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jackson64

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Journal Entries posted by jackson64

  1. jackson64
    I'm going to have to face the facts...
    I believe that it was Albert Einstein who said, " The definition of insanity is making the same mistakes and expecting different results." ( often misquoted as "doing the same thing and expecting..."). Well I am either hardheaded beyond cure, thick as a brick or certifiable because for years I have been making the same mistakes and inevitably getting the same results.
    The last I journaled--before the new year I believe--I had my fingers crossed as I sent 5 of my Walkers away for regrade. I was sincerely hoping for an upgrade or possibly a + or star for at least 4 of the 5 coins. I used my 5 free submission "coupon" on this instead of getting some of the "to be slabbed" pile taken care of. I have ASE proofs in boxes, foreign gold, old BU Washies with color, and Canada proof sets with the dimes and $2 polar bears I collect, all of which I keep meaning to get in slabs but keep putting off.
    Instead, I again fed my insanity. How bad of a submitter am I ?? I may be the only person who routinely LOSES money on submissions. How is this possible you may wonder, well I'll tell you...........
    You see, of the 5 Walkers I submitted, 2 were in old NGC fattie holders which sell at a premium and 2 had CAC stickers for being premium quality coins, which also sell at a bit of a premium. However my coins all came back in brand new shiny holders ( I guess they do this automatically--lesson learned here)..so I lose the value of the coveted old generation slabs and also the CAC value.
    However this was not my first brainless moment. My prior submission was also a money loser. I had purchased the limited edition Canada proof set last year. Unlike the normal silver proof sets, there were only 5000 minted of this set and it was a pain locating one since the mint sold out in one day and dealers were marking it up accordingly. To cut to the chase, I submitted the set directly to NGC--hard oak box, COAS and untouched capsules..my results were that they all came back as (2)67's and (3)68's for my 5 coin set. The irony is that the coins were worth more raw than they are in slabs with such low grades for moderns. Now I'm without the box and COA also so cracking them out and putting them back in original packaging is not an option ( another lesson learned).
    So I may be learning some lessons ( and they do get expensive), but my insanity persists. How do I know that I'm not cured? Because my pile of "to be graded" coins still sit on velvet lined trays waiting for my craziness to boil over and send in another batch for my next installment of disappointment.
     
    Picked up this overlooked semi-key for my Barber Half set the other night. The 1909-O is not often mentioned when talking about Barber keys/semis but with an NGC gaded pop of just 81--in all grades-- and similar pop in PCGS...there just may not be that many of these still in existence ( at least with a collectible quality to them)..
    PS: almost forgot..congratulations to everyone who was recognized by NGC this year for your excellence in collecting, whether it was assembling, presentation or journaling..all of the awards were well given. And thank you NGC for recognizing me and my love of my humble Walker set as well...

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  2. jackson64
    to be shipped on 11/28/11
    I got my third email from the US Mint since that strange day that the ASE 25th Anniversary sets went on sale. The first email was the same day and simply stated that my order had been placed and I was on a waiting list/ backordered.
    Several days ago I got a second email from the mint which sent my hopes tumbling. In a nutshell the notice simply said that I had not been dropped from the list and would receive my 2 sets if there were any cancellations. Although others had posted how their emails the same day had informed them that they were no longer on the list and had zero chance--I still felt that my chances were slim to none ( and Slim was saddling up to leave town.)
    So today's notice from the mint is an unexpected surprise. I'm pretty stoked up and I'm not a full-fledged ASE collector per se. I do have several complete sets- just not graded sets. I have all of the key proof ASE's still in OGP/boxes, and of course you know I love the design since my favorite series is the Walking Liberty Half Dollar ( sorry ASE fans-- the reverse doesn't come close to the eagle on the Walker reverse.just IMHO).
    So I hope this is good news to a few of you who are still on the backorder list. If you haven't gotten word yet that you won't be getting one-well then there is still hope that you might.
    A couple other things while I'm already started--kudos to NGC for giving the 1915 Barber Half in VG10 grade more than 3 points. A coin whose value is roughly $150-200 deserves a few more than 3, a nice pick-up by the registry team. Not all is accolades in Collectors-Society land however. I just got my "packet" for renewing my PREMIUM membership. When I first joined NGC/CS we got a slabbed ASE along with free submissions and our membership package with an attractive folder, submission forms and heavy grade papered Price Lists for all of the grading services. This dropped down to a state quarter with special label but all of the other accoutrements. Eventually it was a CS pin and the folder package with a book on details grading, info about conservation and the forms and pricelists. This year I got a 44c envelope- in it was a single page letter with my membership number and a thank you for another year of being a member. Also in the envelope was the 5 submission coupon--that's it ! Just a form letter and a coupon..oh well, if it keeps from more price increases for membership again then I guess it's enough.( I at least would've liked the price list and some submission forms-I still like to write them longhand.)
    Finally, the Baltimore Whitman Expo is this weekend at the Convention Center and Stacks Bowers are doing the main auction. Unfortunately I'll be away so I can't visit the bourse but I have my eye on some of the world coins I saw on the on-line catalog.
    I don't have any good pics of new coins so here is a Seated Half I got recently for that set..an 1844-O in XF45

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  3. jackson64
    my Walker Short Set odyssey is nearing its end......
    It is so nice to finally be past my "post binge stupor." The last I wrote a journal, I had overdone it at a recent auction and my coin budget has been depleted for about a month. Fortunately I didn't spy any "can't pass up" hole fillers or upgrades during the past month.
    Actually, the number of slots that have any hope of upgrading in my Walker Short Set is running out. I'll never afford MS67 coins for the 1941S-1945-S dates. I could still upgrade the 41, 45 and 47-D dates to MS67 ( with the 1947-D being the upper limits of my price range).
    I just received my only San Fran mint MS67 that I'll be able to afford- the 1946-S. I must say that I was thrilled when I opened the package and got a look at it. One of those rare occasions when the coin is far more attractive in-hand than the pics from the auction website.
    Also, I just got back a group of coins that I had submitted to PCGS for grading. You may wonder why I'm a member of both. The truth is that I am a dedicated Collectors-Society member and don't even visit the PCGS forums or webpage. However the membership fee is less than the cost of submitting 8 coins so I join essentially to get a coupon for 8 coin submissions for a discount.
    The coins themselves are just to fill holes in my sidelight sets. I love the designs of the Bahamian coins and the minting has a burnished look to it that is very eye-appealing to me. I also collect the Canada $2 Polar bear coins. Again the eye appeal is a personal thing with the silver outer ring and gold or gold-clad inner core with polar bears. I just love the look. The 4 returns I got back for my "Twonies" were worth enough registry points to propel my $2 Polar bears into the #1 slot and now I'm getting pretty close to finishing the set.
    I also purchased 2 of the ASE anniversary sets on Thursday and was fortunate to not have the difficulties that so many here had. My entire order process on-line took only 4 to 5 minutes at most and I have my confirmation # from the mint that they will be sent to me backordered ( meaning once they are minted and assembled in the packaging they will be sent--the mint did not make all 100,000 sets ready for shipping before the sale date so some purchases are backordered until the sets are produced.)
    So that's been it....one of my final upgrades for my short set, a submission return, and eked out one of the anniversary ASE sets...not a hugely eventful month but definitely still fulfilling for this numismatist.....
    Obverse of my 1946-S MS67...I don't know where the grayish splothchiness on the neck and L thigh came from in the photo--it's not on the coin?

