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jackson64

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Journal Entries posted by jackson64

  1. jackson64
    sometimes the registry points don't reflect the better, rarer or higher value coin
    I'll keep this short as I know the excitement over the arrival of the ASE's sets and subsequent grading results has been the big focus of interest for the past month. After a self-imposed buying moratorium for the past 6+ weeks I had won 3 items at the Stacks/Bowers auction in Nov here in Maryland ( Baltimore).
    I finally upgraded my 1941 Walker to an MS67 - the MS66 that filled the slot is not going anywhere though, sorry. I also won a coin that puts me in an interesting spot.
    I won a gorgeously colored 1944 MS68 Mercury dime. My mercury set is an MS67 set until now and the slot has an MS67FB coin in it. My newest addition does not have FB's but is an MS68 which is actually much rarer than even the scarce MS67FB. The registry ( just in my personal opinion) has not given the proper consideration for the higher grade MS68's in the Mercury series. For almost every date-especially within the short set- the MS68's have lower pops than their MS67FB counterparts ( the 44-S date is no exception.)
    Well the point difference is negligible although the 68 cost roughly 2x that of the 67FB ( but this is also probably largely in part because of the fierce bidding for this coin because of its eye-appeal).
    So after waiting and ruminating for about 2 weeks I've decided to go with the uniquely toned and appearing MS68 over my better struck and satiny MS67FB which to many would be "just another blast white gem".
    I'll leave my 67FB in the set for comparison purposes but I'd be interested in what others might have chosen in this situation. Higher points and better struck or distinctive eye appeal with higher grade but lower points?

  2. jackson64

    Numismatic Displays

    By jackson64,

    Along with the random silver trays of coins, I have also used numismatics to inspire some release of my limited artistic expression.
    About 3 years ago I did an ink and watercolor drawing of a 1933 St Gauden's. If you look closely you can see quite a few little errors in the design but overall I think it turned out well since I usually use oils for the few paintings I've done.
    Also when I was hunting for bear coins for my granddaughters Bear-themed custom set I came across these beautiful Arctic notes made in Norway. I bought 2 of each since the obverse and reverse of the notes each have such beautiful designs and framed them in a hand-made cheap frame I found.
    The third one was an ugly, generic picture of a vase or fruit basket. I removed the print, added a dark background and simply Elmer glued a variety of interesting coins and tokens on the page as they would fit and cover as much of the space inside the mat as possible.
    The final picture is of an old, antique mason jar from the 30's. I received the jar as a kid from my grandmother as a Christmas present full of homemade peanut brittle. The peanut brittle probably lasted less than a few days but the jar has somehow stayed in my possession, through dozens of moves and states, and now sits in my ( dusty) office with 100 Ike dollars inside. It may take another hundred to fill it completely but it is a nice display on my shelf.
    I've always wanted to build a shadow box to try and display slabs for a 20 coin short set of some series, or maybe even a custom coin cabinet or glass display table, but usually these bursts of artistic inspiration are quite brief so I'll stick with my simple wall hangings and knickknack items.....
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     




  3. jackson64
    Will the coming cashless commerce system be the end of numismatics? Certainly it will affect the number of "business strike" issued coins but will the hobby continue to persevere with Bullion issues and the dozens of commemorative and proof issues annually?
     
    I was perusing some news headlines recently and 2 separate but seemingly related stories caught my attention---
        The first story had to do with a new record-low physical currency decline worldwide.  The global, physical currency has dropped down to an amazing 8.2% of all of the world's money. In certain countries such as Sweden and smaller municipalities in other countries, cash or paper money has pretty much become obsolete. Many other issues are causing this also. We now have the alternative payment methods of Bitcoin, Apple Pay and I even paid for a new Bose speaker at Office Depot with my paypal balance. Obviously credit and debit cards are the largest intrusion upon the domain of cash, but it is apparent that the trend appears to be that technology is grindingly eliminating the greenback.
      I read also recently where we are essentially in a "Retail Apocalypse" as  the old brick and mortar stores are closing by the tens of thousands. Coin collectors saw this happen a decade+ ago as the old-time coin shoppes of our youth have mostly disappeared and on-line webpages, weekly auctions and Ebay have made purchasing coins cash free and incredibly convenient.  Amazon and on-line ordering are burgeoning almost in direct proportion to every Sears, Radio Shack, JC Penney and Macy's that shutters it's doors.
     
      The second story I read on that same news page was also similar in that it portends the death of cash. It appears that the VISA corporation was offering several hundred businesses/restaurants  a monetary reward if they go completely cashless. Yes, the push is on to not just have alternative payment choices and credit but to actually eliminate cash.
    There can be no arguing that banks would love the elimination of cash and the ability to get a cut of every transaction ( often a cut from both buyer and seller!.) The governments of the world wouldn't mind the added revenue either as billions slip through their fingers annually when people have simple bake sales, yard sales, cash for an old riding mower or paying someone to paint your house or plant a few trees. Anyone with a cell phone could do the money transfer seamlessly. For those without phones ( yes, there are still some adults without phones) it would be fiscally prudent for governments to provide cheap phones.
      Of course this brings up many discussions concerning everything from National ID's, implanted chips to protect from fraud, the potential tyrranical implications of having all transactions monitored electronically and the ability of TPTB to "cut you off" for whatever reason ( from back taxes, child support or political leanings.) Surely this is a slippery slope but there is little doubt that there is also great upside from eliminating counterfeiting of currency, armed robberies would decline, much of the illegal street drug industry is done with cash and cash is just plain dirty.
    My personal opinion is that the days of physical money are numbered. I do think that the US Mint will continue in business as proofs, commemoratives and even a limited mintage of mint set/MS coins would be produced to satiate the demand of collectors ( as long as it is profitable to produce them.)
    I noticed that the journals now allow for polls so I'd be interested in the thoughts of my fellow numismatists......are we going the way of the dinosaurs?
  4. jackson64

    Micro-S Walker Variety?

