coinsbygary

A few days ago, I was contacted by a friend concerning a medal that he had photographed by someone other than me! 😊. To be exact, he didn’t like what he got and wanted to know my thoughts on the photography. Now, if a person asks me questions about photography, they will always get more from me than they asked! The pictures my friend sent lacked details. The devices were hazy and had a strange blue hue. The fields on the medal were basically flat. Because the medal had a reverse proof finish, I photographed a 2013-W reverse proof SAE from my collection to make a few lighting comparisons. First, I photographed my SAE using a 45-degree axial reflector. This transparent reflector directly underneath the lens reflects about half the light from a perpendicular lighting source to the lens. The remaining light passes through the glass and is absorbed by the black surface inside its holder. From my picture, notice that I fashioned my reflector from a CD case lid. An obstacle that I always have to deal with using this method is too little or too much light. If a coin is in a plastic holder, it compounds the obstacle. Getting just the right light is difficult because the light is often hazy, and the focus is not consistent over the entire surface of the coin. Usually, I have to use a diffuser on the lighting source, adding yet another variable into the mix. The picture I am posting of my SAE under this form of lighting is my third take. Despite the difficulty experienced, this is my favorite image of the SAE. Next, I photographed the SAE using my lens aperture LED ring light. Because this light is precisely perpendicular to the coin, the picture is much like the one using axial lighting. However, axial lighting is reflected, and this light is direct. You will notice the mirrored surface of the coin is much more reflective than the picture using axial lighting. This type of lighting is advantageous when photographing darkly-toned copper coins. In fact, I used this light to photograph the Conder Token pictured in my last ANA post. Standard lighting will always be at an angle other than 0-degrees because the camera is in the way. This method of lighting is perfect for capturing the luster of your coin. You will notice the luster present on the obverse field of my SAE in front of Lady Liberty. Because the lighting is at an angle, the highly reflective surfaces on the coin appear black. If this were a standard-proof coin, the fields would be black, and the devices would be silver because of the non or less reflective surface of the devices. Most often, I use two lamps to better light the surface of the coin and reduce the effect of shadows. Recently, I imaged a chocolate-brown, lightly toned Conder Token that I had difficulty capturing the fine details. In the end, I used one standard light in front of the token to finally get the results I was looking for. Basically, I use whatever form of light that will give me the result I want, and it often takes a lot of shots to get it right. I hope you have enjoyed my post and my pictures. I am also posting a non-silver Ronald Reagan reverse proof dollar using axial photography. Which is your favorite SAE picture? If I ever photograph your coins, I might ask you this question. You can be sure that my friend didn’t have a choice. Love it, or hate it, he had to take what he got ☹

I bought a modern coin that went up 10 times in value soon after I purchased it. Its still holding pretty high after having been released almost two years ago. It's odd but I think if you get two people in an auction that feel the item they are bidding is a must have acquisition, the final hammer can go very high. If not there are occasional good buys out there. Keep your auction watch lists up to date and strictly adhere to your maximum bid, there may yet be some good deals to be had. Perhaps you'll watch ten and win one. It all depends on the demand at the time of the auction. Of course eye appeal, grades, and other miscellaneous factors have a lot to do with demand. Don't give up on locating items at coin shops or direct sales from other collectors. They can be your best value. In the end, it really is a treasure hunt. Below is the coin of which I am referring. Gary

