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jackson64

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Journal Entries posted by jackson64

  1. jackson64
    although several coins of long term seeking were missed or passed upon, I still managed one nice pick up.
    I must start by thanking and apologizing to Jason C. It seems he was perusing my sets and happened upon my MS67* Buffalo nickel. He and I were beginning to throw out some soft offers for a possible trade for the coin. I had not been overly attatched to the coin and really only bought it on impulse because I always wanted just a single attractive buffalo nickel as an example in my collection.
    The story has a bit more to it than that though. One day as I was looking through some coins with my 3 year old granddaughter-Jade ( and she does have the most beautiful big green eyes you have ever seen) she picked up the 38-D Buff and stated how much she liked the "pretty coin". She informed me that it was her favorite because "orange is my favorite color, did you know orange is my favorite color paw paw?" With those beautiful eyes and innocent face looking at me and holding the coin, I did what any self-respecting grandpa would do, I said, "you can have it."
    Well I have been keeping it safe for her and recently when I pulled it out during discussions with Jason about a trade, she saw it and squealed excitedly, "my coin !! I love my coin paw paw." So that was the end of that trade ( and I had been secretly figuring a way that we may work something out for his 1944 MS67* Washington Quarter.
    So instead of a trade, I have decided to pursue a full buffalo nickel short set and have named it, "Jade's Buffalo...." because what type of grandpa would I be by building her an incomplete set?
    Which brings me to the latest purchase. I don't have a huge knowledge of Buffs but I do have the David Lange Guide to Buffs and have read it a few times and use it as reference about strike and scarcity of each issue. It appears that the 1934-D is the scarcest of the "short set" buffs--scarcer even than the 1938 RPM's with D/D and D/S.
    The NGC pops have not a single MS67 graded and only 18 total MS66's. That makes a gem or better the "key date" for this set. So when I saw an MS66 at the recent Whitman Baltimore show auction by Stacks and Bowers, I went ahead and threw in a solid bid which was consistent for others that had sold in the past.
    For a change I did not enter my max bid and let it ride--I actually logged into the Live Auction on-line and was prepared to bump my bid a notch or two if necessary. Luckily there were no floor bidders jumping in and I got it below my initial bid.
    So I guess I am now committed to the set--and nothing but the best for my only granddaughter. I figure an eye-appealing set of 66's and 67's will be a very nice heirloom from her PawPaw.
    1934-D MS66...pretty strong strike for the issue and nice coloring...

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  2. jackson64
    Guess that is why it is called collecting and not assembling or gathering.
    I must start off by admitting that I'm hesitant with talking about specific dates that I'm searching for. In my paranoid and competetive little mind--if someone out there who is searching for the same coins that I am in the same grades, by them knowing that I also will be trying to acquire them-this gives them an advantage in sniping me or driving up the price at auction. Or worse yet, if a dealer knows that buyers have been patiently scouring auctions for years for these coins, then it gives them an advantage in price setting and profiting. Like I said, I'm probably just paranoid and sellers wouldn't really jack the price of scarce items that are being sought after.
    Having said that, I'm going to mention the 2 issues/dates that are at or near the top of my coin "want list." They are a 1947 Walker Half in MS67 and a 1944 MS67FB mercury dime. I just haven't seen one anywhere--ebay, the 5 or 6 regular on-line auctions I peruse, seller websites with smaller inventory, Money marketplace or even PCGS dealer links--nothing.
    Until this past few weeks------
    First I saw, not one but TWO of the Mercury Dimes at auction. To keep it short, they were priced way too high for their average appearance. I already own an MS66FB and an MS67 of this date. Both of these coins cost me under $100 each and the thought of paying $1600 for a single point increase or complete separation of the center bands, well the coin better be VERY nice for this to happen. The thing is that I actually find my current coins more attractive. My 66FB has some nice rim toning and really bold strike--the 67FB for 16x the amount is somewhat ho-hum ( a technical 67FB.)
    The 1947 Walker in MS67 will be the final upgrade for my walker short set. I don't plan on spending ridiculous premiums for a +plus+ grade coin, so the final coin that I can financially afford to upgrade is the 1947. In the recent Whitman/Baltimore show there was one at auction by S & B. I put a low-ball bid in which I knew would not stand. Secretly I hoped I'd be outbid because the truth is I didn't like the look of the coin with hap hazzard dark browns and even some black which almost looked moldy instead of tone. Luckily I was outbid because I would have used this as an expensive slot filler and been back to searching for another 1947 to replace it.
    So there you have it. This is why it is collecting and not assembling sets--or hoarding--or gathering. I could have finished the assembly but that is not why I am a numismatist. I collect. Each of our tastes in series, the appeal to our eyes, some like tone and some like blast white, for some it's satiny luster and others love a frost finish--the point is, we collect. Because of this we discriminate according to our own preferences--and sometimes we have to pass.
    The reverse of my < $100 1944 MS66FB

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  3. jackson64

    Unexpected Bonus

    By jackson64,

    ordered 4 gold sovereigns and received 4 differing busts
    I admit that I buy a little gold "for a rainy day." I don't buy it at speculation or investment level-and I always buy physical gold over paper gold. I'm a firm believer in that old analysis.....
    "100 hundred years ago a man could buy a quality tailored suit for $20 currency or a single $20 gold piece. Today a man may buy a nice suit and have it tailored to size for $1500 currency, or roughly 1 $20 gold piece." Give or take a few bucks in either direction, it doesn't matter-the point is the same, currency continues to decline in purchasing power drastically.
    No, I'm not lauding or pushing people to be "goldbugs" or try and get rich quick with PM's. We have had many people on this board pushing others to buy precious metals. I remember one journaling member reported almost daily on the rising value of silver and the need to keep buying--even as silver reached $45, then $48, then $50 an ounce--"I expect it to hit $100--keep buying, the gold to silver historic ratio...yada, yada, yada..." In the end when silver dropped back under $20 an ounce I heard nary a whisper from that guy ( or even apologies in case anyone listened to him and lost their shirt.) He did post about selling many of his pour bars a few months ago--probably at $25 an ounce--but never mentioned that most of them were purchased at 50 to 100% of what he was reselling them for.
    So, what little I buy is hopefully for the long haul holdings--maybe to liquidate for some living cash in 20 years when I retire
    My small amounts are almost always limited to 1/4 oz to 1 ounce and hopefully they also have some numismatic qualities that I can enjoy. It is actually unusual for me to buy 4 at a time of the same type or denomination. I like to get a rooster, an angel, an old napolean, a maple leaf, krugerand, AGE etc...one 1/4 oz piece of different designs ( raw also most often--I like to handle the gold coins.) I still want one of those 50 peso gold mexican coins--just beautiful--and I never purchased the $20 High Relief gold eagle and now it will cost me quite a bit more to have one.
    I recently watched a BBC or history channel show as an informative piece about gold mining. Currently, it costs the larger mines in China and Africa around $1200 an ounce to mine, smelt, test, pour, ship and sell the gold they dig. This got me thinking that now might be the time for me personally to add a little more--get it while the gettins good.
    So I place an order with Silvertowne. I use them often because they are always having various sales on "Hot Items" that are near melt costs and if you can find a Hot Item with a free shipping category, then you can get even nicer bargains. So I order 4 sovereigns-roughly 1 ounce total of gold--and to my surprise and enjoyment, they selected me 4 different busts.
    It's pretty cool that they did this--just shows some extra customer appreciation, which in a day and age where waitresses sigh at you, fast food cashiers roll their eyes when you order food and grocery clerks stare at the size of your grocery cart and shake their head when you enter their line---a small sign of customer appreciation is very welcome.
    Not any beauties and not numismatic quality--but still fun for me to have 1 of each type--2 different victoria busts and a R facing and L facing George sovereign---almost makes me want to start a sovereign type set---almost.
    PS: I don't want anyone to think that I am asserting that gold can not drop below $1200 an ounce in the future--demand, inflation, deflation, govt policies about individual holding rights--lots of things could affect the value. I only was reporting what the documentary was stating about the costs for large mining operations and deep digging... happy hunting e1