    By jackson64,

    searching and then researching.....
    First I want to thank everyone who sent me messages and also commented in the coin forum concerning my last journal entry. It really is my friends and fellow collectors at this site that have added so much more to my collecting via the registry in recent years.
    So last I wrote I had purchased 100 circulated Walker halves. Well there were no major varieties as I studied them--in fact the Walker series actually has very few primary cherrypicks--the 1946 doubled reverse, the hand-carved designers' AW..and some common doubling on the 1942 and 1943. I did notice something as I was inspecting the coins that wasn't in Fivaz/Cherrypickers Guide or listed in NGC or PCGS variety lists. As I searched the coins, full of S minted coins, there were 6 coins dated 1942-S.
    Upon further inspection I noticed that 5 of the coins had a standard sized S that also matched my 2 certified 42-S coins I have registered. The other coin however had a tiny little S that needed all the power of my 20x loupe to see clearly. I looked again and there is no mistaking--an obvious size difference with one of the mintmarks being a "micro" S.
    Well as any avid collector would, I got very excited thinking I had made a discovery worthy of numismatic news! As visions of a Coin World headline danced in my head, ( "Maryland Collector Discovers Unique Walker Micro-S !!"). My inspecting of coins quickly turned into researching. The more I didn't find any mention, the more excited I became.
    Oh well, in the end I found a reference- in fact, a complete bubble bursting explanation. Of all places to find it, after looking through specialty books and websites, in the end, the info was found in a Redbook !
    It seems that after 1916 the branch mints made a deliberate effort to make mintmark size uniform--and the size was to be a small mintmark. However in 1941 the San Fran mint decided to increase the size of the mintmarks to a larger and more legible S. The pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters were changed--yet the Half Dollars were not changed until mid-1942. So there are both small and large mintmark varieties of 1942-S halves..simple explanation and no headlines for me.
    This did get me thinking though. Who decides if the large and small S mintmarks should be collected sepewrately in a set? I mean, most albums and registries include a 1945-S and 1945-micro-S dime, right? ( I know that the 45 micro-S is an unusual case since the micros were an accident when the mint used a die punch to add a mintmark that was meant for war era Phillipine coinage). But my question remains valid.....
    If I currently possess 8 total 1942-S coins and only 1 is a "micro/small" S variety--then isn't this a hard variety to obtain? I know that 8 coins is a small sampling, and far from scientific, yet what if there are only a few hundred thousand out there of this type?
    I guess I'll never know--just like I'll never understand why certain series bold strikes get special designation like FBL, Full Head, Full Torch..and cost huge premiums, yet other series, Walkers for instance. Collectors hunt for full strike and pay premiums for well struck coins with "Full Seperate Thumbs"..yet this is not a special designation you'll ever see on a slab or grade criteria. It's just as well, all I need is for the cost of the coins I like to triple just because the strike is complete...
    Here's a picture of 2 of the 1942-S coins. The difference in size is even more apparent to the naked eye because one S can be made out without a loupe and the other looks like barely a dot....

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  5. jackson64
    A nice little score with my ebay gambles...
    As I've mentioned before I am a bit of an ebay gambler. However now with the current high value of silver the risk is not as much.
     
    For those unfamiliar with my practices--I like to add to my "bullion" holdings by purchasing silver rolls of circulated coins on ebay. Sometimes they are total junky, bent, corroded, heavily worn etc coins that look ready for the smelting pot. Then there are the lots which have some decent coins of album quality and maybe even a semi-key. AND THEN....there is every once in a while a nice lot from someone cleaning out the old jar on the dresser, the jewelry box, grandpa's old keepsakes etc etc..and these may have some treasures.
    Well I've seen a few more coins lately of better value. Maybe it's that the word is out that old silver coins in that shoebox in the closet can net someone a few hundred, or maybe it is desperate measures for some who are trying to scrounge up gas money and/or food money with the rocketing costs we are seeing...either way, the lots I've been buying are not just the average roll of Walkers all dated 1940's with lotsa wear.
    I got a lot last week of 18 Walker coins ( not a full roll-which is a good sign it was a stash and not a dealer). The picture was mid-range showing 3 rows of 6 coins. From the photo I could tell that they were all pretty nicely detailed with full rims and legends. Also from the photo I could tell that they were original color and not overly shiny from having been cleaned, whizzed, polished or dipped. The seller had a feedback of only 110 transactions and only 3 within the last 6 months--definitely not a dealer but also a little risky. Anyhow, I took a shot--a bid at roughly $40 an ounce ( silver was only $34 on that day) and I had won.
    Now the good news, the package arrived safely in the mail with 18 neatly bundled Walkers-not even clanking together as some non-numismatists have mailed me coins before. The lot had 12 common dates from the 1940's-all in VF/XF quality.....3 coins from the 1930's dated 1939-S, 1935-S and 1937..(maybe even worth a couple of bucks each above their melt)..but then the excitement !! Three of the coins were: 1918-D in solid VF20-30, a 1920-S in VF35, and a 1923-S F18/VF20. Those are some nice snags for a bullion buy and exactly why I do this.
    I am conservative with grading also, a VF must have a fully defined seperation under the L breast and the reverse must have 2 rows of full feathers on the L wing and the eye of the eagle is defined. Anyhow, checking the values in PCGS, Coin World and NGC lists puts these coins at: 1918-D> $125, 1920-S > $270 and 1923-S at $120/150....not bad for a cost of $258 + shipping hunh, ??
    I often think of this thrill as like that the treasure hunters or metal detectors must feel when they snag a nice little find..it really is one of the cool parts of the hobby--uncovering a variety, finding a semi-key in a batch of junkers, or an error coin in change--it gives an excitement that only a fellow collector understands ( try getting a spouse or child excited about finding a quality 1918-D and see what happens).
    So I already have another batch of "ebay gambles" on the way. This was a strange auction listing. A mixed lot of silver dimes, 2 Washie quarters, 19 silver halves and 1 Peace Dollar. What was strange was that the dates were listed-- but of the 40 or so total coins there was no reference of mintmarks. So I'm guessing and hoping that a non-collector is selling this batch of coins and just didn't know where the mintmarks are located on the reverses--if this is the case then there is a chance for a nice score since one of the halves was a 1920 and the Peace Dollar is listed as a 1928 ( crossing my fingers that there is NO MINTMARK on that one). I'l let you know how I did when they arrive-holiday set the mail back a day.
    Finally...I had a bid in on a 1939-S Walker MS67 at the recent Goldberg auction but I lost, was outbid by a floor bidder. I enjoyed watching parts of the auction on-line live and boy is it tempting to click on the "BID NOW" box for some of those coins. I did actually purchase one coin at what I believe was a steal. I was able to get a 1910-D $10 Gold Indian for my gold type set ( aptly named, "little by little"). It is only the second coin in the set so far........REGISTRY GRIPE ALERT.......... my other coin in the set is an MS63 St Gaudens, list value of $2100.00 and worth 900 points or so.............okay, GRIPE OVER........
    So here's a picture of my new $10 Gold Piece, my Indian Eagle in MS62

  6. jackson64

    Is My Coin "Too Good"

    By jackson64,

    Okay, I may have screwed up a bit. I have bought a few of the coins for my Washington album already slabbed and have had to liberate them for my album.
    The primary reason for this is that a few of the pricier ones I was able to get at a very good price in the grades I wanted and as a plus I got the added insurance with the purchase of knowing they weren't cleaned or had issues I couldn't see with the seller's pictures. I am down to just the final 3 or 4 holes in my Washington album. The final slots are not particularly challenging to fill, I just was looking for nicer detailed coins at a good price. Some of these coins I found in BU grade for little above melt cost and others I found in XF or even VF+ quality for some lower mintage issues.
    The final 4 coins needed are the 1940-D, 1947-S, 51-S and 52-S, none of which are rare or even particularly scarce--they just happen to be the last 4 holes by random chance. Much of the album was filled with some strategy behind it. I started by buying 2 incomplete albums and taking the decent coins and adding to my singular set. Next came a process of buying the P, D and S together of the same year which got me some great 3 BU runs with some and 3 circulated coins with others.
    Whittling away any group dates I could ( the prices are significantly better when purchasing 3 coins for an $8-10 cost per coin as opposed to the asking prices of $15-25 often for single slot fillers.) I finally have ended with these four. I tried hunting for the 51-S and 52-S together but there aren't any groups of these 2 dates. I did find some larger lots which I might purchase and can resell the 51 P& D and 52 P & D and make my purchase for the S mint coins a good bargain.
    My "mess up" was with the 47-S. I couldn't find any group lots of this issue and started looking for just nice single coins at reasonable prices. Most raw BU coins were in the $20 range listed which is about the pricelist costs of $17 for a 63 and $28 for a 64---but low and behold I threw out a wild flyer bid of $30 for an NGC MS66 that was attracting my eye. I actually won the MS66 for an unbelievable $24.50 --I was pretty excited to get a $60 coin for under $25 but when it arrived there was a bit of a conundrum. The coin is almost too nice to break out and stick in an album. If I don't crack it out I'll have to buy another and then what to do with a single slabbed Washington quarter?
    I already have way too many coins that aren't a part of any set but were just too attractive and well-priced to pass up, so I will eventually crack it out and plug the hole in my album--but for now, I'm just leaving it on my desk and enjoying it....
     
