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Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

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Journal Entries posted by Iowa Silver Baron Bammer

  1. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...more coins and more photos.
    This past couple of weeks have been really good for me. I just made my 2010 IRA contribution (which is always nice), I received 5 more coins in the mail today (which is even nicer) and I'm making progress on the photo front.
    First off, the coins! I added 3 silver commems to my commemorative set, Two were 69 Ultra Cameos (Edison and Smithsonian) and 1 gorgeous 70 Ultra Cameo (Disabled Veterans). Plus, I added a MS64RB 1920 1 Centavo to my Mexican 1 Centavo set, and a 69 Silver Proof Deep Cameo Bicentennial Kennedy Half to my proof bicentennial set. Plus, I just checked my results from tonights Teletrade auction, and I won all 3 mint state commemoratives (all 70's) that I bid on. They were Lincoln, Desegragation and Boy Scouts. All in all, I'm pleased will all of these.
    Next, I've been working on my photos, and I'm well on the right track now. My 2 big adjustments are still lighting and setting the Exposure Compensation, when I figure that out, I believe you'll be seeing a lot of new pictures for my sets. Exposure compensation I think will be relatively easy to adjust, in fact, I may work on it yet tonight. We'll see how it goes.
    Here is my latest effort, the reverse of my Mint State San Francisco Mint commemative. I'm very happy with it. The lettering has popped up, and there is a ton of detail (at least in my opinion).
    Thanks for reading.

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  2. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...not many mother mint coins in my collection.
    Hello all,
    First, happy new year to everyone!!! I certainly hope 2011 is a great year for everyone.
    It's starting out OK for me. I have a Canadian nickel on the way for my Canadian Nickel set. Purchases have been slow lately, for a few reasons. Of course, Christmas time always leaves me a little short of cash. Secondly, there are 2 Stack's auctions coming up this month and as always, I have some watched items in both of them. So I need to watch my spending until the auctions are over. It seems I never have enough cash to buy everything I would like from auction, so I'll be thinking and watching to decide what I want to bid on. Finally, as you all may have noticed, I've deleted several sets. This goes back to an entry I wrote in 2010, I'm finding to do all the sets I wanted, cash was starting to be short again, so I've actually have finally defined my interests. (Yes I know I've said this before, but it's official now!!!)
    So, good bye to most all of my mother mint (Philaelphia) coins. The only sets that will contain any are the buffalo nickels, indian head cents, mint state Sac Dollars and commemoratives. I'm limiting myself to my Wild West theme and western mints. However I do love the 2 cent pieces, so that will be my one concession to the Philadelphia mint. Oh, my Franklin Half set is untouchable when it comes to pulling coins out, so Philadelpia coins will remain there.
    However, Philadelphia will be represented in my raw collection. I have a nice start on Liberty nickels and I'm also working on nickel three cent pieces and I've already written about my wheaties. Also, later date half and large cents will be represented as well.
    I'm really wanting to get back to the currency side. I've picked up a few more specimen notes (more recent years) and I'm still wanting to do research on my Mexican speciemen notes this year.
    So, I imagine 2011 will be another busy year coin and currency wise. I'm already starting to add coins to my Wild West mint custom sets.
    Picture for this journal entry will be my raw 1907 Liberty Nickel, the obverse.
    Thanks for reading.

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  3. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    How did my goals do?
    Hi everyone,
    Well, my main goal for the year was to finish my FBL Franklin set. At the start of the year, I needed to upgrade 5 coins and purchase 20 more. Well, the upgrades were easy. All 5 are now at least 64's, and the coins I upgraded are now residing in a more or less ungraded set. As for the 20 I still needed, I purchased 14 of them. I knew the 53-S would be the major stumbling block, as it turned out all of them seem to be. Except for the 53-S, I saw the coins I need in several different auctions over the course of the year, but it seems like each one didn't quite measure up. I'll keep working on the set next year, and we'll see how it goes.
    I did get my Bicentennial mint and proof sets finished this year. It does feel good to have at least a couple of sets completed, even though they are small sets. I also found some coins to populate some of my other sets. My 1953 mint set received some, as did some of my other yearly mint sets. I just purchased a mint state 2007 Onza for my "Ole For Onzas" set, but probably won't receive it till after the awards deadline, not that it would matter anyway. One of my goals for next year is to finish my WW2 Canadian half set. I had it complete, but have decided to upgrade it to get a more competitive set.
    All in all, a good year. I feel the coins I did purchase this year were of a little higher quality. I do have a few coins I culled out to sell, so I can use the money to buy some I need.
    Good luck to everyone for the upcoming awards.
    My pic for this journal entry is a silver bar I purchased a few weeks ago. It fits in with my Wild West theme.