Lately, there has been much criticism and suspicion about the length of time it takes to get your coins graded. And my recent submission is no different. Like me, at the end of the day, when all your coins have been returned, you will probably ask yourself if it has been worth it? In the end, I weighed my worth against the grades I got, the price I paid, and the wait I had to endure. On April 22, 2021, I mailed a 13-coin submission to NGC. On August 10, I received the last of my coins back in the mail. In that one mailing, I had four separate submissions graded in the following order. The first two were Christa McAuliffe commemorative coins graded under the US-modern tier. The next was a silver 5-ounce Tuskegee Airmen Quarter in an oversize holder. The largest was an 8-coin submission under the world-economy tier. Finally, the last two coins I received back were two coins under the world-modern tier. In the end, the cost was never going to be an issue because of last year’s award as one of three awarded journalists. This only left me with two considerations which were in a manner of speaking linked together. The wait was worth it if I liked the grades, and if I didn’t like them, it wasn’t. Most of the coins were related to my 1868-70 Spanish Provisional Government set and my 1933-38 Second Spanish Republic set. The others were new purchases and a few that had been lying around in flips. Having all those grading credits tempted me to send in coins that I otherwise might not of. However, I had a duplicate raw coin that I considered sending in with the submission to sell. In the end, I determined not to send it because I thought it might get a details grade. Why waste the credit if I didn’t need to? Instead, I’ll save it for my 2021 Morgan and Peace Dollar. This turned out to be a good decision because, in 13 coins, I had no detailed grades and three top-pops, of which two were 70’s. Most of the other grades were reasonably expected, with only a few exceptions. The following is a chart detailing my hope, my expectation, and the final grade: Coin Hope Expected Final Grade 2021 UNC Christa McAuliffe 70 69 69 2021 PRF Christa McAuliffe 70 69 69 2021 SP Oversize Tuskegee Airmen 70 69 70 1947-S Philippine MacArthur Peso 65 64 63 1870(70) SNM Spanish Provisional 50C 20 15 12 1870(70) SNM Spanish Provisional Peseta VF VF 25 1870(73) DEM Spanish Provisional Peseta 58 AU 55 (Top-Pop) 1934 2nd Spanish Republic 25C 65 64 64 1937 2nd Spanish Republic 5c 65 64 63 1937 Menorca 25C (Spanish Civil War) 64 63 63 1938 2nd Spanish Republic 25C 67 66 63 2019PM B.V. Islands Silver $1 Una and the Lion 69 69 68 (rev proof) 2020 France 2E Proof Medical Research 70 69 70 Overall, my expectations were met with a minimum of disappointments and three top-pops! Was this worth the wait? Determine for yourselves, but as for me, I think this was worth the wait. Gary.

Ahh, trying new angles and edits when photographing coins is my favorite pastime. That's when I enjoy my coins for free! Some of my coins have been photographed more times than I can count! I dare say that I have probably spent more time photographing my coins than I have spent researching my coins. Oh, BTW, nice pics! Gary

Seven to eight years ago I bought just over 40oz of SAE's. Immediately thereafter the spot price continued to fall. My attitude towards selling them then was that I had them free and clear and was never in a financial need to sell them. After holding them all these years, I finally sold them all to a local coin dealer for nearly $27.00 per ounce. My profit was just north of $125.00. Nothing earth shattering, but a profit nonetheless. What stopped me form buying more silver back then was the realization that I primarily collected coins just for the fun of it without thinking of them as an investment. Sure, I much rather make a return on my coins when I sell them. But if I take a loss, I chalk it up as the cost of participating in this hobby just as green fees are the cost of playing golf. A silver stacker I'll never be. Gary P.S. That said, I never criticize others for buying what they like to collect. Collect what you like has always been my motto.

First what has always fascinated me about this hobby are the people that have found a somewhat-affordable niche in a specific area of numismatics to create world class sets such as yours based on the Soho Mint. I have found my niche in Laura Gardin Fraser designed coins and medals. This began with my admiration for Mrs. Fraser and her pioneering spirit as the first women medalist to design a US coin. Forever she has paved the way for other female medalists. Just 60 years after the Alabama centennial half-dollar, Elizabeth Jones became the chief engraver of the United States mint. Just a collector of ordinary means, I have acquired several scarce pieces including two pieces with a documented provenance of once belonging to the Frasers. Finally, no one assembles a world class set without help. A close friend of mine in the hobby has been there for me every step of the way. He has sent me tips on auctions, helped me with my research, proof-read many of my write-ups, and finally sent me all the research he assembled on Laura Gardin Fraser. Incidentally, he also acted as an agent to secure the two Fraser studio pieces that I own. When I gave a Money Talks presentation on LGF at the 2019 ANA Worlds fair of money show he reviewed my presentation and suggested a few good tips to make it better. Truth be told, it's the relationships with other collectors that attract me to this hobby more than anything.

That is a beautiful coin with lots of luster. Congratulations on obtaining it!

This is a scholarly write-up. Well done on your research and on making complex data readable to the uninformed collector like me! Gary

You have discovered something more valuable than all the 70's in the world. You have excellent sets that you enjoy, and in the end, this is all that matters. The rabbit hole to 70's is one fraught with outrageous costs and lots of frustration. This only ends in burnout. Keep doing the best you can and enjoy the journey. In doing so you will find satisfaction in this wonderful hobby. Yes, it is all about the art! Finally can you tell the difference between most 69's and 70's? I can't, and I'm willing to bet you can't either. Such competition benefits NGC the most as people are sending them countless submissions in search of the ever elusive 70. Instead search for that next wonderful piece of art! Gary

I managed to get my "CC" privy but not without blowing a gasket or two first. This is no way for the mint to treat their customers. If the mint were competing in the open marketplace, they would have gone out of business long ago. Therein lies the problem. The mint does not have to compete for our business. After all, where are we going to go? To the dealers that charge us many times what they paid for the same coin?

