Henri Charriere

Duplication

For the record, there were three French 20-franc gold roosters offered for sale in 2019, all of which deserve mention in this thread, as follows: 1899 Piefort Essai (minted on a thick planchet) that was PCGS-graded SP-63 (Splendide MS-60-64) which was offered for sale for $13,440+ (Luxembourg); 1899 PCGS SP-65 Geoffrey Winstein, Win Numis (I failed to note the price). 1900 NGC PF-67 Matte which was offered for sale by Liberty Coin, CA. for $24,400 (and was either sold or withdrawn from sale).

Fake News! I was hacked. All right, all right... "I coulda been a contender! I coulda had class! I coulda been somebody! Now I am a nobody! I am nothing but a social media bum, thanks to V Kurt B."

Has it been that long? My wife informs me I will be 69 next month. (I remember being 67, but have no memory of 68.) I have been telling people for the past two years I am 70 -- and they say, "You look pretty good for 70." A Mint State 70 sounds pretty good, too. What's all this gotta do with 1970-S proof quarters? Nothing.

I bask in the undeserving love and respect you shower me with VKurtB. I guess there is a part of me that just wants to see the average Joe get a fair shake. I have no enemies. I don't crave a following. You won't find me on social media. As I have stated on a prior occasion, I may not agree with everything everyone says, but I am constrained to defend, with my life, if necessary, everybody's right to express an opinion. That, of course, includes you for whom I have a begrudging respect for as the very first person to try to cut me down to size on this Forum. On balance, Coinbuf's, simple "No," was far more devastating. I was forced to give up my job refereeing the RichieRich2020 super heavyweight world championship, from which there is no coming back.😉

[Aside: I'd be willing to bet Mr. RWB, the scholarly author of the OP -- (which, being unfamiliar with the 1937 D. B. commemorative, was a revelation to me) -- never in his wildest dreams would have thought a straight-forward critique of a COIN WEEK article would provoke such a tangential fury in the hornet's nest this thread has become.]

(Can't. All I've pretty much got left are Roosters, remember?)

Not trying to be flippant here, but how does an ex-employee gain access to a federal facility -- or is he now an ex-employee who committed the dastardly act as an employee?

This is the baseless pejorative on-line term that has been leveled against me by those who I suspect do not appreciate, or perhaps do not understand, my brand of humor and take exception to my thoughts -- and support of underdogs who simply wish to get a second- third- or fourth opinion without being bullied and run out of town. You know you are onto something when the numismatic experts among us, shoot down a proposal to simply present a thorn in our collective sides (some eight pages long) to another coin expert as a waste of time only to find out, after referral and consultation, that the expert was delighted to investigate the matter. Troll? I've been called worse. And, Alex, thanks for making the Forum a place where we can all express our thoughts and feelings freely and without fear of unwarranted criticism. P.S. Regarding the matter of merger of TPGS... though I don't deign to know the inside story, I suspect some of the same naysayers now said the same thing re Bowers joining with Stack's, i.e., "Never happen! You don't know what you're talking about! The government won't allow it!" Really! They are businesses and businesses are run subject to bottom lines. Whether by hostile takeover or a simple determination that merger would be in their best interests, it can happen. You cannot rule it out. Law firms routinely reorganize, merge and dissolve because that's the way businesses survive. And with the Covid-19, we are entering uncharted territory. Anything can happen.

Who needs the cross-grade concession when you have artificial constructs like First Strikes, Limited Editions, special proprietary labels for that rare coin guy on tv, monster boxes certified retroactively and the various mints releasing stockpiled coins nobody knew were there, gold coins formerly housed anonymously in Europe to circumvent U.S. law, shipwrecked coins, ad infinitum, ad nauseam. You're talking small potatoes; I am talking Big Picture IMNSHO -- and I've got the rank amateur status to back it all up! 😉

Never say never! Never underestimate the power of the economic juggernauts amongst us that devour at will. These are perilous times. Lord & Taylor, around since forever, gone. Brooks Brothers, gone too. The Covid-19 virus has changed the landscape. How many people watching right now ever thought they would cancel a coin convention? I have seen a lot of surprises in my lifetime. Someone's loss is another's opportunity. The pending merger, as far as I am concerned, is a done deal. A few years hence you will marvel at the accurate prediction made by that rank amateur, ME! The one they called Troll!

