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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
    ...On the Lincoln Commemorative and Bruce Wilmore's focus
    Last week I received my proof Lincoln Commem and then I received an email saying my Uncirculated Lincoln has been shipped. If the Uncirculated is anything like the Proof, wow, I can't wait to see it. I believe all of you who have already received the Lincoln commems know what I'm talking about. I feel (and yes, this is my personal opinion) that the Lincoln commems are a close second to the most beautiful modern commem issued. As all of you probably realize, my main interest is coins with a western them, so my No. 1 favorite (from an artistic view) is the 2001 Buffalo commems. Well, the Lincolns are right up there too. I'm attaching a pic of the obverse of the proof.
    I must give thanks to Bruce Wilmore. Bruce, your thoughts on focusing your collection were presented much better than I could articulate them. Money is tight with me right now, so I've been looking through my coins with an eye towards how they look. Possibly a little background here is in order. I also really, REALLY like currency. With a background in the printing business, grade and looks are really important to me with my notes. It's funny, I can put up with much more (toning, bag marks etc.) with coins; but when it comes to currency, I want them CRISP, I want the ink to be VIBRANT. In short, I want the perfect piece of currency; at least as perfect as I can afford. In fact, I've let some go because I couldn't afford the price. So, all my notes will have the Exceptional Paper Quality notation, or the note won't be in my collection (exlcluding obsoletes).
    So, here is my BIG decision!! I'm looking through my coins and this is my criteria. First, I will decide the best grade I can afford for each series that I collect. For example, my Franklin halves will be at least MS63, and all will be Full Bell Lines. My Morgan Dollars will be a little harder, I'll try to get 65's within my pricing limits, and then go from there downward.
    Secondly, NO TONING. Buffalo nickels may be the exception to the rule, but we'll see how it goes. So consequently, WHITE and LUSTROUS will be the order of the day.
    Third, very minimal bag marks. I was looking at some Morgans in Teletrade auctions earlier this evening, and this may be rough, but in a way, that's good because I can be saving up money while I'm looking for that perfect example. :-)
    For copper coins, I'll probably be looking at a compromise of RB coins. Some of the Half Cents and Large Cents may be Brown, while any Lincolns for any mint sets I decide to do will probably be RED.
    In conclusion, I have resolved to really try to follow Mr. Bower's precepts of fine strike and eye appeal religiously.
    Thanks for reading all of this, I know I can ramble, but it's all been building up inside me for the last couple of weeks, it's good to get it off my chest.

  2. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...and happy days are here again!!!
    Today has been a really, REALLY good day. My weekend is Sunday and Monday, which is ok with me, as I can do errands and personal business on Mondays. My first order of business today was to go to the bank and city hall. I needed to put some cash from my pay check into my checking account, but the best thing was I caught up my interest on my bank loan. I also needed to pay my water bill, so over to city hall I went. So, what this means is, all I have left to pay are my credit card bills, as soon as the insurance settlement comes. Hopefully my parents are somewhere smiling, since I'm really close to being out of debt.
    After I did all this, I finished up some coin pictures. Then I went upstairs to go out to get the mail, and when I went outside, wonder of wonders, I saw sunshine and blue sky. :-) Since there was a chance of snow in the forecast, this really brightened my day. So, since I've had a case of cabin fever for the last couple of weeks, in my car I hopped and headed for Keokuk, there's a small coin shop in the mall I've been wanting to check out. I needed some penny tubes for my wheat cents and 4 coin Lincoln pennies.
    I had pulled out 3 duplicte, raw Morgans and 2 duplicate raw Peace dollars, thinking I might sell them for the silver. Well, they offered me $14 each for them, so I took it. Then I looked thru their world coin box and found 5 Mexican coins I needed for my raw sets. Then, I found some raw Morgans. So I asked to look thru them. I've been thinking about putting together a raw set in lower grades, sorta in honor of Dad, who saved out some Morgans (which started me on this quest so many years ago). I bought an 1880, an 1897 and an 1899O. :-)
    Well, the day even gets better!!!!!!!! Teletrade had a 2007 Proof Canadian nickel in their Monday night auction, and I had it tracked! Well, with everything paid off except for my credit cards, I have a little money over and above my expeneses, so I bid on the nickel and WON IT!!! Plus, I was able to pay CASH, rather than using my credit card I have remaining. I'm LEARNING, slowly but surely!!
    Well, I hope I didn't bore anyone, I can't describe how much weight has been lifted from my shoulders the last week or so. Thank you mom and dad.
    I'm attaching a pic of one of the Morgans I bought today.
    Thanks for reading!