It's probably a defaced Jefferson Nickel. It looks like someone took a file to it. Gary

I'm with you, lots of complaints, but in the end I'll pony up for the "CC" privy and the Peace Dollar. They are, after all, nice bookends for my complete Morgan "CC" collection and my currently owned MS-65 1921 Morgan and MS-62 1921 Peace Dollar.

I just prepared and mailed off a 13 coin submission yesterday. It would have been 14 had I not decided to pull one of the coins out of the submission. The rim of that coin has a couple of shiny spots. Those spots led me to believe that at one time this coin may have been mounted in jewelry. Thinking to myself that this coin was not necessary to my collection I reasoned, why waste my prize money on the chance it will not receive a full grade? Now I'll probably sell the coin raw on e-bay. Like you I have been burned in the past with disappointing results. My choice then is to learn from my previous failures or continue to spend money unnecessarily. Being burned comes with the territory. Learning from our mistakes is the only way to mitigate future disappointments. May your future submissions only make you smile! Gary

I'm sorry for your loss and it sounds as if Bill is a lot like an elder numismatic-statesman friend that has helped me in the hobby. In my case my friend has helped me with my Laura Gardin Fraser coin and medal collection. People like Bill and my friend are perhaps the biggest reason I love this hobby. They are selfless and freely pass on their knowledge to another generation of budding numismatists to carry on. Last year my friend sent me all his research on LGF. I am still scanning that information and I hope to upload it to a shared drive for any collector that can use it. He has freely passed information on to me and my hope is to expand on it and freely pass it on to the next generation of collectors coming after me. Gary

You my friend have the heart of a collector! In fact we are almost kindred spirits. The engraving struck onto minted coins is my favorite aspect of collecting coins, no matter who struck them. Thus, I collect US coins, world coins, medals, and tokens both modern and classic, simply because I like the designs. Next I like to group my coins into types and themes. Custom sets allow me to do just that! Next, like you, I'm a Trekie. Since you mentioned Voyager after Deep Space 9, you must watch Star Trek on Heroes & Icons. Six nights a week, every variation of Star Trek (less the cartoon, Discovery, and Picard) back to back! Now I can't say I watch Star Trek every night, but I do like to catch my favorite episodes from time to time. Those include all the episodes featuring "Q". I'm thrilled that "Q" will be coming back for season 2 of "Picard." I'm not happy that I will have to wait until 2022 to see it. As for Star Trek memorabilia, I don't have much, except for an Enterprise pizza cutter! Incase you're wondering the saucer cuts the pizza! If I can find a photo, I'll post it later. Gary

That's right, now I remember, mine was also an Argus! However, it had a brown body as opposed to your black body. I can't tell you how much fun I had with that camera and the darkroom that I used at my high school to process the pictures. All I did then was shoot black & white but I didn't care, I had a blast! When I was a youth I asked my parents for a 35mm camera, and that Argus was my first. Today I have a Nikon Z-5 mirrorless, full frame camera, and now I'm finally back to shooting 35mm pictures. Yes I know that I need the right lenses to take full advantage of the larger CMOS sensor. They're coming. Until then I'm adapting my new camera to the macro lens I currently own. This camera is a huge improvement over my last one, it's like night and day. I will be posting a blog about this soon with macro shots of my NGC award coin. (Hint: My coin has a few VAM diagnostics). With the nice spring weather around here, I tried my hand at macro shooting in the yard. The following are just a few of those pictures. Gary P.S. Don't let the spider scare you, compare him to the shot with the twin daffodils to get a perspective of his true size!