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  4. jackson64

    A Nice Little Bargain

    By jackson64,

    small deals can be big thrills...
    One of the thrills I also get with the hobby is when I find the occasional bargain. Recently I was scanning through the lesser viewed pages of an on-line auction site that has been dying out.
    Listed at auction and ending in less than 1 hour was a 3-coin, graded PCGS Congress 1989 Commem set. Opening bid was at $280 for the half, silver dollar and $5 gold coin ( 1/4 ounce). I did some quick math in my head...15% fee would be 28 +14.... = $42..$322 total for a $280 bid. 4x 322 is $1288 which was almost the exact amount of gold at the time..so I did a little more factoring.
    If I could sell the half and silver dollar for around $40--that meant I could bid $320 max bid, resell the half and dollar to cover the buyers fees and get the gold coin for roughly melt cost.
    So I bid the $320 and let it ride. A few hours later I checked the auction to see the results--good news!! The 3 coins hammered at the opening bid of $280. So I'll still sell the other 2 coins since I don't collect them and the 1/4 oz gold coin will be bought at the $280 or $1120 per oz rate..not a bad little deal.
    I'm not making a large score when I find these small deals, but it is always nice to find a purchase that you know can be liquidated in the future for a small profit if I'm ever in need of some funds ( instead of small losses which most of us take when we resell and are paying fees and shipping costs on both ends.)
    Anyhow, just thought I'd share the story in a journal so that I can re-read it in the future and remind myself that some of the time I spend perusing websites and auctions can actually pay off into real vbalue...happy hunting e1 and may you all find a few bargains on occasion.....

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  5. jackson64

    Nearing Decision Time

    By jackson64,

    can my compulsion for completion be quelled or do I just finish the set?
    When I started my Barber Half set it was with simple parameters and an understanding. First: I would build a "short set" of Barbers. No registry or even any album that I'm aware of has a barber half short set but it seems to me to provide the perfect series for a partial collection of a much larger series.
    The division I made was for the 1900 thru 1915 dates. This allows for a clear division by century and also allows for an easier set. Many of the dates from 1892 thru 1899 are really scarce and pricey so that made my decision to pursue a simpler and shorter set more attractive.
    There are plenty of challenging dates in the shorter set with the 01-S, 04-S ( which can be $1000+ in VF 20 grade) and the super low mintage 1913, 14 and 15 philly coins. This set also surprises with many other challenging "semi-keys" which are pretty hard to find in circulated but undamaged condition. The VF to XF grade coins are actually pretty scarce for Barbers if you are looking for examples that have not been cleaned, scratched, dinged, gouged, hairlined etc etc.
    I can also say that whereas most list values from numismedia, coinworld and collectors universe are higher than the actual costs and resale values of coins--with the Barber halves, it is hard to near impossible to find certified and quality circulated examples below the list costs.--I don't know whether there is some unintentional collusion or just high collector demand for limited numbers of coins, but Barbers list values are lower than their selling/buying costs.
    So this less challenging set of my own creation has still been quite challenging. After several years I have finally whittled the empty slots down to a smaller handful and have 39 coins in the collection.-( granted, many of the final few will cost me several hundred each for F or VF condition when I can find them.)
    So, decision time looms closer--when I finally fill that last slot from 1900 thru 1915. Do I go ahead and fill the dates from 1892 thru 1899? Will I have to change my criteria for some of the dates that are super scarce?-or will I sell and exchange and trade enough to be able to afford the few thousand bucks for a micro-O in an F12 grade?
    I don't have to decide just yet, but the time for beginning to think about it is here. Right now I'm leaning toward finishing the short set and then beginning a nice 3c nickel collection...time will tell..
    The latest uber-crusty addition to my set. A nice 1902-O with darker browns and patches of cobalt--even has some light luster with its uncleaned patina

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  6. jackson64

    Sometimes Less is Better

    By jackson64,

    Lesser grade and lesser cost, however all of the enjoyment.
    I don't know if others do this but I would guess that many of my fellow collectors do. As a classic coin collector I sometimes run through the slots of a budding set and try and figure out the maximum grade or cost I'll be able to afford for the slots.
    As an example--in my Walker short set I surmised early on that an MS66 1941-S would be the max grade I could obtain. A PQ 41-S goes for $1500 to $1700 however an MS67 may sell for $25,000+. ( and people wonder why re-submitting and crackouts are enticing?)
    So, having a general idea of the maximum grade I can afford to fill each slot with I generally refine my searches to coins in that grade.
    There are exceptions however, and I'm not talking about breaking my "spending ceiling" and shelling out $20K on a coin. No, the exception is when a coin of great eye appeal grabs my attention and the desired/targeted grade on the slab loses its importance.
    This has happened several times to me with the Mercury dime set. A gorgeous MS67 with unique tone or satiny glow captures my eye--even if it has less than FSB, and that becomes the slot filler. Often the 67FB example would have been within my range however I almost always tend toward the "unique" coin over it's pristine white counterpart.
    The last 2 additions to the Walker set were both unconventional like this. I "upgraded" my 1942 from a blast white coin in MS67 with wonderful flowlines and frosty look for an attractive rim-toned example-also in MS67. The 1937 I bought for its dazzling striations of pink, peach and lavender was graded as an MS66- a slot that I had originally projected as an MS67 ( it would require a pretty spectacular coin to unseat my 1937's place in my set.)
    Yesterday I added another. I have looked at many 1939-S Walkers in MS67 and nearly pulled the trigger on a few that were priced well. In the end I held off because my goal is not just to fill the slot--but to find great coins to fill the slots. The MS66 Walker I found yesterday does just that. Not for everyone with it's amber to oaken rim tones and subtly hidden blues and veridians in the niches of the details--to me it immediately clicked. To make it even better, I got it at far less than an MS67 cost and even $120 less than my high bid.
    Maybe a lesser grade but I'll be enjoying this one for a while.......happy hunting everyone.....the reverse of my new 1939-S MS66 in an older gen NGC fatty with inscribed logo...

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  7. jackson64
    I got them in the mail on Saturday morning and the coupon stated "postmarked by July 1st."
    For years I have had both a PCGS and NGC membership. I do tend to side toward NGC/Collectors Society as my preferred Chat Boards, slabber of raw coins and registry however I join both sites for 1 primary reason. With a certain level of membership a collector can actually get a submission coupon ( 5 for NGC and 8 coins for PCGS) which makes the cost of membership essentially free when the coupon value is considered. In fact, I believe the savings of a 5 or 8 coin submission may actually be cheaper than joining these sites at the most basic memberships.
    For years I always had cubbies of raw coins that I planned to get graded "some day." Or also I had those slabbed coins that I was always sure were undergraded by a point and would double in value ( and registry points) if they could get a single point upgrade, a star or now even a + sign. I have raw gold and raw world coins. I have ship coins to add to my sailing ship themed set- High Seas. There were always more coins to send away than money to pay for grading and slabbing.
    My how times have changed. I actually only realized I almost let my coupon for 8 PCGS submissions expire because I was on vacation last week and had some time to go through some things in my desk ( after I got back from 4 days in Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Jamestown VA).
    What also amazed me was not that I almost let my $240 Voucher expire but that I struggled to actually assemble an 8 coin submission.
    --I had 3 coins that really needed reholder ( including 1 that REALLY needs reholder after I experimented with a scratch removal technique--)
    --I have 4 nice Peruvian gold 20 sol pieces that are raw but I already have 2 high grade Sols in NGC slabs and didn't want to mix the set.
    --I have 4 of these, or 5 for regrade...or a 6 coin set of world coins--you get the idea...I couldn't come up with either 8 coins of same service, holder/reholder/regrade or crossover, same country or US vs World...I was getting frustrated and I needed to get the forms done, the coins in flips and the package wrapped and mailed by the next morning....
    In the end I "settled" on 8 half dollars. I went through some raw Walkers of harder dates which if they grade VF should be about $80-$150 each, 1 Barber which is an easier date --1910-S-- but a solid VF30, and a long shot with a superbly struck and clean 1965 Kennedy Half from a mint set.
    The Walkers include some scarce dates like 1919, 23-S, 27-S and 29-S and all are problem free with normal wear. The Kennedy is a chance at a prize. An MS65, 66 or --67 even would be a significant score. The 1965 SMS's are pretty common in those grades and the real money is in cameo or DC/Ultra--but a mint set 1965 in gem quality is a scarce coin.
    So that is what I ended up sending away--not exactly a submission that I'm gonna be checking on daily to see its progress or the grades. All of the coins will grade. The Walkers will be a mix of F to low VF's..the Barber a solid VF and hopefully the Kennedy garners at least a MS65.
    Here is a coin I just won from the recent Stacks/Bowers auction in Baltimore. A 1916 Walker MS64 in an old fattie--the coin has luster, patina and lots of character...happy hunting e1..