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  4. jackson64

    I Won What??-OOPS

    By jackson64,

    oops...
    I received my invoice in the mail today from the recent auction. The auction that I mention was the pre-Long Beach auction by Goldbergs and it was held over several days. I watched the auction on the day that the US half dollars were auctioned and as I wrote in a prior journal-I was thrilled to find myself the winner of 2 of my 4 internet bids ( even though I missed my lots live bidding).
    Well the next day of the auction was paper money I believe and then the final day was world coins and world gold. I remeber now looking at some of the world gold coins because I like the 20 Francs gold coins from France, austria, switzerland etc. These coins are around a quarter ounce of gold and the price is usually close to melt.
    My casual perusal of 20 francs coins led me to a click on another "20" coin--this one a 20 soles coin from Peru. I pulled out my Krause and found that this 20 soles coin has quite a bit more gold weight than the 20 francs coins. Being infatuated with the high grade and beautiful design--I threw in a bid that was very close to melt price and then never gave it another thought.
    When I checked my invoice today for the total--there was the Peru 20 soles coin on the list also !! I had won my bid. After the buyer's fee I paid a bit above melt ( gold will have to hit $2100 for me to be at melt value for my expense paid ratio) but the coin is gorgeous and makes me happy for its numismatic qualities and not just because iits adding a little more gold to my holdings. Graded by NGC as an MS67.. there are only 2 MS68's ever graded for the entire length of the series issue so it could be considered a condition rarity of sorts. I can definitely see why a collector before me felt this coin was worth paying the costs to have it encapsulated--and now it will be a well appreciated member of my collection.

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  5. jackson64
    after 2 straight times of being sniped........
    At 2 of the most recent big auctions I have gotten painfully sniped. In one of them, there was a gorgeous 1934-D for my mid-date Walker set. The coin had beautiful, distinctive toning and a full strike of the head area of Ms Liberty. For those familiar with the Walker series, you'll know how flat the 34-D head strike is and how prized a nice strike is. Well I had the high bid for a whole month prior to the sale. The night before the sale I even bumped up my bid by another $100 because I was leaving for vacation on the next morning and would not have internet access for the live bidding on-line.
    So I checked the auction a few days later, confident that I probably hasd won the coin, only to find that I had gotten sniped by 1 bid increment. There is nothing like losing a coin by one bid increment to really make you anguish over the loss.
    In my mind this coin has turned into a "once in a million" chance to fill the slot in my collection with " a unique and stunning dazzler" only to have gone by the wayside because I held back another $100 that I probably could have afforded.
    A few weeks later another 34-D showed up in a numeric grade of MS66 and was also distinctive in its rainbow rimmed glory. This time however I was the high internet bidder but lost the live auction to a bid of over $2300 which is well more than I could or would have bid. Losing by $600 does not sting as bad as losing by $25- that's for sure.
    So tonight I remebered that the Goldberg auction for a nice upgrade for my short set- a 1941-D MS67 was scheduled. I had entered in a modest internet pre-bid with hopes of sniping it on the live bid ( if necessary). By the time I got home and got online the auction had already passed the lots that I hadf bid on !!
    Oh no, not again! However it seems that my recent little run of numismatic luck continues. I had 4 coins with modest bids on them and I actually won 2 of them !! One is a crusty 1912 Barber Half in XF40 for my "One Fine Set" Barber collection which has all coins in Fine to XF range.
    The second win was my 1941-D upgrade for my Walker short set. I barely won by bidding between increments with my on-line bid, so it was nice to win an auction by just $11-- it helps alleviate some of that anguish of losing the 34-D. I have to say "some" because that coin will haunt me for a while.
    So here's the auction photo of my newest prize. I can't wait to get it in hand with my 20x loupe. It shows some dazzling hints of colors in the recesses and should be quite beguiling to drink in when I've got it in hand and can delight in all of the subtle swirls and highlights........

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  6. jackson64
    Finally got a super return...
    I've been a member of Collectors Society and the registry here now for close to a decade I believe--at least 8 years or so. I've written in the journals occasionally for the past 5 or 6 years about my experiences with submissions. My submissions have gone three ways primarily...........
    1.) I submit some coins for regrade that are at that " magic level". This is the point at which a $500 coin jumps to a $5000 coin if it could just get ONE MORE POINT on the slab !!...To date I have not yet gotten a single one of these "Home Runs"..but at least once a year I take a shot with 10 coins or so from my collection.
    2.) I will submit some raw coins of harder dates and/or slider AU/BU crackouts hoping for a solid grade in a reputable holder like NGC's. I've even used 100x microscope technology from work to inspect for cleaning, whizzing, enviro damage etc etc to see if a circulated or suspected problem coin is undoctored. To date I have done better with these. I have had several nice upgrades and crossovers from the small, old ANACS slabs and one bump of a 1964 Kennedy Half which went from PF69Cam to PF69 UCAM-- a significant value and point increase. Mostly however, I have spent far more money on these efforts and gotten plenty of body bags and "coffins" ( detail graded) than it was worth. I've mostly given up on crackouts and/or raw coins--the risk vs reward has seriously skewed toward the loss column.
    3.) Submission of coins still in mint packaging, plastic capsules or moderns in general. Now I must qualify this by saying that most of the mint packaged coins I've submitted are World Coins with sailing ships from all over the planet or also Canadian commems and proof sets. Believe it or not, I've had at least a half dozen bodybags on coins that were marked as cleaned or artificial toning when they had never even had the original mint packaging opened--these instances have had me blistering. I actually sent away, at one point, over 100 unopened mint capsulated coins in a row over a few years and NEVER got a single coin graded MS or PF70.
    If you'll remember my last submission journal-- I actually managed to lose money on 5 regrades that came back as the same grade !! How you ask?..Well, besides the cost of submission and shipping both ways, 2 of the coins were in higher coveted old Fatty Slabs and another 2 of the coins had CAC stickers for being upper-end for the grade...yet all 5 coins came back in brand new edge view holders but at the same grade as when I sent them --I lost the value of the older slabs and the CAC sticker value ( for what that's worth.)
    So that brings us to the present. Probably because of my past experiences and lowered expectations I had checked on my submission status very infrequently. I was actually surprised today when I went to the post office today to find the registered mail box there for me to pick up ( also it had been well over 2 full months since NGC received them.) So when I got home and opened up the box I was seeing the grades for the first time.
    All in all I had sent in 12 coins. Four of the coins were foreign coins that had never had another of the issue submitted, so obviously they are now the "single finest known examples" but they are all sparkling MS68's from a low mintage series of 12,000 and over 30+ years old so it is quite likely that they REALLY ARE the finest examples of this issue in existence.
    Of the other 8 coins-SEVEN are also highest graded pops with 2 being single graded PF70's. That's right, 11 of the 12 coins submitted were Top-Pop including 2 which are single finest Proof 70's.
    So to say the least I'm actually excited about a submission return. I have stacks and stacks of old submission yellow copies from year after year of NGC folders ( you know the package we get each year for re-joining? well I've kept all of the folders, invoices, etc in a big fat file) I think that I may frame the pink packing slip I got back with this return--j/k.
    So here's one of those tied for top-pop..It is a 2006 Gold Commemorative $2 Canada "Polar Bear". The mintage on this is only 3,000 coins and only a few over 20 have been graded by NGC. This is the only issue in the series where they reversed the inner ring and outer ring metallic content with a silver inner ring and gold on the outer. The other gold issues in the series--1996, 1999, 2000 millenium all had gold inner rings----the other years are silver with gold clad inner rings...

