do see a fallopian tube connecting the I and B in PLURIBUS N/NW of the D mint mark.

[It may very well be. I was hoping the likes of Just Bob would take the bait and request a photo of the reverse which I would be unable to provide because the following descriptors were inexplicably placed inside the interlocking state rings at the bottom by the die engraver, as follows: "2 ozt" (Virginia) ".999" (Maryland) and "silver" (Delaware). And yes, it has a reeded edge. I believe I paid $37. for it from the Intaglio mint.] 😉