    Here's some pics--It is more of a personal taste thing and I know many here won't see it the way I do, as I love the peachy/rose blush overall on the obverse and the reverse has blotches of really vibrant emerald greens, turquoise and purples...a fun coin but it may skew the "balance" of that page in my album. Oh well, if I have to upgrade a few of the surrounding coins on the page to give the overall look a better blend then that is what I'll do...happy hunting everyone......


  7. jackson64
    I just added another MS64 Brown Indian Cent to my collection. This 1892 leaves me with just the 1890 and 1894 to complete my self-styled Indian Short Set 1890-1909. I'm wavering but I think I'll go ahead and expand it to the 1880's as well since most of that decade can be had at a reasonable price and there are no key date, expensive issues that will be needed.
     
    If you wonder why I decided on brown instead of the (usually) more coveted red or RB coins--I just feel like the brown coins come in a wider variety of looks and include some beautifully toned items. Red coins are pretty much just red ( or shades of orange/red).
    My latest addition......added to my Custom Set.


  8. jackson64
    After some recent frustrations with registry sets slots, I have decided to take a hiatus from Grading coins, submissions, NGC vs PCGS and even removed almost all of my Registry "competitive" sets.
    The frustration has long been building with the politics in the hobby and not just with trying to get through the myriad of confusion associated with collecting any modern series and their innumerable annual issues. Whether it is SP's listed as MS or as PF's, multiple slots for the same coin but with different names, incomprehensible points assignments ( 2000 points for some $50 coins and 300 points for some $1000 coins) or Pop report/census that only even lists about 25% of an entire series--the fun in registry participation has been sapped away.
    However my love of the hobby remains. This is why I have gone back to my roots--album collecting and raw coins. With my coin cabinet and chests with their velvet lined drawers allowing for better viewing, displaying and the weighted feel as I hold the coin in hand, I wonder why I waited so long. I think it was probably half because I enjoyed the sets listed on a page where I could add photos and had easy access to see which slots were needed no matter where I was. The other reason I stayed was the camaraderie among several members here that I PM on occasion, buy/sell/trade with and have been messaging with for years.
    Most recently I found an old Whitman Mercury dime album with about 12 coins in it. What fun the past few weeks have been !! Although not as challenging as the old days when I tried filling albums with just the selection from the 2 local coin stores--it is still a lot of fun searching for a certain look, a minimum standard ( full reverse rims and some vertical fasces lines) and hedging on some coins to hold out for a little nicer or a few bucks cheaper.
    I have re-discovered the thrill of passing up a $12 AU coin which I almost bought, and then later uncovering a $10 BU coin instead--saved $2 and a nicer coin, WIN ! The only downside is that I'll have to learn some improved restraint. As opposed to slab collecting where I may buy a pricey, graded coin once or twice a month- with the album collecting, I can add dozens of nice, quality coins for the same or less the cost.
    My most recent exciting purchase was a very nice set of Merc BU coins with "several toned" coins from 1940-1945 all PDS complete. The listing was vague and the picture so-so of a single, torn out page from a thumb buster. I won the "page" of toners for just $30 ( barely more than melt). Once in hand- WOW what excitement to find that most had glorious colorful tones and 75% were BU. The 1945 even has strong separation of the midline although not complete. I picked through and have mixed and matched with some "pristine white" coins and interspersed several of the toned beauties ( the rest I carefully removed and put in flips in my coin chest to enjoy.)
    Unfortunately, I am down to the 1916-D and the 1921 and 21-D to complete the set. Most of the teens and early 20's are in F/VF quality and all of the 1935-1945 coins in AU or BU. I feel at liberty to change parameters or grade limits per page in the album as I please so I've kept every coin pretty cheap to buy.
    I've never collected a shield or liberty nickel set and think I might start that next with mostly "readable date" and " problem-free" coins in lower grades but with honest wear. After that maybe a Morgan "short set album of XF/AU grades--who knows it sure is a lot less complex now and no disappointments for bodybags, perplexing grading results, massive shipping both ways or 17 to 20% buyers fees!
    Some photos of my recent assemblage which has reinvigorated my collecting passion. Happy Hunting E1......


  9. jackson64
    coming home to a full PO Box and 3 coin packages takes some sting out of a relaxing vacation ending
    Due to some various circumstances my wife and I did not take our usual February vacation to break up the winter. We both have been at our current professions and companies long enough that we qualify for several weeks vacation per year. Our usual practice is a vacation in mid-winter to break up the doldrums and get away alone together, and then we also take a late summer trip which will include the daughters-and now the granddaughter.
    I must admit to getting pretty close to burning out since we skipped our winter trip and had not had any time off since the prior summer. I usually don't like to purchase coins before I leave for a trip and have them sitting around at the post office for 10-12 days until I return.
    Even though I live in a community where a person knows the postal workers by name, the checkout clerks at the grocery went to school with your kids or go to your church, etc etc..I still don't like filling out the Hold Mail slip and having a bin of my mail -with boxes and USPS envelopes sitting around at the post office. All of my paranoia and mistrust of my fellow humans aside, I have NEVER had a single package or coin order misplaced or disappeared by the USPS--knock on wood.
    So I get back from a really relaxing and much needed vacation with the wife, daughter and granddaughter Jade at around 2AM on Monday morning--and I'm up at 8 AM the following morning after a 12 hour drive and off to the post office!!
    Nothing except for 3 coin packages in waiting could have gotten me up at 8 AM after a 12 hour drive from the panhandle. I was not disappointed. I had won a Seated Liberty Half for my "distraction set" at the early stacks auction that occured just before the big weekend....I had gotten sniped for a 1935-S Walker by a floor bidder..and then on the final day of bidding on Stacks auctions I won a second Seated Half and another Maryland Commem ( don't ask me why I now have 3 Maryland Commems in my collection--maybe because I live here in Calvert County and am just a homer.) The Stacks auctions charged me shipping for each package and mailed them each seperately-seems like a waste--but the invoices would not let me combine the orders.
    The final purchase I had among my pile of bills and junk mail at the post office was the 2-piece 2012 San Fran proof set. I have the 20th anniversary set with the reverse proof, the 2011 set with the rev pf and my OCD, which requires completion and/or symmetry to the things I do, required me to purchase the new set with the Rev Pf ( plus at $180 shipped for both slabbed by NGC PF69's I thought the price was good.)
    So if vacations have to end, and the daily grind must return, there is no better way to finish some time off than a full day of relaxing after travel and jumping back into my numismatic hobby.
    Here's the obverse of my 1847 Seated Half...nice almost PL devices but not very mirrored fields. I enjoy the way the forest green and gold toning isolates the date--Happy Hunting e1

