Chris Mikesh

For those of you following... My Grandkids caught on in 2 rolls. All Kennedys we 1964 - so they started breaking them out by Mint. I sent them on a Snipe Hunt looking for the ever-illusive 1964-S. Get it?? That got old in 3 rolls. So much for fooling the kids. Yes... I'm THAT GrandPa !

Hi again, I got my Drug Scale in a few minutes ago, put the batteries in, calibrated it, and sure enough.... ...11.36 grams. Not silver - but I got ripped off. I want the rest of my coin back! LOL! Thank you everyone. I learned a lot in this exercise. You guys are the best. God Bless, Chris

EagleRJO. BIG THANK YOU for the info. That is a great help and picture. I appreciate the time you took for the extensive answer. I do have the book (and the 2024), but it is at the bottom of the piles right now. When I picked up my friend's collection in Lynchburg, it filled my office. Lots of 20th century stuff like State Quarters, Bicentennial, $2 bills and a $3 "Bill" Clinton (I think it has lost value). Interesting also RWB. I didn't know that. I'll have to go up to Philidelphia to visit the mint if it's open for tours. GB, Chris

I have my Labor Day weekend cut out for me. Two bags of 1964 Kennedys (19 Rolls). I'll let you guys know if I find anything unusual. I'll have my Grandkids sort them by date and see how high of a pile they can make!

Hi VKurtB, I'm expecting it to be nothing special also. Be careful in what's left of the hurricane.

I found my dad's old mechanical scale. The coin weighs under .5oz. Converted to grams it comes between the two weights noted by Idhair. I just ordered a scale from Amazon. It will be here tomorrow. It's the same scale you see on TV, "Cops". Good enough for a drug dealer - good enough for me. LOL! But seriously... Thanks everyone. I expect it to be clad. Advice from the experienced Tellers and money handlers, has been to handle money and when something is unusual you can pick it out right away. I expected to see copper, and you guys came through - AGAIN!

Postage meter didn't survive the last Pinewood Derby. Any other thoughts? The only other observations are that it 'rings' like a silver coin. Not a 'thud' like a regular clad. Compared to a 1972, this is a whiter appearance (ie: Silver) like another 1967 in the same pile. Not unexpected. It doesn't need cleaning as you see. I'll go jump a local drug dealer in Baltimore and get a scale. I can look up the presumed weight, but what should I be looking for? Attached pictures. The other bag of Kennedys is at the bottom of the stash. I may be asking more questions. Thanks. Chris

Good question? I'll get my postage Meter...

Hi All, From all I've read, the 1967 (P) Kennedy should be 40% silver clad with a copper interior. Usually you see the "Oreo" sandwich of copper interior. But I looked this coin over at X5+ magnifying, but I see no sign of copper on the reeded edge. Other Kennedys (1966, to 1968) show the copper, although not as prominently as post-1970 CuNi. So, the question is: Does anyone know of an all silver 1967 (P)? Is it even possible? There is no rim damage (in fact it has some tarnishing), no double die, and, in all respects, looks like an AU condition coin. The history of the coin(s) is from a lady who used to work at a bank in Lynchburg, VA since the 60's, and she amassed a sizable collection of silver coins (not to mention 19 rolls of 1964s). She knew what she was looking for. (I wish I had that foresight.) Any thoughts on the subject are welcome. Chris

Hi, Yup! I plan to be around for a while. Too much to live for. I haven't seen a reverse buffalo. Mine a just proofs, but I'll look into it. The 1875 Dime was in a plastic flip. But for photo purposes I too it out. The flip broke, but I have about a hundred more and have already returned it to a flip. Yeah it has a few problems, and I may trade up for another one later. I really want an 1875-S, but I'll go with what I've got for now. GB, Chris

The advisor was @The Neophyte Numismatist.