  3. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...has a silver lining.
    First, I want to thank everyone who sent me nice messages. Your thoughts are truly appreciated. What really got to me the last 5 weeks are all the fine people who sent me cards, or messages or stopped me and talked to me on the street or at work. Knowing there are so many fine, caring people in this great country of ours was sometimes almost more than I could handle. It truly makes me appreciate all the good things and people in my (and our) lives.
    There really is a silver lining to all this. Since I've been paying off bills, I haven't had the cash to make any new purchases, although I did have enough to renew my membership. I've even started a submission, which I hope to send in within a month or so.
    Since it's been a fairly snowy winter here in southeastern Iowa, it's been a good time for indoor projects. So I've been redoing all my coin photos! and deciding what sets to make. I'm happy with the bulk of my redone pictures. Really, right now, it's been my Sac Dollars that I'm unhappy with. So I guess that's not too bad, as they're only a small part of my collection.
    I've really been happy with how my proof coins came out. I finally have space to have a little room between my camera (which is on a small tripod) and the little wooden holder my buddies made me at our local lumber yard. This means I can get more light on the coin, and boy does that make a difference. As is my custom, I'm attaching a photo of the reverse of my San Francisco Mint commemorative dollar. I think you'll all agree it came out exceptionally well.
    So, the last 5 weeks have been a roller coaster ride of sorts of emotions, but also of thanks.

  4. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    I learned some hard lessons.
    This is a hard journal entry for me to write, but it does need to be written. Before I go any further I must state something right up front. I'm not writing this for any sympathy or condolences, but to record some feelings, and a hard lesson learned.
    I have one brother, who also collects coins. They're mostly raw, for example, he's putting together a raw Walking Liberty set (as most of you know, the early years of this set can be quite pricy in higher grades). He's also doing Barber quarters and halves, ditto for the pricey higher grades.
    Anyway, on December 29, 2009, our mother passed away. Our dad had passed a long time ago, in fact, mom died 3 days short of 29 years later. She had been struggling at the nursing home for a good month before she died. I was there when she passed and I'm sure glad I was. We were taking shifts being with her since early Christmas day.
    This journal is a tribute to my parents, who encouraged me when I was a boy to develop my (our) own interests, and one of these interests was coin collecting. They sacrificed for us, and would take me into town for the Donnellson coin club meetings before I could drive myself. They were happy to take me, the library was another place they would take me without any hassle.
    Now to the hard lessons. Last year, I was at the point where I was going to have to sell the bulk of my collection to pay my credit card bills. The hard lesson I learned (and many well-known numistmatic writers say this) is not to build a collection on credit. I got in over my head, but now, thanks to my parents hard work, I'm able to save my collection.
    Another hard lesson I learned is to focus my collection more. My registry sets now show this. I took out all of the Mexican lower denomination sets. I've always liked the bigger coins (dollars, half dollars etc.) so that's 1 part of what my focus will be. The second focus will be specimen notes and $2 bills on the currency side. The rest of my US notes will be sold to fund purchases that fit in. However, a top grade Chief note and Bison note will fit in with my 3rd focus, my Wild West theme signature set.
    So, to finish this entry, I again dedicate this entry and my collection to Don and Alverda Blankenburg, may they rest in peace and be proud of me.
    Sorry, had to pause for a few minutes. Normally I attach a coin picture to my entry, tonight will be the exception, as I'm attaching my parent's wedding picture. Thanks for reading, and I hope you'll put up with this one non-coin pic.

  5. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...with my ungraded coins, and in spite of my money woes.
    Hi All,
    I've been reading all the journal entries about redoing pictures, so I decided to work on mine some more. I did pick up one tip from the journals I read, and that is to tilt my camera slightly so it's not shooting straight into the slab. I have forgotten which journal this tip was in, but you know who you are and I thank you immensely.
    Another variable that has helped me is putting the camera (which is on a very short tripod) further away from the little holder the lumber yard guys made me one winter day last winter. I then put my light source behind the holder to shine over it. Moving the camera away lets more light shine over the coin (there is also a ceiling fixture behind that) so I believe the coin is better lit now.
    I'm noticing however (especially the deep cameo proofs) that the camera sees all the scratches and abrasions on the holder. Quite frankly, the pictures come out very ugly. I've tried coloring in the scratches etc. but it's not working. I may leave them for last, and redo all the others now.
    Where I've really noticed a tremendous improvement is my ungraded coins. I put them in airtite holders and then photograph them. None of these coins are worth much, but some of them, especially the Morgan and Peace dollars I have, were saved by my dad (and mom a few), so they're sentimental to me. Nothing of any great value, but I really love them. I've attached the obverse of a 1921-D Morgan that my dad had saved.
    What do you think???
    Thanks for reading.