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  10. jackson64

    Swinging For The Fences

    By jackson64,

    every once in a while you gotta go for the home run
    My most recent submission has reached quality control. Originally I was going to send a mix of things including my 2010 proof ASE's..but in the end I thought I'd take my 5 submission coupon and go for a long-shot with a potential big return. I sent 5 of my Walker MS66's in for regrade, hoping to get either an MS67, an MS66+ or an MS66*.
    You may ask what the big deal would be in getting an MS66+ from my MS66?..well I'll give you an example. One of my regrade submissions was my 1940-S MS66 with a CAC sticker for being premium quality for the grade. An MS66 lists at around $1,100 however the 67 lists at over $27,000 !!!!! So what that means I'm not sure but if a coin is graded MS66+ doesn't that mean it is just short of being a $27,000 coin? Would the FMV be more in the $10,000 range than the $1,100 range?...if it does, then you see why I took a shot.
    In the years and years I have been a member and been sending coins to NGC I have been trying this a few times each year. To date, I have NEVER hit on one of these upgrades or even got the raw coin in a slab at that top tier. Eventually I gotta get one right? Even us little dogs gotta get thrown a bone once in a while.
    The other coins I submitted were my 1941 in an old NGC fatty ( all were 66's remember)..great color and eye appeal--my prediction is a legitimate shot at 67 since I've seen few MS67's which actually are nicer than mine ( and to be honest, many 67's baffle me if mine is a 66).
    I also sent my 1934 MS66. It is superior in strike, eye-appeal, and has less contact marksand more attractive color than the MS67 that I own--also a shot at 67 but I at least expect a+ ( probably not a * because some of the toning is dark).
    I sent my 1945 which has pretty rainbow blends of red and orange hoping to get a * or +......and finally, another old NGC fatty when grading was stricter, a 1945-D with booming luster and that subtle wood grain striations, and top notch strike..maybe a 67 but at least a + I'm hoping.
    Truth be told, I won't be surprised if they all just are returned in their original slabs, barely glanced at ( I read a report that says each coin is looked at for an average of 4-6 seconds each per side)..but I am hard-headed and keep taking these tries. After all, I actually look at thousands of Walkers per year--closely studying images and in-hand at shows/conventions/expos. I can say with all of my misguided arrogance that I may be a better expert at grading Walkers than the pros..after all, that IS ALL I look at for the most part. Not only that I know what collectors of the series love, what is coveted and what is unacceptable...oh well, I've rambled long enough--just preparing myself for the inevitable let down ( maybe I won't get as frustrated and angry this way)...but wouldn't it be a thrill to even get one or two of these coins with a +,* or upgrade--more than anything it may be just the validation of the years of study and selective picking that I've done and NGC finally giving me confirmation that I may actually know what I'm doing.

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  11. jackson64
    an arduous endeavor nears its end
    First of all, congratulations to all of the registry winners- each and every award is well-deserved and don't let anyone else's frustrated words detract from your moment of due recognition. Your passion for the hobby is evident in the sets assembled by some and the presentations done by others. I have had less fervor this past year myself and have taken a more subdued direction in my collecting. Maybe 12-15 coins added and half of those were upgrades to existing coins within my sets.
    Which brings me to the title of my journal.
    Several years ago, the primary focus of my collecting was my signature coin set. The High Seas sailing ship coin set is a Topical/Thematic coin collection I have assembled and then tucked aside for about 2 years now.It was the first topical winner of the Most Creative Signature Set -as the custom sets were called back then. That was the primary niche that my fellow collectors identified me with, I believe. However late in 2007 I started assembling a Walker Half Dollar Short Set as a sidelight set for distraction. The only criteria I had set for myself was- and this is a direct quote from the original set description-" to find the nicest and highest graded example I can for each coin for under $100."
    Well if you look at the set now you'll probably wonder what the heck happened ( or maybe I'm the luckiest collector in history for finding so many high grade coins for under $100.) What happened was a simple trade with a friend at Tradingslabs. I forget what I traded my friend rons but in return he agreed to send me 3 short set Walkers graded MS65. All 3 of these coins I added to my set but that quickly created a problem for my mildly OCD affected mind--there was an uneveness in the set now.
    As only a coin addict could reason, the proper solution was to upgrade all of the other coins in the set to MS65 also. Well eventually I added an MS66 and started upgrading again. Then came my first MS67 and a new target-- a Top Ten set and the highest graded and most PQ, eye-appealing coin I can afford for each slot-- this is sure a long way off from " nicest coin for under $100."
    So finally, after changing criteria and objectives, upgrading over and over and re-selling prior purchases ( usually at less than I paid originally ) I am nearing the end of the road- for real this time. There are only 2 slots left that I can reasonably afford to upgrade- my 1945 and 1943-D can both be bumped to MS67's when I find suitable examples. The other MS66's will stay as is-- My modest middle class station in life will not afford me the budget to acquire an MS67 41-S, 42-S, 43-S, or 44-S ( there may be an outside shot at a 45-S if I saved several months and happenstance brought a reasonable priced one to the market while I had the funds).
    So, here is the most recent addition, purchased about 8 weeks ago but I never posted it. I'll actually be keeping my current MS66 though since it is one of my favorites. A simple 1941 common date, but I think you'll agree- not so common appearance.
    I wish everyone a joyous New Year and enjoyment with your numismatic endeavors..happy hunting !

  12. jackson64
    I have had several of these old silver trays and bowls on shelves in my office for years. At various times I have displayed them as a sort of artistic presentation filled with world coins, Ike dollars, Sacagaweas and classic coin mixes. My granddaughter loves to rummage through the world coin tray with its strange coins of odd shapes, holed coins, different metals and strange writing. It can be quite educational for her when she selects one that has caught her eye and asks about it. I use my Krause to find the country of the coin with her ( teaching her to use research resources), explain the alphabet some ( as I am able) and use the computer to find the country on a map ( some geography learned).
     
    Lately I have been filling up an ornate and beautifully toned tray that is inscribed as being from an officer on a US Navy ship. A wonderful side benefit of working on some album sets lately has been the extra coins that don't make the album. I usually start with a few rolls to fill as many of the common dates as I can. Next I will try and plug the remaining holes to finish the album. Finally I will substitute out a few coins to make each page more uniform. One page may end up as white AU/BU beauties, the early dates may all just be evenly worn VF coins of consistent slate gray. Any coins removed for change-outs ( I won't say upgrades because sometimes I will actually remove a BU coin that sticks out like a sore thumb and replace it with a matching VF/XF example) end up in the tray.
     
    The trays end up almost as an artistic display--equal for my tastes as a collector to someone who would set a figurine or small bronze for display. Here is the latest tray I have filled ( I only spilled it over to show the depth of how many dozens and dozens of coins and the varieties these things end up with.)
     