Dem's fightin' words. I am glad I gave these gentlemen extra-wide berth...

Your explanation of "mirror" triggered both a memory, and a recollection: "Hmm, so that's what that was." . My brother and I began collecting Morgan dollars straight from the bank, as teenagers. I recall checking tail feathers for one date (we found both 7- and 8-tail varieties, 1878?) AND one that was exceptionally bright and shiny. This was very likely a PL specimen whereof you speak. Now I get it.

Someone, I forget who, posited in these chat rooms, that accepting cross-grade requests would "dilute" the brand. I say, Nonsense! I forsee a merger in the future, like NGC/PCGS et al., or a rechristening, like EXXON, and an end to the pretense of "brands" with the adoption of a scale everyone can live with, without exception or compromise, whether that be Sheldon, with a helpful Photograde-type accompaniment, or some other name. ONE brand with East and West portals, and branch brands as the volume dictates. One wonders how we managed with just the Red Book for nearly two score years. Everybody in favor, say Aye!

Remember the time I was shouted down by one irate viewer, with "Coin collecting is unfair. Get over it." Yeah. Another viewer, without referencing a specific comment I made, probably within the last 30 days, departed from the Rules governing this Forum, and denounced me with a crude pejorative term camouflaged with asterisks to pass the censors. You have spoken the truth, Alex. The way I see it, your comments are valid. And if there is someone out there who begs to differ, they are free to do so hopefully without challenging your credentials and resorting to name-calling. Not only do I agree with your opinion, I would venture to say you spoke from the heart with remarkable restraint. Good for you!

[Aside: On the matter of wall color, my wife said eggshell, I see off-white. I am staying clear of this heavyweight championship bout.]

With your mention of Whitman, my ears perked up. Just curious, how high a grade of coin would you consider inappropriate for display in a Whitman or, for that matter, a Dansco album? One clear advantage you have over me. You get to handle your coins occasionally; mine are locked away forever in see-thru coffins.

You're right about that. And this was before the S.S. Central America sank (1857) with enough gold to cause a panic. I love these historical tidbits!

Att: RWB Having gone through the time and trouble of posting this fascinating historical extract, I want you to know how much I appreciate seeing the fruits of your research. Clearly, your interest in numismatics extends well beyond the simple pleasures of collecting coins. Only a comparatively short time after gold was discovered in California, it is incredible to see how fast federal legislators could move in the days of horse-and-buggies and steamships -- no transcontinental trains; no planes. Good thing wiser heads prevailed. Thanks much for sharing!

In all honesty, if the site that posted the pictures of the earlier, NGC-certified specimen did it justice and was a fair representation, it didn't look like a proof either. I would be curious to know what the yield was, i.e., the price actually realized on this item, at the closing gavel. IMNSHO, it has no eye appeal, whatsoever. And coming from a rank amateur, I believe that carries some weight.😄

Nineteen seventeen hit this nail squarely on the head. These are precisely the questions the answers to which enquiring minds want to know. Nice shot over the bow, 1917! And I do hope Brian, and, by extension, those whose interest has been piqued get some satisfactory answers.

Nice Belgian block cobblestones. And a beautifully milled street. If the obverse and reverse are the same, it is not a coin, as noted by posters above. Too bad I don't have a Yakuza contact. Interesting piece, nonetheless!

I cannot speak for others but I wouldn't want to rely on "Yes" men who pride consistency over truth and honesty. I would want someone to "give it to me straight." It takes a considerable man to own up to his mistakes.

[Posted from cyberspace] My heartfelt thanks for re-considering! Added bonus: it turns out what many viewers, including myself, dismissed out-of-hand to be residual droppings of malignant tertian malaria, the estivo-autumnal variety, due to plasmodium falciparum, was actually a "diagnostic marker"!!! Who'd've thunk? Wondercoin is wonderful! A breath of fresh air! Thanks again, MarkFelt, for indulging the wishes of the underdogs among us.