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cookscoins-migration

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Journal Entries posted by cookscoins-migration

  1. cookscoins-migration
    Has this coin holder been opened and re-sealed? Or, has the inside somehow slipped between the sides during sealing?
    I am not sure what to make of this Silver Eagle I recently purchased, it has several points around the body of the case that are definately seperated, and what seems like plastic, or glue, sticking out between. If the seriel number is punched in the system, it comes back as a 1996 MS 68 Eagle which is what the label says too. Has this coin been switched out ?? why would someone go to the trouble?? Did NGC quality control skip a day?? What do you make of this ??
    slabswap1.
  2. cookscoins-migration
    (California prices)
    My impression of NGC has GREATLY increased over the past few months.
    I guess my first couple "body bags" taught me quite a bit, and I was disappointed at the "missed" imperfections.
    We live, we learn...My most recent submition of 12 coins resulted in 0 body bags, and a brand spanking new MS 67 1976-D Bicentennial 50C. What REAALLLLY impressed me though was the fact that I had requested my modern nickels be placed in a set, if they graded equally, in hindsight, I never told them what to do if they DIDN't grade equally...So, I received a call from NGC requesting clarification. When I called them back, I was told of the grades...and asked what I wanted to do. I told them leaving them individually slabbed was ok.
    I was just impressed that they follwed up like that and want to say...GOOD JOB NGC !! (order was proccessed in 14 business days for "modern" tier!!)
    I know I'll stick around and "play" :-)
  3. cookscoins-migration
    A "reverse"-able debate
    Recently I have been diligently plodding away at developing a respectable "Jefferson Nickel" collection.
    Imagine my surprise when I recently jumped from 51% complete, down to 47% complete! (the collection is from 1938-1964, so I didn't think new dates would be added)
    Well, new dates were NOT added, but new Varieties were. We now have 6 new slots for 1939 - which is indeed more accurate.
    My only real dissapointment was that they no longer counted the "plain old" 1939, 1939-D, or 1939-S, they now needed a REVERSE clarification, my coins for these slots were instantly no longer qualified for the set! They should have been able to allow the old coins to remain until the new varieties could be added or something.
    It seemed to me a good ploy to get a $10 "attribute" fee for each coin re-identified, not to mention the shppng/ins etc. ( I am sure the NGC graders just LOVED the added workload as well, so I am assuming it was not a business
    Why don't they just have it like the 1939 Doubled Monticello - which just fits in the 1939 slot, but with clarification when you bring up coin details. OR create slots for ALL varieties.
    O.K. done with the whining...., a slight challenge only adds to the excitement of collecting right!!
    Thanks for listening....back to eBay...Off to find some reverses !!
  4. cookscoins-migration
    I received a Bonus from the mint!
    I have come across this at least 2 other times, but never had a coin "missing", It has been a BONUS double coin each time!
    I have also gotten mint sets with foreign objects sealed inside the cello (lint, cotton fibers, grease...etc)
    Makes you wonder if NGC would photograde it as an authentic mint error , haven't tried that one yet!
    Anyway, heres a look at the double mint 2005 P Kansas.
    kansasdoub
  5. cookscoins-migration
    Luckily not an expensive one!
    I went to the local flea market today, and browsed the usual booths and noticed one dealer had numerous proof and mint sets, so I went for a look ~ there was the good one...the 1999 silver proof set with a tag of 250. Figuring the dealer hadn't checked his books lately, I snagged it, and grabbed a 2000 set as well.
    In my haste for the deal, I hadn't even checked for the coveted Deep Cameos, In my car I opened the boxes to check out my new "treasures" -- imagine my astonishment, when there...staring back at me was 2 2000 sets of quarters, and NO 1999's !!
    I hurried back to the dealer...expecting him of accusing me of switching them out. To my surprise he sheepishly handed over a 1999 Proof set of quarters and took the extra 2000's back.
    I Got lucky..he VERY easily could have said all sales final, they were in there when I sold them,..etc.
    I Just wanted to share a good & potentially expensive lesson learned..Check INSIDE the boxes before leaving !!
    Just because your a genius, doesn't mean you neccesarily have common sense !!
    thanks for listening :-)
  6. cookscoins-migration
    Gulp....could it be ?