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  7. jackson64
    showing my age with a Tom Petty song reference...
    For years I have tried to become someone who strives to be a better person. One of the toughest and longest lasting of my character defects has always been my impatience..I struggle with it when driving in traffic, I struggle with it in grocery checkout lines, I struggle with it if I make the mistake of shopping with my wife ( good thing she doesn't read these)...and generally I struggle with it anytime people post or promise a specific time and then are well late®.
    I don't understand, in our current economic climate with tens of millions of Americans seeking employment desperately, how NGC can be so under-staffed as to have waiting periods THREE TIMES LONGER than the posted turnaround times on their submission forms...
    I am not feverishly wanting to enter them into my sets, I'm not waiting by the mailbox and I usually only check once a week to see if the status changed from "scheduled for grading" What gets me riled up is the principles involved. When at a restaurant if my food is overly long I will get an apology from the waiter, maybe even the manager or maitre'd, and most often a free drink while I wait or a complementary dessert. At the auto shop when my repair guy takes an extra day to get the part or longer to fix my car than he thought--most often he offers me an extra 10% off the bill or throws in a free oil change or tire rotation...you get the point.
    If a company mails me submission forms that say: appx 10 business days turnaround and takes 50-60 days..should there not be a discount?..or maybe a coupon for 1 free future submission...or maybe free imaging for the items? These would not be hardships for a company to offer-especially one who is so swamped with business that it takes 4 to 5 times longer to complete the service that they promised you. Heck, a coupon for one free grading would even boost business probably-especially when one considers that most categories have minimum coin submissions too.
    Anyhow, that's my vent. I know I am not the only one frustrated with this but nothing will come of it. It's not like we're all going to band together and boycott until we get at least a "sorry for the wait" or that they hire enough graders that they can get our coins back to us within a few weeks of when they promised....so I'll try and be patient.I'll focus on other things and one day I'll be pleasantly surprised when either the webpage has changed to "Finalized, Imaged,Shipped" or I have to sign for a registered package at my post office.
     
    Rant over--the coins I sent away were a few slot fillers for some "sidelight" sets. I have 3 of the final holes for my Canada 10c proofs, my $2 polar bear coins ( including my first gold coin for the series) and a few Bahamas 50c silver coins with the blue marlin.
    So what did I do in the meantime while waiting??? I bought a hole filler already slabbed to add to my Canada "twonies" set. Here is a 2000 Millenium Gold edition of the Polar Bear and her cubs..what a neat coin and nice design for this series..

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  8. jackson64
    hoping my perspective is not skewed.....
    I'll keep this one short........ I visited the Stacks-Bowers webpage on Thursday evening when I got home to see if I had won a coin that I had put a healthy bid on. I see 1945-D Walker MS67's here and there, it is not a conditional rarity at MS67. This coin though is not your average 67 ( at least for the "look" that I like in a Walker). Bold strike, satiny luster which pops through some lavender and rose blush fields, and just a bit of rainbow around the rims-- a unique coin that stands out from the dozens and dozens of blast white ones. ( I like blast white also but I try and find "unique" coins that stand out).
    Well the internet bidding had ended earlier and the floor bidding had just finished-- I HAD WON !! but here's the best part, ...I actually won for almost $500 less than my max bid !!! ( and if someone here was the consignor, then I apologize for my exuberance).
    Soooooo..what does a true coin nut do when he wins a coin for $500 less than he was willing to pay? Why of course he simply starts looking through the lots whose bidding hasn't closed yet ! Yep, that $500 in my twisted thinking was money I could buy another coin with--not $500 saved. Funny thing is, I ended up spending more than $500 because I won a $10 gold eagle coronet head in MS62 for my gold type set. In my mind and twisted thinking I won that coin for only $220+ fees because the first $500 was "house money".... now is this twisted thinking or have any of you done the same? Maybe it's just me and I should get some help.........
    Here's the obverse of my 1945-D Walker MS67...

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  9. jackson64
    A nice little score with my ebay gambles...
    As I've mentioned before I am a bit of an ebay gambler. However now with the current high value of silver the risk is not as much.
     
    For those unfamiliar with my practices--I like to add to my "bullion" holdings by purchasing silver rolls of circulated coins on ebay. Sometimes they are total junky, bent, corroded, heavily worn etc coins that look ready for the smelting pot. Then there are the lots which have some decent coins of album quality and maybe even a semi-key. AND THEN....there is every once in a while a nice lot from someone cleaning out the old jar on the dresser, the jewelry box, grandpa's old keepsakes etc etc..and these may have some treasures.
    Well I've seen a few more coins lately of better value. Maybe it's that the word is out that old silver coins in that shoebox in the closet can net someone a few hundred, or maybe it is desperate measures for some who are trying to scrounge up gas money and/or food money with the rocketing costs we are seeing...either way, the lots I've been buying are not just the average roll of Walkers all dated 1940's with lotsa wear.
    I got a lot last week of 18 Walker coins ( not a full roll-which is a good sign it was a stash and not a dealer). The picture was mid-range showing 3 rows of 6 coins. From the photo I could tell that they were all pretty nicely detailed with full rims and legends. Also from the photo I could tell that they were original color and not overly shiny from having been cleaned, whizzed, polished or dipped. The seller had a feedback of only 110 transactions and only 3 within the last 6 months--definitely not a dealer but also a little risky. Anyhow, I took a shot--a bid at roughly $40 an ounce ( silver was only $34 on that day) and I had won.
    Now the good news, the package arrived safely in the mail with 18 neatly bundled Walkers-not even clanking together as some non-numismatists have mailed me coins before. The lot had 12 common dates from the 1940's-all in VF/XF quality.....3 coins from the 1930's dated 1939-S, 1935-S and 1937..(maybe even worth a couple of bucks each above their melt)..but then the excitement !! Three of the coins were: 1918-D in solid VF20-30, a 1920-S in VF35, and a 1923-S F18/VF20. Those are some nice snags for a bullion buy and exactly why I do this.
    I am conservative with grading also, a VF must have a fully defined seperation under the L breast and the reverse must have 2 rows of full feathers on the L wing and the eye of the eagle is defined. Anyhow, checking the values in PCGS, Coin World and NGC lists puts these coins at: 1918-D> $125, 1920-S > $270 and 1923-S at $120/150....not bad for a cost of $258 + shipping hunh, ??
    I often think of this thrill as like that the treasure hunters or metal detectors must feel when they snag a nice little find..it really is one of the cool parts of the hobby--uncovering a variety, finding a semi-key in a batch of junkers, or an error coin in change--it gives an excitement that only a fellow collector understands ( try getting a spouse or child excited about finding a quality 1918-D and see what happens).
    So I already have another batch of "ebay gambles" on the way. This was a strange auction listing. A mixed lot of silver dimes, 2 Washie quarters, 19 silver halves and 1 Peace Dollar. What was strange was that the dates were listed-- but of the 40 or so total coins there was no reference of mintmarks. So I'm guessing and hoping that a non-collector is selling this batch of coins and just didn't know where the mintmarks are located on the reverses--if this is the case then there is a chance for a nice score since one of the halves was a 1920 and the Peace Dollar is listed as a 1928 ( crossing my fingers that there is NO MINTMARK on that one). I'l let you know how I did when they arrive-holiday set the mail back a day.
    Finally...I had a bid in on a 1939-S Walker MS67 at the recent Goldberg auction but I lost, was outbid by a floor bidder. I enjoyed watching parts of the auction on-line live and boy is it tempting to click on the "BID NOW" box for some of those coins. I did actually purchase one coin at what I believe was a steal. I was able to get a 1910-D $10 Gold Indian for my gold type set ( aptly named, "little by little"). It is only the second coin in the set so far........REGISTRY GRIPE ALERT.......... my other coin in the set is an MS63 St Gaudens, list value of $2100.00 and worth 900 points or so.............okay, GRIPE OVER........
    So here's a picture of my new $10 Gold Piece, my Indian Eagle in MS62