Say, I just noticed the camera you have on your bookshelf is much like the first camera I owned as a youth interested in photography. My parents gave it to me for Christmas one year. The yellow focus adjust window connected to a gear that manually focuses the lens is exactly the same as on my camera. The only thing I wish is that I still owned that camera. I don't remember when I lost or sold it but I sure regret it. Gary

Congratulations coinsandmedals and all the 2020 registry award winners! My journal award and coin also came in the mail yesterday. Naturally, I was very curious about the special-label coin that NGC was going send with my plaque, and I knew they weren't going to send a valuable coin. That said, what could they send that was both inexpensive and nice? Let me just say that I was pleasantly surprised by the MS-64 1881-S Morgan Dollar that I got! Though the 1881-S Morgan is a very common and inexpensive coin in MS-64, consider the following: NGC sent the 2020 registry winners a choice-uncirculated coin. NGC sent the 2020 registry winners a 140 year old coin. At 38.1 mm in diameter, NGC sent the 2020 registry award winners a large coin. Finally, NGC sent the 2020 registry winners a silver coin! I am posting a picture of my coin that I think could have easily graded MS-65. Believe me, for someone who has collected Morgan's, I've seen some 64's a whole lot more dinged-up than this coin! My blast-white Morgan literally has no distracting marks in either the devices or fields. The fields also have deep luster lines that give it a distinctive and full cartwheel effect. The technical grade may be correct but it sure does look nice for a 64. Gary

There is a wealth of information in those old auction catalogs. I am not surprised that someone payed $550.00 for the one you have pictured! I own several medals designed by Laura Gardin Fraser. Much of the information I have found pertaining to them is from an auction catalog. Thankfully, I accessed these catalogs through the Newman Numismatic Portal. This database contains a wealth of numismatic information free of charge! Although the portal doesn't and can't contain everything there is to know about every coin and medal there is, it is, nevertheless, a wonderful legacy to Mr. Newman. The NNP is updated with new and formerly lost, but found information on a regular basis.

Don't forget about the Spanish 20 peseta gold coin which went into circulation in 1890 through 1904 with restrikes of the original dies dating 1961 and 1962. The number engraved into the obverse stars denotes the year of striking. (For example, 19 in the left star and 61 in the right star stands for 1961 and 18 in the left star and 90 in the right star for 1890). The date on the coin denotes the year of its authorization. When Spain adopted the peseta, they did so with the intention of joining the Latin Monetary Union. This never came to pass but their coins were all aligned with the other "20" gold coins nonetheless. The weight of the 20 peseta is exactly that of your 20 lire coin at 6.4516 grams. The Danish 20 kroner and Netherlands 10 Golden are in a class all by themselves. The Danes were aligned to the Scandinavian Monetary Union with Sweden and Norway. Their 20 Kroner gold coin has an AGW of .2593oz pure gold.

Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind to sell the Una and the Lion coin. What holds me back is that I am a collector, not a dealer or an investor. Collectors have a mindset to hang on to their coins like they are precious treasures. Yes, at some point in my life my entire collection will be sold. But for now, I really like that coin. Therefore, a profit is not realized unless you cash in and I won't be taking out a coin equity loan on it anytime soon. In other words the coin will remain what it was worth to me when I bought it until I sell it. It just feels good to have my coin go up in value like that. Gary