Hi all, I recently posted "Albino Flying Eagle" and someone had kindly suggested I invest in some quality coins. I have and still do if I have the $$ and time. I'm a Buffalo fan (not the football team - Go Ravens!). The hunt for buffalo nickels was always fun as a kid. But as an adult Buffalos found me - in a 1oz way. Attached are 2 of my favorites. I have several others also hiding at the bank. I'm happy with these coins and the Grandkids can't wait until I die so they can have them. (LOL! - just kidding) I went to my first coin show ever yesterday. Whitman in Baltimore. After 4 hours I was only through half of the vendors.  Parking is bad though.  I'd been looking for an 1875 Dime but didn't want to pay a lot. I don't think I did bad for $20. It looks better than the pic. (1875 is a family year - immigrated from Bohemia) Great guys at the show - recommended. God Bless, Chris

Right you are Quitus, My G-kids love the coins, and like my model planes (1/72 plastic) hold it on the edges. I have cotton and latex gloves for the kids (Did you ever see a kid pick his nose with a floppy oversized rubber glove?). Even if it is a junk coin, I'm trying to get them into the right habits. The can no longer has raw coins. All are in 2X2 flips. My high-end investment or family coins are in the safe or at the bank. My daughters (4) are also contributing to the can as a new family tradition. It's already over 50lbs. Time capsule is right - maybe I'll write book someday. God Bless, Chris

LOL! JKK. Yes, I do have a sense of humor, that sometimes gets in my way. I'm not sure "White Coins Matters" is something I'd put on a T-Shirt! Really funny. thanx. GB, Chris

Hi again The Neophyte Numismatist asked a good question - and I'm glad for the advice. Why am I posting problem coins? (sorry for the long reply) Answer 1: Grandkids. I have 12 and 5 have recently gotten into the hobby. Cheap coins like this are a great way for them to build interest inexpensively. But I have also gotten back into the hobby again in the last 2 years. After a 50-year hiatus, I rediscovered my old coins and the thrill has re-emerged. So, I have questions I couldn't ask when I was a kid. That way GrandPa is a "know it all". LOL! Answer 2: My father passed away last February. He left a Milk Can (the 10-gallon kind you see at dairies) FULL of loose change from MY Great-Grandfather and passed up the generations to my Grandkids. The can dates back to 1900 and at the bottom was the gold pot at the end of the rainbow. 3 gold coins. But the can had thousands of pennies and nickels. Also, about 20 Morgans and another 45 Peace Dollars. Just by looking at the dates of the coins you can tell the hard times from the good times. The family hails from Iowa so when the river flooded - bad times. The Depression also made hoarding of little things like the pennies and nickels - very few dimes and quarters from that time. So, to put it all back into perspective, the advice is good, and I have invested into quality Gold and Silver Coins, so when I'm gone, the 500-hundred-pound milk can will have more than nickels and pennies. But the best ones are preserved or sent to NGC. Investor - yes Hobbyist - yes. Thank you for the interest and sharing the hobby. You guys are the best! God Bless, Chris

Hi all, Yup - I knew I could count on you to give me the answer. Thank you. I've never heard of a "White Coin" before. I live in a very race sensitive area - so I need to be very careful with that term. It is mentioned (now that you gave me the correct term) in some blogs and articles. BIG HELP. Thank you.

Hi All, This may have been asked before, but I couldn't find the thread. Found in a junk box, several Flying Eagle Cents. All 1857. Of the 10 I have; I have one that really stands out in color. As you can see it is not cleaned or bleached by comparison to others. In fact, it has a similar color to a nickel. OK... It's probably bronze but didn't see anything in the Red Book about it - nor online. Granted - they are in bad shape, and I can see some copper in the albino FE Cent. I would think that after 100+ years it would be dark brown. What do you guys know about this? God Bless, Chris

Hey Coinbuf... The zinc core is exposed on that coin. It's like a file and scratched my desktop. My first daughter was born in 84 - so it's still a good year. GB, Chris

Thanks all, Of the 55 I purchased (about 3 cents each), about 20 are in great shape. Several are 'toned' and most of those are about 50+ years old. In that pile is a 1956 and a 1958 that looks like they have been well cared for. In all, 15 are wheat pennies, but most are from the 1960s and 70's. You guys are always helpful. Thanks. Chris