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  8. jackson64
    A "distraction set" has turned into a registry top ten
    One thing I particularly enjoy about the Collectors Society Registry is the variety of ways that people assemble sets and that are included in the registry.
    There are type sets by denomination and by century...series short sets, one-per-dates and whole sets. Some sets are broken up according to design changes in the series or even a year or two special design. Of course if you care to assemble a set by topical or themed, a world set from a country, medals, creative sets with just ships or horses or fish--there is a place for all of these collecting interests in the Custom/Signature sets.
    As someone without the patience to assemble a huge set of 100 or more coins, I really enjoy short sets like the Mercury 1941 through 1945 sixteen coin set; the Walking Liberty Short Set of 1941 thru 1947 which is 20 coins, the Buffalo nickel short set from 1934 through 1938 which includes the S/D and D/D varieties for an added challenge.
    I also have my Seated Liberty Half Dollar Collection. It is a one-per-date set and I know I would have never undertaken the collecting of these coins with a goal being a complete set. A one-per-date set spanning the decades from 1839 to 1891 is hard enough, especially considering many of the last years of minting had some pretty miniscule mintages.
    My goal for this set has been XF40 to AU58 range--and so far so good. I've picked off many of the easier dates while at the same time sticking with my standards and what appeals to my eye. Old, crusty coins with clear devices and no major distractions. I can already foresee that finishing a few of the dates will require me to drop my standards to F or VF and all I can hope for is a problem free example with honest wear.
    So the latest addition is the first year of issue--the 1839 (with drapery) in a solid XF which I got as part of a larger trade in the Moneymarketplace on the forums.As always, Happy Hunting e1........Jackson

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  9. jackson64
    Does the Wall Street "spot price" even matter any more?
    It just gets weirder and weirder by the day. Silver value as reported on comex/wall street -etc keeps dropping down toward $20 an ounce--dipping toward $22 today.
    Yet strangely, physical silver sales are hard to come by and in order to grab some physical silver the costs are closer to $30 an ounce--which is about a 25 to 30% fee per ounce!
    I understand that the big bullion dealers are trying to cut losses by making up for the drop in comex value with ridiculous mark ups--but this is insane.
    I'm not 100% sure of how it all works- but I know enough to see that silver (and gold) has been intentionally manipulated to supress its value. JP Moirgan should be under criminal investigation for their antics. Announcements were made for a week ahead of time among the big paper silver holders that a giant sale of shorts was coming up. It was 100% orchestrated and easily provable--yet nobody will even consider anykind of charges against the "too big to fail" crowds...they are now above the law.
    I won't enter into any postulating or hypothesizing as to why it was done--simple greed is often enough for those folks ( after all, Wall Street continues to set all-time records while on the streets we are seeing all time record homelessness, poverty, food stamp dependence and government dependency just to eat and live by tens and tens of millions of Americans.)
    Anyone want to explain why it is even legal to buy 5,000 ounces of paper silver for a fraction of the cost? Why can banks sell silver to investors that doesn't even physically exist?...
    So which one is the true value? On ebay people are still gobbling up silver at around $30 an ounce plus shipping---dealers are back ordering for weeks and weeks the shipping of larger quantities until they can get some in hand. The US Mint reported record silver sales in January and had to even temporarily suspend sales---even I have an on-going ad on moneymarketplace offering $27.50 each for a roll of ASE's ($550)-- that's $5 an ounce above the "spot" price --yet not even a nibble.
    Things are really, really starting to stink--if it's not Libya lies and scandal, wiretapping and phoneline invasions of the media-Associated Press, the IRS targeting groups to abolish free speech and grassroots patriotism, then it's phony Dow numbers created by the Fed injecting $85 billion per month from the printing presses to Wall Street coffers--(money that the US taxpayers are indebted for)---
    Sorry, I didn't mean to make this political and I never push for either the red team or the blue team--divided we fall--but all of this madness seems to be getting more inter-twined. We get our daily dose of "Everything is getting better" while 99% of us aren't keeping up with the rising cost of living.
    As the dollar devalues it was thought that physical holdings might add some mental and financial security--if not to make profit, then at least to tread water against true inflation of 14% the past 3 years-- yet even these safe havens are being manipulated...
    Okay, vented my frustration, confusion and yes-even uncertainty enough...I know, I know..."Here's a quarter, call someone who cares....." right?

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  10. jackson64
    I've never had an issues when dealing with a CS member.
    Most of us who have been collecting for a while have been burned a time or two. Sometimes it is caused by our own desires to find a hidden treasure, an undiscovered prize or a coin of value at a nice price.
    Unfortunately some of the misfortune and bad dealings come from shady dealers or people who deal in the hobby for profit only or others who intentionally misrepresent or over-represent coins.
    As collectors we are bombarded by scammers and schemers--whether it is: fake coins from China, cheap repos that aren't listed as "copy"; cleaned, whizzed, tooled, dipped, artificially toned, fake slabs...fuzzy or re-touched photos on-line; hidden fees, restocking fees of 25% on returns or no returns; fake slabs, 15 to 20% buyers and sellers fees; $20-$25 shipping charge for a $5 USPS priority mail package; "First Strike" labels ( which aren't first struck-just first mailed)...on and on and on...
    It seems completely appropriate that PT Barnum was featured on a commemorative coin for our hobby is truly a "buyer beware" hobby where many scoundrels live and profit by the hope of a sucker being born every minute.
    Now I'm not mentioning all of this because I'm angry or jaded--I'm just pragmatic, have learned a few lessons the hard way and am still an avid collector. The reason I mention all of these potential hazards in our hobby is to create a greater contrast and exemplify how great our community of collectors here at Collectors-Society is.
    Whenever I wish to condense or tighten up my collection by letting a few coins go I always try and list them here at Moneymarketplace or in messages to my fellows here first. If a buyer or potential buyer gives me a reference from a regular here that almost always gives it the automatic green light of trust for a transaction. When any of the dozens of friends here vouches for someone I'm not familiar with I sure feel a lot better mailing out a coin, accepting a check or sending payment on promise of a coin as described.
    So here's a toast to all of you here..cheers..it has been a great 10 years as a member..
    My latest prize addition--a fantastic piece of eye-candy from a fellow member CCCoindude who is selling off most of his current collection (I hope I didn't just spam everybody). I added it to my Buffalo short set of coins which all will have some rose, pink or peachy blush toning to them--this one is the common date 1938-D but in uncommon MS67* for its above normal eye appeal...thanks again CCCoindude and to everyone else Happy Hunting.....Jackson

