Best Of

Collectors, first and foremost, have choices and I have repeatedly told beginning collectors that the smart move when considering the purchase of a coin is to simply walk away 95-99% of the time. When I bought that Bechtler dollar, it was an impulsive act. When I saw it posted for sale, I instinctively knew that it had toning (most have been dipped) that was very unusual and authentic-looking, so I immediately bought it. Later that day, a number of Forum members wrote that they tried to buy it, so I thought I had a prize. A few fleeting moments of smugness cost me $2-3K, and it was for a coin that did not fit into my collection. Not being disciplined is a good way to wind up upside down. Another stupid mistake I made was to unhesitatingly accept the representations of the dealer regarding this coin. Listen to what a dealer has to say about a coin, but if he is trying to sell that coin to you, exercise caution. Appearance and reality do not always coincide, especially where coin dealers are concerned.

Another way to wind up in the red (even after a decade or more of ownership) is to choose a niche area that is largely in the control of one or a few dealers. Some years ago, there was an extended thread about one dealer who specialized in high-end Franklins---he clearly was not interested in making a two-way market and priced what he had for sale to the hilt. Collectors who buy coins mostly from dealers should make an effort to understand their business models--one way to do this is to occasionally offer a coin back to the dealer from whom it was purchased in the first place. The dealer's response can be quite revealing.

Got the results from PCGS this morning, for coin #36 in the census.

1 42653019 545047 1919 10C DDO FS-101 FR02 USA

Will have Trueview images shortly.

Good call on the grade StrikeOutXXX

I "upgraded" the MS65 I had with a MS64

I cracked this one out of an MS64 OGH and submitted it raw. It got body-bagged (Alt-Surf)
After sending it back in to have it conserved, it came back MS64.
It's now the lowest graded coin in my set but looks better than ANY MS65 I have ever seen. (and a couple MS66)

Purchase price $2875 PCGS price $2750 (not including reso fee + 1st grading attempt)
I give up. I really like it even if the graders don't.

I'm not buying this. Not sure if it qualifies as a coin or a manhole cover. Here is the description and obverse picture. It looks nice but come on......

World bullion coins are often dedicated to the national symbols, therefore, the "Czech Lion", is not an exception. The massive 3 Kilogram weight of this stunning silver coin has been struck in top quality proof finish and features an embedded security hologram.

In the Middle Ages, when all coins were made of precious metals, mint masters were afraid of counterfeiters who imitated their work to enrich themselves. Penalties were cruel at that time, and most of the criminals that were caught lost their lives.

The Czech Mint provides an innovative solution, their CZECH SECURITY PRIVY belongs to the latest of their preventive measures. It is an embossed hologram in the shape of a shield placed on the bottom of the reverse side of the coin. This hologram is not only a protective element, but also a decoration.

It is dedicated to a depiction of a Czech lion from the workshop of medal maker Asamat Baltaev, DiS. You do not need any specialized equipment to see the CZECH SECURITY CHECK protection element - it is visible even to the naked eye. Then you can explore it with simple, commonly available tools - a magnifying glass and a sharp spot light, for example, with a mobile phone flash.

When illuminated at a certain angle, a hidden "moving" figure appears in the shield. While the observation of a holographic security element is very easy, its production is extremely difficult, therefore, cannot be imitated easily. The hologram was processed by the highly specialized Czech company IQ Structures, which ranks among the world's leaders in the field of holographic technologies. The engraving of the hologram into the precious metal is also extremely technologically demanding so that all its special effects - kinetic or colored - were preserved.

The reverse side of the coin is dominated by the Czech lion in an untraditionally realistic presentation with the St. Wenceslas Crown on its head along with the hologram security feature. The obverse side then bears an eagle on a shield, which is a synthesis of St. Wenceslas, Moravian and Silesian predators.

Since the coins of the Czech Mint are licensed by a foreign issuer, the island of Niue, their obverse sides bear its necessary attributes - the name and portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, a nominal value of 240 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2021.

The coin is stored in a luxurious wooden etui together with a booklet that will introduce the security element CZECH SECURITY CHECK and the history of counterfeiting.

Specifications:

Year: 2021
Quality: Proof
Denomination: 240 Dollars (NZD)
Metal Content: 3 Kilograms (3,000 Grams)
Issuer: Niue
Purity: .999
Mintage: 100
Diameter: 120 mm
Mint Capsule, Luxury Wood Box, Booklet

Oh, the price?

$5,719.98 USD