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The things you learn on eBay

MarkMark Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
I was looking through some eBay listings and came across this listing from a true genius. In particular, I was stuck by his advanced knowledge of metallurgy. How many of you realized that in 1940, due to World War II, in the case of "mercury" dimes "THEY DIDNT HAVE METAL OR COPPER BECAUSE IT WENT TO AMMUNITION AND WEAPONS SO THIS [the dime] IS MADE FROM MERCURY!"

Setting aside the fact that mercury is poisonous, it is also liquid at room tempratures. So how the devil did "THEY" manage to make a dime from that metal??

Mark

P.S.: I also liked his "return policy," listed under Seller's payment instructions: "There are no returns nor is there a reason to be. This is a great ITEM and is in perfect condition!"
Mark


Comments

  • wam98wam98 Posts: 2,685 ✭
    image
    Wayne
    ******
  • tlhoytlhoy Posts: 2,204
    image

    Glenn
  • MyWorldCoinTypeSetMyWorldCoinTypeSet Posts: 1,329 ✭✭✭
    Brilliant!
    Paul

    My World Coin Type Set
  • orieorie Posts: 998 ✭
    Beverly Hills, California
    Cool set...poor pics
  • kiddkidd Posts: 230
    Mercury is VERY heavy. Imagine a pocket full of change if what he said were true.image a small bottle wieghs somewhere between 50 and 100 lbs.
    If you can read this, your too close.

    A DAMMIT BOY from Jonesy 1/25/05

    Lieutenant, Covert Operations
    Subcommittee

    my first POTD award 7/16/05
    the cat ate my blue fish.
  • fcloudfcloud Posts: 12,133 ✭✭✭✭
    Berverly Hill... What else can I say.

    President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay

  • UncleWigglyUncleWiggly Posts: 2,467
    Isn't mercury (same thing in old time thermometers) a fluid? Takes the shape of whatever it is poured into? When I was a kid we use to take mercury from thermometers and rub it on nickels, dimes etc. made em shiney for sure! I think I'll get a mercury dime, chisel off the wing, and call it a mint error.
  • famousramosfamousramos Posts: 78
    We weren't even in the war until the end of 1941image

    Officially anyway.
    imageimageimage


    My ebay auctions!!
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image
  • kiddkidd Posts: 230
    There are many uses for it, it will remove lead deposits from gun barrels. wouldn`t want to carry it in my pocket, that`s for sure.
    If you can read this, your too close.

    A DAMMIT BOY from Jonesy 1/25/05

    Lieutenant, Covert Operations
    Subcommittee

    my first POTD award 7/16/05
    the cat ate my blue fish.
  • roadrunnerroadrunner Posts: 28,303 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Mercury (Hg) and Gold (AU) are very similar in weight/density. A small bottle of Hg at 50-100 lbs is no small bottle. Unless you're thinking milk bottle or wine bottle. An equivalent weight of 50 lbs in gold would be 800 $20 gold pieces. Try fitting those in a small bottle.

    roadrunner
    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • SUPERCARCOINSSUPERCARCOINS Posts: 1,152
    ...........you feller's are silly - Mercury is a PLANET !!image
  • famousramosfamousramos Posts: 78
    Does it look like the dime is in an NGC holder??? Hi-jacked picture??
    imageimageimage


    My ebay auctions!!
  • tlhoytlhoy Posts: 2,204
    STOLEN PICTURE

    http://i5.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/0c/7c/78_1_b.JPG 1940
    http://i5.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/0c/7c/78_1_b.JPG 1940

    Stolen from HERE!

    Glenn
    shiegabbai auction picture................................................................................................midascoins auction picture
    imageimage
  • mercurynutmercurynut Posts: 3,207
    That is just sad! image
  • kiddkidd Posts: 230
    Sorry roadrunner, i may have been a little off. a friend of mine has 23 lbs of it and it is less than a quart. if you want, you can melt down the gold to see what a quart of it would weigh, if you do, please let me know so i will know exactly. just in case that info is ever needed here.
    thank you, Kiddimage
    If you can read this, your too close.

    A DAMMIT BOY from Jonesy 1/25/05

    Lieutenant, Covert Operations
    Subcommittee

    my first POTD award 7/16/05
    the cat ate my blue fish.
  • ibzman350ibzman350 Posts: 5,315 ✭
    "When I was a kid we use to take mercury from thermometers and rub it on nickels, dimes etc. made em shiney for sure! "


    I use to do that also image until my uncle the pharmacist told me how mercury was poisonous.


