The Registry Coin that was Not to Be.

Fairlaneman · January 17, 2003 9:53AM

Crap I hate Typing and this is the second time I have had to type this. Darn thread went off into thin air. Anyway here we go again.

This little Saga started about two months ago with a Ebay Auction that caught the eye. It was for a very nicely Toned 41S Merc Dime in PCGS MS66FB, a perfect replacement for the 65 coin that was entered in the Set. Tone, a little higher grade just the thing that was wanted.

Well the usual Ebay ploy of mine was used on a Item I really want. Onto the watch list it went. Kept a eye on it all week and the price stayed within reason. Enter Aaron, one of the board members here, he is the high bidder with one hour left in the auction. Now we are down to the last ten seconds. Wham the snipe goes in. Darn it, did not bid enough and Aaron wins the coin.

A couple of weeks go by and jumping Kangaroo's, the dime shows on Ebay again with Aaron as the seller. No Bids yet. Email is whipped off to Aaron telling him I will buy the dime at his price. By the time the answer is received from Aaron the Dime has a bid. Foiled again. Back to the wonderfull Ebay watch list for another week. Gets down to the last day and the mind says Bid Now and No Darn Snipe attempt. Bid placed and the Old Man is the high bidder. Down to the last minute with a Much Higher Bid ready if needed. Ten seconds left, higher bid placed and wait for the results. Heck it was not needed, I won the Dime with the first bid.

Check put into the Mail immediately and give Feedback to Aaron because I know that there will be No Problems. A few days later Aaron gives me Feedback so I figure he got the money and shipped the dime. Into the Set it goes.

A week or so later after the Dime has not shown up I Email Aaron and he assures me the Dime shipped on the 27th of December. He asks if I will check on My end and he will do the same on his end. Neither of us come up with anything. I was in no rush because of the Holiday Season and I figured maybe the Baby was temporairly lost in transit.

Now we are up to January 17, 2003, thats today. A email comes from Aaron stating that he received part of the Package back. Yep I said Part of the Package. A little later on in the day Aaron takes pictures and Emails them to me. He was correct, one corner of the package was returned to him within a US Postal Service Envelope. Appears the Postal Service Mangled the Package and the Contents. Or maybe a Postal employee has a nice 41S Merc Dime I really wanted.

Well thats it. This Coin for sure was not to be for the Registry Set, well mine anyway. The Good thing is that both Aaron and Myself increased our Ebay Feedback by one notch.

Another Good thing is that I still have the 41S that was going to be replaced. To the Bank, get number and re-enter again.

Ken

LucyBop · January 17, 2003 10:18AM

What a terrible story. But your spirit is very uplifting.... See, The Merc Heads are the best!!!!!!!

python1 · January 17, 2003 10:43AM

Ken,
sounds like you are destined to be the only merc collector to have all the luck!LOL

Just kidding, I sure hate that happends, but it does happen way to often, packages getting distroyed by the mail service, I do hope you at least had insurance on it.
Let me be the first to say, thank you for retyping that story, it was worth it.

Lucy, hi!

LucyBop · January 17, 2003 11:07AM

Hi Dennis!!!!!!!!!!

Fairlaneman · January 17, 2003 11:20AM

Lucy it was not Terrible but somewhat of a let down.

And I believe it was real pretty.

Dennis that was a first for me. Had one problem about 4 years ago but nothing since. I just wonder if the Holiday Mail volumn had anything to do with the destruction.

Ken

djm · January 17, 2003 1:52PM

You still have one more chance to get that coin in your registry set. If the coin is truely lost in the mail and you have an idea of which major city it was lost near, the USPS has either quarterly or semi-annual auctions of all the stuff that is lost or undeliverable. You can contact your local postmaster for the dates. I don't think they auction over the web.

djm · January 17, 2003 2:01PM

This is the info I got from the USPS Website:

USPS - Postal Auctions of Damaged and Unclaimed Items Auctions of damaged or unclaimed items are held periodically at each of our Mail Recovery Centers. Auctions usually start at 10:00 am and bidders may view the merchandise one-hour before the actual bidding process begins. Atlanta Mail Recovery Center PO Box 44161 Atlanta, GA 30336-9590 Note: There will be no auctions held during 2002 at the St. Paul and San Francisco Mail Recovery Centers.

Happy Hunting.

JoeHolt · January 17, 2003 2:46PM

or you could wait till the POSTAL worker puts it back on Ebay I always heard the 3rd time is the charm

sorry about your loss

Joe

Cocoinut · January 17, 2003 3:15PM

I think there are postal employees who have found an inexpensive way to add to their coin collections.

I had an unpleasant experience 3 years ago that cost me $150. I still get mad when I think about it. Hope you're reimbursed for your loss.

Jim

MastaHanky · January 17, 2003 5:48PM

I actually had the same thing happen to me, coincidentally with a MS66FB Mercury Dime (don't remember which date though). Post office delivers an empty package with apology note. We call the post office, and they were actually able to find the coins...they spilled onto the floor. Had them in hand within two days.

The Registry Coin that was Not to Be.

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