In December of 2019, the United Kingdom launched a series of commemorative coins based on the classic works of “The Great Engravers.” The inaugural issue features the classic “Una and the Lion” engraved by William Wyon. When this coin was first issued, you could find the 2-ounce silver version on e-bay for less than $500. From then on, the resale price has sky-rocketed. Recently, I saw an NGC PFUC-68 Una and the Lion on e-bay sell for $4000.00! Fortunately, I bought mine long before the numismatic community realized what it had in this coin. Subsequently, I had mine graded by NGC at PFUC-69. Obviously, I’m pretty happy that for a change, I hit the numismatic lottery! By the way, mine is not for sale! The second coin in the Great Engravers series was issued a few weeks ago. It features “The Three Graces,” also engraved by William Wyon. This coin is taking no one by surprise. It is picking up where Una left off. The least expensive 2-ounce, 5-pound Three Graces coin I tracked was recently sold on e-bay for $2750.00. It’s quite a mark-up for a coin with a mint issue price of 250 pounds ($348)! Even the wannabe Alderney version of the Three Graces is selling for over $1000.00! Now for a lover of classic numismatic art such as myself, this is quite a dilemma. Do I cough up the money for the new UK or Alderney coin? Or, is there another option? Thankfully, there is another option for me. There is a saying that goes like this, “The least expensive car you could buy is the one you already own.” For me, the cheapest coin or, in my case, the medal I could buy is the one I already own. Several years ago, I purchased a bronze fantasy coin featuring the Three Graces for less than $100. True, my fantasy coin is a wannabe of a wannabe, but this medal has everything I could want because, after all, it’s the art that I love! For their 2001 auction, Spink & Sons commissioned INA ltd of Birmingham to strike various fantasy coins. Many of these fantasy coins featured designs that were never officially issued by any governmental entity. My medal is designed by Donald Golder and features an image of Queen Victoria on the obverse and the Three Graces on the reverse. This crown-sized (38mm) 1879 dated medal was struck in silver and bronze. The bronze version has a Krause catalog number of X#81a and a mintage of 790. No crowns were officially issued by the UK in 1879. Furthermore, the likeness of Queen Victoria on my medal has never been used on a coin. It has, however, been used on a postage stamp. The 1840 one penny stamp, nicknamed “Penny Black,” is the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. It features a left-facing profile bust of Queen Victoria. The medal’s obverse legend combined with the reverse translated from Latin reads, “Victoria by God’s grace makes them become one.” The Three Graces on the reverse reinterpreted from Greek mythology by the original engraver, William Wyon, represent Ireland, England, and Scotland. The 1801 “Act of the Union” united Great Britain (England and Scotland) and Ireland under the United Kingdom. William Wyon’s Three Graces was designed to appeal to a sense of national pride after the hard times relating to the UK’s defeat of Napoleon. His pattern coin dating 1817 was never issued. With only 50 known patterns, this coin is occasionally offered at auction in the six figures. Check out this beauty offered by Heritage. https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-george-iii-silver-proof-pattern-three-graces-crown-1817-pr65-ngc-/a/3096-30318.s? Though my fantasy coin isn’t an exact replica of the original pattern, the imagery is the same. Instead of a rudder and palm frond, my medal displays a ship on the waters to allegorize English dominance over the seas. Instead of using a lyre to represent Ireland, this fantasy coin uses a shamrock. In Greek mythology, the Three Charites or Graces were generally known for fertility. They are believed to be the daughters of Zeus and Hera. One is named Aglaia for Brightness, another is named Euphrosyne for Joyfulness, and the third Thalia for Bloom. So there you have it. I might add the silver version of this medal to my collection should it become available, but the others? While I rather have the real McCoy, I just can’t pony up the money needed to purchase the others. CoinWeek has a great article on the modern coin rarity phenomenon that makes a lot of sense. Ultimately, the author makes a great point about the demand for classic designs. He maintains that if the market supports a fair price for these collector coins, then the worldwide mints should meet the anticipated public demand. US Mint, are you listening? https://coinweek.com/world-coins/the-coin-analyst-from-una-and-the-lion-to-the-three-graces-classic-royal-mint-motifs/ I am also posting the obverse of a 2010 San Marino two-euro coin featuring one of the Graces from a 1482 Sandro Botticelli painting entitled Primavera or “Allegory of Spring.” As for spring, I was ready for it weeks ago. Bring it on! Gary

Wilhelmina has a lot going for her. First, the set is small at only 11 coins. The set has one key, the 1898 that is not all that difficult to obtain in lower MS condition. It is however difficult to obtain in high MS condition. My 66 is the top pop and the most expensive coin I purchased for the set. Next, it is not all that well known in the collecting community which means that demand for her coins is lower. Finally, high grade coins can be had for less money than other foreign gold coins like, for instance, sovereigns. Many of the coins I bought were not much more than spot gold priced. With all that going for me why can't a little guy go for the best and obtain it! If you remember I ran against a guy we used to call "money bags". Huh! when he couldn't beat me he dropped out! That makes a little guy like me feel kind of good! Every little guy should have an area of interest in numismatics where he or she can claim to be close to, if not the best, in their area of numismatic interest! Gary

@coinsandmedalsIf you can learn to work in layers you will know a lot of the power of this software. 2019 is the version I have. I don't upgrade it every year but use it for as long as Adobe supports it. I am doing an editing demo by ZOOM for my coin club on March 10. After that, if you want, I can do a ZOOM demo for you. Send me a message through NGC if you are interested. The most important tip is this, Elements can't make a poorly taken picture look good, it can only make a good picture look spectacular! Gary

I am sorry for your losses, but I am thankful that its all stuff that can be replaced. We had a cold snap of below zero nights for 11 straight days. However, this is Wisconsin and this kind of stuff happens every year. I have a number of other friends and relatives living in Texas that have managed the kind of week you had. I felt so sorry for everyone living in Texas that week.