  10. jackson64
    just added coins 25 and 26 to pass the halfway point !!
    As some of you may know I collect coins with Sailing Ships on them. Most of you who know me or read my journals know that my #1 love is Walker Halves. On a lessewr note I have a few other collections of which I have casually added here and there when I find a deal or get lucky and a low ball bid actually holds up for a win.
    One of those sets that I build for fun--and definitely not for points, which is obvious by all of the 3 point coins in the set-- is my Barber Half set. I havew kept it fun AND CHEAP by setting my own parameters.
    First, I set the target grade range at " Fine". This can include anything from F12 to XF45. I also love this grade range because not only are these coins a lot cheaper than the pricey BU examples but I really do like the look of a circulated Barber Half with this acceptable level of wear.
    Secondly, I set up a parameter of a "short set". I may not have been the first to do this however I haven't seen anyone else talk about it. I simply made my target the 49 coins from 1900- end of the series. If the Barber is dated in the 1800's then I simply don't consider it. Some of the dates like the 1898 and 1899 are actually some of the more common dates but overall completing the "Long Set" would be quite pricey even in the Fine grades. The 49 coins of the short set are all affordable, which is remarkable with super low mintages like the 1913, 1914, 1915, the scarce 04-S, 01-S and a few sleepers-- they all are budgetable if purchased in F15 or so and the more common dates can be bought in the VF30-XF40 grades.
    So anyhow, I recently added coins 25 and 26 to my set--actually passing the halfway point for the Short Set collection. Two of the coins need upgrading ( my 1904-S and 1915 in VG need to be found in F12+) but otherwise, a fine start to a nice collection of classic coins ( pardon the pun)..PS: I can't help but mention that my $175 Barber half dated 1915 is worth 3 points in the registry-- as are about 10 other coins in my set--and I could care less.
    Here's my 1906 I just added for coin #26..a solid VF25

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  11. jackson64
    the "facts" used as an example are not even close to the truth.
    I have only once ever replied to a journal entry, I try and keep the spirit of what the journal was intended for--A place for us as collectors to share our experience ( joys, frustrations and memories--thank you DM Merrill, simply awesome journal as always).
    I'm going to straddle the line here by clarifying some really bad misinformation, share an opinion and also share my most recent exciting addition to my collection.
    First, concerning some recent strange numbers posted during a venting about the 1941-S Walking Liberty Half. It was reported that there are thousands graded in MS66. The actual number by NGC is 216-- top Walker authorities and publications estimate that the true number is closer to 100 since many of these MS66's were submitted multiple times hoping to hit a "jackpot" of a price jump in MS67. As far as MS67's--there are not "hundreds of 67's and 68's" as you were told, there are 17 graded MS67's and not a single MS68 has ever been graded.
    Next, to complain that the prices/values aren't fair in comparison to other series ( in this case Franklins) is silly. The values are exactly what they are worth-period. Walkers are worth more because they are more popular and ultimately value is determined by demand-period-economics 101. The value of an MS66 is $1900 ( almost exactly what I paid for mine) and the jump which entices so many 66's to try for 67's is a $19,000 pricetag for an MS67. The last MS67 I saw sell at auction went for $42,000 so if anything the priceguides are undervaluing what the coin is selling for. ( PS: you can't compare rarities also of a series like Franklins with a designation (FBL)-vs a series with no designation, if we had FST-Full Seperate Thumb, there may actually not even be a single 1941-S with the designation, consider that !!)
    So the numbers of the pops are way off, the gripes about the price guide value is accurate if not conservative, and if a coin I spent almost $2000 on is not worth the 2500 points it gets--then let's just fix the whole point thing the easiest way...one point per dollar !!
    The point value for moderns in the registry is easy to figure out also. The registry is owned/operated by NGC- a business. NGC is by far the leading slabber of Modern Coinage and makes millions a year doing it. Dealers and collectors send in submissions after submissions hoping to win the coin lotteries and bring in a bunch of 70's. The dealers know that registry participants will pay 5-10x value of a coin if it is in a capsule that says 70. The skewed points system simply creates/fuels the drive and market by triggering these collectors innate competetive sense. ( And YES- I said collectors, because whether the coins are cuni, whether someone collects used stamps, beanie babies or empty beer cans from world breweries--THEY ARE COLLECTORS, value has nothing to do with this..and to say someone is not a collector because their coins are modern is snobbery. Conversely, if you purchase with value in mind or its long-term increase or profit margin, sad news-you are primarily an investor.)
    Okay, so that is the clarification on the misinformation about the 1941-S Walker--my opinion ( which will always be collect what you like and enjoy it--it's a hobby not my source of income)..so finally, my exciting new addition.
    I recently upgraded 2 of my Short Set dates--I bought a 1947 MS67 ( I can't seem to get a decent photo of this coin which is spectacular in hand but I can't capture the colors, strike, etc in a single image). I also just added a 1946 MS67 Walker. This coin cost me a pretty penny but with a pop of 38 and actually even 1 finer--I may not see another like this coin for a decade or more-if ever...so I snagged it--and yes, for the right coin with a unique look I will even pay well above list or priceguide value--because I am a collector trying to assemble the nicest set I can for my middling income level. I am also very grateful and humbled by the fact that I now have the means to spend over a thousand on a coin when so many of my fellow collectors may only be able to afford the latest in the Prezzie series--but I'm sure that if they love the hobby and collecting as much as I do, then that Prezzie gives them the same joy and excitement when it arrives in the mail and is added to their collection--let none of us squelch that joy of a fellow collector.

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  12. jackson64

    I'm Still Around

    By jackson64,

    Other hobbies but there's always coins...
    Well I haven't gone anywhere. I know that I haven't journaled in quite a while but I have still been busy with the hobby and also reading the posts by others.
    Besides this time of year and the demands on my time by other hobbies--Stanley Cup Playoffs time, opening of Rockfish season in the Bay, getting my early spring veggies in the ground ( snow peas, broccoli, cauliflower etc)..add the stresses of work, family and my first grandbaby ( my beautiful granddaughter whom I adore) and although I've continued with my numismatic pursuits, I have not had any time to keep my friends here abreast.
    I almost wrote last weekend after reading Kerry and Dan's journals because of the coincidences. You see, recently I had gone down to a local antique shop where there is a small area with a bunch of coins in a case to see what might be there. I was actually speculating to see if any of the items that were once a bit overpriced might now be more reasonable with the rising silver costs. As luck had it I ended up finding some lower grade Walkers and early commems for about $10 each, and also about 30 of the Ike blue packs for $7 each. I bought everything they had that was below melt, sold the Ikes on ebay for enough profit that I got to keep 11 free Walker halves.
    The other post that got me wanting to write was mention of the Stacks/Bowers Auction at the Baltimore -Whitman Coin Expo. I also attended and I actually found and won an upgrade for my Walker Short Set. About a month ago I spent a pretty penny on an MS67 1947 upgrade for the set ( I actually increased my points by 1700+ but stayed in 12th place). Well this time I bought a 1942-D MS67 and (for now) this will put me up into 11th place--at least until CBC gets his next upgrade ( we've been jockeying back and forth for over a year now).
    So that's mostly it..only 2 coin purchases of note and I'm still adding rolls of silver bullion to my holdings. Even at $40 an ounce I believe that there is still some upward movement ahead before things level off--but don't take this as any prognostication, I could be wrong and I also plan on holding onto my buys for a long while.
    Anyhow, that's about it..glad to see so many newer collectors bringing their enthusiasm to the hobby, good luck and happy hunting everyone--here's a picture of my 1942-D ( I haven't added it to my set since it's not yet in hand)..

