Henri Charriere

6 hours ago, Insider said:

I didn't hear another thing about it but I guarantee the guys lost a great deal of faith in me.   

 

 

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.

17 hours ago, MarkFeld said:

I hope you weren’t being serious. Nothing would would resolve this firmly and with finality for a certain person, unless it supported his dream.

[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.

The only thing I see encouraging here is it is gold and gold is on a meteoric rise.  Even if you were to restore this coin, somehow, some way, I believe a telltale mark would be left of the indignity visited upon it. It was sold to you at or about melt value because someone deemed it to be worth nothing more than scrap. I just don't know if it is worth salvaging in the condition it is in.

On 8/7/2020 at 8:27 PM, Modwriter said:

Be careful with ebay. Only buy from a 5 star seller there. Was the $35,000 quarter graded and slabbed by one of the third party grading services? If I was to buy a $35,000 quarter, I would only buy it through a reputable auction house such as Heritage Auctions.

I totally agree. Also, stay away from Etsy, be wary of eBay (consult customer reviews) and exercise caution with anything offered for sale from China. One more thing, if a seller says his coin presented in a fancy case was certified by a Third Party Grading service, don't be afraid to ask him about the grade if he doesn't mention it. 

19 hours ago, Voelker said:

I have, what I believe, might be a very rare error. If anybody can find information on this please let me know

Coin is an 1884 3 cent nickel. It has a double die on the date. I've included pics. On the full coin it just makes the date look a bit fudgy. On the 30x pic it's more evident. The 60x pic is almost too blurry to be of help.

Am thinking of having graded but don't know a declared value.

[Another 30x user! Very handy tool. Nice to know I am not the only one. Do hope you get the answer you seek.]

19 hours ago, Voelker said:

 

On 5/31/2020 at 8:30 PM, t-arc said:

Technically it is a “doubled die” and not a “double die” but more people use the incorrect term “double die” than the correct terminology.  I think this is because of the two

D’s together at the end of the first and the beginning of the second word.  The “elision” process causes both D’s  to be dropped because it is just easier to say “double die”.

[Off-tangent query:  any theory as to how baby's mother became baby mama?]

Gentlemen! Gentlemen!  Somewhere between Attack Speed and Ramming Speed, with the hortator steadily beating his drum, Coinbuf uttered the "No" heard 'round the world.  I was warned that if I lose Coinbuf, I'd lose the ship.  Accordingly, I hereby tender my resignation as referee of this match and, having served with distinction, abandon this thread forthwith.  I wish my successor luck in resolving this matter amicably.

Sincerely, the Troll

There is something, I don't know what it is, that is so unsatisfying about advancing a perfectly legitimate suggestion which would resolve this affair firmly and with finality, and then withdrawing it for no other reason than because of one's belief Wonderland would not want to look at it, irrespective of the reasons cited.  What are we all afraid of?  If I appeal a matter all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, the VERY WORST that can happen is receiving a "cert. denied" ruling, i.e., "we decline to review the matter set before us."

This Wonderland was the most promising lead yet. To extinguish it before it has had a chance to be test-driven is really very sad.  What is everyone afraid of? Don't leave us all dangling. Kindly reconsider and follow thru. And again, let the chips fall where they may.

On 7/8/2020 at 11:04 AM, realone said:

Coming from a place where graffiti is celebrated as artistic expression and not vandalism or damage to property (New York City) I am inclined to carve out an exception for this exceptionally beautiful coin. Had the engraving been non-italic and performed without grace, it would be a different story. Thanks for sharing as I haven't seen anything like it.

I don't know why anyone would compromise his values and feel obligated to dignify anything I have written (usually tongue-in-cheek; often dripping with sarcasm) with a rhetorical rant  Viewers know my story well... stopped out after silver was taken out of coinage, dove back in after surgery last year, and while still under the influence of prescribed painkillers, amassed a world class collection of French 20-franc gold rooster which accords me the unprecedented privilege and honor of refereeing skirmishes between the misfits and the one-liners and the has-beens and the might've beens and the would-bes and the ne'er-do-wells and the God-knows-whats of the highly esteemed collector community. My apologies if I left anyone out. Now aren't you sorry you asked?

1 minute ago, Coinbuf said:

What makes you think the op would value another "expert" opinion over his own?

