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Update on my adventures with the 100 Greatest

or: Finally my insanity pays off! I previously wrote about a 1990 Prestige proof set that I purchased feauturing a "no S" cent. Now buying ungraded coins over the internet is always a risky proposition, and proof packaging does not always guarantee a spotless coin. However, after examining fairly high resolution photos, I was fairly convinced that the coin would grade PF69UC, and the asking price was what a PF68 or 67UC would bring. So as the photo below shows, I was correct. However, I o
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The front of my dipped 1966 no FG half

The haze has stayed away... Here is the front of the half previously discussed. Perhaps I should have used NCS, but I have had good luck dipping hazy coins in the past, and never had one body bagged. We will see how this one grades. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
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The Dipping Project...

Did I enhance or destroy this coin? After some discussion on the merits (and dangers) of dipping proof and uncirculated coins (I agree, NEVER dip circulated coins) I decided to do a few experiments. For part one, I cracked out a graded 1952 proof half that I thought had unattractive toning and haziness. I did my standard dipping procedure (which NEVER resulted in a 'details grade, by the way), and I resummited it to NGC. The before and after photos are below, results will follow... To
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Speaking of dipping and cameos....

or My adventures....part 2.5 I had purchased a lot of 20 1966 special mint sets around two years ago. On initial inspection, I was disappointed in the quality of the coins, most were hazy to some degree, and Dammit! there were no "no FGs" or DDOs as far as I could tell. Also, there was a distinct lack of cameos, or so I thought. I vaguely remembered that one or two of the halves appeared to be somewhat cameo, but unfortunately the fields were hazing and mottled. A few weeks ago I revisite
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Red spots on .9999 gold

What are they and can they be removed? Red spots on gold coins is a well know issue. It used to be thought that these were copper spots in alloyed coins. Well, 2008 Buffalos are essentially pure gold, yet they also frequently suffer from these spots. I have one in my possession with a spot near the top of the head (see pic). My questions: 1. How do these spots affect grading? 2. Can they be removed? 3. Does anyone have any experience with NCS removing them? To see old comment
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My adventures with the 100 Greatest US Modern Coins; part 4

Sometimes you get lucky and a gamble pays off... One of my flea market fantasies is finding a Cheerios Dollar in a bin of cheap coins. They estimate that about 5000 of the coveted 2000 P prototype reverse may have been minted and placed in Cheerios boxes. This interesting varient was not discovered until years later, so most were probably spent and eventually found their way to wherever it is that all of the billions of modern dollar coins end up, since nobody ever actually uses them as mone
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My adventures with the "100 Greatest", part 3

Farewell to the coin that started my "problem"... I used to be an "old coin" snob. Coin collecting to me was owning bits and pieces of history. I thought that the US Mint collector's products were a little bit of a cop out (for lack of better words). AND poor investments at that! Then one day in 2000 I got something in the mail advertising the latest mint offering, and this one caught my attention big time! it was b-imetallic and beautiful! The 2000 Library of Congress Commemerative $10 c
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My adventures with the "100 Greatest", part 2

to dip or not to dip.... After my purchase of the 1990 no S cent, I searched Ebay for other coins to submit for the "100 Greatest" label. I found a 1966 SMS with a "no FG" half. The photos were not very good, but I was in a gambling mood and decided to take a chance with it. I got the set in the mail today, and to my pleasent surprise, the half looked nearly flawless! After examination with 10X I am convinced that it should be a strong MS67! Only problem was a light milky haze that tends t
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My adventures with the "100 Greatest", part 1.

Will NGC make my 1990 no S cent better? Long time collector, first time journal writer here. Over the past year or so I have had some interesting adventures in the attempted completion of my "100 greatest US modern coins" set. Actually, I should say attempted partial completion because this is one set that nobody may ever complete, due to the presence of several nearly unique coins on the list. My latest acquisition is a bit of a gamble. I purchase a raw 1990 proof set with a "no s" cent
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Lowball proof platinum eagle...

PLEASE don't let your kids play with your US Mint products. (Or with this population...grandkids). I have had a recent very good run of modern coins purchased raw from eBay...mostly. I have found that if you buy platinum eagles in original mint packaging....from MOST sellers....they will grade 70 or at least 69. My luck changed recently when I bought a 2004 $25 proof and a 2006 W $50 burnished, from two different non-dealer sellers. In both cases the photos were distant and slightly blur
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