Hi All, Mine is a true "Newbie" question - even though I have posted questions before. I'm not a penny expert, and who wants to fake a no value coin? I found a bunch of proof pennies at a coin store today and made an offer for the whole lot. But I found 2 pennies that have this weird 'halo' (for lack of a better term) on the 1970-S's. I did not see the same thing on any others - just those 2. They look kind of cool, but what is that 'halo'? (Also looks like Lincoln got shot again!) The backs of the coins look normal. Second question: Many of the pennies were corroded and the zinc(?) or green corrosion was showing. What causes that kind of corrosion? Pictured is the worst one. Is this corrosion "cancerous? If I stored them in a roll with good coins - will they corrode the others (electrolysis of some sort)? It's amazing the faults you find when you photograph something! (Is this the government's fault?) Lemme know if you have time. God Bless, Chris

Hi Frank, By your request: 1892-O Barber. It's always amazing the little flaws you find when you photo the coins. But I'm probably still going to send it in. I think it will still rate pretty good. ...And that my become my new policy to photo the coins to see what NGC will see before I send in a coin only to be disappointed. God Bless, Chris

Thank you for the info DW. I haven't had a chance to look into the history yet. It's even more fun when the G-Kids bug Mom or Dad to give them a lift to GrandPa's house to search their Great (and Great-Great) Grandfathers pounds of coins. But when they find a wheat penny, or a Mercury Dime their eyes POP! That's the best fun. We "hit the lottery" last week when we found a 1937 three-legged Buffalo. The nickel was really flat - 'Good" condition at best - but a "nugget" is a "nugget" no matter how it looks. God Bless, Chris

Hi all, I just want to give a shout-out to J P Mashoke for some good advice given some time ago. My question was 'where to find good coins without the premium price'. Suggested was to check out auctions and antique stores. I've had a fair experience at the auction places - but I don't have the money to play with the 'big boys' and drop $1000+ per week. Driving by an old antique store in Maryland, I dropped in to try my luck. He had several cases of coins, so I knew this guy was no novice. After we made friends, I picked out a few things that made me smile. I picked up a Mercury Dime, some Buffalo Nickels, and a 1964-D Kennedy all in great shape and great price. We talked a few more minutes and tempted me more with an 1898-O Morgan in amazing condition, an 1892-O Liberty Quarter (I'm seriously considering sending to NGC), and an 1835 1/2 Cent. I bought them all and am totally thrilled. (I'm also broke until the next month paycheck!)) I love the historic coins but wanted to Show and Tell the 1835 Half Cent piece. It may be a common 1/2 Cent date, but I'm really jazzed because I didn't have one to show the G-kids. I also noticed that the reverse is askew and gives the coin a little more character. So, thank you to all the guys who offer good advice and suggestions. God Bless, Chris

Hi Guys, Thank you for the feedback. EagleRJO requested pictures. I'll start with the half Dollar: As all of you have ascertained, $33 for a Clad Half Dollar is too much, but I can gripe about the $$ another time. But below is the 'Ding'. I have looked at it under different lights and magnification. Yup. It is a dent. Next is the Silver Dollar: The Ribbon, 3rd (or4th) rib up from the bottom, has a small contact point. Again, 3 different lights and up to 10X magnifying showed a pin-point nick. But the Reverse surprised me more when I started to examine it in more detail. It showed a 'ding' of a sort and a black abrasion above it. This is a poor picture, but it is a very shiny raised imperfection under some light angles. This got me looking further. Sadly, I found much more. At first, I thought it was inside the plastic coin holder. Yup, it's on the coin. Milk spots? For further study, I looked at the proof counterparts to these coins (I realize these would be different dies) and did not see any issues. (I could stare at those proofs all day and not get tired - they are gorgeous!) But I think the flaws on the Uncirculated coins are a problem unless you suggest something else that would be a mint error of some sort. All opinions are appreciated.

Hi, Interesting history. Thank you. The coins were received from the us mint yesterday, not a dealer. I would think they would send highest quality coins. I know I cannot send them to NGC because the wounds are so obvious. So, the question remains: send them back for a replacement or keep them? Has it been your experience that they send better coins or tough luck? GB, Chris