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  4. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    Looked thru a bunch of Lincoln Wheaties!
    Well, my Lincoln wheat penny albums are a little fuller tonight. My project for this week, as I'm on vacation after having some dental surgery yesterday, was to look thru close to 10 rolls of wheat cents.
    Some things surprised me. I thought I would find more D and S mints than I did. However, the most common coin I found was the 1957-D, which doesn't surprise me since I live west of the Missippi River, but other than those, some 56's and 58's, I didn't find too many others. Maybe I should explain, for those of you who didn't read my previous post, these coins were pulled out of circulation by our local small town bank. In fact, I was amazed at just how many 57-D's I found, I was guessing about 20 per cent out of 10 rolls, and in the last 2 rolls I searched, it came out to 15%. Yes 15 out of 100 were 57-D's, so I'm estimating now between 15 and 20 per cent of the coins were 57's.
    Anyway, out of all these, I found 22 coins for my folders. The earliest was a 1910 and a 1911. Bother were in fairly bac shape, pitted and corroded, but until I can find better ones at a reasonable price, they stay. One good thing though, my friendly banker said I could replace the 22 with 22 duplicate wheaties I have in a tube here at "collecting central". So all I have in my folders have only cost me a penny a piece. Not too bad I'd say.
    Anyway that's my wheaties report. I'm going to work on my pictures the rest of the week, and hopefully Thursday night right my more or less end of the year report before set & journal judging begins. Good luck to everyone for the awards.
    My coin for this entry is the obverse of a raw 1953 Great Britain crown.

  5. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...if you're making a raw set of wheaties. (No, not the cereal!)
    Hi all,
    First I must explain that my weekend is Sunday and Monday. So usually, I use Sundays to relax, and to relax I either read or work on my coins. (Except in the summer, when our local minor league baseball team is playing at home, then ball games are a part of my Sundays too.) Mondays are used for the normal errands of life, you all know what these are; wash the clothes, do your banking business, mail packages to NGC, etc. etc.
    Well, today I had to do all those things. While I was up at our local bank today, I stumbled into a wheat penny heaven. I must first admit that I've banked at this local bank in our small town (750 or so population) all my life; as has my brother, parents and grandparents. So anyway, after I had all my business finished there, the branch manager and I were chatting. And again, I must admit that I've know him a long time, wellllll, to be honest, I went to school with his dad and uncle (one of the joys of small town living). I don't want anyone thinking that I'm a wizard or anything. :-) We got talking about gold and silver prices (yes he knows I collect coins). Then we got talking about wheat pennies, I told him how I would find some at work and that I'm trying to put together a raw set out of circulation. So anyway, he says to me "come back to my other office". So I followed him back, and out of his desk drawer he pulls 5 bank rolled rolls of all wheat pennies, plus probably close to another 5 rolls of wheaties, all loose. So then he says to me "take them home, look through them and see if you find any for your set. We'll settle up later." Now how good of a deal is that??? Plus, it's really flattering to know that someone trusts me enough to say, here take these with you and look through them. Humbling too I suppose, I guess I have done something right after all.
    So, next week I have dental surgery on Monday and have taken a week's vacation. So hopefully when I start feeling better, I have a nice quiet, enjoyable task to keep myself occupied. If any of you have had to have dental surgery, you know the doctors like it if you don't exert for a few days afterward. This will be a nice way to relax. I'm looking forward to see how many slots I can fill in my Whitman folders.
    I'll update in another journal entry to let you know how I do. I know I'll get at least one steel penny, I"m homing to find all three.
    Thanks for reading. Since I'm writing about wheatings in this entry, my picture of the entry will be the obverse of one of my graded wheaties.

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  6. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    But the decision also makes me happy!
    Hello all,
    This past 2 weeks I've been doing one of 3 things: either working, watching playoff baseball (GO YANKEES!!!) or mulling over a really major decision!
    The major decision is the subject of this journal article. I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to sell a portion of my coins. This is a sad decision, I've never met a coin I didn't like (well, I guess that's 1% untrue, as I don't really care for the Anthony dollar), but it's also a happy decision.
    Here is my reasoning. I was trying to collect way, WAY too much. As a consequence, I was spreading my collecting budget over a bunch of sets that I like, but didn't really feel the passion for anymore. So, I've cut out a lot of sets, lessened the scope on some others (for example, I decided not to include the modern commemorative gold in my commemorative sets, although I may get a handful that fit into my custom sets), and decided on a major focus for my remaining coins.
    You will probably noticed I cut out all my 19th century mint sets and replaced it with the 19th century type set. This is half of my focus, as I still feel the passion for the 19th century designs.
    The other half of my focus will be my Wild West custom set, and coins (mainly 19th century) from the western mints. The western mints are of course New Orleans, Denver, Carson City and San Francisco. However, a few gold coins and silver dollars will be found from the Philadelphia mint.
    Ok, I suppose you all are probably wondering how I can say this is also a happy decision. Well, I do have a passion for currency. This passion stems from my years (19 to be exact) in the printing industry. I've found I can live with a nicely circulated VF or EF coin, but my currency has to be Gem Uncirculated, Excellent Paper Quality or I don't buy it. As you probably can figure, the older currency can be very pricey in those higher grades. So this decision frees some money up in my budget, but also keeps my coins focused. As a corollary to this, my pickiness factor on how my mint state coins look is going up too. Since I'll be having fewer coins, maybe I can raise the condition on some I buy.
    So, I will be selling some coins in the next few weeks and months, while it will be sad for me, I'm looing forward to adding more top quality currency to my collection. There are 2 pieces I really want for my Wild West custom sets (the Chief silver certificate & the Bison Legal Tender) and these will set me back 5 figures in the condition I want, so something has to go so I can raise some money.
    I'm really relieved now, since I've made the decision, so I think this is a good time to stop writing.
    Coin of the Journal this time is the obverse of the 1862 gold dollar I recently acquired.

