Has anyone heard of the "TWA" Grading Company?
braddick
Posts: 24,152 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was looking for interesting slabbed and certified coins on eBay and came upon this Kennedy half dollar.
I tried looking up "TWA" grading but didn't get any results.
Are they reputable?
On a side note, it would be difficult to crack their slabs, for sure.
23
Comments
@braddick ....
Good one.... Still laughing. I think it would eventually dissolve in acetone.... like a five gallon can of it. 
Cheers, RickO
TWA is an airline. This must have been a promotional piece for an employee
Yes, its nickname was Teeny Weeny Airlines.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Ha! This is funny...TWA, the once mighty international airline, in business from 1930-2001....I doubt they decided to get into coin grading!
Error slab...no label...worth moon money.
It's a Lucite (which is an acrylic resin) paper weight containing a 1964 Kennedy half dollar produced for Trans World Airlines probably around 1964 or soon thereafter. It's not a slab and the coin hasn't been graded. It's worth more as a paper weight than if the coin were removed.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Forget trying to dissolve Lucite in acetone. Will not work and will just ruin a cute paperweight.
I have a CC dollar in Lucite that someone tried to get out. One of these days, I may try to finish the job.
Oh yeah... They had Economy, First Class, Business Class, and Mile High Club member grading tiers.
That’s the airline TWA. I’m guessing that was an award for someone. Probably collectible if offered to someone into airplanes.
You can try dissolving the acrylic, but it will take quite a bit based on the cube size. I would just keep it as is.
For a Lucite paperweight that's probably over 50 years old, it in very good condition. Most Lucite paperweights that old are dull, scratched, and chipped.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I came over from Italy on a TWA in 1969. I recognize the airline logo.
As some have already suggested, maybe an award for an employee or maybe an TWA employee paperweight for 1964.
Cool piece. Thanks for sharing it.
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@Braddick, to remove the coin, if that's your choice, place it in the freezer for an hour or two. Then just lay it on some flat concrete and smack it with a hammer.
You should try and cross it over to Prism grading company, I hear they are worth more. I don’t think it would qualify to get the special “First Issue” label though.
Mr_Spud
Yeah,
TWA Airlines
Unfortunately, they were just one of many
involved tragic accidents in the not too past!
Sad. Can't persisily recall what date and/or specific incident.
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Did someone say ‘error’ 😉
Post your Howard Hughes coins.
Weren't they the airline who put the DC-10 into Boston Harbor?
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From what I understand, acetone will work, eventually.
NCS is able to remove coins from lucite blocks. If you have something that is worth extracting, I would absolutely recommend that you pay their conservation fee rather than risk ruining it by trying to extract it yourself.
This subject has come up several times on E-Sylum, see for example https://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n29a13.html.
That's actually a pretty nice coin!
Young Numismatist
Lockerby
They got acquired by AA Coin Grading
Personally I prefer my paper weights to be silver bars but that’s just me 🤣
Right now you have a vintage collectible that might do well in eBay as is. Buy $20 worth of acetone and waste a lot of time and you will have 50 cents worth of junk silver worth what? Ten bucks? IF it works, and I still say it won’t!
Doesn't look to have many bag marks?
I can't remember, maybe?
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.I flew into St. Louis on TWA in the late 80s. There was extreme turbulence, people not buckled in hit the ceiling and back into their seats a few times. The gal next to me hurled out her cheese plate into her hair. It was memorably gross.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/788064/first-a-quot-coins-in-lucite-quot-thread-then-a-colonial-thread-heres-a-quot-fugio-in-lucite
Lol. Also, amazed that some of the posters thought Braddick was serious🤣
Here is how to get it out - or not!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbMVD06Cut8
.
And another forum discussion.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/989967/anyone-know-a-way-to-safely-remove-a-coin-from-lucite
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_KWVk0XeB9o - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Piece Of My Heart
.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
There it is! As I have stated many times, the only way to keep a coin from toning is to encapsulate it in a 2 inch cube of lucite.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
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Is the mile high club grading tier a 2 minute turn around? 🫣😱😅
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Send to Jet Blue for toning infusion.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
No. It is grading an MS 60 coin at MS 65 after the grader has taken a hit on a joint (in a state where MJ is legal)
Ask not how to remove the coin from the slab.
Ask how to remove the slab from the coin.
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That is really cool, thanks for sharing.
Lockerby was Pam Am 103
TWA's most widely known accident was Flight 800 which disintegrated over the Atlantic. Deregulation did TWA in (as well as other factors such as an aging fleet, etc.) and forced the sale to American Airlines.
I had this sitting on my desk with some Eastern ones.
K
There are collectors of Airline memorabilia... leave this as it is.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
A cool airlines promo of some type.
Agree with the above. Keep it as is. That thing is air-tite for sure.
Pocket Change Inspector
That’s an old TWA “Fatty”.