  7. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    A beautiful, sunny, 75 degrees, a gorgeos November day in Iowa.
    I couldn't ask for a better day to take as a day of vacation. I live about 22 miles north of Keokuk, and their local coin club has a spring (middle of May) 2 day show and a fall show (usually always the first Saturday of November).
    So this afternoon I hopped in the car and went down. I had a couple of raw coins I wanted to sell, and thought I would see what was available that I would want to buy. I sold the 2 ocins first, and also a few 90% and 40% silver coins that I had laying around.
    So as I slowly went to each table, I thought I would look for raw Carson City coins first. My strategy paid off, as the dealer who bought the 2 coins had a nice 1875-CC dime. He had it priced as VF, when I send it in for grading, if it comes back as VF I got a good deal. Personally, I think it will be a high F, but I think the reverse will tell the tale as to what the coin grades.
    I also bought a well struck (to me at least) AU 1954-D Franklin Half. As some of you may recall, I had started a FBL set of Franklins, but decided not to do it. I really want to concentrate more on a western theme collection, but I do like the Franklin halves. So I think I will emulate my brother and his Walking Liberty halves, and just do a nice circulated set of Franklins.
    I also bought a promisory note type of document from the German-American Bank in Fort Madison, Iowa. Fort Madison is 15 miles east of me, and I have worked there since the mid 70's, so I'm always on the lookout for numismatic, financial items from there.
    All in all, a very good day here in southeastern Iowa.
    Attached is the obverse of the dime I bought today. I'll show the reverse tomorrow, any comments on what grade you think it will earn will be appreciated.

  8. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    An amusing find in my coins.
    While sorting through my coins deciding on what I want to focus on and what coins will be sold, I came across and amusing (to me anyway) on the NGC vs. PCGS pricing difference.
    I truly feel the ONLY reason PCGS coins are valued differently (mostly higher) than NGC is PCGS graded coins are the only ones allowed in the PCGS set registry. To me, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand this. I follow the precept of "buy the coin and not the holder. Given the same coin, in the same grade, with the same eye appeal, I'm probably going to buy the one that is less expensive. Quite frankly, I feel both grading services do their best, but I prefer NGC because of their more reasonable grading fees. So if the coin meets with my tests of quality, it doesn't really matter which grading service slab it's in.
    Now to the amusing part, I feel PCGS talks themselves up as the best. While looking at my Trade Dollars, I'm keeping one of the 5 I have, I would like to make a matched set of AU coins. So imagine my amusement with the 2 coins (shown in the picture), which are both graded AU58 by PCGS. The one on the left is the keeper, it's an 1878-S. To my eye, it has very nice luster and is well struck. To the right is the one I'm going to sell, it's and 1876. Now, again note both coins are graded the exact same grade, but I DO NOT FEEL the 1876 is anywhere close to AU58. First off, supposedly eye appeal is a (major?) factor in determining grade, and there is no way the 1876 is close to the 1878-S. It's toned, not obnoxiously so, but still does not have the luster of the 1878-S
    Now the second reason is the test. I would like to hear from other Society members as to the big reason I don't feel these 2 coins are the same grade. (I do feel the 1876 is either AU50 or 53.) What do you all think I saw under my glass. It's on the reverse, hopefully you can see it in the pictures.
    All for now.

  9. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...and I hope my fellow Society members can help.
    I have been having an enjoyable time trying to get my raw Mexican coins in some semblance of order, and I've found a few that are submission candidates. I've also bought a couple of raw, circulated Morgans that I've add to my raw set. I'm still debating between auctions sites for my coins that don't fit into my interests.
    However, I've run into a dilemma. While searching through my coins, I found a stack of Canadian coins I submitted for grading which came back with a "Candidate for NCS services" sticker on them. And I can see a bluish haze on the coins which I don't believe was there when I submitted them. Here's my first question: has anyone else had this sort of problem with Canadian coinage. All of the coins were in the official Mint packaging, so I don't understand how they picked up whatever it is they have on them?
    My second big dilemma is this: Do I go ahead and submit to NCS (which seems to me the way I read the charges) is going to be very expensive, $20 per coin minimum for at least 13 coins. Is it cheaper to just buy another coin to replace them, or go ahead and submit to NCS and then have NGC grade them? Or is that even possible?
    I've bought one replacement already, but thought I'd write an entry to record my dilemma and frstration. I would have thought NGC would have sent them right over, after asking me if it was ok.
    Oh well, I guess this is going to be a good learning experience for me.
    Image this entry is a 1900-O circulated Morgan.