  7. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...and other musings.
    I've been meaning to write this journal entry for a good 6 weeks. For one reason or another, I'm just getting to it now. As some of you may have noticed, I've been juggling both my competitive and custom sets around. I'm trying to more accurately reflect my collecting interests. For example, the one change that maybe is my saddest change is the switch from a full set of Morgan dollars to a one per date set, plus my Carson City set. I love the Morgan dollar; as I've stated before, a worn 1900-O started me on my collecting odessy many years ago.
    However, I've been finding that my greatest joys from our great hobby has been more in the topical interest portion of my sets. Also, I'm finding a lot more satisfaction from some of my raw sets, for example I'm trying to put together a VF-AU set of Liberty Head Nickels (another set that I loved when I first started collecting as a kid).
    It all comes back really to a financial decision. Now that I've my personal finances in order, I'm finding I'm becoming more consicous of buying "the best coin for the money", consequently my Franklin half set has slowed down a LOT. I could have had the set finished if I wanted, I've seen all the dates I'm lacking (1953-S in FBL the only exception). But I've rejected all of them for many reasons, the biggest being I feel the coins have to many dings, scratches or abrasions, or have (to me) unsightly toning to justify the cost. I think overall this is a good thing when it comes to selling them, and I KNOW it's a good thing when I look at my set, a marginal looking coin will make me wonder why I would have bought it.
    So in this vein, I've decided to sell a few coins, and then put the money I receive into the best coin I can. I'll update as I go along, I have several coins right now that I want to send to auction. I think I have the firm picked out, but haven't talked to them yet. Again, I'll update as I know more and start getting results.
    I'm also finding my topical sets to be more fascinating. I started a set of coins with animals. Any coin that's not a part of a competitive set that shows an animal will be included. I also really want to start reworking my Wild West set. I envision this to be the cornerstone of my collection. Right now, my plan is to really work on it, plus my western mint custom sets I"m going to start. My ultimate 5 year goal (just so you know, I'm hoping to retire when I'm 62, this could change depending on the stock market). Then, I would like to make at least 2 displays to enter at an ANA convention. One will be the whole Wild West set and the other will be a display of coins with the buffalo in the design. I say at least 2, because in the back of my mind I still want to work more on my currency. I'd like to make a display of Mexican specimen notes. This is another reason for me to sell some of the coins that don't fit my interests, some of these specimens can cost some serious money.
    I guess I've carried on enough. I'll end with a picture of my Omaha Stock Show medal.
    Thanks for reading.

  8. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    and a dilemma on the 1953S Franklin.
    Finally, my last batch of coins are coming home. Mixed results on the 2 coins of mine. Well I should admit on my final 5 coin submission, 2 were mine (a 1918 Buffalo Nickel and an 1883CC Morgan) and 3 were my brother's. I told him I was curious on one of his coins, as to grade, and would split the cost with him so I could meet the 5 coin minimum on the economy grading tier.
    So the mixed results on mine were this. My nickel was purchased raw as an AU piece. It came (or is coming back) as a MS-62. So I"m really pleased with this, as the value jumped about $90 even after the grading fee was added to the cost of the coin. I can certainly live with this. However, the 1883CC didn't fare quite as well. The coin to me looked as a nice MS63, which is how I bought it, unfortunately it came back also as a MS62. So I lost a little there, but the differential on the nickel still made up for it.
    My brother was unhappy with his grades. 2 came back as cleaned, the grades were in the ballpark compared to what he bought them for raw, but was unhappy with the company he bought them from as to the cleaning part. As an aside here, I'm trying to talk him into buying raw from the same place I do. I have found Harlan J. Berk in Chicago to be pretty spot on as to grade and whether a coin has been cleaned. My rule is: If he says cleaned, I don't buy it, if he doesn't, I'll give it a chance. The reason being, the 3rd coin was advertised as VG, and only was graded as AG-3. I guess we use the experience to learn how to properly grade ourselves.
    Now onto my Franklin set. Earlier in the year, I wrote a journal entry stating my goals for the year. The top one was finishing my Franklin set. When I wrote that journal, I needed 26 coins. Of the 26, 20 were coins I didn't have, and the other 6 were upgrades (4 from 62 & 63 to at least 64; and 2 were just coins I was unhappy with the look when I received them).
    Now, in August, I"m happy to report I only need 2 of the 6 upgrades, and with the 2 I purchased tonight on the Teletrade auction, I only need 9 of the 20 that I didn't have at the first of the year. All in all, I'm happy with my progress. I may not finish the set by the end of the year, but I"m making good progress.
    Now to the dilemma. The 1953-S is going to be the stopper. I realized at the start that it is the KEY!!! to a FBL set, but I didn't realized how much of a KEY till tonight. I was checking out Numismedia and the PCGS pricing guides and I"m scared. Well, the PCGS pricing guide lists a MS62FBL 53-S Franklin at $400, and then jump up into 4 figures plus for the higher grades. Numismedia is slightly lower, but still the same difference. So now I'm debating: Do I want to shell out that kind of cash for a totally FBL set, or do I try for a MS66 1953-S without the FBL designation? More on this in the coming weeks. Frankly, I hardly ever see a 53-S in Teletrade or David Lawrence, but have seen one in a top line auction firm sale.
    My pic of the entry this time is the obverse of my 63D Franklin I just receive yesterday.
    Thanks for reading.

