Henri Charriere

A few years ago, a gentleman from a foreign land won a MAJOR lottery here and was told he had to mail his winning ticket to the state capital which he did, placing it in an envelophe with the appropriate address and postage... but not mailing it certified, RRR, registered or insured.  The fact that he had won was not newsworthy, but his cavalier attitude and absolute trust and faith in the mails was front-page news. Everyone I know thought it to be hilarious. "Who does that"?
Today, I emulated his move and raised the stakes. After getting a notification from HA that items which matched my 🐓  want list were coming up for auction, I felt exactly the way any collector of top pops would feel if he eagerly sped thru 15 items only to find they were akin to "parking lot" finds. Apparently, someone who became disenchanted with his Set Registry had dismantled it and was in the process of selling it.  [Tellingly, none were the harder-to-find "Originals."] I had listed my interests with specificity and I felt as though someone with a long memory smacked his head, and declared: "Send those pix to that Rooster guy up in New York." Then I re-read the topic regarding hitting the "upgrade wall". Nothing new, not in weeks or months -- but years.
In another thread, uncle z made a perspicacious comment bespeaking great familiarity if not experience.  In an off-beat comment, I confided I had gotten so disgusted with my forced inertia, I entertained the thought of starting a "kid brother" 10 francs gold rooster set.  In so many words, z suggested it would not be easy.
Today, I did something impulsively:  I sent money thru the mail.  Some of you would say, "So what? That's an every day thing." Allow me to elaborate. I took a greeting card, addressed it to a specific person I never saw, spoke to, or wrote to, placed twenty crisp benjamins in it, sealed it as one normal would, and handed it to a postal clerk.  She threw it on a scale and listed my options on a reader. I told her No, no hazardous materials, etc. I rejected all the other options (which were prohibitively expensive and might have attracted unwanted attention, "Who registers or insures a greeting card?" and paid her $2.80 (for a letter/greeting card being flown Air Mail) that weighed all of 1.40 oz., and left.  To avoid a stampede to the www, I will volunteer only the coin I "ordered" was struck as a pattern on a hexagonal planchet. It is, by the description furnished, unlisted and unpublished.... UNIQUE.
I do not know if it will reach its destination.  I marked it: PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL and followed it up with an email informing the recipient only that I have ordered it and, on principle, refused to use eBay, its notorious counterpart, PayPal, credit card or a bank wire transfer.  The number of things that can go wrong is legion. Indeterminate. Right?  I threw all caution to the wind. (If I'd've told my wife, I wonder what she'd've said)
My question to you. gentle reader, is:  WOULD YOU DO THE SAME?  If not, WHAT'S YOUR LIMIT?   Bear in mind, all of us use the mails to buy and sell coins, currency, bars and collectibles WITH SOME MEASURE OF PROTECTION.  This is an experiment in progress. I will not know the outcome even if receipt of my order is confirmed.  I know you could. My question is would you, and if you have, what was the outcome?  (It is perfectly understandable if you have sworn to the zadokian oath of silence.) I will include one exception: a major TPGS (as indicated in another unrelated thread, makes cash remittance its first option, checking the box off as directed.  Forget the money involved. Would you exercise that option?  I did, but it was a sizeable fraction of the $2,000 involved here. I am going to assume the outcome here will be ideal.
But if you have an interesting tale to share, feel free to do so here. Withhold sensitive details as you wish.  Good nite all!

That is an ancient Greek bronze coin from appx 400-50 B.C. based on the metal type, hammered style and the markings on the coin. Further identification must be done by an expert in ancient Greek and Roman coins. There is enough detail left to positively identify this coin. NGC Ancients would be able to authenticate, identify and grade this coin. Good luck.

I stand corrected.
 

If there is a collector anywhere with an 1827 half-dollar finer than this -- curlicue two, and all -- post it now, or forever hold your piece.  On the French grading scale, this is a Fleur de Coin, a bona-fide FDC.  I dare anyone to challenge by grade and class one of the finest pieces the OP has ever sprung upon us without advance notice.  I pronounce this the last word in halves. Exceptional iridescent peripheral toning!  Sharp devices with prominent high point details. The fields are smooth and shine with brilliance!  Unupgradeable!  Someone hand me a gold sticker.  This IS The Last Word!

1925 Fort Vancouver commemorative half dollar, PCGS graded MS 64:

The "Features" column of the Numista page to which you provided a link indicates that the normal "Orientation" of this issue is "coin alignment", meaning that the dies are supposed to be aligned 180 degrees apart as you describe. Coin alignment, also known as "coin turn", is standard for U.S. coins, but most coins of other countries are struck in "medallic alignment", also known as "medal turn", in which when one side is facing up, so is the other. (However, when you flip over a coin struck in coin alignment instead of rotating it between your thumb and forefinger, each side will be at the same angle.)
   U.S. coins that were mistakenly struck in medallic alignment or other significant deviations from coin alignment are considered mint errors and may be worth a premium as such. See Mint Error Coin Chronicles: Rotated Dies Error | NGC (ngccoin.com).

