Henri Charriere

The letter is somewhat unusual. However, it is the coin that makes the letter distinctive. It would have had to have accompanied the coin, physically, in an unbroken chain of custody since the date of minting to meet RWB's exacting standards. If it were placed in an envelope along with the coin (presumably sheathed in an appropriate protective holder) with a stamped wax seal, that would satisfy most numismatists. It is possible, however, RWB would contest the evidence. A great deal can transpires over one hundred years. Who sealed the envelope, when, where and who witnessed it? The preponderance of the evidence suggests credibility but you cannot equate that with conclusive proof beyond a reasonable doubt. You have to admire that kind of tenacity.

"The National Gold Bullion Depository at Fort Henry Knox," February 26, 2026, by Roger W. Burdette Everything you had always wanted to know about Fort Knox, its earliest beginnings and history. Packed with facts, figures and a few rarely seen photos. Don't miss it!

Here's an honest, forthright answer you rarely encounter on the Forum: I DO NOT KNOW. I would imagine coinage struck as Proofs are held to a higher standard. If they were not, it would have an adverse ripple effect on sales. Bear in mind, these are products minted for collectors, not circulation.

Highly unlikely. The proofs are made to exacting standards and specifications. The question is where were the Mint inspectors?

🐓: Say, how come nobody uses the term Denver mint officials "coined" after the theft back about 18 months? Q.A. Waffled? 🐓: No, "kustered." Q.A. Beats me.

Blast from the Past! Q.A. Alright, what've we got here?... a 135-year old coin in rather atrocious condition... a Grand Canyon under the ear, a .45 slug to the ear, denticles all shot, ruffled headdress feathers... and what was it you wished to direct my attention to again? 🐓 : A dot. Q.A.: A dot. I don't see any such thing anywhere on the obverse, but interestingly, the field encompassing ONE CENT, and more particularly, its NE quadrant, is riddled with such deposits. My discerning eye detects nine. Quite frankly, your one invisible dot on the obverse cannot trump my nine clearly visible such dots on the reverse. Their value, in view of the extensive PMD (corrosion, erosion, wear and tear) I leave to the experts lurking about.

Well, I can certainly understand why you feel the way you do. Under my proposed Statute of Limitations on alleged ERROR coins, any such claim you make would be automatically time-barred. If the coin is over 25 years old -- basically all coins minted during the 20th Century -- and found in circulation, the probability it exhibits the malady ascribed to it approaches zero. Ironically, had @EagleRJO urged you to submit it, solely on the photos you posted, he would be denounced by the membership as being irresponsible. I tell you what, re-post your photos minus the yawning margins, tell us what you see, and where, and we will offer you an opinion in language more suitable to your temperament.

...thanks...the entertainment value alone--judging by your continued interest, is well worth the price of admission...when your pronouncements are recognized, particularly by you, you know you've arrived.

[Enquiring minds would like to know if it was gaveled off raw with appertunences (paperwork attesting to its good character) or certified, and if the latter, the grade it was assigned.]

Thank you! If it weren't for that Swift lady, you would undoubtedly be my biggest fan. 🤣

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. None of the evidence produced is compelling or conclusive. I have seen measurably sharper, stronger and well-defined strikes displayed on the leading topics and threads on this Forum -- notably on the finely fluted horizontal lines on Shield nickels and the vertical lines defining the numerals of the CuNi III-cent pieces, of yore. These, are tame by comparison. How is this coin any more Special than any contemporary First Strike? Obverse: the hair due East of LIBERTY (which is by no means strongly struck) is weak and flat. Reverse: the outstretched wings of the eagle display feathers that are not well-defined. The horizontal and vertical lines of the shield are not sharply delineated. The tail feathers are not sharply struck; I have seen better on older Morgan dollars. (I have studiously avoided mention of the coin forwarded to the Annual Assay Commission which failed to pass muster during the Trial of the Tryx.) As regarding the letter and signature, the branch mint Director's title is inexplicably missing. Who was his superior? The Foreman's participation could easily have been enlisted -- or commandeered. What subordinate would refuse to sign a letter if directed to by his superior? (Many a Notary Public has been compromised in the past; the presence or absence of that person's seal and signature is of no moment.) This letter was produced in a vacuum, and continues to reside in one. If the coin were a freebie, it was not authorized. As to the sixth, seventh and eighth strikes, at what point does the term "Specimen" or "Special Strike," cease to be meaningful and continue to be awarded? Who's to say these were not but another in a long line of late-nite Mint shenanigans? I find inadequate conclusive proof and rule in favor of plaintiff without prejudice to renew. SO ORDERED. (Posted at the discretion of Moderation.)

I am going to order a copy as well along with two other books I once had. Might ss well before lose my sight completely. Re: The upside-down flag. I do not recall any ships being in the immediate vicinity. This greatly predates Samuel Finley Breese Morse's invention, the Morse Code. The sea was teeming with the cries of survivors in gale force winds.