    "STOLEN PICTURE"

    that's the first thing that came to my mind, I just knew that a genius like that couldn't take pics of that quality.



    Herb

    Remember it's not how you pick your nose that matters, it's where you put the boogers.
    imageimageimage
  • UncleWigglyUncleWiggly Posts: 2,467
    Has anybody reported it or contacted the seller?
  • DeadhorseDeadhorse Posts: 3,720 ✭
    Specific gravity of gold is 19.32, silver is 10.5 while Mercury is 13.55, so Mercury is closer in weight to lead or silver than it is to gold.

    50 pounds of mercury would be about 10% less volume than a $1000.00 bag of 90% silver coinage. Another way would be to imagine nine 100 ounce bars of silver.

    Something on the order of the size of a one gallon milk jug would be a good visualization if you want to look at it in bottle volume.
    "Lenin is certainly right. There is no subtler or more severe means of overturning the existing basis of society(destroy capitalism) than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and it does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose."
    John Marnard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235ff
  • tlhoytlhoy Posts: 2,204


    << <i>Has anybody reported it or contacted the seller? >>



    Yes, I sent midascoins a link to the thief's auction.

    Glenn
  • K6AZK6AZ Posts: 9,295 ✭
    Just an interesting note, the seller where he stole the images from has his PO Box a couple of rows below mine, and I've run into him several times at the PO. I'll mention it to him the next time I see him.
  • JdurgJdurg Posts: 997 ✭
    The common unit of trade for Mercury is a 'flask' which is a 76 pound jug. It's about the size of a loaf of bread. On a density basis, gold is much denser than mercury is. (As has alredy been pointed out in this thread). I have a personal collection of the elements (yeah, I know it's weird but I love chemistry and this collection is incredibly neat), and in that collection I have good samples of gold and mercury. They are both in 20mL vials which are about half full. The gold one weighs noticeably more than the mercury one. (And the mercury one actually contains more mercury because the gold vial has a lot of empty spaces in it). Still, it's funny to think that some people are actually dumb enough to believe that mercury dimes were made from mercury. lol. image


    (If you'd like to see my element collection, you can download a slightly outdate picture of it from here.
    I collect the elements on the periodic table, and some coins. I have a complete Roosevelt set, and am putting together a set of coins from 1880.
  • kiddkidd Posts: 230
    OK OK then we agree that a pocket full would be really heavy? lighten up guys i admitted that i was off on the weight. Have a merry christmas. buy youselves a drink and send me the bill already.image
    If you can read this, your too close.

    A DAMMIT BOY from Jonesy 1/25/05

    Lieutenant, Covert Operations
    Subcommittee

    my first POTD award 7/16/05
    the cat ate my blue fish.
  • JdurgJdurg Posts: 997 ✭
    It'd be hard to have a pocketful of mercury because it would keep seeping out through the holes in your pocket. lol. But that would have to feel pretty neat.
    I collect the elements on the periodic table, and some coins. I have a complete Roosevelt set, and am putting together a set of coins from 1880.
  • SUPERCARCOINSSUPERCARCOINS Posts: 1,152
    .................yessssssssss......we'd rub it in our pocket's we would.....................my precioussssssssssssssss.......
  • UncleWigglyUncleWiggly Posts: 2,467


    << <i>OK OK then we agree that a pocket full would be really heavy? lighten up guys i admitted that i was off on the weight. Have a merry christmas. buy youselves a drink and send me the bill already.image >>



    I'd rather buy a glob of mercury. I actually did swallow some when I was younger.


    Jerry
  • wayneherndonwayneherndon Posts: 2,356 ✭✭✭
    Not sure about mercury and gold but this seller certainly is dense.

    WH
    We are: WHRC Wizard PotoPromo
  • TWODOGSTWODOGS Posts: 1,419
    I've got about 5 ounces of mercury that I've been hanging onto because I'm not sure how to dispose of it properly. I guess I could contact the local HazMat guys.
    J.C.
    *******************************************************************************

    imageimageSee ya on the other side, Dudes. image
  • robertprrobertpr Posts: 6,862 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Isn't mercury (same thing in old time thermometers) a fluid? Takes the shape of whatever it is poured into? >>



    That made them much easier to strike! image
  • HedgerHedger Posts: 1,238
    Now this explains everything! No wonder I always feel woosie around those dimes.
  • DeadhorseDeadhorse Posts: 3,720 ✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Isn't mercury (same thing in old time thermometers) a fluid? Takes the shape of whatever it is poured into? >>



    That made them much easier to strike! image >>



    Nah, they just kept the press room real cold.