  10. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    at the coin show and sorting through my stash.
    My weekend last Saturday and Sunday certainly helped with stress relief. I normally work Saturdays, and then have Sunday and Monday off. Since there was a local coin show 22 miles away over the weekend, plus a big drawing at our local minor league baseball team game on Sunday, I couldn't resist taking a day of vacation on Saturday to go to the coin show.
    Since money is tight for me, I was not planning to make any major (over $100) purchases, but I was looking for nice VF to AU coins for my ungraded sets. Maybe I should describe my ungraded sets, the best way of putting it is, they're sets of coins I like, but am not willing to pay a premium price for top graded coins. Examples include Liberty nickels, the Seated Liberty coins, Mercury dimes, and foreign coins from Europe and the Americas dated 1953 (my birth year). I still lean towards coins from the 1800's for US coinage, I guess because of my interest in the Wild West.
    My brother couldn't attend with me, so he gave me a list of the Prezzies and state quarters he still needed for the sets he's putting together. So I got to buy some coins (a whole $7.60 worth) with someone else's money for a change. I found everything he needed except the Harrison P.
    I wound up, after looking through 3 dishfulls of Morgan dollars, an EF 1900-O Morgan for my ungraded Morgan set. Of my own money, I spent a whopping $20. The stress relief came in by relaxing and not hurrying through the coins, I tried to note differences between grades, I feel we can never get too much experience in grading coins. I also looked through a lot of Indian cents, but mostly all of them were at best VG, so I didn't really see any I liked. I plan on doing a graded Indian cent set in the future, but with my interest in the West, I can't pass up even an ungraded set of them.
    All in all, an enjoyable weekend. The game was great on Sunday, so I was ready to go back to work on Tuesday.
    Attached is the obverse of the Morgan I bought.

  11. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...I hope I don't start a firestorm with this journal entry.
    I sure hope I don't set off anybody. This entry is for the person who had wrote a journal entry asking for help about the American Arts Medals. I had messaged him(her?) with the comment that they are listed in the red book. So whoever you are, this entry is for you, as Stack's, in their May 14th Golden Opportunities Sale, has a Marian Anderson medal for sale. Again, I'm not trying to sell anything, just thought the member would be interested in at least seeing the picture and info on the medal.
  12. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    and other tidbits
    I realize it has been a while since I've written. I must admit, I thought I'd be more down in the dump after deciding to focus my collection because of monetary constraints. To my surprise, I've been having fun, plus finding some Mexican coins that I'll be sending in for grading.
    I guess this would be a good time to give kudos and thanks to Amy and the rest of the staff at NGC for adding new & updating the world registry sets. I do appreciate all the Mexican sets that have been added (even though it means a lot of work now to update my signature sets for the coins I had there that are now in registry sets).
    I didn't realize what all I had (at least concerning Mexican coinage) until I started going through them as I've been updating my collecting software. I have found at least 3 coins for sure that I'm going to submit for grading, one may come back body bagged, but still, I'm enjoying myself immensely, and hopefully I'm learning as I go.
    For those of you who have been following my efforts, I'm keeping my Franklin Halves, Buffalo Nickels, wild west items etc. What has been focused out are mint sets, the trade dollars, and other sets that, while I like them, I can't afford to build a good registry set at this time (and probably not for 2 or 3 years). What I can do, for those sets that I like but don't maybe truly love them (Liberty Head nickels are a prime example), will be to build a nice circulated set (ungraded for now, sorry NGC) and then update and upgrade when my finances improve. It will be a long haul, but I"m hoping to improve my grading skills, do some research that needs to be done (especially on my Mexican Specimen Notes and Mexican coinage). Plus, doing an ungraded circulated set can be just as much of a challenge as a top grade registry set (at least to me it can be) because a collector still has to find the best coin for the grade (whether the grade is VF30 or MS67).
    I hope I can be encouraged in this, and as always, I'm always open to suggestions, constructive criticism, support etc.
    As an example of what I'm doing, I'm attaching the obverse of a VF30 1860 Indian Head Cent. There is wear on the coin, but I'm liking it as a nice example of the grade.