I would have suggested there do appear to be anomalies, but your cultivated tongue sounds so much better than my default gutter lingo.  

Ok

Powermad5000, my show report thread is NOT the place to air your grievances about dealers, coins, prices, etc. I respectfully ask you to please start your OWN thread if you wish to discuss these issues any further. Thank you.

Q.A.:  I understand you solved a mystery that's been dogging me for the past five years!  Every source I have consulted said the composition of F20F GRs, "original" and "restrike" is comprised of the same exact composition; 90% gold and 10% copper. Your research indicates otherwise!
🐓:  Correctamundo!  Allow me to add a few facts.  "In 1905, the law separating church and state was passed.  The change in legislation led to a change in the motto on the edge of the 20-Francs Maranne Coq coin in 1907 "Dieu Protege la France" ("God Protect France") was replaced by ("Liberte, equalite, fraternite").  In addition, the label wreath was replaced by an oak branch as if to anchor the power of a strong state.
"In terms of size and weight, the Marianne Coq 20-Francs coin is based on the standard 20-Francs coin created by Napoleon I.  It weighs 6.45 grams, is 90% pure gold, i.e., a fine gold weight of 5.81 g. with a diameter of 21 millimeters and a thickness of 1.25 mm.
(Now we come to the fresh information, dug up by Ricky, an inquisitive Rooster if ever there was one...)
The "refrappes Pinay"
"The Marianne Coq coin is also historically exceptional, as it was melted again between 1951 and 1960 in what is known [locally] as the Pinay re-strike.
"In 1948, at the end of the Second World War, gold stocks had been melted down or lost, and coins were badly damaged or cropped. The Banque de France decided to reopen the gold market to revitalize the economy.  To do so, it restruck the popular coin that symbolized strong power:  the Marianne Coq.
"The original dies were used and earlier engraved images were reused. Between 1950 and 1960, 37 million 20 francs Marianne Coq gold coins were re-engraved dating from 1907 to 1914.
"How to recognize them?  In theory, it is difficult to tell the difference berween Pinay refrappes and originals.  However, most of them are in excellent condition, having never been in circulation.  As the machines used for minting are not the same, more precise details can be seen on the Pinay refrapees.  Finally, a mass spectrometer analysis reveals a slightly different metallic composition between the origInal 20 francs coq and the refrappes.  On average the original coins contain 902.63 thousands of gold compared with 900.39 thousandths of gold for the refrapees.  This results in hue and a slightly more coppery color.  (Emphases in bold, throughout, are mine.)
Q.A. Great job!  Before you run off on your next project...any References?
🐓  : Yes. Thomas Numismatics (which lists the five sources they relied on on their website: thomasnumismatics.com
(Posted with the express cooperation and patience of NGC Moderation which  retains the right to edit or delete this post as it sees fit, at their discretion.)

1936-S Bay Bridge MS65 CAC

1946-D Lincoln cent, PCGS graded MS 66 RD:


 

I bought a nice 1909s Lincoln Cent from Charmy.  She even helpfullly explained how it was a Class III DDR (VDDR-003).

Compare a real standing bald eagle with the $10 coin version. You'll see.

As a member, I wanted you to know that for those of who cannot indulge in your pursuits, just how much we appreciate living through your experiences vicariously.  There are those of us who really look forward to receiving your latest on-site reporting.  It's an awful lot of work and I truly believe you've outdone yourself this time. P.S.  Thanks for including Penny in your itinerary.  She is truly gorgeous.
 

As a member, I wanted you to know that for those of who cannot indulge in your pursuits, just how much we appreciate living through your experiences vicariously.  There are those of us who really look forward to receiving your latest on-site reporting.  It's an awful lot of work and I truly believe you've outdone yourself this time. P.S.  Thanks for including Penny in your itinerary.  She is truly gorgeous.
 

So if the animal faces a droite, it's a bison, but if it faces a gauche, its pedigree changes to a buffalo. Numismystique.  🤣 

Very seldom have I've ever done a guess the grade.  I just let the coin speak for itself. Let's give this Newp a try. Please let me know your thoughts. This will go in my Type Set:

This information is not like the nuclear codes to the Black Box.....folks REALLY have to stop thinking this information will destroy their business or sources of information or whatever.
Same secrecy with Hoards and incoming supplies of coins.