    When I have time, I will show a couple of my "pictures" I have made with coins---I have found some old frames with ugly prints at consignment stores and bought them for a few bucks. Removing the print and adding a dark background, along with the mat and frame makes a nice display.
     
    Has anyone else used coins for artistic expression I wonder or am I just a little weird with it--whatever, they always seem to draw interest and if it sparks any flame for a future collector then that is just a bonus.............

  13. jackson64

    I Won What??-OOPS

    By jackson64,

    oops...
    I received my invoice in the mail today from the recent auction. The auction that I mention was the pre-Long Beach auction by Goldbergs and it was held over several days. I watched the auction on the day that the US half dollars were auctioned and as I wrote in a prior journal-I was thrilled to find myself the winner of 2 of my 4 internet bids ( even though I missed my lots live bidding).
    Well the next day of the auction was paper money I believe and then the final day was world coins and world gold. I remeber now looking at some of the world gold coins because I like the 20 Francs gold coins from France, austria, switzerland etc. These coins are around a quarter ounce of gold and the price is usually close to melt.
    My casual perusal of 20 francs coins led me to a click on another "20" coin--this one a 20 soles coin from Peru. I pulled out my Krause and found that this 20 soles coin has quite a bit more gold weight than the 20 francs coins. Being infatuated with the high grade and beautiful design--I threw in a bid that was very close to melt price and then never gave it another thought.
    When I checked my invoice today for the total--there was the Peru 20 soles coin on the list also !! I had won my bid. After the buyer's fee I paid a bit above melt ( gold will have to hit $2100 for me to be at melt value for my expense paid ratio) but the coin is gorgeous and makes me happy for its numismatic qualities and not just because iits adding a little more gold to my holdings. Graded by NGC as an MS67.. there are only 2 MS68's ever graded for the entire length of the series issue so it could be considered a condition rarity of sorts. I can definitely see why a collector before me felt this coin was worth paying the costs to have it encapsulated--and now it will be a well appreciated member of my collection.

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  14. jackson64
    the tough get going?
    Times are tough, no doubt, and with encouraging news about the economic turnaround like "Job Loss Rate is Slower this Month"..or "Banks Report Smaller Loss than Expected", it is no small wonder that I have read many posts about fellow collectors selling their collections or leaving the hobby...
    Chat boards are slower, less journals posted, fewer bids on items at the weekly auctions.....
    Well you may have noticed that I have been absent (mostly) for a few months. Part of this is due to my normal summer hobbies ( fishing,vegetable gardening, sailing) taking away the time from my year-round hobby, numismatics. I have not added a new coin to the registry in a few months. This does not mean that I have been absent from the hobby though.
    When the going gets tough...the smart try a different tact. As a collector I hope it never happens, however there are scenarios where I'd have to sell my collection for cash liquidity. That does not mean I'd quit being a coin collector. In the past when times were tight, I simply switched gears--into reverse-- and collected as I did when I had little money.
    This week I started a fun album collection..XF/AU Peace Dollars. I should be able to collect almost all of them for $30 or less...I can take my time finding them, in fact, I'm going to try and find them all with the same color and "look". A friend of mine recently told me that this can be fun and not nearly as easy as you may think.
    Try building a matching set of XF coins from a series...all with normal grayish color, uncleaned, no rim dings, gouges or big scratches, and comparable amount of wear on each coin...still think this will be easy? Plus, I happen to really like the look of a Peace dollar with just a little circulation....(I think I might build an AU set of Franklins next)
    So that's what I'm going to do during these tight times...as a collector I will collect..it will just be a different type of collecting and grade of coin I'll be seeking...happy hunting
    Here is a coin that I bought from the hoard..Bob let me have it for $20..the coin is a Silver Eagle that has toned incredibly. It is natural toning, the coin happened to be in this small white envelope with the purchase date still on it, however I'm sure NGC would bodybag it because it looks just too beautiful to be real...guess they would consider it "questionable toning" (I have seen a few of these in PCGS slabs at auction on Teletrade though)...pretty coin isn't it?

  15. jackson64
    I have a complete set of 1899-1914 20 Franc gold french rooster's all NGC graded Ms63-65.
    If you have a bu uncertified or certified 1902 or 1906 20 franc gold coin please contact this member of collector's society. Although I have 3 different #1 ranked registry sets I still have several "odd" collections...because I collect for fun. I love this set..she {Marianne} not only has the long curly/wavy hair of my wife..the name is even spelled the same..I even have the rare 1900 No Arrows by the date variety..also have all US coins with ships old & new, world coins with ships..etc..but I still need the "Hudson" commem..thanks
  16. jackson64
    Finally got a super return...
    I've been a member of Collectors Society and the registry here now for close to a decade I believe--at least 8 years or so. I've written in the journals occasionally for the past 5 or 6 years about my experiences with submissions. My submissions have gone three ways primarily...........
    1.) I submit some coins for regrade that are at that " magic level". This is the point at which a $500 coin jumps to a $5000 coin if it could just get ONE MORE POINT on the slab !!...To date I have not yet gotten a single one of these "Home Runs"..but at least once a year I take a shot with 10 coins or so from my collection.
    2.) I will submit some raw coins of harder dates and/or slider AU/BU crackouts hoping for a solid grade in a reputable holder like NGC's. I've even used 100x microscope technology from work to inspect for cleaning, whizzing, enviro damage etc etc to see if a circulated or suspected problem coin is undoctored. To date I have done better with these. I have had several nice upgrades and crossovers from the small, old ANACS slabs and one bump of a 1964 Kennedy Half which went from PF69Cam to PF69 UCAM-- a significant value and point increase. Mostly however, I have spent far more money on these efforts and gotten plenty of body bags and "coffins" ( detail graded) than it was worth. I've mostly given up on crackouts and/or raw coins--the risk vs reward has seriously skewed toward the loss column.
    3.) Submission of coins still in mint packaging, plastic capsules or moderns in general. Now I must qualify this by saying that most of the mint packaged coins I've submitted are World Coins with sailing ships from all over the planet or also Canadian commems and proof sets. Believe it or not, I've had at least a half dozen bodybags on coins that were marked as cleaned or artificial toning when they had never even had the original mint packaging opened--these instances have had me blistering. I actually sent away, at one point, over 100 unopened mint capsulated coins in a row over a few years and NEVER got a single coin graded MS or PF70.
    If you'll remember my last submission journal-- I actually managed to lose money on 5 regrades that came back as the same grade !! How you ask?..Well, besides the cost of submission and shipping both ways, 2 of the coins were in higher coveted old Fatty Slabs and another 2 of the coins had CAC stickers for being upper-end for the grade...yet all 5 coins came back in brand new edge view holders but at the same grade as when I sent them --I lost the value of the older slabs and the CAC sticker value ( for what that's worth.)
    So that brings us to the present. Probably because of my past experiences and lowered expectations I had checked on my submission status very infrequently. I was actually surprised today when I went to the post office today to find the registered mail box there for me to pick up ( also it had been well over 2 full months since NGC received them.) So when I got home and opened up the box I was seeing the grades for the first time.
    All in all I had sent in 12 coins. Four of the coins were foreign coins that had never had another of the issue submitted, so obviously they are now the "single finest known examples" but they are all sparkling MS68's from a low mintage series of 12,000 and over 30+ years old so it is quite likely that they REALLY ARE the finest examples of this issue in existence.
    Of the other 8 coins-SEVEN are also highest graded pops with 2 being single graded PF70's. That's right, 11 of the 12 coins submitted were Top-Pop including 2 which are single finest Proof 70's.
    So to say the least I'm actually excited about a submission return. I have stacks and stacks of old submission yellow copies from year after year of NGC folders ( you know the package we get each year for re-joining? well I've kept all of the folders, invoices, etc in a big fat file) I think that I may frame the pink packing slip I got back with this return--j/k.
    So here's one of those tied for top-pop..It is a 2006 Gold Commemorative $2 Canada "Polar Bear". The mintage on this is only 3,000 coins and only a few over 20 have been graded by NGC. This is the only issue in the series where they reversed the inner ring and outer ring metallic content with a silver inner ring and gold on the outer. The other gold issues in the series--1996, 1999, 2000 millenium all had gold inner rings----the other years are silver with gold clad inner rings...