  13. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    But maybe it's for the better in the long run.
    My focusing efforts really hurt tonight. In previous journal entries, I've written about the need to focus my collection, as I'm low on cash (the major reason) for probably the next couple of years. Also, I"m needing to focus on quality, as I truly love currency, but have to have them (since I"ve been in the printing industy) in top condition.
    With this in mind, I searched through my Morgan dollars tonight, with the plan to sell lower quality coins along with some other pieces, to try to raise some money to help out with my mom, and to manage my credit cards. The result??? First I must say a few members here know of my love for the Morgan Dollar. A Morgan my dad saved started me in this hobby about 45 years ago. So, the result was, of my Morgan set I had started, I'm keeping 5 coins. Yes, you read it right, 5 coins. I looked at each one with my inexpensive 3 lens loupe, and saw so many gouges, so many bag marks, so many abrasions, and a few were graded MS65, that I pulled them all out, recorded my cost and plan to sell 2 boxes full of coins to help out.
    I do believe there's an up side to all of this. First and foremost, it's making me a better collector by making me really do this looking BEFORE I buy the coin. There's no use of spending the money to sell the coin within a couple of years. I really feel my Franklin Full Bell Line set is proof of this. If you look at the coins, yes they range only 63-65 FBL, but all are minimally marked, have great luster for the grade and really fit in with my new philosophy.
    Tonight's pain will also force me to make better plans when starting a new set. I told someone, possibly LowBudget in a message, that I love Large Cents. So before I start them (probably not for a year or so), I"m going to sit down with reference books, read, study and decide grade/pricing range, do I want BN, RB or RD, before I buy the first coin.
    Yes, I've had a rough time tonight, but I think in the long run it will pay off with a much better collection, and possibly better financial returns if I decide to sell when I'm older (25 years or so).
    I'm going to attach the obverse of one of my Morgans I did keep, the 1881-S.

  14. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ... I really hope I'm on a roll with my pictures.
    Here's the reverse of the 1921-D Morgan. It's raw, stored in an AirTite holder. To me, this pic shows exactly what I'm looking for in a coin photo. I want them sharp so the lettering pops out at you. (Maybe the best to put it is, I want the almost 3D effect) Everything is very readable, and the colors are really close to the actual coin.
    I still think the holders have something to do with it. Especially for me, I don't have professional equipment by any means, so I have to work a little harder to get good pics.
    Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the 2 pictures.