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  13. jackson64
    unintended purchases....
    I have come to a self realization. The only way for me to go on a coin buying hiatus is for me to stop looking at them. I decided about 2 weeks ago that I was going to take a break from buying for a few reasons.
    First of all: I have season tickets to my favorite hockey team. I spent a bundle traveling to Pittsburgh for the New Years Day " Winter Classic" and on memorabelia..also the playoffs will be around the corner shortly, and even at face value, 2-3 seven game series of tickets ( at $100+ each) adds up pretty quickly.
    Secondly, my wife and I have booked a cruise/vacation for early February. I usually take a week of my vacation in mid-winter to break up the dulldrums between Christmas and spring. It is amazing how a week of traveling to St Thomas, Antigua and Barbados can cure any gray winter blues.
    My wife's birthday is also in February and it is one of those landmark years so I want to get her something special ( with "special" defined as : expensive piece of jewelry..)
    So I had planned on putting coin purchases on the back burner while I tucked away some funds for vacation, gifts and hockey playoff tickets...so much for the back burner !
    I was "just gonna look"..and of course I came across one of those coins. You know the ones I'm talking about. It catches your eye and instead of the Click-Peruse-Close that we do with hundreds of coins, this one freezes your mouse finger. You study it with your eyes but your brain is already rationalizing the purchase..." it will never still be available in a month"....." it is the exact grade and look I want to fill that empty slot with"...."it is selling for $300 under FMV!"..and of course, " I may never find another one this nice for my set"...
    Almost involuntarily my mouse finger slides the cursor to the purchase button and I have commited to buy the coin. I guess the only way to prevent this involuntary response from my primary motor cortex is to just stay on the forums or read journals and not look at auction sites.
    Having said all of this, I strangely feel absolutely no regret..in fact, this is one of my most exciting additions in a while..1937-S MS66...I'll switch things up and post a picture of the reverse for a change...

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  14. jackson64

    Slim Pickings

    By jackson64,

    collectors are holding back?
    I haven't been buying many top quality coins for a while. The simple truth is that for the sets I'm building, there just haven't been that many "stand out" coins for sale. I have built on some smaller sets and picked up a few odds and ends here and there.......
    First, I just sent a submission with my limited edition 1935-2010 Canada proof commem set. Secondly, I purchased the regular issue 2010 Canada proof set and when those arrive I'll send in the 10c, $2 and bimettalic ship coin in for slabbing so that I can add them to my sets.
    I've purchased about 5-6 smaller gold coins but I've also removed all of my gold coins from the registry. Maybe I need measuring for a tinfoil hat but some of the things that are happening in our country have made me a bit cautious. I don't know if anyone noticed but hidden in the healthcare bill was a stipulation that all purchases/sales of precious metals over $600 now have to be reported to the government. It makes me wonder if they are simply preparing for another 1933 type of gold confiscation again--and this bill includes collector coins as well as bullion. Why it was hidden in the Healthcare bill has me scratching my head ( just like the HealthCare rationing panels DO really exist--they were just hidden/established in the "stimulus" bill).
    Anyhow, enough of running off topic, just a friendly caution to my friends here about showing off your holdings--you never know what is coming next in our upside down world.
    I am excited about the upcoming Goldberg's auction though !!!! The catalog looks great and there are at least 5-6 really attractive top-pop coins that have me salivating. The biggest issue will be trying to decide on which 2-3 to bid on since I can't afford to put firm, winning bids on 5 or 6 coins ( and hopefully I won't get shut out by biddding on just 2-3 and getting outbid on those).
    Also, a question if anyone wants to PM me with some info--I have found that my 1962-D Franklin has a BOLD repunched mintmark. There is no record in either Cherrypickers/Fivaz or anywhere I've looked of this variety but there is NO DOUBT that this is what I have in my possesion. I'm not hoping that it is a rare, valuable coin--but it would be pretty cool to be credited for discovering a new variety ! I'll post a picture in another journal once I can get a clear close-up of the repunched "D/D"
    Finally, I've continued to add to my Barber half set...I even broke down and got about 15 of them slabbed. I haven't listed it here at NGC because I used the other registry service for slabbing and didn't want to list the set here when all of the coins were in the other holders--just trying to be respectful. Here's the latest acquisition..an under-rated tougher date 1910 ( mintage of only 418,000-- 100 years ago means there aren't a lot around)--if you remember I'm trying to build the set with coins graded Fine 12 to Extra Fine 40--no Goods and nothing AU or BU..just a "FINE" set...

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  15. jackson64

    Swinging For The Fences

    By jackson64,

    every once in a while you gotta go for the home run
    My most recent submission has reached quality control. Originally I was going to send a mix of things including my 2010 proof ASE's..but in the end I thought I'd take my 5 submission coupon and go for a long-shot with a potential big return. I sent 5 of my Walker MS66's in for regrade, hoping to get either an MS67, an MS66+ or an MS66*.
    You may ask what the big deal would be in getting an MS66+ from my MS66?..well I'll give you an example. One of my regrade submissions was my 1940-S MS66 with a CAC sticker for being premium quality for the grade. An MS66 lists at around $1,100 however the 67 lists at over $27,000 !!!!! So what that means I'm not sure but if a coin is graded MS66+ doesn't that mean it is just short of being a $27,000 coin? Would the FMV be more in the $10,000 range than the $1,100 range?...if it does, then you see why I took a shot.
    In the years and years I have been a member and been sending coins to NGC I have been trying this a few times each year. To date, I have NEVER hit on one of these upgrades or even got the raw coin in a slab at that top tier. Eventually I gotta get one right? Even us little dogs gotta get thrown a bone once in a while.
    The other coins I submitted were my 1941 in an old NGC fatty ( all were 66's remember)..great color and eye appeal--my prediction is a legitimate shot at 67 since I've seen few MS67's which actually are nicer than mine ( and to be honest, many 67's baffle me if mine is a 66).
    I also sent my 1934 MS66. It is superior in strike, eye-appeal, and has less contact marksand more attractive color than the MS67 that I own--also a shot at 67 but I at least expect a+ ( probably not a * because some of the toning is dark).
    I sent my 1945 which has pretty rainbow blends of red and orange hoping to get a * or +......and finally, another old NGC fatty when grading was stricter, a 1945-D with booming luster and that subtle wood grain striations, and top notch strike..maybe a 67 but at least a + I'm hoping.
    Truth be told, I won't be surprised if they all just are returned in their original slabs, barely glanced at ( I read a report that says each coin is looked at for an average of 4-6 seconds each per side)..but I am hard-headed and keep taking these tries. After all, I actually look at thousands of Walkers per year--closely studying images and in-hand at shows/conventions/expos. I can say with all of my misguided arrogance that I may be a better expert at grading Walkers than the pros..after all, that IS ALL I look at for the most part. Not only that I know what collectors of the series love, what is coveted and what is unacceptable...oh well, I've rambled long enough--just preparing myself for the inevitable let down ( maybe I won't get as frustrated and angry this way)...but wouldn't it be a thrill to even get one or two of these coins with a +,* or upgrade--more than anything it may be just the validation of the years of study and selective picking that I've done and NGC finally giving me confirmation that I may actually know what I'm doing.