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  11. jackson64

    Steady As She Goes

    By jackson64,

    still searching and bidding- with an occasional buy
    It's hard to believe that it is mid-March and this is my first coin journal for 2013. I was tempted several times to jump in on trending posts but avoided the temptation in the spirit of true journaling instead of using this service as comment section, opinion area or chat board.
    Plus, I would have been in the vast minority with some of my opinions. I recall one gentleman-correctly using this area for its intended purpose-- which is to keep a log or journal of our coin collecting experience, was journaling about his unhappiness with a submission issue ( repeatedly, which is his right).
    I have to admit I was saddened to see so many making mean spirited or adverse comments trending from either shutting up his freedom of speech to violence against him to buying out his membershipo to driuve him away--really sad. When did we become so politically correct that we can no longer voice our personal displeasure with someone or something without being attacked such vitriol. I see it all of the time on our heavily divided political commentaries, bloge and websites comments-and now it seems to have infected this site as well. Freedom of a differing opinion, however right or wrong, is fine--I also retain the right to ignore and not read differing opinions if I can't tolerate un-likeminded people.
    Okay, enough of that...the other issue I was going to reply to was a question asked in the journal section ( I see a lot of this now-as well as notices for selling etc). Silver and gold have had an appearance of dipping in value and some are getting cold feet as to their bullion valued holdings.
    I for one have been currently adding to my holdings--5 more Peru gold 20 sols coins (.27 oz each) and 3 new rolls of 2013 ASE's. Not exactly a grand investment but every little bit I can get at the current dip price-then I'll take it.
    My view-and one held by many with eyes wide open- is that if the Fed is adding 85 billion per month directly into the banks and indirectly into Wall Street to give a false impression of "economic recovery"--as the same banksters have been intentionally shorting gold and silver to artificially drive the value down. The big problem is that our money can't continue to be de-valued like this forever and interest rates for the banks borrowing from the Fed can't stay at 0% forever--it is an inevitable certainty that the faux market will tumble and gold and silver are going to surge.
    Think the prices of silver and gold aren't being manipulated?--how can the US Mint announce record ASE sales in January-more than the entire year of 2012 and have to put a hold on selling and yet prices dropped? China, India, Russia are accumulating massive gold reserves and even Germany has asked the FEd Reserve to deliver their physical gold to them to hold in their own German banks. There are 2 bullion markets--the Wall Street paper bullion and physical bullion and wall street has been using the paper to keep the real stuff undervalued while at the same time the global central banks have been gobbling it up.
    So besides my recent bullion purchases and additions to my Peru 20 sols set ( I even snagged a super-low mintage 1964 date for under $500 !!) I have been casually adding to some of my sets.
    I have added 2 nice Barber halves in VF 30 and VF35--and slowly have manuevered into the top 10 sets on my "Distraction Set" of Seated Liberty Halves.
    I just added a nice 1874-S grade XF to the set. This coin took a while to find and fill the slot. I suspect many collectors are in the market for this coin as a type-coin also, so even though it is not rare relatively, it often sells for more than lower mintage or scarcer dates.
    Also, I decided to start a brand new set. A Buffalo nickel short set for fun. I'm keeping the coins in the MS65 to MS66 grades and all should be affordable without too much sting. The challenge with this set is battling myself. All of the later Buffalo dates are readily availablein higher gem grades and a person could just buy them up and fill all of the slots in no time flat. So mI added a personal challenge--I'm looking for only coins with the gem grade but also with a nice rosy or peachy blush of light toning. Building a matching looking set should be a fun endeavor and add a bit more challenge to collecting these common coins.
    Oh well, I've been long winded enough. I used to journal once a week back in 2005, 2006 when I won an award--then it dropped to 1 or 2 per month..now..I just enjoy reading and following my fellow collectors and friends here. Keep journaling everyone, I still visit the site almost daily and read most journals and comments on the chat boards. Happy Hunting...

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  12. jackson64
    maybe it's time to expand my collecting parameters
    My coin collecting mostly consists of buying as beautiful and eye-appealing coins as I can. I usually do this in the confines of some over-arching goal like assembling a whole set, short set, year set, thematic set etc. I say usually because some of my coin purchases are not for any set but just because I love the design. Examples of this would be coins like my Dolly Madison commem with her wonderful bust on the obv and the willow tree and gardened home on the reverese--another would be my 1917 T1 standing Liberty quarter. I have no desire to complete these series but I thouroughly enjoy having these coins in my collection.
     
    Each purchase generally gives me 3 moments of thrill. I always get a charge--possibly the biggest charge- from winning a desired coin at auction. The second thrill of course is when the coin arrives in the mail and I get it in hand with my loupe for the first time. My third thrill is adding the coin to my Registry and filling a slot in a set. I know many here are different and immediately register a coin upon winning it-even before being in possesion of it. Others here collect and have no interest in the registry. This is just how I enjoy the hobby.
    I'm starting to feel that maybe I'm missing one aspect of the collecting experience though.........
    That would be the photographing and sharing of images of my coins. I have outdated equipment but the zoom 10x is pretty good on my primary camera and a 20x zoom camcorder also can take stills so I do a servicable job. What is really lacking are my lighting set-up and also any photo editing or presentation skills.
    I've looked at other member's like Ghermann and his themed collage of veteran coins and I think on the fun it must be to pull out coins from his collection and image them and work with them.
    What really brought this to a head was my latest mercury dime. I continue to build and rebuild this set with the prettiest coins I can find. I just snagged a truly unbelievable coin and it arrived today. Even nicer than the list photos, I can say I think I got a steal evn though I paid 2x list value for it.True turquoise, aquamarines, violet magentas--just astounding with bold strike for an S mint and overall subtle golden tones--just fabulous ( can you tell I REALLY like this coin??)
    Anyhow, I can't get a decent picture of this little dime which shows the boldness of color, luster and strike details. I tried with a big outdoor bulb in a desk lamp--I tried outdoor soft evening sunlight--I tried my normal desk halogen I use for my Walker pics--I tried a plain old lightbulb and the stovetop lamp even. None truly capture everything well.
    A really good tilt gives me the colors...straight on gives the luster but washes out the color and lessens the FSB, etc etc..
    So I think it is time to expand my coin collecting to include some coin photography equipment made in the 21st century.
    For what it's worth--my 1943-S MS67 FSB Mercury obv ( the reverse is 10x even more astounding but my pics are horrible)..I only wish you all could see this coin in hand--what a treat..

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  13. jackson64
    Power held out long enough to get in an auction bid.
    Our power at my house goes out for hours with a thunderstorm and has been out for a week or more 3 or 4 times in the past 3 or 4 years. We've had the 5 to 6 feet of snow 2 winters ago. A tornado hit Chesapeake beach 2 summers ago, hurricane Irene was pooh-poohed by many as a fizzle but we had no power for a week and many fallen trees here in Chesapeake country. We were down for 3 days during the "derecho" and have had numerous one or two day outages from particularly strong winded t-storms. ( At least last year's earthquake did not kill our juice !!) So needless to say I am well practiced and prepared.
    I have a smaller generator that keeps the food in the freezer from thawing and leaves enough juice for a few lights and to run the TV and DVD for a "storm party/movie night". We are on well water and I have mastered storing water bladders in the tub for potable water and clean, empty trash-cans for pouring in the toilets to flush. No showers and no tap water but it's livable. Coleman stoves, plenty of charcoal, board games, books and family--like I said, I'm old hat and living a week without power is now only an inconvenience.
    One thing though that I lose and can't prep for are on-line auctions and coin transactions. One of the power outages happened while I had a few dozen ebay listings and couldn't answer questions from prospective buyers. This time I had my eye on an elusive piece of eye-candy with a low mintage and nearly 100 years old.
    Usually my strategy is a low opening bid to get an item on my watch list and then readying to bump or snipe at the whistle if need be. This time the strategy had to change. Sure that by 7 or 8 oclock last night that I'd be without power, I had to go "all in" on my first bid.
    I actually saw the bidding stay at $200 under my max bid until the darkness came. This morning I went to work itching to find if I had won my elusive coin to fill the 2nd most challenging slot of my Barber "short set" ( 1900-1915). I immediately logged into my account and checked--huzzah--I'd won the coin although at the max bid I'd made ( I always end up winning on Teletrade at my max bid??). Either way, I felt it was a fair price for a challenging date. The coin is an attractive color, problem-free 1914 with good strike details left. It's very close to an XF40 in details, maybe just lacking the required hints of original luster around the devices--fortunately the price is significantly less in VF35 than XF40 I suspect. Either way, I feel it's a good deal for a really quality Barber- a series that has far more dogs, cleaned and altered coins than solid circulated examples.
    To top it off, I actually got home to find my power is already back on. It's still raining and the weekend will be just a big clean-up with the chainsaw and rakes, but overall I feel like I dodged a bullet here. My prayers to everyone else who got hit hard and for those getting buried under the feet and feet of snow in Western Maryland, Virginia, W Virginia etc. And also my prayers to the dozens of families who lost loved ones from this freakish storm...keep safe all and happy hunting...

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  14. jackson64
    sometimes the registry points don't reflect the better, rarer or higher value coin
    I'll keep this short as I know the excitement over the arrival of the ASE's sets and subsequent grading results has been the big focus of interest for the past month. After a self-imposed buying moratorium for the past 6+ weeks I had won 3 items at the Stacks/Bowers auction in Nov here in Maryland ( Baltimore).
    I finally upgraded my 1941 Walker to an MS67 - the MS66 that filled the slot is not going anywhere though, sorry. I also won a coin that puts me in an interesting spot.
    I won a gorgeously colored 1944 MS68 Mercury dime. My mercury set is an MS67 set until now and the slot has an MS67FB coin in it. My newest addition does not have FB's but is an MS68 which is actually much rarer than even the scarce MS67FB. The registry ( just in my personal opinion) has not given the proper consideration for the higher grade MS68's in the Mercury series. For almost every date-especially within the short set- the MS68's have lower pops than their MS67FB counterparts ( the 44-S date is no exception.)
    Well the point difference is negligible although the 68 cost roughly 2x that of the 67FB ( but this is also probably largely in part because of the fierce bidding for this coin because of its eye-appeal).
    So after waiting and ruminating for about 2 weeks I've decided to go with the uniquely toned and appearing MS68 over my better struck and satiny MS67FB which to many would be "just another blast white gem".
    I'll leave my 67FB in the set for comparison purposes but I'd be interested in what others might have chosen in this situation. Higher points and better struck or distinctive eye appeal with higher grade but lower points?