  9. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    I like the new features (so far) but have a couple of nit pics!
    Hello all,
    I meant to write a grading update journal entry before the site upgrade; I'm really glad I waited. I've been checking things out tonight and do not have any major complaints (so far). However, I do have a couple of nit picks, but must say first, they're nit picks only in the respect of how I like to see my coin info.
    I'll give a specific example, just in case NGC would like to help out (HINT HINT) :-). I currently have 3 coins in my 1849 mint set, and one of them is my 1849 large cent. I originally purchased the coin in 2007, it was graded by ANACS. So I crossed it over, at a cost to me of $14.40. No problem with that especially since it went up from AU50 to AU53. What I do have a problem with is this: I put the original cost of the coin ($123.20) in the purchase price field, and the crossover grading fee ($14.40) in the purchase fees column. I feel the total is the true cost of my coin. What I'd like to see when I look at my set in My Collection is the purchase price field, then the purchase fees field, and finally a Total cost field. But I would be happy to have just the Total cost field to show up. My reasoning is as follows: in a few years, I have a computer crash and all my collection software data is lost; this site is a good backup method (we can never have enough backups can we?) and I may forget exactly all my costs and fees. It sure would be nice to be to see at a glance all pertinant info. However in the coin view, the total shows up, which is nice.
    My second nitpick is the entry of the date purchase (and I would assume sale date field also). I'd like to just to be able to enter the date from my keyboard without having to use the drop down arrows. Not that I want to see the drop down arrows disappear, it just happens I can enter this type of data faster from my keyboard.
    Otherwise, from what I've seen of the site, I like it.
    Now for my grading update. My second batch of coins are back. The grades were pretty much as I thought; 2 good news and 1 bad news. The good news is 2 70's from my bald eagle commmemorative submissions along with 2 69's. I can live (happily ever after) with those. However, I was disappointed though with my 1853-O gold dollar. I really did not think it had been cleaned. I was right on my estimate of the grade, as it came back AU details, but improperly cleaned. Oh well, I keep learning, and since I want to put the coin in my Western Mints signature set, I don't have a problem with it being cleaned.
    Sorry NGC, one more nitpick. For journal entries, please make the same size requirement as the gallery. I really am getting tired having to compress the pics twice.
    Anyway, otherwise, nice job NGC.
    Coin of the journal entry is the obverse of my recently acquired 1962 New Mexico medal.

  10. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    3 70's
    Hello all,
    Well, my 13 coin submission is on it's way "home to papa". I am really pleased with the results, I can't wait till I get the package, so I looked here.
    I thought both Franklin commem proofs would be PF70UC, and one was and the other was a 69UC. Not too bad I guess, 1 out of 2. All the others were pretty much as I expected, but the icing on the cake were Mint State Bald Eagle dollar and the proof Bald Eagle half. Both came back as 70's, so I can sure live with only one of my Franklin's achieving the perfect grade.
    Everything else was as I expected. The only "fly in the ointment" so to speak was my Proof Constitution dollar, which only came back as PF68UC. However, this doesn't bother me as much as might be expected, as the coin was a Christmas gift from my brother. So I only have the grading fee in it, so I'm keeping it because it was from my brother.
    All in all, I'm happy with the grades. But the happiness is tempered with uncertainty about my other 2 submissions. I"m really wondering how the 1883CC Morgan is going to grade. I have a feeling it's coming back as a 64, but I'm hoping for 65. Also, the 1853-O gold dollar is making me nervous. I paid the VF price for it, but secretly down deep, I"m wondering AU. I guess we'll all have to wait and see.
    My photos are coming along slow but sure. As I said before, Lighting Is Key!! I have managed to get a few more pics which I will be posting in the coming weeks.
    My "photo of the entry" this time is an ungraded 1921-D Morgan dollar. Would you believe I shot this with a Pentax point-&-shoot camera with a short flourescent light fixture. The result speaks for itself. I think this is a marvelous photo.
    Hope you all enjoy it.

  11. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    13 coins in quality control
    Things are looking up! The registered package that was floating around in Chicago has been received by NGC!!!!!!!!!!!! I was starting to worry, but now my worry can be what grades will I receive. :-) I have high hopes for my 1883 Carson City Morgan dollar. I bought it raw because it looked so good. I sure hope the graders agree with me. My 13 coin submission which was received on the 24th of June is in Quality Control. I'm hoping for at least 2 70's, I thought both Franklin commems deserve the perfect grade.
    I'm still working on my photos. It's turning out to be a long process, but I feel the results will be worth the work. My photo for this journal entry will be the obverse of HK-302. This so-called dollar commemorates the Louisiana Purchase and was issued in 1904. I'm very pleased with how this photo turned out. This is how I'm expecting all my photos to look. I hope you all like it.

