Henri Charriere

As a member, I wanted you to know that for those of who cannot indulge in your pursuits, just how much we appreciate living through your experiences vicariously. There are those of us who really look forward to receiving your latest on-site reporting. It's an awful lot of work and I truly believe you've outdone yourself this time. P.S. Thanks for including Penny in your itinerary. She is truly gorgeous.

A great deal of Thread-Bumping going on... but why? Ascension is automatic. As members respond, the latest threads fall. At any given time, four or five are exampt; they remain at the top. I guess I am not ashamed to admit I was astounded by not only how well-written they were -- inoffensive really -- but also the author's tactic of arising early and hammering them all out... simultaneously. I believe there were five. Had nothing been done (or Just Bob were up early tinkering with his tokens) none would have been the wiser. I had come across them after Ricky informed me the High Court handed down a decision in the Tarawa silver case. [Last I checked, that Topic had fallen off page one.] By that time, five or six in the morning, dozens of viewers had seen them. The post was geared to the tiniest segment of the membership. Moderation would have taken care of this. As it is, you've accomplished three things: 1. Re-revived a Topic that was first posted eight years ago, which under VKurtB's Golden Rule on resurrection is verboten and death-penalty eligible; 2. inadvertently denied early birders the opportunity to view a surgical procedure which may have been of interest to members of child-bearing age; and, 3. done something that would have taken care of itself without any intervention. : The other day I tried to access my daily online paper -- and couldn't. It shouted, COOKIES IS DIABLED! and ordered me to enable them!!! I promptly called the Times and canceled my subscription, effective immediately. I got flak from my cell company with flashing notices warning I was off-line and off the internet (despite encountering no difficulties). I marched over to my local dealer, handed him back a modem and a router that they said likely was a lemon. I told them they weren't the only pebble on the beach and I didn't need them or want them anymore. [What really ticked me off was finding out my friend's repeated exhortations that I was paying way too much were correct! My bill dropped precipitously.] Lastly, I canceled my subscription to NGC. A rep called and asked why, since I had two months left, and lied. The truth is more complicated. But, as the Terminator guy once said, I'll be BAHCK!

Calling @Walkerfan ! Calling @Walkerfan ! Come in, @Walkerfan !

A solid Mint State 67

Q.A.: Ha! Ha! Ha! He thought there was plug at the bottom of the. cesspool!!!... 🐓: That's okay... We won!... He acknowledged our very existence!... You can't buy that kind of publicity!... Beats a sad emoji any day of the week!... Ah,... collaboration!

It is this type of unwarranted fear bordering on paranoia that has set back progress in human endeavors forever... Your autobiography, quite frankly, sounds repetitious and boring. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Chief navigator to Columbus: "Maybe we ought not to...That's uncharted territory... We might fall off the edge of the Earth!" "Burn me at the stake! I tell you my observations clearly indicate the Earth revolves around the sun!. But that's heresy!" Young lad: "Is this a copper penny (sic)? Mint Director: "No 1943 cents were authorized for production! Now get away from me kid, you bother me." Coin collectors? What a bunch of milk cows!

No. Stop it! In the interests of broadening the body of knowledge everyone with a piece of the jigsaw puzzle should join in making a truly collaborative effort. I was taught that all through my formal years of schooling. A member inquired about an obscure token used in a correctional institution that had long been decommissioned. I wrote the Michigan Department of Correction directly and, much to my surprise, they had no historical repository -- or for that matter, institutional memory. But the elusive token in unknown numbers is still out there. A leading lawmaker visiting a foreign land, for unexplained reasons, lacked identification with his signature. An aide saved the day with quick thinking, reached into his wallet and pulled out a one-dollar bill with his John Hancock which was accepted without question. When Governor Mario Cuomo arrived at an upstate juvenile institution with an entourage in an official state chopper landing on institutional grounds, most anyone would have admitted him on the strength of the unusual circumstances and instant face recognition. Not the Principal Keeper who demanded to see his ID. The governor was not offended in the least. Professional courtesy must acquiesce to proper procedure.

Q.A. I understand the case of the S.S. TILAWA has finally been resolved. What are the particulars? 🐓 : Indeed it has. On November 23, 1942, the S.S. TILAWA was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the Indian Ocean off the coast of South Africa. Aboard were 3,000 people (280 of whom perished) along with 2.364 bars of silver which were "irretrievable" until 2017 when they were salvaged by a British exploration company owned by Paul Marshall, a hedge fund leader -- and apparently mired in litigation since. Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled in favor of the then Union of South Africa which owned the precious metal which was destined for coinage. The Court did not specify how the $43 million bounty would be divided up by the parties involved. Source: CBS NEWS. Q.A. That's a great story! You've certainly earned your keep. Ever think of becoming our Grand Master's understudy? 🤣 (Posted solely at Moderation's discretion.)

@zadok : Why the sadness? She was Royalty: "Top of the list, Queen of the hill, 'A' number one!" (She was also billed as the world's wealthiest welfare recipient.) Membership has its privileges.

Positively shameful!

Q.A.: I understand you've been doing some research on Queen Elizabeth II, a number of coins for whom have been minted in her honor over the years. Have you come across any little-known facts collectors of those coins would find to be of interest? 🐓 : Yes: She was the only person in Britain who could drive without a license, or license plate, and she never had to take a driving test. Q.A.: How did you manage to find these facts? 🐓 : The automobile she owned and drove, a 2001 Daimler Majestic, came up for auction last month at Bonhams. They estimated it would fetch up to $75,000. I am unaware of the gavel price but 50 bids were placed, the highest being $59,000. (It had logged 16,200 miles.) Q.A.: Thank you for broadening the body of knowledge of the collector community who holds you in high regard. In the event @Sandon comes across this, and for the record, would you mind citing your sources? 🐓 : Not at all, "Bids on a sports car fit for the Queen," New York Post, Sun., April 28, 2024, p. 7. Q.A.: Thank you. I am much obliged. (Posted at the discretion of zmoderation.)

Hi tj! First, an overview... 2M of the 5-coin 2019-W series were minted for each of the coins designed for a total of 10M pieces. Anything made in the millions isn't rare, but they are the scarcest of the 2019 quarters. What bothers me about this quintet is the large price spread of anywhere from $162.00 to $6,250. I would expect any recenly minted coin to be in Mint State condition but with the grades being unknowns (presumably MS-65s) and all five to be graded and placed in one oversized holder, not to mention submission costs, I do not know whether the undertaking would be cost-effective. My sidekick, Ricky, and I have a difference of opinion on this... 🐓 : My feeling is if the coins were of MS-67 caliber, it would be worth the costs of submission and not a soul on the Forum would discourage you from proceeding with your plans. So, to submit or not to submit at or about that grade level is the question. Any chance you can post the coins here and get a preliminary analysis of each of the coins' states of preservation before you embark on your venture? I personally believe it would be helpful to get as many opinions, from as any members as you can before you commit yourself. Best of luck, buddy!

Somebody get me REWRITE! NO EDITORIALIZING! THE BBC IS PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF CHARACTRRIZING THE CONTENT OF ITS PRESENTATIONS: THIS IS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE ABOUT INDIAN GOLD REFINERS. Period. Keep it up Roger, and you'll never get to work for The New York Times (without a chaperone!)

So if the animal faces a droite, it's a bison, but if it faces a gauche, its pedigree changes to a buffalo. Numismystique. 🤣

The Gold Standard can be resurrected but only if the transition is unpublicized. Fat chance of that happening, but if it does, enquiring minds via The Enquirer, will be the first to know.