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  16. jackson64

    Finished Another "Set"

    By jackson64,

    just a year set, but still a complete set
    It happens so rarely that I couldn't let the accomplishment pass without at least a quick journal to record the event. I finally finished my 1944 year set !!
    Yesterday I was perusing ebay and came across the final coin I needed -a 1944-D Washington quarter. I had seen a few before in the MS67 grade I was looking for but they were either not as attractive as I wanted or else they were way over-priced sitting in a "Buy It Now" inventory on ebay. Has anyone else noticed that since ebay re-structured things a year or so ago that there are far less auctions and far more items stuck in BIN at about 20-50% markups? I guess the sellers figure that for 10c a month they may as well give their inventories markups and let them sit in inventory month after month--heck, if they sell even one of these coins a month it can cover a year's worth of their listing fees...okay rant over and back to the point.
    So I found the coin in the grade, eye-appeal and price I was looking for and jumped on it. Now my 1944 year set is finished. It has all MS67 except for the 1944-S Walker which I have in an MS66. The only possible upgrade left is if I can find a 1944 P mercury with FSB.
    One interesting note about the 1944 year set--I actually finished #1 ranked this year. That is not what's interesting however. It seems that there has been a different #1 every year-2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and now me for 2010..so there are alot of ribbon icons next to various names in that set. Who knows, maybe next year there'll be a seventh straight different winner.
    Here's my final piece to the 1944 puzzle..it is worth noting that all 3 of my Washies in this set are now housed in old fat NGC holders-just a coincidence, but still pretty cool...

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  17. jackson64

    Micro-S Walker Variety?

    By jackson64,

    searching and then researching.....
    First I want to thank everyone who sent me messages and also commented in the coin forum concerning my last journal entry. It really is my friends and fellow collectors at this site that have added so much more to my collecting via the registry in recent years.
    So last I wrote I had purchased 100 circulated Walker halves. Well there were no major varieties as I studied them--in fact the Walker series actually has very few primary cherrypicks--the 1946 doubled reverse, the hand-carved designers' AW..and some common doubling on the 1942 and 1943. I did notice something as I was inspecting the coins that wasn't in Fivaz/Cherrypickers Guide or listed in NGC or PCGS variety lists. As I searched the coins, full of S minted coins, there were 6 coins dated 1942-S.
    Upon further inspection I noticed that 5 of the coins had a standard sized S that also matched my 2 certified 42-S coins I have registered. The other coin however had a tiny little S that needed all the power of my 20x loupe to see clearly. I looked again and there is no mistaking--an obvious size difference with one of the mintmarks being a "micro" S.
    Well as any avid collector would, I got very excited thinking I had made a discovery worthy of numismatic news! As visions of a Coin World headline danced in my head, ( "Maryland Collector Discovers Unique Walker Micro-S !!"). My inspecting of coins quickly turned into researching. The more I didn't find any mention, the more excited I became.
    Oh well, in the end I found a reference- in fact, a complete bubble bursting explanation. Of all places to find it, after looking through specialty books and websites, in the end, the info was found in a Redbook !
    It seems that after 1916 the branch mints made a deliberate effort to make mintmark size uniform--and the size was to be a small mintmark. However in 1941 the San Fran mint decided to increase the size of the mintmarks to a larger and more legible S. The pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters were changed--yet the Half Dollars were not changed until mid-1942. So there are both small and large mintmark varieties of 1942-S halves..simple explanation and no headlines for me.
    This did get me thinking though. Who decides if the large and small S mintmarks should be collected sepewrately in a set? I mean, most albums and registries include a 1945-S and 1945-micro-S dime, right? ( I know that the 45 micro-S is an unusual case since the micros were an accident when the mint used a die punch to add a mintmark that was meant for war era Phillipine coinage). But my question remains valid.....
    If I currently possess 8 total 1942-S coins and only 1 is a "micro/small" S variety--then isn't this a hard variety to obtain? I know that 8 coins is a small sampling, and far from scientific, yet what if there are only a few hundred thousand out there of this type?
    I guess I'll never know--just like I'll never understand why certain series bold strikes get special designation like FBL, Full Head, Full Torch..and cost huge premiums, yet other series, Walkers for instance. Collectors hunt for full strike and pay premiums for well struck coins with "Full Seperate Thumbs"..yet this is not a special designation you'll ever see on a slab or grade criteria. It's just as well, all I need is for the cost of the coins I like to triple just because the strike is complete...
    Here's a picture of 2 of the 1942-S coins. The difference in size is even more apparent to the naked eye because one S can be made out without a loupe and the other looks like barely a dot....

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  18. jackson64

    Nice Score !!

    By jackson64,

    best "bullion" buy I've made in a long while
    I love to write at this time of year in my journal. I'm always hesitant to write too often during most of the year since I don't want to give the impression that I'm pushing for any award considerations. I remember a few years ago that one CS registry member actually wrote some kind of post every day for about the last 2 months before the awards. Most of the posts had nothing to do with coins and I don't even think the person bought a coin that whole year--yet his strategy worked in 2 ways. First, NGC gave him a journal award for his daily repetitions ( he since has quit thye registry after opining "coins give meaning to my life") and secondly, it converted me into a "once in a while" writer. I used to get frustrated writing a post that I had taken some time and thought to write and then having it pushed into the archives in less than a day by a small group who were turning the journals into chat forums.
    So now that I've let that 2 year old aggrivation off of my chest, I hope that my fellow members and friends here will forgive me if I add a couple of posts this week. I just have a few personal collecting things I'd like to journal about and have in my personal record..and also I would like to write about a few collecting thoughts that have been on my mind. I find the journals to be alot of fun to go back and read what I was doing and collecting 4-5 years ago ( and maybe 4-5 years from now it will be fun to re-read what I'm writing today).
    Okay, so The Nice Score that I mentioned in the title. About 2 and a half weeks ago when silver dipped to around $26 an ounce for a few days I kept doing what I like to do--buy bullion coins and search them. After a good searching for RPM's, double dies, varieties and semi-keys, I'll set any decent finds aside in my "collector quality" section and then put the others into the bullion coin bag.
    Well 2 weeks ago I took a jump on some Walker bullion rolls and timed it perfectly. It was the last day of the small downturn on silver and I got 5 rolls-100 coins-- for a good price. Well those 5 rolls come out to a little over 36 ounces of silver. At current prices I made a quick $120 just in melt value..a nice little profit in 2 weeks. But that is just half the story.
    Without boring those who read these journals about shipping problems and trading emails --the seller went over the top for me. In the end I not only received 3 extra coins for the delay, but EVERY single coin was a solid XF-AU grade !! That alone would make it great, but there's more. The seller was also in California and 84 of the 103 coins was an S or D mintmark !! So these coins were actually almost all "collector quality". Many dates, like the 1937-D, 37-S, 39-S and 41-S actually are list at $20-30 each in XF/AU quality.
    So although it wasn't a "find a 1916-D mercury" type of score..it was definitely a very nice acquisition. Oh, and before I forget--on the same day my Proof ASE's arrived from mthe mint. I still have my Five Free Submission coupon from re-newing my membership so they will be off for encapsulation this week at NGC grading.
    So that's the skinny on one of the recent happenings in my coin collecting ventures. Here's a picture of the 103 Walkers-- or 37 ounces of collector grade bullion...