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  12. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    Lighting is KEY!
    A week sure has made a difference for me. Last Thursday I sent 2 5-coin submissions for grading. The only bad thing is NGC hasn't received them yet, our local postmaster told me Friday that the Chicago registered mail office (facility?) is moving, and that's where he thinks the package is. Let's hope he's right, as (of course as my luck would have it) this submission is most valuable. Then on Monday, I sent a 13 coin submission which NGC has in the "Received" status. I'll try to keep everyone informed of what's happening with these submissions, and please keep your fingers crossed that the submission in Chicago gets to NGC SOON!!
    I've also received several purchases the past week. Nothing too major, but still they fill some slots. I do have 2 Franklin FBL's on my watchlist at David Lawrence, they're in the upcoming Thursday auction. As usual, I have several coins on my Teletrade watch lists. Again, nothing too major, but these will fill several slots.
    As I mentioned in my last entry, my major purchasing focus is on 2 items in the upcoming (Tuesday the 29th) auction at Stack's. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to take a vacation day that day as I would like to do, so I'll be figuring out maximum bids high enough so I can win the auctions. Please wish me luck!!
    As for my pictures, LIGHTING IS KEY!!!!!!!!! I've finally hit on the (more or less) correct combination of lights. 2 lights, positioned at 10 and 2 o'clock gives excellent coverage. I have noticed a few coins where I'll either be adjusting the position or adding a third light, but I can't describe the feeling of finally figuring out how to get good pictures. I'm attaching the obverse of my 1902-O Morgan dollar. It's a nice, lustrous coin and I"m really happy with the result.
    Thanks for reading.

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  13. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    on many fronts; photos, adding coins, and grading submissions.
    The last 14 days or so has seen a lot of progress for me on the coin front. As I mentioned in an earlier entry, I bought a digital SLR camera; since that time I've been experimenting with it, reading the manual, and FINALLY I'm starting to get some better pictures. My biggest stumbling blocks have been WHITE BALANCE and light coverage. Well, I feel I'm making a lot of headway on the white balance. Personally, I hate photos with a tint to them, however, as with toning, a slight blue tint isn't as irritating to me as green & yellow. Anyway, I feel I'm making progress, but I wish I could figure out the light coverage better. I've noticed when I've come close on the coverage, it's amazing how sharp and clear the pics are. The benchmark I use for sharpness is being able to read the small initals of the engraver.
    I'm also making progress on the sets front. I've purchase several commemoratives (modern) for my set. I've also upgraded one of my Franklin FBL coins, but haven't received it yet from Teletrade.
    Also on the buying front, I'm getting for the 52 Collection sale from Stack's the end of the month (the 29th I think). I have some ABN plates on my watch list. I truly enjoy the plates, I have several. Here's where I really kick myself for having my financial troubles, I had to let a lot go for the simple reason of no funds. I truly believe we're the caretakers of these items and several I missed would have been perfect additions to my Wild West theme collection. I guess I will live and learn on this.
    Finally, I'm getting submissions ready to go. We have a couple of people at work on vacation this week, so instead of having Monday off as usual, I'm off Thursday. So, the post office will be collecting some major postage, and NGC, be on the look out for a nice size box filled with submissions. At last count, I have at least 5 19th century coins for 1 submission, another 5 coins (mix of Eagles & Commems) for my coupon submission. That leaves another 12 coins for a regular submission. Plus I have 5 world coins, 4 modern & 1 1912 Mexican Centavo, if I can put them on the same form. We'll see how this goes, and I'll try to update on grades.
    Finally, my picture for this entry will be the Mint State Lincoln Commem obverse. You can tell I haven't quite figured out lighting coverage, but I have made progress.
    Thanks for reading!

  14. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...and an update.
    If you have been following the continuing saga of my registry sets, you've probably noticed I put the full set of Morgans back. I just couldn't do it, the one per year set, and leave out the Philadelphia issues. If a rule were made that we could only collect one series of coins, the Morgans would be mine. I know there are prettier coins (Walking Liberty halves and the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles), but to me, the Morgans are right up there too. Besides, whenever I look at one, I'm a kid again looking at the ones my dad saved. Speaking of dad, you might have noticed I started a memorial set for both of my parents. There's no hurry to complete them, as the gold will be the stoppers. But I'll enjoy whatever coins I do buy for the sets.
    Things are going better for me. Friday morning I paid off my bank loan. It really feels good, the payment cut a good third off of my debt. Hopefully by the end of the week, I'll know how much for sure will take care of my credit cards, and I'll be able to pay them off a week from tomorrow. I am assuming everything goes well, so we'll have to see what happens. Just being a third better off lifted a lot of weight from my shoulders.
    I received the Proof Canadian nickel I won a week or so ago in a Teletrade auction. Of course, since it's a proof, I'm having a little trouble photographing it, but I'll keep plugging away. Last week I bought 3 more coins (ones I could afford), 1 was a So-Called Dollar that will go into my Wild West signature set. The other 2 were the proof and mint state baseball 50 cent Olympic commemoratives for the respective set of those. What's the best is, I bought the 2 commems for about half what the price guides say they're worth.
    My Wild West sig set is another goal for me this year. I plan on redoing it (as to what coins will be in it) and starting to work on the descriptions. Wish me luck that I finally get a finished set to work on.
    Well, my coin pic for this entry is a 1964 Montana Brass Centennial medal I bought in a Stack's auction. This coin is earmarked for my West sig set. The photo is the reverse (I think) at least that's how NGC has it in the holder.