  15. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...the rest of the story (my apologies to Paul Harvey)
    I thought I would help out and continue the story that Average-Joe started. After consulting the table that Average-Joe provided, use this formula to calculate the silver value:
    Silver price (per ounce) x .0321507466 (weight conversion factor) x (weight of coin in grams) x fineness (from table already provided)
    Here's an example for a Mercury Dime:
    13.99 (silver price) x .0321507466 x 2.5 (weight of Merc) x .9
    This gives us a total of $1.0120251261015
    There's another formula that figures the copper content, the only changes are the conversion factor and you need to put in the value of the copper. Then you add the 2 totals together, to get the total value of the Merc Dime.
    Hope this helps everyone.
  16. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    Like the holders, don't agree with the debate...
    I received my latest submission today, and I must admit I like the new holders more than I thought I would at first. One big selling point of the new holders for me is a lot less holder around the coin. Where I have had problems with this is on the smaller coins, especially dimes and 3-cent pieces. When I go to photograph them, the old holders were thick enough, the coin would be down in them on one side or the other, and all I would get around the rim is a deep shadow. Granted, my photo skills can always use improvement, but I like getting all the help I can. :-)
    Now, for the current debate raging...I'm sorry but I have troubles with someone limiting my choice of what coins to buy. To be quite honest, 90% of the reason I DID NOT join the PCGS club, was the limitation of just PCGS coins allowed in the registry. I firmly believe in the adage "Buy the coin and not the holder", and I hate being told that I can only buy one grading service over the other, just to be able to compete in the registry. Now, another thing, I am by no means have top points sets in any category that has more than a few (less than 10) sets in the particular category so I really can't understand why anyone would feel threatened by my PCGS coins.
    My main criteria for choosing one coin over another to buy, is eye appeal, and it doesn't matter to me which grading service (at least between NGC and PCGS) grades it. I hate to say this, but we're all human, can anyone tell me that any certain company has never overgraded a coin? I'm NOT trying to cast any aspersions on NGC here, just trying to be honest. Plus, I've seen some totally B***ugly coins graded by PCGS. (I'm not a rainbow toning fan, and how they can grade some of the coins they do, Morgans especially with all the toning so high, I'll never understand.) In fact, I will say right now so there is not misunderstandings, I WILL KEEP sending coins to NGC no matter what. But if I'm limited to just having NGC coins in the registry, I would seriously consider not renewing my membership in the Society.
    I know I"m not going to be popular with this journal article, so I think I better shut up now, but I had to offer my heartfelt opinion, even though it's not going to be very well-received.
  17. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...and I'm happy!!
    Yes, January is almost over, and I've finally received my first 70 on a submitted coin. I received my second submission of the year back from NGC yesterday, and my 2006W Proof Silver Eagle is a 70!!!!!!!!! Actually, I thought the 2007W would be the one, evidently the graders at NGC saw something or didn't see anything as the case may be. Anyway, I"m happy for the 70, and hope this is the first of several.
    Actually, it was my first submission of the calendar year, but second since Christmas Eve. Bothe of these were coupons, the first being last year's (yes I got the submission in with a week to spare) and this one being this year's coupon. I have a third submission at NGC right now, and I see they're scheduled for grading. I must give kudo's to NGC, all three of these submissions have moved right along, and for this I'm extremely thankful!!!!!!!
    Now I have a dilemma. I really wanted to send in a big submission next, as I have 15 commems I want to get graded. These will certainly help out my commemorative set, plus I have the 2008 proof eagle. But I also have several notes I really need to get graded. So what do I do????? I think either submission will set me back close to $200, so I have the additional problem of cash flow.
    I'm also glad to see several member's journals about working on taking pictures. I'm really looking forward to seeing their efforts, as I find I can learn something from them. I'm still not totally satisfied with some of my pictures, especially the smaller coins. I don't know why I'm having problems with nickels especially, but even quarters and dimes.
    Anyway, I guess I've rambled on enough for this evening, so I'll attach the obverse of my first 70, and call it a night.

  19. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...plus a grading report.
    I hope Stack's doesn't mind that I used the name of their video bidding program. I'm logged into Stack's "The Golden Horn" sale. This is wonderful, as right now I can't afford to attend these sales in person. I would love to go to some of these, but finances are tight in the first place, and what little cash I have left over, I'd rather put to coins. (I guess all of us probably would!)
    Anyway, I've bought a Russian order already, and am waiting right now for some other world orders and decorations. This is going to be my one fling for the year, but I'm only planning to buy 1 or 2 more.
    But I'm still amazed at what the computer/Internet technology can do. I'm old enough to remember 25-30 years ago when we were happy with 64K of memory and being able to log onto just bulletin boards. In fact, I think my first little computer had maybe 8K. Wow, I'll never lose my respect for the inventors and thinkers who got us this far.
    I'm really liking Stack's auctions in particular, because they seem to have the most of what I usually look for, especially for my Wild West signature set. In fact, I'd welcome ideas on how I could get some of my paper items into my Wild West sig set. I suppose I would have to go with PMG since they're paper, I have a few stock certificates that fit in with my theme, plus a really neat piece, a "Memorandum of Silver Bullion deposited" at the Carson City mint, dated Sept. 5th, 1889.
    Oh, by the way, when is PMG going to go public with the stock certificate grading I wonder?
    It's not that I don't watch other auction houses and coin dealers, because I do. But it just seems Stack's right now is on the top of my list.
    Anyway, I did promise a grading report on my recent submission. All the proofs came back as PF69UC, which wasn't unexpected by me. I was hoping I'd get a 70, but I can't complain. The mint state Silver Eagle came back a 66, which surprised me a little, I thought at least a 67. I had sent my 2006 Gold Buffalo proof, the proof 2006 SF Mint Commem, a 1991S and a 2001W Silver proof Eagles, and the mint state Eagle was 2007.
    So today I used this year's coupon, and sent in the 2006 and 2007 proof silver Eagles, 2 Carson City coins and 1876 Dime (which may be a VG) and and 1878 Morgan (possibly VF at best) and finally an 1877 Trade Dollar. I hope none of the graders see this entry, but I think the Trade Dollar has been cleaned, but I've seen a couple of others in auction that look the same, with hairlines, that have gotten graded. I guess I'm not going to hold my breath. Maybe I'll get a 70 this time on the Eagles, I really think the 2007 has a chance.
    I'm back, I got bidding, and won 1 more decoration lot. I think I'm going to pass on tomorrow's lots, I had a few marked to watch, but the one I really wanted had too many spots on it for me. I don't mind paying over $150 for a medal, but I guess I want it looking a little better when I do.
    So, I've rambled on enough, I'll atach a pic of my Carson City paper item.

