Henri Charriere

[I am painfully aware this is an ancient thread..First, congratulations on your elevation to member from newbie. FYI: While I cannot account for the discrepancy, the First Member was Braddick who EOD on January 28, 2002, on what may have been Mark Feld's first post and is still active.

There is a legitimate numismatic term for a very specific coin condition known as "kerfuffle" which another member posted on another thread without referring to it as such. Incredibly, it is not an example of post-Mint damage of any kind, and I am relieved nobody was inclined to use it here. Carry on, gentlemen!

Follow-up... As expected, my report (complaint) to eBay, about eBay practices, went nowhere. I deleted all 42 search requests after wasting my time investigating them at length, again, last nite, and found the same request results simply re-listed with today's date. Not surprisingly, I was again forced to wade through scores, nay, hundreds of totally inapplicable offerings. Even my search requests for Original coins that have yet to be certified in MS-67-- and the elusive Restrikes certified as MS-68 by NGC, drew an avalanche of useless results. That's the bad news. The Good News is if you are one one of the upright, blameless members without sin who has become weary of my presence on the Forum and wish I were long gone, you will see your wish realized when winter, just around the corner, appears on spring's doorstep. I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE IT! In keeping with my earlier promise, both my Set Registries will come down enabling far more worthier contenders to take my place. And my "voice," on this Forum and the Board, will be heard no more.

[Side note: Funny how under increased magnification, the individual letters in L I B E R T Y become undecipherable. Without commenting on any alleged irregularities, I believe the decision to have this coin certified was a wise one. Very lovely example.]

Congratulations on your 20,000th post! Tempus fugit!

I think it very considerate of you to post, for those unacquainted with the matter at hand, a coin chosen at random that clearly illustrates the defect alluded to. Naturally, the coin mailed in to the mint was not a Morgan (and could not have been a Peace dollar which was introduced, coincidentally, that same year.) Of the quarter-dollars, both the Washington and Standing Liberty can be ruled out, having been introduced in 1932 and 1916, respectively, leaving the Barber as the likeliest culprit, though no specific date was mentioned. Any way you, the reader, wish to describe it, mining the official Mint records constitutes research and if it were not for the OP's motivation and limits which know no bounds, this collector appreciates the time and effort which could just as easily have been expended on less interesting, more mundane pursuits.

That's apparently exactly what happened. I switched browsers and was inundated with all the notifications that had been building up over time, simultaneously. There are features TPGS provide to collectors to assist in upgrading, but unfortunately they do not include MS-67 Roosters. 😢

@powermad5000 : You may wish to read the latest Topic I just posted, entitled: "eBay: False Advertising." I expressed an interest in being notified if any specific coin dates certified MS-67 showed up -- 42 in all, all received at a specific time this morning... all inapplicable. I attempted to report each, separately, but was prevented from doing so. Needless to say, I was disappointed.

I want to be very cautious as to how I address this issue so bear in mind, dear reader, this is a predicament that is mine, but may be yours as well. Accordingly, it is best to regard the following as a personal matter framed as a public service announcement. The great majority of members using the Chat Board feature know me and what I collect: French 20-franc gold roosters (1899-1914). Yesterday, after years of growing frustration and disenchantment, I disengaged myself from one search engine and decided to go back to Google, by Chrome. This morning, I received forty-two (42) consecutive, nearly-identical notifications, all time-stamped precisely at 11:38 a.m. which conformed to the following general format with a few variations. (Bear in mind, there is no one in the civilized world who is unaware I am interested in three coins: 1910, 1913 and 1914 examples certified in grade MS-67). "1899 France 20-Franc gold roo... Buy it now from $414... 3 new matches today." "See All Results," followed, encircled by a box. Not One Match was pertinent! As if this were not egregious enough, the message, "Similar items you may be interested in," similarly boxed, was followed by scores of arbitrary space fillers listed by every Tom, Duck and Harry in the continguous United States. For the doubting Thomas's out there, listings were made for all 16 coins in the series, some obviously duplications, with and without any regard to raw or certified status. One promising entry read: "ngc MS68 french 20-fr..." Not surprisingly, there was no such coin (though two have been so certified). I do not wish to make sweeping generalizations as regarding eBay practices, but I quickly learned you, the prospective buyer, is limited to ONE complaint. I expect my complaint to be dismissed out of hand, without comment. Sixteen coins, a purported "3 new matches today," followed by scores of inapplicable listings... you do the math and you'll understand why I am not a happy camper. Ironically, I was dissatisfied with my previous search engine because I refused to believe there was nothing out there in the face of burgeoning certifications. It would be futile to expect eBay to change their ways. I have revised my Coin Market Place post to reflect the fact I am prepared to offer any owner, collector or member an additional $500. in addition to the FMV to anyone as an inducement to consider parting with their precious piece, subject to review by.guidelines and Moderation oversight.

