GoldFinger1969

Roger, when did the Boston Museum sell the coin ?

I'm not sure about in this forum but over ATS they have had some doozies with back-and-forths by ex-graders and really knoweldgeable folks (not that we don't have them, too, just not in the quantity over there)...about wear, cabinet friction, rub, and friction. 

It's gotten more prominent and heated ever since CACG came on the scene and some coins went from initial grades of MS to AU under the CACG regime.  I've learned alot, but if these experts and professionals can't agree on the definition -- or when it should come into play -- then how the heck can a lowly peon like me figure it out ?  

On 1/15/2024 at 1:09 PM, J P M said:

Certification is required at GC and I think at Heritage also. GC does not sell raw coins.

Really ?  HA too ?  

I would think they wouldn't accept large consignments because they don't want responsibility for them...it also might "cheapen" their brand...but if someone was a collector and had dozens or hundreds of certifified coins....I would have thought HA and GC might allow a few raws to be sold by them as an exception to the rule.

Caveat Emptor, of course.

No distinction between raw bullion vs. raw numismatic coins either, I presume ?

On 3/1/2024 at 1:00 PM, Treeman said:

Simple question: Why, from both major services, are MS69 Modern Coins often actually nicer than MS70 coins from the same service?

I haven't seen that, though at times seeing the imperfection on normal-sized 69's is VERY tough.  A bit easier on those 5-ounce coins. 

On 3/19/2024 at 11:04 PM, morganmanny said:

While curious about the vale of the few that were given to me.  I am fascinated by the detail and history of the coins/minting and the history that goes along with them. 

That's one of the things I LOVE about this hobby.  Focusing on large-size U.S. coins -- Double Eagles, Morgans, etc. -- I have expanded my knowledge about the financial and economic times they were utilized.  Maybe it's good that the more expensive coins have the more expansive history and stories behind them....it gives you time to save up to get more $$$ to buy your next one !! 

Seriously, for those coins involved in the gold and silver escapades of the Unite States, as well as their prominence in international trade, banking, and hoards....you have some great stories.  Let us know if you pursue them. 

Die breaks, die lines, die chips, die collapse -- were certain coins more susceptible to one or the other defects than others ?  For instance, a large Double Eagle or Franklin Half vs. a Lincoln Cent or Roosevelt Dime ?

On 7/26/2023 at 10:46 AM, World Colonial said:

The TPG population data for much older, higher valued, and lower mintage coins make it evident that the actual supply for more recent, lower valued, and higher mintage coins is usually (a lot) higher than what's visibly evident.  

Where do you think this supply is located ?  Is it stored in closets like my younger cousins 1980's and 1990's baseball cards ?

Was this a case of they simply struck too many of these things and there's an endless supply like those mint and proof sets that we all got in the 1960's and 1970's ?

If the holders of these coins are NOT numismatists...if they don't follow trends....then couldn't this supply take DECADES to come out as individuals (accidentally) learn it is/might be valuable ?  Or their estates liquidate ?  Or their heirs do ? 

You guys think this pattern is accidentally in someone's collection ?  Or that someone knowingly has it and doesn't want to divulge ownership -- maybe beause he/she thinks it will be confiscated ?

Do we have an estimate of how long they suspended work ?  Are we talking weeks....months....what ?

On 2/10/2024 at 5:13 PM, VKurtB said:

I’m going to suggest that the suits who own NGC have stumbled into the realization that NGCX was a dreadful error and are now seeking to extricate themselves from one of the most horrific errors in the history of numismatics, with the minimum possible amount of egg on their ignorant little faces. When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing is to stop digging. 

It might not be a markteting success, but I don't think it's "one of the most horrific errors in the history of numismatics."   Not by a longshot. 

Didn't NGC have a Green Label program for some other submissions a few years ago ?

Well, this isn't a commemorative like my other post but I'm not spending this to get $50. 

On 2/25/2024 at 10:20 AM, zadok said:

...same reason diamond graders have real diamonds in their master sets...u dont have to have every date n mint to have a grading set....

Is that necessary today with 27" Hi-Def monitors available for $200 ?

I get that you didn't have that option when they filmed "Marathon Man" with Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman in 1976, but you get realistic pictures without the cost. 