  15. jackson64
    got all three coins of the special 3-coin san francisco mint issued American silver eagles for 2012
    Okay..the title is a teaser. There really are 3 ASE's issued by the San Fran mint this year and I have matching labels and First Strike designations for all 3--but they are not a "mint issued" 3 coin set--just a "Jackson assembled" 3 coin set.
    Overall, I think they sure do look like a set that was meant to be as one group, even if the 2 proofs were issued together and the MS coin minted at S was a seperate entity. I was just browsing for some good deals on some bullion rolls and ran across the 3rd coin. I threw in a $40 bid considering it was ( $31 at the time melt) and already slabbed. I got lucky and the bid held at $38.35--I guess there is not much of a market for the 69's. I also got the 2 proofs for under $180 so it appears that registry collectors of the 70's have created quite a large divide seprating the cost/demand of 69's vs 70's....that's okay, I just want one example of each as cheap as I an find them ( I'd have bought a 67 or 68 if I could have gotten them even cheaper).
    Happy hunting e1 and I believe this is it for me and the ASE's for a while--unless of course there is another special issue reverse proof set

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  16. jackson64
    coming home to a full PO Box and 3 coin packages takes some sting out of a relaxing vacation ending
    Due to some various circumstances my wife and I did not take our usual February vacation to break up the winter. We both have been at our current professions and companies long enough that we qualify for several weeks vacation per year. Our usual practice is a vacation in mid-winter to break up the doldrums and get away alone together, and then we also take a late summer trip which will include the daughters-and now the granddaughter.
    I must admit to getting pretty close to burning out since we skipped our winter trip and had not had any time off since the prior summer. I usually don't like to purchase coins before I leave for a trip and have them sitting around at the post office for 10-12 days until I return.
    Even though I live in a community where a person knows the postal workers by name, the checkout clerks at the grocery went to school with your kids or go to your church, etc etc..I still don't like filling out the Hold Mail slip and having a bin of my mail -with boxes and USPS envelopes sitting around at the post office. All of my paranoia and mistrust of my fellow humans aside, I have NEVER had a single package or coin order misplaced or disappeared by the USPS--knock on wood.
    So I get back from a really relaxing and much needed vacation with the wife, daughter and granddaughter Jade at around 2AM on Monday morning--and I'm up at 8 AM the following morning after a 12 hour drive and off to the post office!!
    Nothing except for 3 coin packages in waiting could have gotten me up at 8 AM after a 12 hour drive from the panhandle. I was not disappointed. I had won a Seated Liberty Half for my "distraction set" at the early stacks auction that occured just before the big weekend....I had gotten sniped for a 1935-S Walker by a floor bidder..and then on the final day of bidding on Stacks auctions I won a second Seated Half and another Maryland Commem ( don't ask me why I now have 3 Maryland Commems in my collection--maybe because I live here in Calvert County and am just a homer.) The Stacks auctions charged me shipping for each package and mailed them each seperately-seems like a waste--but the invoices would not let me combine the orders.
    The final purchase I had among my pile of bills and junk mail at the post office was the 2-piece 2012 San Fran proof set. I have the 20th anniversary set with the reverse proof, the 2011 set with the rev pf and my OCD, which requires completion and/or symmetry to the things I do, required me to purchase the new set with the Rev Pf ( plus at $180 shipped for both slabbed by NGC PF69's I thought the price was good.)
    So if vacations have to end, and the daily grind must return, there is no better way to finish some time off than a full day of relaxing after travel and jumping back into my numismatic hobby.
    Here's the obverse of my 1847 Seated Half...nice almost PL devices but not very mirrored fields. I enjoy the way the forest green and gold toning isolates the date--Happy Hunting e1

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  17. jackson64
    Thought I had filled a slot with a key date except for one small detail
    There isn't a collector among us, who I'm sure owns at least one coin that they feel is undergraded. I feel the reason for this is due to one primary aspect of grading--that is Eye Appeal. Unfortunately grading-even by the 2 big TPG's- is always going to be subjective.
    All of us with any experience in the hobby understand the main criteria used in grading-contact marks, hairlines, luster, wear on circulated coins. However this will get you to a technical point for an iffy range--then everything gets thrown out practically as "eye appeal" is then gauged.
    As a Walker collector who has looked at thousands of this series I'll use them as an example.... A coin may be very clean/clear of marks ( virtually pristine) average to well struck for the date and mint and with frosty luster and this coin is likely to get an MS66 or 67. They just don't give the "white" Walkers higher grades than 67 simply because there are thousands and thousands and they don't catch the eye as much-even in near perfect condition.
    However I have seen repeatedly coins with weak strikes--flat head on Liberty, no discernable thumb and incomplete skirt lines ( and not just S mints)--I have seen such coins even with chatter in the fields get that same MS67 grade if the coin has some attractive rim toning or satiny luster. Now I'm not saying anything is wrong with either, it's just the way it is. If one is a collector you must understand this subjectiveness or you'll pull your hair out wondering why your obviously superior technical coin is lower grade than that scuffed, weakly struck toned coin. ( not to mention it may cost you a few bucks if you start fruitlessly sending in your coins for regrade.)
    Well I've gotten way off of track from my original journal intent-- which I tend to do-- it was not meant to be about the subjective and eye appeal aspect of grading and how HUGE it is ( when a single point in grade can mean $500 or $5000 value-it's pretty huge).
    I also wanted to mention the human aspect--which is sometimes things just get missed. It is an effort to failsafe this by having 3 seperate graders look at each coin--but I've studied enough about the human brain to know how easily it fools itself. So it is not surprising that just plain old errors occur.
    I had recently purchased a 1914 Barber to fill a slot in my "Fine to XF Only set". I ended up being pretty disappointed when I had purchased a coin that was suitable in quality and in a middling grade that wasn't too expensive, only to find that there was one detail that ruined my deal.
    The 3 graders at PCGS had missed it, the consignor to auction missed it ( giving the benefit of the doubt) and the auctioneer missed it-- but the 1914 I purchased when viewed under magnification was actually a 1914-S with the S either altered or abnormally worn to the point of being barely visible to the naked eye. It is one of those things that once someone points it out to you it is obvious however I can see how it was missed. Especially if the submitter had entered 1914 on his invoice and the 3 graders weren't looking very closely for it. ( you do know that the vast majority of coins get 3 to 5 seconds of perusal for grading by each grader, right?) I can see it now............
    Grader #1: Barber Half 1914--hmmmmm, uncleaned, no enviro damage, dings or gouges.....obverse has all letters of LIBERTY legible and reverse has full shield/lines..VF20...NEXT...( passes it to grader #2-repeat...
    Well, I'm starting to really ramble. I'm not going to mention the TPG or Auctioneer by name--after all, to err is human I do want to say however that with a single phone call the transaction was voided and an assurance of refund was given to me. A tiny little error for a tiny little worn mintmark but the value of the 1914 in VF is $500-600 and the 14-S is $150-180..happy hunting