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  19. jackson64
    some trial and error
    Well I've reached an impasse in my Walker collecting. The remaining slots in my mid-date set cost 4 figures+ in the grades I want. I don't have the continual funds to be shelling out whenever a hole-filler arrives and at the same time I don't want to keep buying lower grades which eventually get replaced in the future.
    I've decided to take a more "relaxed" approach to my interests for a while. My Barber Half set is the perfect medium for this. You see, I actually like the circulated look of these coins--and this may sound nuts or like justification for my limited funds, but I actually prefer them to blast white, pristine BU Barbers. I'm building a set of F12 to XF40 grade coins. The only criteria is that they can't be too white and can't have "acceptable damage" ( sometimes the TPG's allow a bit of scratches or dings in the much older coinage). So essentially, problem-free and worn surfaces but with nice detailing still.
    Another added benefit of choosing the Barbers ( besides my love of halves) is that I won't have to worry about the temptation to get competetive with this set in the registry. The top sets in the category are worth hundreds and hundreds of thousands ( millions?) and single coins in those sets are worth more than my entire collection.
    On another side note, I have been picking up the occasional seated half in XF quality. Once I get 5 to 6 of these I may actually list them in a Seated registry set as a long-range goal. So now I have plenty of coins to search for at auctions and websites that may cost $200 or less and I can get the enjoyment of the hunt as well as adding a few coins a month--instead of 1 coin every 2 months if I stayed with the Walkers.
    Here's an attractive 1908-D VF35 I recently added. My set is now listed undewr Barber Halves if you'd like to take a look. I have 20 coins so far, all have pictures and hopefully you'll get an appreciation also for how nice this design still looks even with Fine level of wear....

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  20. jackson64

    An Old Favor Pays Off

    By jackson64,

    sometimes even the good things you do come back to you..
    We've all heard the old theme said in lots of different ways--"What you do comes back to you" or "what goes around comes around" or to borrow a verse from the Good Book, "As you sow, so shall you reap". No matter how it's said, I've found it true in life that the things that we do, do indeed come back around full circle. The good things as well as the bad.
    Coincidentally I had 3 events this week that came up. I've shared before that I'm not shy about letting people know that I'm a coin collector. Some people hide their numismatic interests out of fear that it will make them a target. Now I don't tell people the value of my collection or where they are locked away--yet most people who know me are aware of my hobby.
    I can't tell you how often I get the old, " Do you still do that coin stuff?" or "I have a friend/family member who has some old coins, would you look at them?". In fact, as I stated, twice it happened this week and I also heard back from someone I had helped out about 2 months ago.
    The first incident was my wife texting me that a co-worker of hers had some old coins for me to look at. When I got home she handed me a reasonably heavy Ziplock bag. Inside were a $10 silver (1 oz) gaming token from a Vegas casino, some circulated Buffs of common dates, some circulated silver rosies and mercs, 2 dinged up Frankies, one 1922 Peace dollar, one 1886 Morgan, a 1986 ASE and the "find" of the lot, an 1878 CC Morgan but with barely full rims. I dutifully made a list with rough values on a sheet of paper for her co-worker and also an offer for the lot....she'll "think about it"..( everyone has a secret hope that those old family coins are worth thousands...sigh)
    The second incident was a gentleman from my Bible study group. Fortunately his house is on my way home from work because the coins he wanted me to look at would not even have been worth the gas...bicentennial quarters taken from circulation, some wheaties, and silver picked from change--maybe 8 dimes and 3 quarters. Also he had some old military notes but were folded and ragged. I made him no offer and told them that it would make a nice gift for a young collector or grandson to pique an interest.
    And finally--the callback. In late August/early Sept I had helped someone go through an "inheratance shoe box". I had given the usual free estimate ( I always do this for free, after all, I love looking through coins and maybe finding a treasure that has been packed away for decades-even if it's not mine to keep). The total number of coins was about 30 however several were nicer coins and I agreed to list on ebay some of them since I have a high feedback and total transactions. We figured that buyers would bid more confidently with me. Mostly some common date but nice Morgans, some Barber coinage and he even had a 1928 Saint Gaudens. Well he decided to keep the Saint and I talked him into letting me submit it for encapsulation..it came back as an MS63.
    Yesterday I got a call from him and he asked if I could sell the Saint. He mentioned that gold was dropping and that he was also really pressed for cash. To cut to the chase, I offered to buy it directly. I reached an agreement which is less than what they are selling for at auction but also more than he was asking for ( I have to live with myself-I wasn't going to pay him spot even if that's all he was asking).
    So, although I wasn't really in the market for one--I now am the proud owner of this incredible piece of numismatic artistry--not my first one, but I'll never get tired of looking at these coins..1928 St Gaudens $20 Double Eagle NGC MS63--a reverse shot of the eagle in flight !!

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  21. jackson64
    what a strange odyssey
    I hope that my collecting friend "Electric Peak" forgives my play on his title. I also attended the Baltimore Show this weekend (Saturday) yet my story starts a few days prior to that.
    You see, about a week ago, while browsing a few more of the obscure coin sites on my "Favorites" page--I came across a 1939-S Walker graded MS67 that really caught my eye. The price was substantial for my modest collecting habits so I thought I'd solicit some opinions from other collectors. I posted images from the website on the NGC Chat Boards to see if others also thought it was solid for the grade. The majority guessed the grade as it was posted on the slab so I decided to pull the trigger....and this is where the Mis-Adventure begins...
    When I went back to the website to seize my prize--it was listed as SOLD...ugh !! I had hesitated and lost, however the story does not end there. So off I go on Saturday morning to the Baltimore/Whitman Coin Expo. I decided to take with me one blank check and $500 cash. Well I walked from table after table on the bourse, casually glancing at the Walkers in the cases. Most were actually in lower collector grades than I was looking for but each time I'd see one that I needed for a slot and in the grade I want to fill that slot with I would ask to see it...
    I patiently and methodically continued on...keeping in my mind the 2-3 possibilities that I may go back and take another look at. All the while I was determined to search each dealer's case before I jumped on anything ( after all, I had only brought one check). Well the best laid plans as they say......I came across a beautifully golden-toned and supremely struck 1940 MS67. The coin has a bold thumb, full trailing leg feathers on the reverse, seperated face/hair/cap lines..and nary a contact mark to be seen...seriously, I'm very conservative with my Walker grading and even I could see this coin in an MS68 holder...I flipped it over and the price was actually VERY fair...I asked the dealer how firm the price was and he quoted me another price $125 less than the sticker...I asked him if he'd take a check !! And so the deal was done--yet the story was not over !
    My newest prize tucked safely away, I figured I'd walk around and check out some circulated but slabbed Barber Halves for my Fine to Very Fine grade set ( after all, I still had my cash). Well about another 10 tables down I came across the dealer who had previously listed on his webpage the 1939-S I had wanted. It turns out that the coin was not actually SOLD at all...grrrrr...he had removed it from the webpage in order to bring it to the show and prevent the chance of double selling it.
    I mentioned to him that I was about to pull the trigger on the purchase when I discovered that it was not for sale anymore--well we exchanged numbers and I hope to contact him when he returns home from Baltimore and negotiate a deal on the 39-S..but as of now it has been very discombobulat5ed..and all my own fault because I mistrusted my own eye and sought others opinions....
    So once again I learn the same lesson again...collect what you like and even if you pay a few extra bucks it is worth it if you'll love the coin. And conversely, I shouldn't buy a coin I don't like even if the price is cheap...
    But, it wasn't a total loss...I may still end up with my 39-S and I got a 1940 that I will treasure for as long as I own it...