  20. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...Full Set of Full Bell Lines
    Congratulations to all of the award winners!!!! I truly feel the sets and journal articles have increased so much in quality, even since I've started my membership a few years ago. I especially enjoy the journal articles, and I look forward to another year of reading all the entries.
    Actually, I guess my title is wrong. I really have 2 goals for 2009. First and foremost, I would like to complete my Full Bell Line Franklin set. It may be hard, as I have to have a dollar limit on my purchases this year. I'm trying to really get my finances in order, and trying to bulk up my 401(k) account since it has went down so much. So...my limit is around %50 per coin, so it's going to be interesting to see how many Franklin halves I can find with that figure in mind.
    My second goal is possibly the most important one, and I really feel the most enjoyable for me. It's two-fold; first, I want to really make an effort to improve my signature sets presentation, and I want to really improve my research skills, as I am wanting to get more info about Mexican Speciman notes. In fact, I'm really toying with the idea of doing it up for a book, which may be tough as I only have about 15 Speciman Notes at this time.
    So, I'll try to keep you all informed of how my goals are coming along throughout the year.
    My customary journal picture this time is my 2006 gold buffalo. It came back from grading as Proof 69 Ultra Cameo, which was ok with me.

  21. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...No, not that, but my coin submission is in Quality Control.
    Yes, I'm getting excited. My coin submission is in Quality Control, and my National Bank note I sent at the same time is Scheduled For Grading. :-)
    I can't wait to see the grades, I'm hoping for my submitted 70, so could we all keep our fingers crossed for me?! I've purchased several 70's but as yet have not received any 70's yet on coins I've sent in.
    I'll keep you all posted on how everything turns out.
    The photo today is a Barber Dime I purchased at a local coin show. I think it's been cleaned, but I'm debating whether to submit it for grading or not.

  22. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    Hope JoiseyGirl gives me some good news.
    I think I'm going to have to quit buying some of these medals. I browse through auction lots, and see all kinds of medals that I think are neat. Only problem is, they're always graded by ICG. The Sac concept dollar I want to put in my Wild West Sig set, but I don't know if NGC will cross these over. Actually I want to put both of them in my sig set. I've always liked the Indian Head gold design, just haven't gotten the nerve (or the cash) to buy some high grade ones yet. So I guess this medal is the next best thing.

  23. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...and to all a collecting update!
    I can't believe it's only a few days till Christmas. It seems the last couple of months have flew by, with my work, my mom being in the nursing home & hospital and my collecting interests.
    I do want to wish everyone in the Society a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Even with all that has went on the last few months, I do count myself blessed; with my family, my friends here where I live and my online friends here in the Society, and all the nice people at NGC.
    I have slowed down on my purchases, although I have bought some coins. Most have been in slightly lower grades than I would have liked, but so far I've been pleased with the results. Especially pleased with my new Franklin Half set, most are 64FBL's but a couple of 65s, 63s and 62s mixed in. I'm happy with it, I do still love the Franklin half.
    However, I'm sadden to have to sell my higher grade 1849 Large Cent and Half Cent. As I mentioned to another member here a couple of days ago, I'm liking the Large Cents and Half Cents more and more. I may make a partial set of them, albeit in lower grades, probably in the VF-EF range.
    I did finally send in 5 submissions to use my current coupon which was set to expire in early January. I sent 3 Proof Silver American Eagles, my Proof SF Mint commemorative, and my gold 2006 Buffalo. I really like the gold Buffalos, and I want to make a set of them, but they're going to have to wait probably 3 years or so before I buy any more. I guess I can still go ahead and start the set when NGC sends this one back to me.
    Thanks to Backdraft (hope you don't me saying your name sir), I also sent in a National Bank Note to get certified by PMG with a coupon. Thanks again Backdraft!!!! I have more notes to send in, I can forsee 2009 being more of a grading submission year rather than any major coin purchases year. For example, in front of me as I'm typing this right now I have: 3 more Silver Proof American Eagles, both Franklin Commem proofs, Clad and Silver Bald Eagles in both denominations, proof WW2 dollar, proof Constitution dollar, Lewis & Clar proof Dollar, Jackie Robinson proof dollar, and the Mount Rushmore and the Statue Of Liberty sets. Whew, that's a lot. Plus Jamestown, plus 5 Silver State Quarter proof sets. Also at least 5 notes to get graded. I guess I'll probably get the top tier of membership when my renewal comes up next month. So, NGC I hope you're happy!!!! Just kidding, I'm really happy to have such a pleasant problem, what to grade next.
    Plus, I still need to do a ton of research on my Mexican Speciman notes. Besides trying to figure out how many are out there, there is also the matter of researching some of the people and scenes that are shown on the notes. It still never ceases to amaze me, the talented engraves who engraved the scroll work and the vignettes. I was in the printing business a day short of 19 years, and I can spend hours looking at notes and the engraving.
    Geez, I've sure rambled on haven't I? Anyway, again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!!!
    The image attached is a medal I just received, felt it fit in with my Wild West theme. Now I have to find out if NGC will cross it over.