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  18. jackson64
    I wanted the toner, but this is far from "settling"
    Okay, so Stacks and Bowers continued in this recent Whitman Coin Expo in Baltimore to sell off the monstrous hoard of high grade, short set years, Walker Halves. The first 2 times they had parts of this hoard at auction I didn't see any of the 3 coins that can still be upgraded in my set. I did make the "lateral upgrade" of my 1942. I say lateral upgrade because, if you remeber, I purchased the same date in the same grade-I just switched for a more colorful and distinctively unique coin.
    Well in this auction I saw a really unique and colorful 1945 ( one of the final 3 coins that I can afford to upgrade to MS67 from a 66). Most of these coins are selling below normal auction prices for MS67's. I figure with dozens of these high grade coins at auction at a time of the varying dates that the bidders for Ultr-high grade Walkers is thinned among the hoard.
    Unfortunately it appears that a group of us all had our sights on this coin. The other 3 1945's all ended up selling between $750 to 800 but this one- which I was sure I'd win with a hefty bid of $1100 ended up getting a lot of action. I cut on the live bidding at work ( it was lunch time-don't get the wrong impression) and discovered my bid was already getting clobbered so I decided not to chase it.
    I went back to the other 4 coins and 1 of them had a superior satin luster and very clear surfaces. Although I have grown to seek toners or coins with unique traits for my collection this one was very attractive--not to mention I'd actually be saving a few hundred dollars to boot!!
    In the end I ended up winning my satiny prize at below normal FMV by quite a bit-and in hindsight I'm actually very glad for my set to have this example of a satin finished Walker so that the set displays the diversity in luster that this series encompasses.
    On a side not: I also won a champagne and sky blueish 43-D so I got 2 of my final 3 upgrades. My last 3 upgrades for my set cost me a pretty penny and I actually have dropped 2 spaces in the rankings from #7 to #9. Once these 2 additions arrive and are then registered ( I always wait until I have the coin in hand to register them) I will jump all the way to number 6 !! I never dreamed that I could get my set up that high. This is one of the top 3 or 4 sets in popularity of design and to think that after all of these years that I am now solidly entrenched in the top ten is amazing to myself.
    Anyhow, this is my satiny 1945--far from settling I am now re-visiting this coin over and over on-line to drink in its watery surfaces--

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  19. jackson64
    3 recent whistleblowers have come out from Wall Street
    As I continue to see the gradual slide of gold and silver values from what were highs of $2000+ for gold and $50 for silver ( recently-not just 1979), I get filled with mixed thoughts.
    First is the feeling of anger that the precious metals I have stowed away have been intentionally manipulated out of their value. We all know that Wall Street is a bunch of crooks but when the occasional whistblower comes out--like Greg Smith from Goldman Sachs or Andrew Maguire has from JP Morgan and lets you know the details of how they trend these markets at their whim to sell a bunch to investors and then they pull their own money back out when the price goes up allowing for quick millions in profits--well that's when I get ticked. On top of this, the "too big too fail" banks that got billions/trillions in our tax money and 16 trillion from the Fed ( yes, that is true-16 trillion that the Fed gave to Wall Street in secret loans during early 2009)-on top of the manipulation they already of a huge advantage. A company like Goldman can buy thousands of ounces on paper of silver with just a small percentage% margin required !! I think that it was in March or May of 2011 that Comex raised the cash deposit to acquire rights to 5,000 ounces to $16,000. This increase was followed by silver dropping from near $50 down under $30 within a few weeks.
    It's still not a bad deal if you're a Wall Street bank because at $30 an ounce that is $150,000 worth of silver for just a $16K deposit. I always wondered what would happen to the price of precious metals if everyone who owned PAPER silver suddenly called their brokers and asked them to go ahead and mail them their physical silver. It would be the same as if everyone at once decided to withdraw their cash from their accounts--chaos. Obviously their are multiples and multiples of electronic money compared to actual physical currency and one of the untalked about subjects concerning precious metals is that they are buying and selling more than actually exists.
    When JP Morgan buys 50,000 ounces of silver for their $160,000 cash deposit, you don't really think someone ships them physical silver or that there is a ginormous vault somewhere where they place big signs on giant stacks of bars with "Reserved for JP Morgan" on it do you? No, they sell what they don't have possesion of and quite possibly doesn't even exist.
    Having said all of that--and I can send you links to verify this info and also about how the manipulations of market values are done, just PM me- after venting I also must admit mixed feelings. You see, I buy precious metals for one simple reason- they are a great hedge against the devaluation of our fiat currency.
    Unlike some who have posted here and urged others to buy precious metals "cause they're going up and you can double your money" I'll never say that. If precious metals double in value it's a good chance that gasoline, groceries, clothing and keeping the lights on and air conditioned at home is gonna double in cost.
    I always liked the analogy: in 1913, 100 years ago, a finely taylored suit would cost you $20 cash or a $20 gold piece. Today in 2012 it would cost you over $1,500 in Federal Reserve notes to buy that custom taylored suit-or you could still buy it with that same $20 gold piece. Salaries are no longer rising at the same rate as inflation and the devaluation of our currency- so I buy what little I can as part of a diversified retirement plan.
    Note: I'm not talking any financial collapse or anything along those lines--just that if we can somehow figure out a way to continue our debt-based monetary system, and creatively find ways to prolong the inevitable indefinitely--well it seems obvious that inflation is going to continue as it has for the past 100+ years. It just doesn't seem to hurt as much if I can turnsome paper into metals that may keep relative pace with inflation.
    So although I'm a bit peeved to find out about the precious metals value manipulation, at the same time I'm looking at this as an opportunity. I'm going to start buying bullion again. Silver may be headed for $20 an ounce and gold could drop under $1500..my guess ( and it is just that-a guess) is that 10 years from now I'll probably not be kicking myself for buying at current prices-I'll probably be kicking myself for not buying more.
    Here's a nice little item I picked up recently. The 2012 new design British Sovereign. Gold will have to rise quite a bit for me to make any money on this one as bullion-but I didn't get this one for bullion, I loved the design the second I saw it.....Happy Hunting all

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  20. jackson64
    the coin had the look and was only 50% of list--but there is no set fot it
    As I've matured and become more disciplined in my collecting my impulsive purchases have dropped considerably. Not that impulse buying is a sign of immaturity in general- but when I first started collecting seriously, I never saw a coin I didn't want. I lost a bit of money by building complete sets quickly-even #1 registry sets- and then selling the coins for less than I bought them. I don't even want to think of the money lost when I throw in buyers fees, sellers fees, shipping, and slabbing. I learned through the school of hard knocks to my wallet--buy what I plan on holding for a decade or longer or I'm gonna lose money overall.
    I do believe there actually ARE wrong ways to collect--just not wrong interests or coins to collect.
    Some people will say disparaging and mean things about ASE collectors and "they are just bullion, not coins". Well the design is beautiful, the coin has an annual dated issue and also several varieties and special issues-just like many series, so I think of ASE's as a coin first, that also happens to be of bullion purity.
    Others disparage the modern series collector. Usually the put-downs are about massive mintages, market saturation and over-priced for collectors who seek perfection. Some collectors will pay 5 to 10x more for a perfect 70 instead of a 69 at 1/10th of the cost. I would ask the naysayers, "since when did the pursuit of perfection or the highest quality set become a bad thing?" and Why is that different than a classic design collector who pays 10x the cost for an MS67 over an MS66?
    Some even crack down on those who collect proof coinage. I've heard more than one collector scoff at proof coinage as " not real coinage" since it was not minted for the purpose of tender but was solely printed for those who do collect.
    For others the eye-rolling comes at those who purchase mint products, or the Modern Commems ( again they mention the over-saturation of products by the mint). I would say, how is having an array of choices for young and/or future collectors who might enjoy the hobby years from now a bad thing? If all coin collectors are oldsters and no new, younger collectors are starting in our hobby then a MAJOR point comes up that they hadn't considered. Who would buy our collections when we sell them or leave them to family? With no new collectors then our coins turn into precious metals and nothing else.
    I could go on and on about how so many have an opinion about what and how is the right way for others to collect. All I know for me is that I've learned to only buy coins now that I know I'd like to own for years--maybe even never part with. This saves me a lot of money on impulse buying of a commemorative issue of a nickel, or a 4 coin Lincoln commem set. I'd enjoy these coins often when I bought them for a few days and then they would be relegated to a slab box in the safe. Not that these aren't great coins if those are the series you collect, but I don't collect those series and I just can't justify buying every special edition or commem that the mint produces. Eventually I usually would end up plucking out coins for quick sale from the slab boxes to buy one I "had to have" at a future date. I'd take 60% on that Ike proof69DCAM set so I could have some more cash for a higher bid on that coin I really was waiting for a year or 2 to come to auction. Nothing is more frustrating in the hobby than finally having a scarce issue come to auction that you've been waiting and hunting for but you just blew a chunk of money on a ho-hum impulse buy and can't make a really healthy bid to secure your prize.
    I have reduced my buying in the past 2 to 3 years to special coins that are unique and appeal to my specific tastes and eyes. Most often these will be a half dollar from 1839-1947 or a Mercury Dime that has color. I have bought a few "single coins" that I have no intention of completing the set or even adding to the registry. My 1917 MS65FH quarter is one of these--what a beautiful coin the TypeI SLQ is ! I also have a single high grade Peace Dollar of a very common date-1924- because it was exceptionally free of marks and highly lustrous. I like the design but only want one.
    I have 1 Morgan CC coin and my most recent impulse buying landed me another unique and distinct looking Morgan- an 1888-S Morgan. I was pleased to see also that it is a scarcer date-in fact the first Morgan struck with less than 700,000 mintage. So here is my prize..another addition that I will pull out over the years and enjoy studying the toning under 20x magnification. For now, that is the only "right" buy for me. Who knows, if I live long enough I might be like old Eliasberg and try and get one of each...Happy Hunting e1, whatever it is that you enjoy.