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  17. jackson64
    just added coins 25 and 26 to pass the halfway point !!
    As some of you may know I collect coins with Sailing Ships on them. Most of you who know me or read my journals know that my #1 love is Walker Halves. On a lessewr note I have a few other collections of which I have casually added here and there when I find a deal or get lucky and a low ball bid actually holds up for a win.
    One of those sets that I build for fun--and definitely not for points, which is obvious by all of the 3 point coins in the set-- is my Barber Half set. I havew kept it fun AND CHEAP by setting my own parameters.
    First, I set the target grade range at " Fine". This can include anything from F12 to XF45. I also love this grade range because not only are these coins a lot cheaper than the pricey BU examples but I really do like the look of a circulated Barber Half with this acceptable level of wear.
    Secondly, I set up a parameter of a "short set". I may not have been the first to do this however I haven't seen anyone else talk about it. I simply made my target the 49 coins from 1900- end of the series. If the Barber is dated in the 1800's then I simply don't consider it. Some of the dates like the 1898 and 1899 are actually some of the more common dates but overall completing the "Long Set" would be quite pricey even in the Fine grades. The 49 coins of the short set are all affordable, which is remarkable with super low mintages like the 1913, 1914, 1915, the scarce 04-S, 01-S and a few sleepers-- they all are budgetable if purchased in F15 or so and the more common dates can be bought in the VF30-XF40 grades.
    So anyhow, I recently added coins 25 and 26 to my set--actually passing the halfway point for the Short Set collection. Two of the coins need upgrading ( my 1904-S and 1915 in VG need to be found in F12+) but otherwise, a fine start to a nice collection of classic coins ( pardon the pun)..PS: I can't help but mention that my $175 Barber half dated 1915 is worth 3 points in the registry-- as are about 10 other coins in my set--and I could care less.
    Here's my 1906 I just added for coin #26..a solid VF25

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  18. jackson64
    I've been so busy lately with work, family, yard work and pre-Christmas activities I've barely had any time for hobbies. Even after I made a purchase last Sunday evening it took me 3 days before I even had time to swing by the post office box and pick up my new additions-- and this was because I had gifts for family out-of-state to mail.
    I've gotten into replacing some slots in my Washington album with mint state coins if the price is right and I found a nice 4-coin lot of all MS64 PCGS coins from the early 1940's at a recent auction. You know the drill--an early low-ball bid to get the items on my Bid list and then about a half hour before auction end I checked and the price was still pretty low. Someone had outbid me but not by a lot. I waited until 2 or 3 mins left and bid a moderate level with no expectations. Win or Lose I wasn't doing any chasing. There was one more bid under mine but I still won the 4 Washies for just $65 plus $8 buyer's fee-- a nice score. Out of curiosity I checked the Price Guides and the 4 coins combined have a $178 list value, so it seems I did well indeed.
    Three are nicely toned and the cheaper one ( 1942-P) is white--overall some sweet additions for my album. I haven't cracked them yet, all are solid for the grade so I'm not worried about cracking out over-graded coins which I never do.
    The Washington album is rounding out nicely with mostly 3 pages of AU sliders and BU coins. The first page which are the 1930's issues will remain problem-free circulated issues.
     
    Happy Hunting E1 and a very Merry Christmas to all.......





  19. jackson64
    as silver value inches towards numismatic value...
    Like many of you here I have my little silver hoard stash. My hoard is not in the thousands of ounces where a $5 jump in silver prices would be a nice increase in my assets. With a hundred or more ounces, a hugely significant jump of $5 per ounce would not affect me positively financially--especially when that jump would probably indicate some downturns in other areas of investments.
    What is of interest to me about potential rising silver is how it affects collectible coins. Most of the high grade coins in mint state that I collect will not be affected at all, however the lower grade coins--many of them classic coinage--could be headed for melting pots.!
    What a shame for future lower budget and young collectors. I was perusing some price lists (trends for example) and was saddened to see that for many dates the silver value has passed the numismatic value.
    An example would be common date Franklin halves, Walkers, washington quarters, mercury dimes etc... Often Franklin Half Dollar coins in VF-XF range ( still nicely collectible coins and grades) have a numismatic value of $6 or LESS. However they also have over 1/3rd ounce of silver content. With prices near $18 per ounce for silver-- a slight increase in silver price would make these coins more valuable as silver than as coins, very sad !!
    I only use the Franklins as an example because when I was a kid, these were the first "higher dollar" coins I bought. Having collected mostly pennies and nickels in thumb buster albums--I'd go to our local coin shop with albums in hand and see if I could fill a few holes. The coin shop had 3-ring notebooks with pages of 2x2's in chronological order and if I was lucky, they may have some affordable ( for a kid with lawn-mowing money) grades that I could plug into my slots.
    Hopefully there will still be enough that escape melting for the next generation of kids...either that or the ones that are left will become scarcer and more expensive...
    Either way, I'll do my part..I've started a "rescue the decent coins" mission (not really)..Seriously though, I have started to purchase some nicer coins of even scarcer dates that I can find at or near melt..it is fun to find these old beauties for $8-15 and just put them away for posterity..
    Here's a nice little 1933-S Half I picked up for $8 ($11 with shipping) this one will escape the melting pot at least...