    Mercury becomes a solid at -40 F image
    "Lenin is certainly right. There is no subtler or more severe means of overturning the existing basis of society(destroy capitalism) than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and it does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose."
    John Marnard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235ff
  • majorbigtimemajorbigtime Posts: 2,937 ✭


    << <i>I "THEY DIDNT HAVE METAL OR COPPER BECAUSE IT WENT TO AMMUNITION AND WEAPONS SO THIS [the dime] IS MADE FROM MERCURY!"

    Setting aside the fact that mercury is poisonous, it is also liquid at room tempratures. >>



    Sounds like a killer dime!!
  • astroratastrorat Posts: 9,221 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Not sure about mercury and gold but this seller certainly is dense.

    WH >>



    Ouch! That was SO bad! image

    Lane
    Numismatist Ordinaire
    See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
  • astroratastrorat Posts: 9,221 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I have a personal collection of the elements . . . >>



    You're my kind of geek! image

    Lane
    Numismatist Ordinaire
    See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
  • NeptuneNeptune Posts: 2,221
    Denny Crane.

  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If he stole the picture has he even got a 1940 proof? Or has he just got a circulation coin and is trying to rip somebody off. But since it's out of a wierd metal it sure cost a lot to ship. $10.00 shipping for a dime.
    My Current project....https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/album/160794
  • tmot99tmot99 Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭
    Jdurg, that is a really cool collection. As a chemist, I can appreciate that. I'm not seeing your radioactive elements. Where do you store those? image
  • Jody526Jody526 Posts: 296 ✭
    Those "Mercury" dimes must be pretty heavy.

    $9.99 to ship one. (uninsured) image
    Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
    Forbid it, Almighty God!
    I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
    ~PATRICK HENRY~
  • kiddkidd Posts: 230
    Shhhhh, don`t mention the weight of these things around here Jody526.image
    If you can read this, your too close.

    A DAMMIT BOY from Jonesy 1/25/05

    Lieutenant, Covert Operations
    Subcommittee

    my first POTD award 7/16/05
    the cat ate my blue fish.
  • Jody526Jody526 Posts: 296 ✭


    << <i>Shhhhh, don`t mention the weight of these things around here Jody526.image >>



    Sorry, I didn't know.image

    Hope I didn't step on anyone's toes. image
    Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
    Forbid it, Almighty God!
    I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
    ~PATRICK HENRY~
  • kiddkidd Posts: 230
    image
    It`s ok with me Jody.
    If you can read this, your too close.

    A DAMMIT BOY from Jonesy 1/25/05

    Lieutenant, Covert Operations
    Subcommittee

    my first POTD award 7/16/05
    the cat ate my blue fish.
  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Besides the fact that it's not some rare metal. It has a no return policy. And he has pictures posted of somebody else's coin. Did we forget that this fool is trying to steal someones money. He's a crook and he should be kicked off ebay. If somebody knows how to, please burn this crook.
    My Current project....https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/album/160794
  • pharmerpharmer Posts: 8,355 ✭
    He pulled it
    Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

    Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."

    image
  • kiddkidd Posts: 230
    Relisted with alot of changes to the listing. a more honest auction now. still too high priced for me though.image
    If you can read this, your too close.

    A DAMMIT BOY from Jonesy 1/25/05

    Lieutenant, Covert Operations
    Subcommittee

    my first POTD award 7/16/05
    the cat ate my blue fish.
  • JdurgJdurg Posts: 997 ✭
    The photos still appear to be stolen, but at least the tomfoolery about it being a WWII era coin and that it was made out of mercury is gone. (Though I think you'd be kind of crazy to bid on any of this guy's auctions).
    I collect the elements on the periodic table, and some coins. I have a complete Roosevelt set, and am putting together a set of coins from 1880.
  • CoinOnTheCobCoinOnTheCob Posts: 712
    Someone on another thread said that he sent the seller a "question" and told him about American history and some of the physical properties of mercury. Someone should also tell this seller that the dime, in uncirculated condition is worth about five bucks. (notice how he says that the dime shown is not the dime that’s for sale.) His shipping cost is more than the value of the coin.
    imageimage
  • morgannut2morgannut2 Posts: 4,293 ✭
    Hey guys this is a full disclosure seller!!! Dipping Merc.'s in Mercury to make them look proof is

    AN HONORED time tested scam on Ebay. He's just being honest isn't he??image
    morgannut2

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