[My reply, submitted for your approval, has been enshrined in the aptly named, "Unsolicited Comments" thread, at the discretion of Moderation.]

The following was written in reply to member RWB's assertion that the provenance of the gold found in the wreck of the S.S. Central America is unknown, and therefore of no research value... The Willamette Meteorite some members may recall is the largest Meteorite in the United States and the 6th largest in the world. We do not know precisely where it came from, when or where it struck the Earth -- or even when it was found! We do know it weighs 30,000 lbs. and arrived sometime before the end of the last Ice Age. We also know the indigenous people of the Willamette Valley, including the Confederate Tribes of the Grand Fionde Community of Oregon, demand its return. It has been residing at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City since its arrival with the assistance of twenty horse-drawn carriages in 1906. I believe Schliemann plundered the ruins of Troy in present-day Turkey; ISIS destroyed the tomb of Jonah in Mosul in present-day Iraq -- and the wind exists, though I cannot see it. The lengths to which the Ship of Gold's payload was documented, in meticulous detail, with the use of grids, coordinates and cameras on an underwater submersible, was unprecedented. The gold, the bars, personal mementoes, were all retrieved with the greatest of care. Period publications were consulted which enabled salvagers to conclusively locate and identify the wreck and manifests were pored over to indicate what would be found, how much and where. Many of those who died, heavily-laden with the gold they worked so hard to find, refused to empty their pockets. No wreck before or since was so carefully documented. Metallurgical experts can identify the origin of gold (and silver) from any area of the world. Some things you just have to accept on faith. Like the existence of Santa Claus. No one has credibly refuted his existence in centuries.

I do recall that a Red Book was dedicated to the recovery of various numismatic treasures, many unknown and unique, strewn over the debris field. Sadly, any vessel in a position to provide assistance would have itself be in peril. I would imagine this assertion must have been made by a survivor; I assume the ship's log book was lost.

Neither do I, but SP is an honorable grade. I see no harm in deferring to NGC on this one.

I would not want to speculate. Cows, deer, sheep, goats and antelopes chew their cud. When cud-chewing animals eat their food, most of the food is trapped in a special sack within its abdomen. I fail to see the correlation with old Teddy Bear.

Presently, as noted by an illustrious member of this Forum, the term Brilliant Uncirculated, or BU, is touted by one major TPGS as fully embracing the full gamut of Mint State grades from 60 through 70. Left unsaid is where, precisely, this leaves Uncirculated. The next grade down is AU-58. (AU-59, by mutual assent denotes the Line of Partition or demilitarized zone, DMZ.) To me, there are Uncirculated coins. All else are circulated, and Proofs (whether found in OGH or in change).

If I may, I should like to ask you a few questions (with your indulgence and at Moderation's discretion): Did you acquire this coin raw or already slabbed? If raw, what was its primary selling point to you? Was any representation made to you, adjectivally or otherwise, as to its grade? Rhetorical: If "ungraded," what was your thought as to how well it would fare after having undergone certification? Thank you.

"Implying that collecting is not fun"? You've been here a lot longer than I have. I have read a great deal about certifications and raw, albums vs. Set Registries and perhaps being amused by collectors' respective areas of interest, but I would not go so far as to suggest there are those who would imply that "collecting is not fun," or adversely affecting the hobby by belittling those whose interests diverge from theirs. We might good-naturedly needle those whose obsessions are a bit over the top, but that's about the extent of it. I love old copper. Thanks for dropping in.

Any lower and we'd've had people say, Well, it's certainly better than an XF. RIDICULOUS! One day, there'll be an article written about this. I maintain the coin was never circulated. It was simply examined (handled) by a succession of people, some of whom mishandled it. Minus the scar, none of the "aggravating" factors disqualifies the coin from Mint State consideration. "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

If anyone asks, simply tell them you meant the age of 60, not the grade.

I am going to guess, the OP, like me and a lot of other seasoned veterans, would not dare interfere with an aging process that has imparted to his coin, a nice bit of character.

Speaking strictly for myself, I WANT MY MONEY BACK! And the coin isn't even mine. 🤣

There has been a brouhaha brewing on the Forum now for some time as regarding the designation: SP. At issue were U.S. coins, exclusively. The intent of my interception was to head things off at the pass and alert the membership that with your coin we were now in uncharted waters where the usual descriptors to not apply. I am frankly delighted to hear South Korea has chosen NGC to grade their coins for owners, collectors, prospective buyers, sellers, dealers and auction houses. The term SP has a specific narrow definition in France, Germany and Spain that deviates significantly from the Sheldon scale adopted by the United States. I thank you for the courtesy of your reply and encourage you in your pursuit of coins in your area of interest.