  20. jackson64
    One thing I feel that is needed in coinage is a uniformity on deciding what is an obverse and what is a reverse. Almost all US coinage is quite simple as we declare that the side with the Bust or Lady Liberty is usually the obverse. There are some instances with modern and classic commemorative issues where there remains inconsistency with opinions on which is the obverse and which the reverse.
    Things are far less clear with world coins. Many nations don't use busts at all but have National Shields, emblems or simply have variance on both sides with all issues. It remains often unclear which is considered the obverse. Is it determined by the side with the nation's name? How about the side with the year/date on it?
    The grading services seem to have no idea either- or maybe they just don't place any priority or are unconcerned with the issue. However collectors seem to have a certain inherent desire for uniformity or order in our collections.It seems as if the obverse should always be facing forward on the same side of the coin as the label, be it the Queen's bust, Liberty in one of her depictions or a former POTUS. Yet we don't even see this simple consistency. I have seen PCGS deliberately invert the reverse onto the label side simply because the reverse had some nice toning on it and the TPG decided of their own volition to place the coin in encapsulation with "reverse side up."
    I have a simple Canadian 10c Proof issue set. The Queen's bust in all its aging glory is depicted on the obverse of all 43 issued coins and my set is 100% complete, yet 11 of my 43 coins have the reverse on the label side and 32 of the coins with the Queen's bust on the label side. I do notice a trend though. Six of the coins with the Bluenose Schooner on the label side are perfect 70's...4 of the other 5 are commem issues with the commemorated event on the label side ( and one PF69UCAM just seems to be reversed for no reason at all, no matter how I try and reach.)
    Oh well, not the biggest of issues unless the coins in their slabs are meant for some type of display or group encasing. We can always just flip the coin over in-hand if we want to see the other side...
    What brought this about is the 2 sets I just finished--each having 1 coin inexplicably reversed with the obverse of the coin on the back of the slab. Am I the only one this happens to or has nobody else noticed this randomness? As we always say, it's about the coin and not the holder so que sera sera........
    Happy Hunting everyone
     


  21. jackson64

    A Wild Ebay Ride

    By jackson64,

    cleaned out my "impulse buys"
    At least once a year I try and take the time to go through my various cubbies, drawers, safe and SDB and pull out all of my impulse buys. It is amazing how many random coins I acquire each year that don't even come close to fitting into any of the sets that I am "actively building." Not just my impulse buys but also doubles from coins in my real sets that I've upgraded, coins I purchased to help a friend out, ones I've been holding until bullion values rose etc.
    I could easily turn this into a discussion about whether we Numismaniacs actually have a "Hobby or Habit", however I'm going to try and stay with my original topic for once.
    There have been 3 wonderful advancements to our great hobby in the past 20 years or so ( although you'd never guess by some of the negativity you consistently read in the forums and here in the journals). The 3 great changes? First came the advent of Grading Services and slabbed coins..the security of having coins authenticated and assigned an "official" ( yet not always accurate) grade was huge.
     
    Secondly, there is the introduction of the registries. We all know that the point system is not perfect, heck, last week I turned down a chance to own the 12 Presidential Dollars in PF70UCAM for $299 ( just not my taste) the only thing that tempted me was the OVER 10,000 points for these coins. I have coins I've paid $300 for that don't even get 300 points..go figure. What we do have though is a great community or Coin Club whose foundation is its members/collectors, not just the NGC letterhead ( at times we can even resemble a dysfunctional family with all of our infighting and diverse personality and opinions) but in the end we all are joined by our appreciation and enjoyment of these hand sized pieces of amazing artwork.
    Thirdly, and sometimes overlooked in its huge importance to our great hobby's advancement are the on-line auctions. As a kid collecting, when I had a slot in an album to fill and my one and only local coin shop didn't have it?...I'd have to wait and hope that he might get one in the future, there were no other options for me. Now if I want a date-even in a particular grade or slab- I don't need to do anything more than surf through the 2-3 dozen auction sites, on-line sellers and inventories of dealers. Usually I even get to be picky.
    Which brings me back to the Ebay wild adventure. So I realize that I hadn't sold anything on the bay in almost a year and wasn't sure what to expect since I've been hearing how far it has fallen. I listed 24 lots/auctions last Friday of all of my doubles and impulse buys..by Sunday night I had bids on 15 of the 24 but most were just opening 99c bids. I figured I'd spent around $650 on all of the stuff and wanted to get around $800 in the end considering silver was around $11 when I purchased a lot of it and is now at over $17.
    Anyhow, to cut this short, I have now gotten bids on all 24 items and they are slowly inching up in price with the mad rush of snipers ( I hope) coming later tonight. I am no big fan of fees and find the "paypal only" rule offensive, however if you want to get rid of stuff quickly and get paid quickly..it really is hard to beat.
    Speaking of impulse buying...here's a picture of a pretty Franklin Half that I "had to buy"...as a friend of mine likes to justify his flighty actions with the phrase "it was a moral imperative"..especially since it cost only $21..
    SPAM: for those who care to follow the ebay story to its conclusion and verify that ebay still works ( and I don't make this stuff up) http://shop.ebay.com/jax462/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

  22. jackson64
    the "facts" used as an example are not even close to the truth.
    I have only once ever replied to a journal entry, I try and keep the spirit of what the journal was intended for--A place for us as collectors to share our experience ( joys, frustrations and memories--thank you DM Merrill, simply awesome journal as always).
    I'm going to straddle the line here by clarifying some really bad misinformation, share an opinion and also share my most recent exciting addition to my collection.
    First, concerning some recent strange numbers posted during a venting about the 1941-S Walking Liberty Half. It was reported that there are thousands graded in MS66. The actual number by NGC is 216-- top Walker authorities and publications estimate that the true number is closer to 100 since many of these MS66's were submitted multiple times hoping to hit a "jackpot" of a price jump in MS67. As far as MS67's--there are not "hundreds of 67's and 68's" as you were told, there are 17 graded MS67's and not a single MS68 has ever been graded.
    Next, to complain that the prices/values aren't fair in comparison to other series ( in this case Franklins) is silly. The values are exactly what they are worth-period. Walkers are worth more because they are more popular and ultimately value is determined by demand-period-economics 101. The value of an MS66 is $1900 ( almost exactly what I paid for mine) and the jump which entices so many 66's to try for 67's is a $19,000 pricetag for an MS67. The last MS67 I saw sell at auction went for $42,000 so if anything the priceguides are undervaluing what the coin is selling for. ( PS: you can't compare rarities also of a series like Franklins with a designation (FBL)-vs a series with no designation, if we had FST-Full Seperate Thumb, there may actually not even be a single 1941-S with the designation, consider that !!)
    So the numbers of the pops are way off, the gripes about the price guide value is accurate if not conservative, and if a coin I spent almost $2000 on is not worth the 2500 points it gets--then let's just fix the whole point thing the easiest way...one point per dollar !!
    The point value for moderns in the registry is easy to figure out also. The registry is owned/operated by NGC- a business. NGC is by far the leading slabber of Modern Coinage and makes millions a year doing it. Dealers and collectors send in submissions after submissions hoping to win the coin lotteries and bring in a bunch of 70's. The dealers know that registry participants will pay 5-10x value of a coin if it is in a capsule that says 70. The skewed points system simply creates/fuels the drive and market by triggering these collectors innate competetive sense. ( And YES- I said collectors, because whether the coins are cuni, whether someone collects used stamps, beanie babies or empty beer cans from world breweries--THEY ARE COLLECTORS, value has nothing to do with this..and to say someone is not a collector because their coins are modern is snobbery. Conversely, if you purchase with value in mind or its long-term increase or profit margin, sad news-you are primarily an investor.)
    Okay, so that is the clarification on the misinformation about the 1941-S Walker--my opinion ( which will always be collect what you like and enjoy it--it's a hobby not my source of income)..so finally, my exciting new addition.
    I recently upgraded 2 of my Short Set dates--I bought a 1947 MS67 ( I can't seem to get a decent photo of this coin which is spectacular in hand but I can't capture the colors, strike, etc in a single image). I also just added a 1946 MS67 Walker. This coin cost me a pretty penny but with a pop of 38 and actually even 1 finer--I may not see another like this coin for a decade or more-if ever...so I snagged it--and yes, for the right coin with a unique look I will even pay well above list or priceguide value--because I am a collector trying to assemble the nicest set I can for my middling income level. I am also very grateful and humbled by the fact that I now have the means to spend over a thousand on a coin when so many of my fellow collectors may only be able to afford the latest in the Prezzie series--but I'm sure that if they love the hobby and collecting as much as I do, then that Prezzie gives them the same joy and excitement when it arrives in the mail and is added to their collection--let none of us squelch that joy of a fellow collector.