(Shush!  Don't you want this travesty to end?)

1 minute ago, MarkFeld said:

Making the assessment wouldn’t take much time at all. But others, who are well qualified, have already done that. And it’s the postmortem that can be time consuming.

However, I will point him to this thread and see if he wishes to comment.

Fair enough. (Just about everyone else has been viewing this thread. Why deprive him of the pleasure.) 

Re the "loom," I marvel at the ancient mounting marks left by a prehistoric slab at roughly 10, 2, 4 and 8 o' clock.  I am kidding, of course!  Unique piece. I have never seen anything like it. Nice catch, and thanks for sharing it!

45 minutes ago, MarkFeld said:

While obviously well intended, your suggestion gives credence to a coin that is undeserving and would subject Wondercoin to an immense waste of time.

Immense waste of time?  How so?  How much time would Wondercoin need to make an assessment? How much time did onlookers on this site need to render their condemnations?  I say the OP ought to follow through on this suggestion, let the chips fall where they may, and put an end to this vulgar sideshow.

(A rather encouraging development if I may say so myself.  Thank you, World Colonial, for trying to help a fellow collector in distress!)

On 7/31/2020 at 1:04 PM, ronnie stein said:

Of course tomorrow, when my checking account is a little short to pay all of the bills, I might think differently, expertly certified as genuine, I believe I'll just go with that.    

Had to come back and review these postings...  I had (still have) a situation where a coin I bought, described as a "frosty" gem in MS-66, arrived with a quite evident latent fingerprint. What to do? I called the dealer but, though he offered to take it back, quickly realized he was not responsible for the grade. Would it have been an MS-67 without the "distraction"? Only a grader would know for sure.  So I have the coin and simple courtesy requires me to mention the defect should I ever be inclined to sell it. [If I were the grader, I would have consulted my fellow graders to see if the least intrusive restoration/conservation procedure could be utilized -- as a matter of course, and courtesy, but I guess the very suggestion is sacrilegious.]

10 hours ago, benjmurts said:

Very nice specimen thanks to the responsible stewardship of previous owners.

3 minutes ago, ldhair said:

Very lovely!  One of my all-time favorites. Thanks for sharing it!

5 hours ago, kbbpll said:

Another sandblasting technique. The panel in the upper right is believed to be about 11,000 years old. I was there this morning, after I spent my special matte finish dime on a smoothie.

The epitome of cruelty but you've got me laughing so hard I can no longer see! (Would you hand me a Kleenex, dear.... what are you laughing about?... it's a long story, eight pages, 200 some-odd posts.  Ha! Ha! Ha!)

7 hours ago, Big Nub numismatics said:

I like how we've all tried to stay away but this thread is all too much fun!

I AM ASHAMED TO SAY, I AGREE. LOL!

7 hours ago, Big Nub numismatics said:

 

6 hours ago, Insider said:

PS   With FEW exceptions ANYONE else who sends an ANACS or ICG slab to NGC or PCGS for cross or upgrade is going to be disappointed most of the time.  Why should a top two TPGS admit that a second tier TPGS that folks dismiss with jokes can grade on par with them and cross the coin making it more valuable in their slab?   Send them in raw for a better shot.

7 hours ago, Insider said:

 

Over the decades, I've worked at three of today's major TPGS (not  PCGS) plus two others.  Therefore, I'll write that your post is the most ignorant opinion I've read this year!  This thread started as a disaster in the making and crashed with your comment. 

Obviously, you are unaware of the fact that some of the professional authenticators at ANACS and ICG have been detecting fakes long before some of the experts at the top two services were out of school!   With the exception of Rick Montgomery, most of the top professionals at NGC and PCGS began as coin dealers.  Enough said.  Thankfully, over time, those ex-dealers at the top two services have gained the respect of their peers when they became extremely good at what they do.  So today, there is very little difference between the pool of expertise at all four major services.  Still, for some reason - I can think of a few possibilities - the experts at PCGS and NGC have EACH slabbed more fakes as genuine than both ANACS and ICG combined!  That's what makes your post totally uninformed. 

As to this thread.  Quit playing games.  WHAT IS THE COIN!   That makes a big difference.  Some coins are better sent to one service while the other service is better at authenticating other types.  As to detail grading vs straight grading  the same coin - it happens ALL THE TIME.  In my experience, ICG and ANACS tend to be less forgiving for cleaned or damaged coins.   