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE! FRENCH 20-FRANC GOLD ROOSTER (or Coq Marianne) 1910, and/or 1914 PCGS-CERTIFIED MS-67 / MS-67+ [KM: 857; F-535; GADOURY: 1064a]

INTERMISSION: Anybody fluent in Braille? I would like to know the secret hidden in plain sight behind that arrangement of dots as arrayed around the edge of the Italian coin in post position 1.

For the collector curious as to how these stack up with the present-day Monster Boxes, 500 troy ounces come out to 31.25 pounds. Those weighed roughly twice that. If it had been me, considering this was an intra-facility transfer, I would have authorized the use of banded kegs unless dollies were available.

Yes, they are in a state of transition. It's easy to demand Facebook police its site but that would require hiring more personnel and a greater outlay of funds. I would imagine eBay has had its fill of dishonest coin sellers.

Interesting. Minus Taxy's book, who's to say this isn't simply a variety like coins with and w/o rays? In France, numismatists accept the fact that the edges of some 1907 20-franc roosters are "embossed" with the high-relief legend used on the earlier Originals minted from 1899 to 1906. Only problem is, though they exist in numbers significant enough to be recognized, no one does -- but no one dares suggest they are counterfeits. (I may be wrong, but I cannot recall ever seeing a well-worn contemporary counterfeit.) Yours is a well-worn piece that has seen circulation. Who knows, maybe RWB will discover a memo somewhere acknowledging them as unusual varieties not all of which were recalled. Under the circumstances, I would like to appeal to @powermad5000 's sense of fair play and artistic expression to grant you a variance. Only problem is mere possession of a counterfeit is unlawful and illegal. Any idea what it's made of?

Well, if you are going to honor Gen. LaFayette, who incidentally has had statues erected in his honor all over New York City, the least you can do is throw in a rooster. 🐓

Earliest number I have ever seen on a P--- slab! What a bargain!

What an embarrassment!

If it is not an imposition, I would like to know what that "lettering" read. Hopefully, not "Made in China." 🤣

[The entire procedure has been etched in granite on the very first post posted on page one, back in 2006. Any deviance (including comments) are generally absolutely discouraged. To the OP, this is a life and death matter. Violators will be reprimanded, as scores have before you with a curt Back on Track! Ten thousand posts spread over three hundred thirty [cell phone] pages spanning almost two generations.]

Time will tell.

[I am going to withhold comment. The Trans-Siberian Railway runs thru ten times zones. I don't know I am in the mood for another forced expulsion to Vladivostok...]

FWIW... the current silver melt value, at post time, is $4.18.

If the following is true, and I have no basis to doubt it, I owe the Great Zadok a heartfelt apology... According to an official dispatch posted 11/13/2023 (yesterday) and entitled: "CCG (Certified Collectibles Group) to open Dubai office in 2024"... "Collectibles submitted to CCG's Dubai office will be transported with full insurance coverage (based on the submitters declared value) to CCG Headquarters [Sarasota] for authentication, grading and encapsulation. The collectibles will then be transported back to the Dubai office (again with full insurance coverage) to be returned to the submitter." One could argue this news flash only pertains to CCG and not NGC, but it is clear that, by extension, it would apply to coins as well and to other collectibles submitted to overseas offices. Accordingly, I retract my uninformed assumption and offer to member z my sincerest apologies.

The first time I came across this Topic, lacking familiarity with the subject matter, I read it and moved on until Eureka! it suddenly occurred to me why I was initially alarmed about the barely discernable lines I observed on a gold Rooster I had acquired from overseas a few years back. I had no idea what they were or their significance. Now a member above "quoting" Sandon said you have to look "VERY CLOSELY" to tell the difference, but as the venerable VKurtB counseled me early on years ago, I may not, by extension use my highly irregular ["it's just not done, numismatically"] 30-power loupe to investigate the presence of lands and grooves on the coin's surface. Fair enough. I haven't. Instead, I cheated and shone a light obliquely at the coin from various directions. (Posting the coin here would serve no purpose as it presently resides entombed in plastic and fails to adequately display the evidence alluded to.) In any event, I appreciate the facts as set forth in this thread because it appears the phenomenon I see are but a manifestation of die polish lines. The coin, graded MS-67, exhibits full mint luster revealing details that otherwise would never be seen as sharply on lesser graded examples. I thank the OP for introducing the topic, Sandon for expounding on it, and my fellow members for weighing in.

Appears to be a fairly strong strike with sharp features. May want to consider submitting. 🤔