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  23. jackson64
    hoping my perspective is not skewed.....
    I'll keep this one short........ I visited the Stacks-Bowers webpage on Thursday evening when I got home to see if I had won a coin that I had put a healthy bid on. I see 1945-D Walker MS67's here and there, it is not a conditional rarity at MS67. This coin though is not your average 67 ( at least for the "look" that I like in a Walker). Bold strike, satiny luster which pops through some lavender and rose blush fields, and just a bit of rainbow around the rims-- a unique coin that stands out from the dozens and dozens of blast white ones. ( I like blast white also but I try and find "unique" coins that stand out).
    Well the internet bidding had ended earlier and the floor bidding had just finished-- I HAD WON !! but here's the best part, ...I actually won for almost $500 less than my max bid !!! ( and if someone here was the consignor, then I apologize for my exuberance).
    Soooooo..what does a true coin nut do when he wins a coin for $500 less than he was willing to pay? Why of course he simply starts looking through the lots whose bidding hasn't closed yet ! Yep, that $500 in my twisted thinking was money I could buy another coin with--not $500 saved. Funny thing is, I ended up spending more than $500 because I won a $10 gold eagle coronet head in MS62 for my gold type set. In my mind and twisted thinking I won that coin for only $220+ fees because the first $500 was "house money".... now is this twisted thinking or have any of you done the same? Maybe it's just me and I should get some help.........
    Here's the obverse of my 1945-D Walker MS67...

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  24. jackson64
    after 2 straight times of being sniped........
    At 2 of the most recent big auctions I have gotten painfully sniped. In one of them, there was a gorgeous 1934-D for my mid-date Walker set. The coin had beautiful, distinctive toning and a full strike of the head area of Ms Liberty. For those familiar with the Walker series, you'll know how flat the 34-D head strike is and how prized a nice strike is. Well I had the high bid for a whole month prior to the sale. The night before the sale I even bumped up my bid by another $100 because I was leaving for vacation on the next morning and would not have internet access for the live bidding on-line.
    So I checked the auction a few days later, confident that I probably hasd won the coin, only to find that I had gotten sniped by 1 bid increment. There is nothing like losing a coin by one bid increment to really make you anguish over the loss.
    In my mind this coin has turned into a "once in a million" chance to fill the slot in my collection with " a unique and stunning dazzler" only to have gone by the wayside because I held back another $100 that I probably could have afforded.
    A few weeks later another 34-D showed up in a numeric grade of MS66 and was also distinctive in its rainbow rimmed glory. This time however I was the high internet bidder but lost the live auction to a bid of over $2300 which is well more than I could or would have bid. Losing by $600 does not sting as bad as losing by $25- that's for sure.
    So tonight I remebered that the Goldberg auction for a nice upgrade for my short set- a 1941-D MS67 was scheduled. I had entered in a modest internet pre-bid with hopes of sniping it on the live bid ( if necessary). By the time I got home and got online the auction had already passed the lots that I hadf bid on !!
    Oh no, not again! However it seems that my recent little run of numismatic luck continues. I had 4 coins with modest bids on them and I actually won 2 of them !! One is a crusty 1912 Barber Half in XF40 for my "One Fine Set" Barber collection which has all coins in Fine to XF range.
    The second win was my 1941-D upgrade for my Walker short set. I barely won by bidding between increments with my on-line bid, so it was nice to win an auction by just $11-- it helps alleviate some of that anguish of losing the 34-D. I have to say "some" because that coin will haunt me for a while.
    So here's the auction photo of my newest prize. I can't wait to get it in hand with my 20x loupe. It shows some dazzling hints of colors in the recesses and should be quite beguiling to drink in when I've got it in hand and can delight in all of the subtle swirls and highlights........

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  25. jackson64
    I'm going to have to face the facts...
    I believe that it was Albert Einstein who said, " The definition of insanity is making the same mistakes and expecting different results." ( often misquoted as "doing the same thing and expecting..."). Well I am either hardheaded beyond cure, thick as a brick or certifiable because for years I have been making the same mistakes and inevitably getting the same results.
    The last I journaled--before the new year I believe--I had my fingers crossed as I sent 5 of my Walkers away for regrade. I was sincerely hoping for an upgrade or possibly a + or star for at least 4 of the 5 coins. I used my 5 free submission "coupon" on this instead of getting some of the "to be slabbed" pile taken care of. I have ASE proofs in boxes, foreign gold, old BU Washies with color, and Canada proof sets with the dimes and $2 polar bears I collect, all of which I keep meaning to get in slabs but keep putting off.
    Instead, I again fed my insanity. How bad of a submitter am I ?? I may be the only person who routinely LOSES money on submissions. How is this possible you may wonder, well I'll tell you...........
    You see, of the 5 Walkers I submitted, 2 were in old NGC fattie holders which sell at a premium and 2 had CAC stickers for being premium quality coins, which also sell at a bit of a premium. However my coins all came back in brand new shiny holders ( I guess they do this automatically--lesson learned here)..so I lose the value of the coveted old generation slabs and also the CAC value.
    However this was not my first brainless moment. My prior submission was also a money loser. I had purchased the limited edition Canada proof set last year. Unlike the normal silver proof sets, there were only 5000 minted of this set and it was a pain locating one since the mint sold out in one day and dealers were marking it up accordingly. To cut to the chase, I submitted the set directly to NGC--hard oak box, COAS and untouched capsules..my results were that they all came back as (2)67's and (3)68's for my 5 coin set. The irony is that the coins were worth more raw than they are in slabs with such low grades for moderns. Now I'm without the box and COA also so cracking them out and putting them back in original packaging is not an option ( another lesson learned).
    So I may be learning some lessons ( and they do get expensive), but my insanity persists. How do I know that I'm not cured? Because my pile of "to be graded" coins still sit on velvet lined trays waiting for my craziness to boil over and send in another batch for my next installment of disappointment.
     
    Picked up this overlooked semi-key for my Barber Half set the other night. The 1909-O is not often mentioned when talking about Barber keys/semis but with an NGC gaded pop of just 81--in all grades-- and similar pop in PCGS...there just may not be that many of these still in existence ( at least with a collectible quality to them)..
    PS: almost forgot..congratulations to everyone who was recognized by NGC this year for your excellence in collecting, whether it was assembling, presentation or journaling..all of the awards were well given. And thank you NGC for recognizing me and my love of my humble Walker set as well...

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