This is the NGC forum.  Otherwise, I would tell you the very simple solution to your question.  Since I cannot do that, I advise the OP to call NGC and ask to speak to Rick.  Lay out the case in ONE MINUTE and ask him what you should do - he is a busy person. I think you'll be satisfied with the result.     

[Having sustained third-degree burns on my left hand by merely holding the cellphone containing your rolling, blistering commentary, I will continue to hunt-and-peck with my unscalded right.] 

In the earliest Hebrew-Aramaic scrolls, God's unique name, represented by a tetragrammaton, was never pronounced. King James substituted JHVH (or YHWH) with "LORD," using "Lord" to refer to his son, hence the awkward: "The LORD said unto my Lord,...."  Ps 110:1 KJV.

Your commentary which addresses an [apparently] forbidden subject, the gods comprising TPGS, lays bare a series of fascinating facts I personally find interesting.  For example, by extension, who better to grade a French coin than the folks affiliated with the foreign office of the TPGS located in that country?  (As an old time NYC police detective convincingly argued, "if you are shot, you want to be taken to Harlem or Lincoln  -- public hospitals with ample experience in treating gun-shot wounds." Not a private facility with limited exposure to mayhem.)  I agree with your argument, as so eloquently set forth, that, if I may use the analogy, is not unlike baseball teams with "greatness" displayed at intervals, according to the year and experience of the players employed. Likewise, the authoritativeness of a TPG is dependent on the graders then employed. Valid point. Does not Michelin rate restaurants based on, among other things, the master chef choreographing activities in the kitchen? Unskilled chef, poor meal quality. Tellingly, NGC reportedly will allow PCGS-graded coins in their Set Registry -- with the exception of World Gold which requires a certain expertise to process owing to disparate grading systems.  Thank you for taking the time to offer your insight! (I have to go  seek first-aid for my injuries.)

On 8/6/2020 at 11:18 AM, Conder101 said:

I would have difficulty buying the "overheated in annealing" theory.  There shouldn't be that much expansion until the metal reached at least the "plastic" stage and that temperature should be well above what would be needed for simple annealing.  The second explanation is more likely and is the typical explanation used today.  So I'd say the stuck die is the more probable explanation

Maybe so but look at the date on the missive: a different time and a totally different era.  Are you prepared to vouch for conditions at that mint circa the date in question? (I can just see see a researcher giving himself a light smack on the forehead whilst exclaiming, "That was the handiwork of Shapiro and his bozo sidekick, Rabinowitz! Two of the most incompetent employees to ever [dis]grace the Mint!) Well, Conder 101, you get my drift.

1 hour ago, 1917 said:

 

 

That said, I also am not into the registry game... Too expensive for me 

I cannot, for the life of me, remember whether my inadvertent discovery of a Set Registry acted as a catalyst propelling me into the stratospheric heights of collecting, or was merely me exhibiting the traits of a Virgo's compulsion for perfection.  Either way, it was a pricey ride fraught with peril, i.e., buying merchandise sight unseen. Your collection is magnificent. I give you a giant toolbar-like E for Effort!

15 minutes ago, Modwriter said:

I have several 65-98 Washington quarters in my collection that are MS grade obverse and reverse, but the reeded edges are worn smooth or near smooth. Do the grading services downgrade if the reeds are worn?

While I cannot answer your query with authoritative confidence, I can state that I do not recall ever seeing a Washington clad quarter exhibiting signs of this affliction. Near smooth? (Just a moment. I have quarters. Let me take a look...) Well, I'll be!  I have numerous such examples in your date range, however, I am unable to reconcile condition, with the assigned grade.  I would not characterize any of these old work horses as Mint State. As to whether such a phenomenon would militate against you at a TPGS inquest, to me that would be an invitation to take a closer look. I'll let the experts with 150 years of aggregate numismatic experience weigh in on this.

To my many detractors who mocked my use of a 30-power loupe:  do you honestly think you would be able to detect the barely imperceptible vibration of this gem with a mere 5-to-7 jammy?  Take a good look at those top three photographs. Thank you, Mr. Hinkle, for vindicating me once again. And good luck on your quest!