    Got my most recent submission to the long awaited Finalized/Imaged/Shipped stage, and eagerly clicked on the invoice link....not toooo disappointing!
    The most intriguing submission was a 2002 P Tennessee state quarter...it only came back an MS 66, but , came back with a DPL strike char !! I have searched, and checked, but is it possible....could it be ? Do I have the ONLY DPL state quarter ?? or do they just not list them ??
    This is how a collector suddenly shifts gears....guess who has a new found interest in State Quarters ! :-)
    Any other DPL State Q's out there
  7. cookscoins-migration
    First Years experience
    Well, the keyword for this year was education. Although I have been collecting for about 30 years, it was just last year I "made the jump" and started slabbing some coins, and have to admit took a while to get a focus area (now Nickels 38-64)--thats still a work in progress...which was the first lesson, You can't get it all ! The next and probably most important lesson was the difference between "Market" grading, and what I had been doing for years, or "Technical" grading. Every coin you look at is a new learning experience!
    About the submissions...I was very nervous at first too, anxiously awaiting my first order (did it get AU ??) etc.
    I soon realized NGC was just getting to swamped with coins, obviously needing more graders, if the "expected turnaround" is so far off from actual turnaround times. I have also found that they have ALWAYS come through by the "Actual" turnaround time shown on NGC site. The coins may sit in "received" for most of that time, and then in just a day or 2, go from "scheduled" to "Finalized/shipped".
    The lesson learned here was you get what you pay for,
    if your coin is more valuable, or you need it quicker, you need to select a faster service.
    basically, I just think we should be aware of the "Mega-bucks" submitters fees, and what thier grading times are.
    ON to the BEST AND WORST FOR 2006 !
    WORST : my .08 cent 1946 D F12 Jefferson (was supposed to be D/D, however NGC doesn't recognize that anymore)
    and my best for the year is sort of a tie between the MS 68 PL Louisianna Quarter, and this...My MS 66 DPL Tennessee Quarter.
    As for me, the best lesson learned has been PATIENCE !!! :-)
    bestworst.
  8. cookscoins-migration
    Collectors set the market....not the guides.
    The only true value I have found for a coin is to put it up for auction and see what it goes for.
    Case in point- a 1976-D Kennedy Half Dollar graded by NGC as MS-67. In NGC's lookup (numismedia)the coin was valued at $500. on ecoinprices it was $825. In "Coin Values" it was valued at just $45.00 !! Quite a range !
    In reality, this coin cost me less than $20, and that INCLUDES the grading fees, so I put it up for auction at a low start ($49.99)and had No Reserve. If I "averaged" the values, it should have sold for somewhere in the neighborhood of $455.00, When all was said and done, my "$500.00" coin had sold for $189.00 not even 1/2 of the "averaged" value. I know I could have "held out" for a better price, but I was very curious what it would really go for, and still made some off the deal, plus a REALLLY pleased customer!
    Therefore, if there is not a large enough market for a particular coin the values given by any particular source are irrelevant. With the FASTEST changing markets ever compared to previous eras, I don't see how Price guides can accuratly keep up.
    The collectors set the market. If we think someone is charging to much for a coin, we won't buy it. And as we all know the old sayings are SO true...You get what you pay for, Buy the coin not the slab, and CAVEAT EMPTOR !!!!!!(let the buyer beware)
    Thanks for listening
    P.S.- There may be a hidden benefit to "worthless" slabbing companies, in that you can sometimes get what they will call an MS-70, and get it for a very reasonable (worthless)cost. Crack it out, and likely still get an MS-65 (at least)from NGC. On many coins this can still be profitable.
  9. cookscoins-migration
    Even the Main branch of B of A in downtown San Francisco did not get dollars for first day!
    What a major dissapointment!
    I have spent all day in search of the elusive dollars, even to go as far as having a friend run to the main branch of Bank of America in downtown San Francisco (not a small town or institution)- This after trying 8 different local banks / credit unions. As far as I am concerned the mints outreach to our area was NILL. Needless to say, this has left a very sour taste for the presidents, and I think I will leave them dead!