On 2/23/2024 at 8:28 PM, dragon said:

<<<  In my opinion (others will disagree) almost all of the coins are overgraded. Here's an example that is supposed top be "MS-65." You can decide if a common date Eagle of that grade should have deep cuts and bumps in prominent visual areas -- or, in fact, anywhere.  >>>  I agree with RWB 110%.   From the small sampling of coins from this collection I've seen online and 1 or 2 in person, I felt they were pretty much all extremely liberally graded by at least 1 full point if not more.   

Is this a PCGS production only, or joint with NGC ?

You're more likely to see liberally graded Liberty Head DEs over Saint-Gaudens DEs, IMO....especially for the dates with scarcity.

From Doug Winters Blog:  

"....Considered as a whole, the biggest losers among the entire Liberty Head $20 series were neither the rarities nor the common dates - they were the issues in between, i.e., the better dates, but not the best dates. These include several of the T1 $20s and the relatively more common Carson City issues. These scarce-but-not-rare issues were the ones that were most heavily “Fairmonted.”

For the most part, the prices for the rarities did not respond at all to the appearance of the double eagles from the Fairmont Collection. This is, perhaps, no surprise, as it quickly became evident that there were few, if any, of the important rarities among the Fairmont double eagles - for example, there were no 1854-O, 1856-O, or 1861 Paquet reverse coins."

Any new thoughts on CACG grading ? 

$2,240 today on the COMEX...new high....what was a spike in price a few months ago today is easily surpassed. 

Super-bullish longer-term.  I think time-wise we are about 1974 or 1975 with years of higher prices ahead of us.  The SLOWER and more INCREMENTAL this bull market, the longer and higher it goes, IMO.

Do we have a picture of this defect ?

On 3/26/2024 at 9:04 PM, Rod D. said:

I want to agree with your statement, but I can’t. A few years ago a prominent and well known gold prospector’s shop was robbed in Helena.  His gold nugget collection was amazing.  I’ve supported him as much as I could before and after the robbery. Some of his collection has been recovered and returned. Bottom line-it happens everywhere and happens too much. 

Don't tell me he didn't have insurance !!??

On 3/26/2024 at 1:51 PM, Jason Abshier said:

Probably hassle move all coins to safe every night … 

It's easy to take the bulk of the value -- 80% of the value is probably in 20% of the coins, maybe 10% -- and just put them lying down in a few steel safe shelves.

NO WAY if I had a jewelry shop I wold leave that stuff out....I realize you can't do that with everything but it's worth it to spend 15 minutes putting away the expensive stuff.

JMHO. 

On 3/26/2024 at 1:00 PM, Jason Abshier said:

Open carry around here is allowed in state of PA but however it draws attention cops respond to calls they show up asking questions and stuff … why ? I have no idea why ! The cops should tell Karen over the phone that is within someone’s right to open carry …. Only problem where Open carry gets shady is getting in your car with a loaded handgun unless you have license to carry you’re fine … just too many Karens out there with 911 on speed dial 

NYPD cop got killed last night on traffic stop...perp had 21 priors.

Yeah, crime is down.

On 3/26/2024 at 12:51 PM, VKurtB said:

I guess you noticed that the most brazen theft at a coin show ever happened in Illinois, during the pre-show “dealer day”. 

Link ??  Story ??

On 3/26/2024 at 1:10 PM, Zebo said:

1907 they weren’t universally accepted or known. Even in the forties during World War II, some flight crews (Army Air Corp) were given sovereigns and (for QA - even a rooster) in escape kits in case they were shot down behind enemy lines. This was because they were much better recognized than U.S. gold at the time. These kits were produced by the Navy in Norfolk, Virginia.

Hmmm.....everything I have read with global trade -- including lots of Roger's stuff -- implies U.S. coins were dominant or at least co-equal with British coins.  All these other countries were hoarding U.S. coins and DEs, not sovereigns for the most part.

OTOH...when James Bond needed gold coins in his briefcase in "From Russia With Love" they did put 50 gold Sovereigns !! 

Yup, another thread on this here. 

On 3/26/2024 at 10:21 AM, Greenstang said:

Early gold coins are among the most counterfeited of US coins.  Going back to about 1853, gold coins hold 43 out of 50 top positions of the most counterfeited coins.

But the Eagles -- Double, $10, 1/2, 1/4 -- I would have thought those were toughter to counterfeit back then since the technology was limited. 

"Sampling" must be tightly controlled if in a commercial setting as the music rights issues with "The Wonder Years" and "WKRP In Cincinatti" took years/decades to resolve.  Some artists never consented so they had to settle for about 95-97% accuracy.

I don't know why it has never been an issue in the movies....they must get a in-perpetuity license.