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  22. jackson64
    low ball longshots sometimes pan out
    I know that this has probably happened to many of us at one time or another...the scenario--- ( and I'll keep it in the first person)
    I'll see a coin or a lot for auction at some site. The coin may pique my interest--yet it doesn't "wow" me for some reason. The reason can be from it not being the ideal grade I'm searching for, the "look" I'm hunting down or even that I expect that the cost may go higher than I'm willing to pay...
    So interest piqued but without the feverish enthusiasm that I get for the "must have coin"..I may throw in a long shot lowball bid. Well low and behold ( pun intended)..sometimes you get an email or letter with an invoice--YOU WON !!
    This happened again to me recently. I received the Scotsman Auction Catalog in September for the Oct 15th sale. After perusing through the Walkers and other halves, nothing caught my eye. No hole fillers in the right grades and only one date that I've been meaning to upgrade-my 1943. The 1943 along with the 1941 are the most common in the series with grades of MS67 and usually can be purchased in the $600-700 range for White examples and maybe more for unique examples with standout color, details or luster.
    The 1943 MS67 in the catalog was unspectacular yet solid for the grade. As expected for an MS67--it has satiny luster, full strike and very modest marks. Well to make a long story short--I threw in a bid of $450 figuring that the fees would make it a bit over $500-- and also figuring that it would sell for closer to $700....well, you know how the story turned out. I won for $425 and shipping and fees still had it at a little under $500. I couldn't have hoped for better for making an upgrade.
    Another benefit of getting the coin "cheap" ( it truly is a relative term) was that I've decided to keep my old MS66 which I really like with its powder blue toning. Usually I sell my older, lower-grade coin to offset the cost of upgrades but I think I'll keep it in this instance.
    So I guess the lesson is, it's always worth a shot..the worst that can happen is that you'll get outbid--and then the result is the same as not bidding at all.
    PS: I mentioned in my last post about taking a shot with a 21 coin lot of 1`930 Washies--well I struck out. No varieties and no 32-D or S...just a bunch of well worn common date coins...oh well, more weight in the silver bags.

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  23. jackson64

    Taking a Shot

    By jackson64,

    can't find a treasure without digging a few holes.......
    I'm an ebay peruser.
    I like to browse through and try and find bargains. First I look for specific dates for holes in my active sets--then I look at bulk and mixed lots. I have to humbly say that I've done very well over the years. Bulk lots have landed me a few treasures but there is risk involved.
    You see, I understand that if I buy a bulk lot from a dealer who specializes in coins or has a really high feedback--then it is almost 100% assured that those coins have been thoroughly looked through. No, the way to get deals is often by taking some risk. I've often bought from dealers who sell old collectibles yet have the occasional coins..and sometimes less than 100 total transactions. Many other bidders avoid these sales because they are wary and the cost can sometimes be lower than normal.
    I have found a 1938-D AU Walker in an auction for "20 Circulated Walkers"...I also found a 1928 Peace Dollar in a 20 coin lot of circulated dollars..most often however I end up with what I paid for--just a bunch of old silver coinage which is worth the melt value I bought it for...
    Well today I was at it again. Another one of the chances for a "leap of faith" presented itself and I bought it and won for a little under melt value ( it is amazing to me that a silver dime at current silver prices has $1.70 worth of silver and a quarter is $4.20 worth of silver--$23 x .18084). The lot I won is a 21 coin lot of Washington Quarters all dated from the 1930's. The dealer has a feedback of only 55 but is 100% and has handled 2 or 3 other small coin sales of her 55 transactions. What struck me is that the dates listed were like this:
    1932 x 4
    1934 x 3
    1935 x 5 ......etc etc...
    In the photo I blew it up and believe that I can see a mintmark or 2 on the coins showing reverses. So there is a wild, long-shot that I could score a 1932-D or S...and an even longer shot that there may be a 1934 or 1937 doubled die coin...but you gotta dig to uncover treasure.
    Most likely I'll have bought 21 heavily circulated silver quarters worth their melt value--but isn't this part of the fun of collecting? Don't you just love opening up that package, pulling out your loupe and inspecting them for those small varieties or the chance of catching a nice find once in a while?
    To me it seems like a win-win...the worst case scenario is I get to enjoy the search and anticipation and have some old Washies to throw in the silver bag...the best case?...the thrill of finding an undiscovered treasure ( however small it might be)..

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  24. jackson64
    would probably be a hung jury
    Well I pulled the trigger today on a deal I found a few days ago and have been hemming and hawing over. It's the classic coin collector dilemma--on one hand, I'm not sure I want to collect the series--yet on the other hand, if I ever change my mind then they may never be this cheap again.
    The series in question was the proof presidential dollars. In general I usually collect moderns in albums, I won't go into all of the reasons why I do this but 2 big reasons are that I enjoy album collecting--and secondly the market is very highly skewed for what the value of these massive mintage coins will be worth in 20 years.
    It is this second line of reasoning on my part ( and I could be wrong--moderns may increase in value if a new generation of collectors come flooding into our hobby), that led to the hemming and hawing.
    You see, I bought all 4 proof sets in PCGS multiholders for $99 plus $5 shipping, $104 total. Part of my brain is screaming, " you just paid over $100 for $16 worth of face value coins with massive mintages and a small collector following !?!" Yet the other side of my brain says, " what a deal ! These coins are near $20 a set raw from the mint and if you add grading fees for 16 coins plus shipping is around $300--it's a steal !!"
    The sets are nice--and they are historical, so I will enjoy them. Yet now I'm committed to another set to build and will also have the added task of trying to find them in the multi-holder for uniformity. One thing about PCGS multi-holders is that they don't have individual cert numbers for each coin so I won't be adding a registry set. I'd never be in the top 100 anyhow with a complete set of PF69DCAM's--yet the 2500+ points for a $100 investment is enticing...
    So, in the end I'm still unsure of whether I got a good deal or bad deal but I know one thing for sure--the collector in me is alive and well. Now I need to find the "D" mint prezzies for the holes in my album set..

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  25. jackson64
    It's been a while...
    Yes, it has been a while since I felt the higher energy level from coin collecting. Lately it's been lower dollar coins ( around or under $100) or empty searches for the higher grade sets I'm trying to build....
    Last night was quite different ! Not only did I get home from work and find out that my internet bids had been enough to land me 2 additions to my Walker collection--- I also sat down and enjoyed the live bidding since I was registered.
    Watching coin after coin sell for more than the worth of my entire collection is both humbling and jaw-dropping. Bids starting at $2,000 quickly jump into 5 figures...and much of the early gold went for $100,000+....to think that I could destroy my credit and need to re-finance my home were just a mouse click away !!
    Seriously though, it was exciting even just to watch--especially since I had some " house money" to play with. You see I had consigned some lots that had sold earlier for a little under 5 figures ( total-not each)...I even threw in one bid on a $3 Indian Princess gold Proof for $3000---it eventually sold for around $30,000 so I was never in any danger of actually winning but it was fun to throw in a bid !!
    Anyhow, here are my 2 wins...a nice 1937 Walker MS66+ and a "lateral" move with another MS66 1943-S but much more attractive and distinctive-- yes, I do even "upgrade" my sets with the same grade on the slab--just much nicer coins. I hope you Walker lovers enjoy these...

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