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  21. jackson64

    Sleepers

    By jackson64,

    still here and still loving the hobby
    Hi all who enjoy the journals. I know that I'm not as active on the chat boards or journaling but I am still visiting auctions on-line, and am always on the hunt for deals and coins that have that look that I love.
    As many of you may remember, I get a special thrill out of roll hunting and lot buying. Not the typical "roll from the bank" hunting but mostly ebay roll hunting. I try and but rolls from the Walker half or mercury dime series as close to bullion/melt cost. Then I'll search through for varieties, semi-keys or higher grade coins. I pick these out and add the remainder of the rolls to my silver holdings ( or I'll replace the coins I found from my holdings and re-sell the roll so I can buy more to hunt through). It's not for everyone and there are lots and lots of junk silver rolls out there but the hidden gems is what makes it a thrill.
    Well I finally got around to submitting a few of the nicer scarce date coins I've found-- along with my 2 25th Anniversary Silver Eagle Sets. The silver Eagle's didn't do great-not bad, just not great. One set got 3 PF/MS 70's= the reverse proof, the regular proof and the "S" coin...the other set was all 69's. ( For what it's worth-excuse the spam but if anyone is interested, I'll sell the complete 69 set-they are in PCGS Secure Plus slabs all with the the 25th Anniversary Set connotation-$700 flat-contact me).
    Anyhow, the good news was 2 of the "bullion" coins were a 1920-D and a 1919. The 1919 got a VF30 and the 1920-D got a whopping XF45 !! Not bad for melt value.
    I feel like I rescued these coins too. They were in the hands of someone who inherited them or had them for years in a shoebox and had no idea of their scarcity.
    I looked at POPS and I was extremely surprised to find that the 1920-D is the lowest pop graded coin in the whole series with PCGS grading just 541, the next lowest was the 23-S at 630. The low mintage 1921's all had 1300+ graded ( probably because even an F12 is worth quite a few bucks). For what it's worth--it also is quite surprising to find that the lowest short set pop is actually the 1942-D for total graded and least graded in MS.
    I've added 4 or 5 Barber Halves to my "Fine" set- all coins being F12 to XF45. I also sent away an 1854-O Seated Half I bought raw and got a nice XF40 grade for it. Not going to be worth a lot but I was just happy to see it in a slab since I got it raw.
    So now with silver having been manipulated down by Bear Stearns, Goldman Sachs etal..it is buying and hunting time for more rolls!!
    May all of your hunting trips also find an occasional semi-treasure. Happy hunting everyone.

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  22. jackson64
    the grade's the same, the registry points are the same, BUT....
    Well it seems as if there are more than 2 potential upgrades left for my set.
    Last I journaled about my Walking Liberty Half short set I was lamenting that there were only 2 possible coins left in the set that I could afford to upgrade- NUMERICALLY upgrade that is. It seems that I have found another way to spend silly amounts of money for a coin that I already own one of--and not even in a higher grade either. Perusing the perplexing hoard of MS67's at the recent Stacks/Bowers auctions I saw several examples of both the 1943-D and the 1945. It would seem logical to most that since mI had the money set aside for one upgrade that I would try and snag one of these 2 dates and get nearer completion of my "max budget" set.
    Ridiculous as it seems, instead I saw a 1942 ( possibly the most common date MS Walker) that caught me. I was snared right from the get-go. The coin has those crusty flecks of rainbow color around the rim with limes and violets mixed with deep golds and the veridian blues-- a perfect sister coin to about 3 others in my set.
    I set a rock solid bid ( after all there were SEVEN !! other 1942 MS67's in this auction !!). Turns out that the coin I wanted sold for the highest and I barely eked out the win by bidding an "off amount" of 11 dollars more than the normal $50/$100 bid increments. It would appear that I am not alone in my tastes for this eye-appeal and look in a Walker.
    So, do I view this as an "upgrade" considering it is graded the same as my existing coin and not worth a point more in my registry set, or is it just me being a bit OCD or exhibiting a hoarding mentality? Either way, it looks like I won't be complete with my Walker set ever if I am always looking for a slightly nicer looking coin to replace existing coins with. This somehow makes me happy.
    Here's the auction picture of my newest treasure...I'll try and post a picture of the coin it is replacing on the chat boards.

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  23. jackson64

    The Deed Is Done

    By jackson64,

    I've been waiting to see.....
    Well NGC has gone ahead with their business scheme to banish the PCGS coins from the World Registry. First let me say that- of course it is NGC's site and of course they have full right to do anything they choose with their company and registry.
    I had held off with posting a journal with my reaction until they actually did the deed. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt that they may change their minds and put the collectors ahead of the almighty dollar. Now that it is done I can say that I am quite displeased by their decision--and even more displeased by the condescending and lame explanation that they gave.
    I would have been more accepting if they had flat out said, " this is a purely financial decision". " We at NGC feel that at this time we are in a unique and strong position to establish a monopolistic dominance in world coin grading and have decided to eliminate PCGS coins from the registry for the purpose of ensuring that the bulk dealer submissions will be sent to us and that the growing TPG business worldwide will look to NGC for the lion's share of its certifications." Something l;ike that..after all, the truth is easier to swallow than when people pee down your neck and tell you it's raining. ( it's too confusing to determine varieties and attributions??? really?? just use Krause as a standard and if PCGS criteria differ THEN you disqualify the coin)
    Anyhow, this does affect many, many of us. I spent a couple of thousand last year to finally bring my Canadian $2 Twonies up to the #1 registry slot-- it is now dropped down to #4. You see, 2 of the rarer, low mintage gold coins in the series I bought in PCGS slabs--simply because they rarely come onto the market and when they do already slabbed in a 69 or better you gotta grab THE COIN no matter the slab it's in.
    Secondly, I have a #1 Canadian proof dime set that has been #1 for 4+ years and was 36 out of 39 coins complete--now it will never be complete. You see, not only do I need the final 3 dates but now there are also 2 PCGS coins that will never be listed in their slots. I won't spend $30 to cross $20 coins and neither will I buy second copies of coins I already posess--so a set that has been years in the making will never be seen as complete on the registry.
    There are other smaller sets also with PCGS coins in them--I already have eliminated 6 sets completely from the registry and am considering the removal of my 3 #1 Bahamas sets since those sets also will never be seen as complete on the registry.
    I guess I can be satisfied with knowing that the sets are complete and also, even though my7 sets my not be ranked #1-- the reality is that I'll be the owner of the #$1 set of coins in the category.
    Sadly, there will now be dozens and dozens of sets in this registry ranked as #1 that are not even close to the sets that fellow members own--of coins t5hat is. So this is a sad day for the world coin registry-- it is the day when a #1 ranking no longer means the #1 set of coins-- it only means that you have the most paper labels with an NGC logo.
    It is also disheartening that I have been so loyal to NGC through the years..even with drops and cuts in services and membership benefits just as they have raised costs and gotten lax on turnaround times. I have never complained when I sent in tokens or medals that they had previously slabbed with, "ineligible type" but then find my submission returned unslabbed but they kept my money. Also dozens of coins that were bodybagged and not graded-which is what I paid for- but again they kept the fees ( coincidentally almost all get slabbed on resubmission). Paying postage both ways on 4 seperate occasions to get mislabeled coins or damaged slabs exchanged-- never without complaint.
    I did all of this-- even knowing that my coins would have a 12-15% GREATER VALUE IN A PCGS SLAB- at the same grade. I will not spend a dime crossing my coins into slabs that will REDUCE their value-- I may have been a loyal lackey for these years but I will not just throw money away.
    There is another alternative. I COULD CROSS TO PCGS. The difference in increase of value in a PCGS slab could offset some of the costs of crossing and then I could list my sets as completed in the PCGS registry. I'll have to give that some thought though. I'm actually leaning toward selling everything now except my Half Dollar sets-- in fact, I'm taking offers on all of my World coins ( although you now can't see which coins I actually have in my collections).
    Oh well, I have no doubt that NGC will profit well from this decision and that the few dozen of us who will now be quitting the world coin registry, well we will not matter much in the big financial picture.
    For a picture to accompany my journal--here are my 2 25th anniversary silver eagles still in their unopened box. I have been struggling with what to do with them. I have finally decided to stick with my principles ( even if it resembles the old, "cut off your nose to spite your face" cliche). I will not be sending them to NGC- or any more money to them. I will send them to PCGS, even though the likelihood of getting a bunch of 70's is considerably less than with NGC...I am truly saddened that it has come to this, maybe it is time to put aside this hobby anyhow. Between the mint's ridiculous expansion of offerings, the burgeoning amount of counterfeits from China of classic coins, more emphasis put on labels than coins, "First Strikes" that aren't, sour grapes and resentments when registry awards are announced, scammers on ebay, auction houses charging 15% to buy coins, 15% to sell them, TPG's charging $30 per coin to glance at them for 3 to 5 seconds ( this is a fact disclosed by several graders themselves), paying extra for "Earlybird" grading process and then getting the coins returned at a longer wait than the "cheapo" $18 per coin submission rate/tier-BUT NOT GETTING REFUNDED THE DIFFERENCE ( isn't this just plain stealing when you charge extra for an expedited service but then don't expedite it and still keep the money???)
    I'm sick of it, it's time to enjoy my sailing, build a greenhouse so that I can garden in the winter, spend extra time with the granddaughter and reading my Bible. Maybe take that money spent on coins and take that dream trip through Europe now that the Euro is crashing and travel there is cheaper than it has been in decades...lots of things to fill thye time I spent on coin collecting. Most of them will enrich my life far more also.
    So in the end, thank you NGC for the past years of enjoyment and good luck with your new position as a hard-line, no-nonsense, dollar first company. I'm sure that you'll be very successful. Maybe this is just the incentive I needed to get my priorities back into order and reset my focus on God, family and spending my money on living instead of objects........