  15. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    I should say THANKS W.K.F.
    Sorry W.K.F. my fingers typed faster than my brain is moving today. I transposed the letters. So to everyone who just read my previous journal entry. Thanks to W.K.F. for his journal entries.
    Also, you can see a larger image of my 1956 Franklin in my galler, I notice the galler will accept a larger file size than the journals.
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  16. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    Franklin Half pic shows I'm getting there.
    Hi all,
    Yes, I'm still working on my photos. I am to the point where I was getting some good pictures with my point & shoot digital camera, but am not happy with the detail. Thus, my purchase of a digital SLR.
    Before I go any further, I want to commend WFK for his just started group of journal entries about photography. I've always felt more heads are better than one, so I've been reading his journal entries in hopes of picking up some tips & ideas for my photos. So, THANKS WFK.
    Anyway, I've been experimenting all week with my digital SLR and today I feel I'm finally on the right track. My 2 biggest stumbling blocks have been white balance and losing detail. I feel both of these are a factor of lighting. So earlier this afternoon I took up a small flourescent fixture I have downstairs in collecting central to try out. It has 2 small Cool White bulbs in it, and I've been using it for my point and shoot pics of my raw coins. Well, wonder of wonders, my white balance setting on my SLR (while still not perfect) is much, MUCH better for the flourescents.
    So, here is a pic of my 1956 FBL Franklin obverse. I love the detail that shows up, the lettering looks more 3D, which I pefer, and the only bad point is I'm not getting the light coverage, as there is a big darker spot on the right side at the 3 o'clock position.
    Still, this brightens my day. Hope you enjoy the picture.

  17. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    Who would have thought proofs could be easy?
    Hi all,
    Yes, I'm still working with my digital cam! I know you probably are all getting sick of reading and looking at my pictures, but tonight I've been experimenting with lights and light angles. The coins I was having the most trouble with before, namely proofs, I'm not having near the troubles now. The only problem I am having is a color shift, and I feel I can find a light and learning to adjust my white balance to take care ot it.
    OK here's a picture of a National Wildlife Medal, the side showing the Elk. I always used to blow out the detail, but now I'm keeping more detail.
    Thanks for reading.

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  18. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...I bought a copy stand.
    Hi all,
    On Monday, I bought a copy stand with light fixtures. I think I may have bought more than I need but it does make a difference. One big difference I noticed is the camera is steady as a rock. The big downside is I have to figure out what lights to use. I had been using a small flourescent tube fixture with my point & shoot camera, and had the white balance pretty well figured out.
    This stand has normal bulb fixtures, I bought some Reveal bulbs for it, and I'm not satisfied at all with the tint. It could be I'm not setting the manual white balance correctly, as the pictures have an annoying reddish tint to them. I can color correct in my software, but all-in-all, I'm not happy. So that is one thing I have to figure out soon.
    The lights also lead me to another adjustment; namely shutter speed and apeture setting. I've been using the AUTO setting and it's close, but still, I'm not satisfied. So there's going to be a learning curve to get all of this fine tuned.
    Anyway, here is a pic of the obverse of my 1876 Trade Dollar. I think I'm on the right track.

  19. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    Like the Navy, coin collecting is not a job, but an adventure.
    I had planned to write this journal entry, or at least parts of it about 2 weeks ago. However, my computer was attacked by viruses, somehow they got on, stopped my anti virus, and I was in danger of losing a lot of stuff and the danger was there of losing identity. So, I turned off my modem, and did a system cleansing and recovery from my recovery drive. Hopefully, I'm safe, but I'm watching bank accounts etc. just to make sure.
    Anyway, possibly it was a blessing in disguise. I bit the bullet and did something I was resisting. I went out Monday and bout a digital SLR. I had vowed when I bought my point and shoot digital, I wasn't going to put good coin money against a better camera, but I was up against a brick wall on some of my coin photos. First I should mention I bought a copy of Mark Goodman's book on coin photography (2nd edition). Anyone here who wants to take better photos, I strongly suggest, maybe I should say I STRONGLY SUGGEST, buying this book before you make any camera purchases. When I went into my local camera shop, I was well prepared with questions and I believe I received excellent advice from the shop.
    Ok, I have been learning the camera (I still have a long ways to go with it, and I do need to buy a copy stand and good lights), and today I finally shot one halfway decent photo, on the AUTO setting. I'm attaching the photo to this journal entry, as this picture shows me I'm on the right track.
    I haven't been just doing photos. I've purchased the Proof and Mint State Jefferson Commemoratives for my set. I also purchased a Canadian $5 silver (I love the white tailed deer on it), a Loon dollar (and started the set of them). Yes, among my other interests I do like coins showing animals. Oh, also purchased the 2010 Koala and added it to my set.
    I haven't forgotten my raw sets, 2 Franklins and 1 Walking Liberty was purchased about a month ago, they were the reason I wanted to write part of this earlier.
    Well, enough for now, hope you enjoy the photo.