  24. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ...trying to adjust my focus.
    If any of you have been following my refocusing efforts, you will probably notice I deleted my Indian Cent set. You may be wondering why, as I can understand the thinking that it would be a prime set to have, considering my interest in the west.
    I'll have to concede you'd be right, but there's a couple of big reasons why I did this. First, I've come to the conclusion the design is not quite right to me from a purely western standpoint, as I don't believe the headdress on a female figure is quite right. Please don't get me wrong, I like the design, but compared to the Buffalo Nickel I feel the Indian Head cent leaves a lot to be desired.
    Secondly, it might just be me, but I'm having a hard time finding quality coins in the MS63-MS65 range that are not spotted or toned. In case anyone hasn't noticed, I am NOT a fan of toned coins, quite frankly, I think most of the ones I've seen in the various series I collect are b..t ugly. But that's a personal, subjective like (or dislike). So I've decided to take a tip from my brother, and do a nice brown to red-brown circulated set.
    Lastly, I'd rather take the money I'd be spending on the higher grades, and put it towards my Buffalo nickel set. If someone would ask me what coin I thought was the prettiest design, I'd probably answer by saying the Walking Liberty half, but I prefer the Buffalo Nickel.
    Well, I guess that's it for today, I'll attach a pic of my 1862 Cent.

  25. Iowa Silver Baron Bammer
    ....or a day at a coin show.
    Saturday afternoon was such an enjoyable and stress relieving time. I normally work Saturday's, and then my weekend is Sunday and Monday. I took a day of vacation though, as there was a small coin show in Keokuk, which is about 24 miles south of me.
    It's a really small show, maybe 8-10 dealers. However, there was one dealer there I hadn't seen before, he had a lot of nice currency. Unfortunately, the ones I wanted were well out of my price range, but I sure had a good time looking at them, the dealer was very nice, I told him right up front I couldn't buy, but he let me look at some anyway. He had a $5 Educational that was gorgeous (gorgeous price too as you can imagine). But we had a nice chat, and then I moved on. Oh, I did make a courtesy purchase since he was so nice, an ungraded Brazil note and an ungraded Canadian note. These are 2 notes that aren't worth much, but they're pretty, and since I've been a pressman, I really enjoy looking at them.
    So then I strolled along the mall, just checking out the rest of the dealers before I got into my purchases. I was lucky in one respect, I had invited my brother to go along, but he had to go out of town. So he gave me some money and a list. Right now his projects are making a couple of state quarter sets for his wife's grandsons, and he's doing a couple of President sets. So he need some P's of each, so I got to choose some nice ones for him. One dealer had a nice selection of state quarters and prezzies, so I got all the quarters he needed and 2 of the dollars.
    Then when that was finished, the same dealer had some ungraded foreign currency in 2x2's so I looked through those. I picked a 1953 Great Britain crown, a Canadian half, some Austrian schillings. These are things I like, but don't really want to spend the money for top graded items. So I'm going to make a few sets, just nice ungraded coins and see what I can do with them.
    My major purchase of the day was an 1876CC Seated Liberty dime. I gave full VG price for it. Now my dilemma is twofold; first, is it a true VG, the obverse I think definitely is, but I'm not so sure about the revers. Secondly then, I'm debating on whether I want to slab it and put it in my CC sig set. I'm waffleing on this, so I'm going to add a collage pic of it, any comments are welcome.
    All in all, a very enjoyable stroll at the show, it sure relieved some stress from a couple of busy weeks at work.