  24. jackson64
    you won't believe this one........
    I had casually mentioned on the Chat Boards that I had gotten my ASE 25th Anniversary order for 2 sets placed at around 6:00pm EST on the day of release ( 10/27/11).
    My order was immediately placed on backorder and every week or 2 I have gotten an email bumping it further down the road..EXAMPLE: your order is scheduled to ship appx 11/25..on 11/25 I'd get an email saying, " your order expected to ship 12/7..and on and on it went week after week..my latest was " your order expected to ship 01/06/12..and then as the 6th came I got another email postponing it until Jan 23rd.
    I actually called the mint after this final email and asked them if there was actually any chance that I still might receive my order- or if this random generated email would eventually turn into, " your order has been canceled" --as so many others have received after their backorders had fallen by the wayside because of dwindling supplies and their lower place on the list. The person I spoke with at the mint's phone line assured me that there was still a chance but that she wasn't guaranteeing anything.
    At this point I calmly vented a little- I also explained to her the bit of a pickle I was in by the circumstances. I really would like a set and am going to purchase one regardless. The issue is that I have been collecting coins for years and years and recognize the reality of what occurs with a high demand set like these. FIRST: a huge demand and dealers snaggging up extras, a shortage for collectors orders and prices skyrocket ( I believe some were $3000 for unopened raw sets or pre-ordered all 70 sets.). SECONDLY: next comes the over-correction ( which I believe we are in now) as dealers and collectors who purchased 5 sets try and sell off the extras. I saw a set on Teletrade I believe sell for under $800 for 69's in First Strike PCGS anniversary holders and even some perfect 70's sets at near $1000. Third: after the "extra" sets have cleared out, many of those who wanted sets and didn't have the funds at the time- Christmas bills, waiting for tax returns etc etc-- now are in the market and the true cost starts to level out as costs slowly drift back up some.
    I was/am hoping to get my sets in this window before prices rise again- either from my order or purchasing them already graded ( heck- $300 for the set + $200 for grading/shipping etc is $500 or buy on ebay for $700 already slabbed). But I fear that if I wait the 69's will be back over a grand by mid-2012.
    So to finish with a happy ending, I got a HUGE surprise of an email yesterday. After nearly 3 months since I placed my order, I got an email from the mint dated 01/13/12.." your order #xxxxxx has been shipped" complete with a tracking number !!
    Wow, I thought it was a foregone conclusion and had already been pricing sets and trying to decide what holder and grade I was going to buy--and now I am going to get my 2 sets from the mint.
    Of course it will be a few months most likely before I can actually see my coins because when they arrive I won't be able to open the box and look at them-- they'll go straight off for encapsulation ( mainly because I don't want to lose the authentication for the 3 coins that were also issued seperately).
    I won't bore you with more posts during the process about , receiving them, shipping them, their progress through grading and their grades-- do you really care if I get 70's on my coins??
    So, if anyone else is stuck in the same dilemma and getting backorder status emails--there may still be a faint glimmer of hope--no matter how dim that glimmer is getting, it might just still happen.......
    And my first journal without a coin pic-- my first grandchild, granddaughter Jade, now 17 months old--what joy !!

  25. jackson64
    an arduous endeavor nears its end
    First of all, congratulations to all of the registry winners- each and every award is well-deserved and don't let anyone else's frustrated words detract from your moment of due recognition. Your passion for the hobby is evident in the sets assembled by some and the presentations done by others. I have had less fervor this past year myself and have taken a more subdued direction in my collecting. Maybe 12-15 coins added and half of those were upgrades to existing coins within my sets.
    Which brings me to the title of my journal.
    Several years ago, the primary focus of my collecting was my signature coin set. The High Seas sailing ship coin set is a Topical/Thematic coin collection I have assembled and then tucked aside for about 2 years now.It was the first topical winner of the Most Creative Signature Set -as the custom sets were called back then. That was the primary niche that my fellow collectors identified me with, I believe. However late in 2007 I started assembling a Walker Half Dollar Short Set as a sidelight set for distraction. The only criteria I had set for myself was- and this is a direct quote from the original set description-" to find the nicest and highest graded example I can for each coin for under $100."
    Well if you look at the set now you'll probably wonder what the heck happened ( or maybe I'm the luckiest collector in history for finding so many high grade coins for under $100.) What happened was a simple trade with a friend at Tradingslabs. I forget what I traded my friend rons but in return he agreed to send me 3 short set Walkers graded MS65. All 3 of these coins I added to my set but that quickly created a problem for my mildly OCD affected mind--there was an uneveness in the set now.
    As only a coin addict could reason, the proper solution was to upgrade all of the other coins in the set to MS65 also. Well eventually I added an MS66 and started upgrading again. Then came my first MS67 and a new target-- a Top Ten set and the highest graded and most PQ, eye-appealing coin I can afford for each slot-- this is sure a long way off from " nicest coin for under $100."
    So finally, after changing criteria and objectives, upgrading over and over and re-selling prior purchases ( usually at less than I paid originally ) I am nearing the end of the road- for real this time. There are only 2 slots left that I can reasonably afford to upgrade- my 1945 and 1943-D can both be bumped to MS67&amp;#39;s when I find suitable examples. The other MS66&amp;#39;s will stay as is-- My modest middle class station in life will not afford me the budget to acquire an MS67 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, or 44-S ( there may be an outside shot at a 45-S if I saved several months and happenstance brought a reasonable priced one to the market while I had the funds).
    So, here is the most recent addition, purchased about 8 weeks ago but I never posted it. I&amp;#39;ll actually be keeping my current MS66 though since it is one of my favorites. A simple 1941 common date, but I think you&amp;#39;ll agree- not so common appearance.
    I wish everyone a joyous New Year and enjoyment with your numismatic endeavors..happy hunting !