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  20. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    free at last...
    What a day!!!! I got a lot of errands finished this morning, then had a 12:30 appointment with my lawyer to finish up my last debt. We had been quibbling on the amount owed for over 2 months, well, it was paid off today!!!!!!!! Then I did some other banking and post office business, it was a good day here today to do all this, as it has been drizzling and rainy all day and evening.
    So, after my errands were completed, I decided a rainy day would be a perfect time to drive down to the coin shop in Keokuk (about 20 minutes south of me). I had culled out a few coins and currency that isn't fitting in with my goals so I took them to sell. While the lady at the shop was figuring it up, of course I had to look around. (The best part that I didn't mention is the credit card agreed with my amount, so I had a little money left over.) So I picked up a 2011 Red Book, a big dollar coin tube to put my Peace and Morgan dollars I have that I'm saving just for the silver. Then on to the good part, LOOKING AT COINS!!! I bought 3 raw Franklins for my raw Franklin set, a 1 ounce silver round that commemorates the Gold Panners Of America, and finally a raw 1853-O gold dollar. The gold dollar was a leap of faith. Well, I feel the coin shop owners have been very fair with me on what I've taken in to sell, and I do appreciate the fact they're 20 miles away, rather than having to go an hour and a half to Cedar Rapids or 2 hours to the Quad Cities, which are the next 2 closest coin shops to me.
    Part of my collection as most of you know, is a western theme, I'm concentrating on either western mints (CC, Denver, San Francisco and New Orleans) or coins that have a western theme (Buffalo nickels, some Indian head Cents, some commems like Lewis & Clark). Well I think you get the idea.
    So, this dollar is at best XF, I'm more tempted to say VF. Be that as it may, it's what I can afford, now that I'm making most of my purchases with cash rather the low limit credit card I have. So, I'll be sending it to grade soon, and I'll let you all know how it turns out. Of course, I'm still not educated enough, I don't think it's been cleaned. By looking at the coin, I think it's real, but I did have an experience with a trade dollar from a major auction house sale that came back from NGC as "not genuine". I believe that's how it they put it. So keep your fingers crossed for me and hopefully I'll have another journal entry reporting the grade.
    My photo of this journal is the silver round. As you can see, it sure fits in with my western theme. I can almost hear the miners, and can almost transport myself back to the American River in 1849. :-)

  21. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    it's so nice being out of debt.
    Hi everyone,
    I guess I should say I'll be out of debt in the next week or so, as I still owe on one credit card, but I feel it will be paid (hopefully) in the next week or so. I'm quibbling on the amount I owe, but I'm confident both parties involved can come up with an equitable solution.
    I've been working on my main goal for 2010, my Franklin half set. (As a sidelight, I started a proof Franklin set, but I have no timetable on when I might really starting to fill up slots in it.) Since I wrote last, the totals for the Franklin set are: 2 new coins and 1 upgrade. This leaves me with 18 slots to fill and there are 4 coins I want to upgrade. The upgrades are for 2 MS-63's, 1 MS-62, and 1 coin that fits into my grade range goal, but has some spots on it that really didn't show up in the picture when I bought it.
    You all may have noticed I've been adding, deleting and adding some more sets. This leads me into the "another decision" part of my title. In the course of my journal entries through the years, I've indicated I do have other collecting interests. The two major interests (besides coins) are railroad items and baseball cards (Yankees). My decision is to sell about 90% of my modern cards. The main reason for this is I don't feel they hold their value like the vintage cards do. Then, with the money I make, I can use it for vintage cards, and then use my coin budget for just coins.
    Stay tuned to see how I fill my new sets. I'm still (since I'm practically out of debt) going to be selective and picky on the coins I buy, and pay as I go so I don't go into debt again.
    My coin photo for this entry is my 1954 Franklin.

  22. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...a journal entry I said I would write.
    Finally, I have some time to sit down and write an entry. I've been busy scanning my graded and raw currency to send to a the software company whose program I use to keep track of my coins & currency. I'm also finishing up some photos of my coins, but I'm still having some issues with my proof Sac dollars. Oh well, guess I'm learning something every day.
    In an earlier entry, I said I was going to write a couple of entries about my raw coins and sets. I have come to the conclusion I can't make decent registry sets of all the coins I like. The big problem of course is financial. For example, I truly love the Liberty Nickel. Along with the Morgan dollar, the Liberty Nickel is a design that caught my fancy when I collected as a boy, and it still has attractions now, close to 50 years later. I would love to put together a registry set of these, but to have any kind of set, even in the top 25 or so, would cost me more than I could dream of having. So I believe the next best thing will be to make a raw set in lower grades. To me, an attractive EF coin (or even VF) is still a coin worth having. I also believe the same criteria we look for in a top graded coin also apply to the circulated grades.
    Another couple of sets I'm really starting to like are the later issues of half & large cents. Both coins are really starting to "grow" on me. I can forsee making sets of these two coins in the future, again in lower circulated grades. Pricing will be a factor of course, with an eye to quality.
    The other main point of this (and possible one more) journal entries is "What dealers have other members found to be accurate in their grading and descriptions, and fair in price?" I was going to go both ways, both good and bad, but I think it's best for now to talk about the good.
    One dealer I have found, that I like and feel grade accurately, is Harlan J. Berk in Chicago. His descriptions seem fair and complete to me. If he feels the coin has been cleaned, he says so in his description, and will also identify other that affect the coin's value and eye appeal. For example, he will list rim bumps, scratches, etc. I also feel his prices are in line with what the coin's value is. I'm eager to hear from other members their experiences with various dealers.
    As my custom, I'm attaching a photo of a raw 1912 Liberty Nickel.
    Thanks for reading.

  23. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...plus some raw coins, I'm going to get 3 journal entry's from the 6 coins I received today. Plus a comment on Beaw's journal.
    Hi everyone,
    I didn't realize when I received my coins today I'd get 3 journal entries. My big purchase was a 1959D Franklin that upgraded my FBL Franklin set. I only stepped up one grade, but the extra points sure helped. However, it's nice and lustrous, so I'm happy with it. Along with the Franklin came a 1922 Peace Dollar for my dad's memorial set. Both coins were won in the Teletrade auction last Wednesday.
    There are good points and bad points about the Peace Dollar. To me, it is nicely struck, I've seen so many with a weak "In God We Trust" on the obverse and the word PEACE on the reverse. The hair is not too bad, but there is a little toning in the rays. My picture looks worse than the coin really is, the camera does see everything, just like I learned while I was in the printing industry. Also the reverse isn't too bad, I've seen so many coins from tired dies that had an "orange peel" effect over the words United and E Pluribus on the reverse. Not a perfect coin by any means, but one I can live with.
    For those of you who commented on my previous journal entry, I've decided to do raw sets of Large Cents and Liberty Nickels. I recall fondly the Liberty Nickels I had when I was a boy collecting, all picked up at the Donnellson Coin Club meetings. Yes, it seems the older I get, the further I go into my second childhood. :-) I'll be writing more about the raw coins, and companies I've purchased them from.
    Finally, I have to comment on Beaw's journal. As I read it, I realized I was nodding, thinking yep, he's got a point. I agree that the chopmarks don't mutilate, and it's funny that in his list of coins, he has both United States and Great Britain trade dollars, plus a Mexico 8 Reales. All these coins, from what I have read, were used in international trade, and the chopmarks indicated acceptance from foreign merchants. In fact, I believe I read somewhere there is a Chopmarked Special Interest Collector's Club.
    Well all for now, I was going to attach a pic of my Franklin, but I think I'll do the Peace Dollar obverse instead.
    Thanks for reading.

  24. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    What do I send in?
    It sure feels a whole lot better to have a good dilemma. The last half of 2009 was a rough time for my collection. For those of you who have been reading my journal entries this year, know I was to the point of selling the bulk of my collection to pay bills. Now, I'm past that with my collection intact, plus I renewed my membership in the Society for 2010.
    I received my packet of materials for the year, and we all know that means GRADING COUPON!!!! So my good dilemma is: What do I want to get graded first??
    My choices were threefold. 1. Commemoratives, 2. Proof American Eagles, or 3. a combination. Well, I've decided on commemoratives, I have a lot that need to get graded, plus it will sure help my 2 sets (halves and dollars). So now, which commemoratives?
    I have 2 picked out for sure, my Lincoln and Civil War proofs. However, I do have others that are nice, the Jamestown, Bald Eagle and Jackie Robinson. Also I really need to do the Lewis & Clark proof, however I haven't decided which I'm going to put in my Wild West sig set yet, probably the uncirculated, but who knows for sure?
    Another dilemma I have is this; I am starting to really like the half cents and large cents, especially from the years 1839 on. Do I make registry sets??? To have any kind of set will probably entail a low-medium 4 figure expenditure. I realize I am not going to have the #1 set in either denomination, so do I try for a nice ciruclated set, or what??? Any input will be appreciated.
    On that note, my pic for this entry will be my 1849 half cent reverse.
    Thanks for reading!

  25. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...I agree.
    I'm in agreement with 9sec931x. Having just started (within the last 6 weeks) mint sets in tribute to my parents, I would appreciate a NO GOLD option. I have always said in my journals that I am on a limited coin budget. While right now I have 2 pieces of gold, I would prefer the no gold option. I guess this is my 2 cents worth. Attached is a 1921D Morgan, 1921 being my mom's birth year.