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The $40,000 fingerprint, a forum flashback

shylockshylock Posts: 4,288 ✭✭✭
By Truthteller, who I think has since been banned. That may account for how hard it was to find this thread.

I've since learned a bit more about this coin, and a prominent forum member who joined the forum
after this post could give us more accurate details. But it was a fun bedtime story and the forum at its best:

A bedtime story: the $40,000 fingerprint

Comments

  • A sad, sad, story image

    A priceless gem, ruined image
    -Ben T. * Collector of Errors! * Proud member of the CUFYNA
  • TorinoCobra71TorinoCobra71 Posts: 8,020 ✭✭✭
    Yeah real bummer, thanks for the trip down memory lane......

    TorinoCobra71

    image
  • BigMooseBigMoose Posts: 1,466 ✭✭✭
    Shylock, I think the coin in question was a Proof Indian Cent which graded PR69RD and subsequently developed a fingerprint and was bought back by PCGS. TomT.
    TomT-1794

    Check out some of my 1794 Large Cents on www.coingallery.org
  • pontiacinfpontiacinf Posts: 8,915 ✭✭
    I miss Truthteller and Spooley big time. Truth provided many hours of entertainment till his dismissal, and Spooley...

    WHERES SPOOLEY????
    spooley if you come back I have some nice lage cents for yaimage

    thanks for digging that up Paul image
    image

    Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
  • MyqqyMyqqy Posts: 9,777
    Are there any pics of the defiled coin?
    My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable !
  • BlindedByEgoBlindedByEgo Posts: 10,754 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Unless there is another Truthteller, his last post was Jan 29th, 2006. Why would he be bammed?

  • IrishMikeIrishMike Posts: 7,738 ✭✭✭
    I don't think he was, by choice he posts across the street.
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,305 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Truth rarely posts except across the street. If memory serves he quit posting during "The Troubles".

    Spooly still posts.

    I hadn't seen this thread before though the story is well known here.
    Tempus fugit.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,515 ✭✭✭
    Now, this is freaky:



    << <i>It shows that they will stand behind their grades with their checkbook. >>



    Greg saying something NICE about PCGS. image

    Russ, NCNE
  • F117ASRF117ASR Posts: 1,416 ✭✭✭
    Ugh! That's horrible! (Great story-telling though). PR69! Ruined. It would be okay if they ruined something less rare but oh! Such a shame. I would love to see a pic of the coin before the print. I hope PCGS graders wore gloves after that.
    Beware of the flying monkeys!
    Aerospace Structures Engineer
  • a heartbreak!
  • I think PCGS graders are still gloveless. Anybody know for sure?
  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    They don't wear gloves in the video.
    Video
  • in the PCGS Grading Process Video (after 1:57) you can see a grader handling a $20 Saint without gloves.

    Check the video at this link.

    cho10

    Collecting since the 1980's
    Morgan Dollars Circ. Strikes
    - Basic Set - Varieties - Prooflike Basic Set - Date Set
    - Carson City - Early S Mint Short Set - Mintmark Type Set
    Morgan Dollars Proof
    - Basic Set - Varieties
    Peace Circ.


  • << <i>I hope PCGS graders wore gloves after that. >>


    Neither the graders nor the encapsulation people wear gloves.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,515 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I hope PCGS graders wore gloves after that. >>



    It is highly unlikely that it was actually a grader who fingerprinted the coin. This invariably happens when the coin is put in the o-ring by the slabber person.

    Russ, NCNE
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    I wonder if PCGS has ever had any of these pricey fingerprints analyzed to determine to whom the print belongs. Anyone know?
  • STEWARTBLAYNUMISSTEWARTBLAYNUMIS Posts: 2,697 ✭✭✭✭
    Big Moose is correct in that the coin was a 1901 Proof 69 Indian cent that I remember seeing in Andy Lustig's case at the 1989 Pittsburgh ANA.His prices were always High

    Stewart
  • dpooledpoole Posts: 5,940 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I remember that thread!

    Spooly got into building his house and acquiring artwork for it a couple years back. He hasn't been nearly as active since then. image
  • ldhairldhair Posts: 7,111 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What a great old thread. I was really impressed at the time that PCGS just bought it.
    Folks needed to see that in a service they trust.

    On a side note, Greg and Truth hang out across the street.
    Both great individuals.
    I don't see eye to eye with them at times but this forum lost a tremendous amount of knowledge when they moved on.



    Larry



  • << <i>

    << <i>I hope PCGS graders wore gloves after that. >>


    Neither the graders nor the encapsulation people wear gloves. >>



    image Any truth to the rumor that the PCGS people had the skin of their fingertips acid-removed from their hands after that event??


    image

    If I only had a dollar for every VAM I have...err...nevermind...I do!! image

    My "Fun With 21D" Die State Collection - QX5 Pics Attached
    -----
    Proud Owner of
    2 –DAMMIT BOY!!! ® Awards
  • jomjom Posts: 3,385 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>On a side note, Greg and Truth hang out across the street. Both great individuals. >>



    True and I'll probably see them tomorrow at the LB show...

    Wow...that's an old thread Shylock...you must have dug deep to find that one. I wondered what happened to Spooly....in fact I've wondered what happened to Shylock too.

    jom
  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I believe HRH has written somewhere that this coin is on display at PCGS (w/the infamous 1963 LM cent), somewhere, with a sign to the effect, don't do this again, etc.
  • truthtellertruthteller Posts: 1,240 ✭✭
    Ah, yes, the good ole days.



    TRUTH
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    Hey, Truthteller! Nice to see you! That was a great story about the fingerprint.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • pontiacinfpontiacinf Posts: 8,915 ✭✭


    << <i>Ah, yes, the good ole days.



    TRUTH >>



    I miss your stories big time, but good to see your still aroundimage

    I hope all is well
    image

    Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
  • NoGvmntNoGvmnt Posts: 1,126
    "I think the coin in question was a Proof Indian Cent which graded PR69RD and subsequently developed a fingerprint and was bought back by PCGS."

    I wonder if it would grade MS70 if sent in today.image

    Jim


  • << <i>I wonder if PCGS has ever had any of these pricey fingerprints analyzed to determine to whom the print belongs. Anyone know? >>



    I was wondering that too. If they did have the print analyzed, and if the print was from a non-grader PCGS employee, he/she probably got canned.
  • shirohniichanshirohniichan Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>On a side note, Greg and Truth hang out across the street. Both great individuals. >>



    True and I'll probably see them tomorrow at the LB show...

    Wow...that's an old thread Shylock...you must have dug deep to find that one. I wondered what happened to Spooly....in fact I've wondered what happened to Shylock too.

    jom >>



    And I've been wondering where jom was.
    image
    Obscurum per obscurius
  • WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,034 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Photograph?
    https://www.brianrxm.com
    The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
    Coins in Movies
    Coins on Television

  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,759 ✭✭✭✭
    I remember reading about this coin in 1999. I've always wanted to see an image of it.

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • shylockshylock Posts: 4,288 ✭✭✭
    It's good to see Truthteller wasn't banned. He was one of the most interesting early posters and his
    sudden departure -- and his honest posts -- made me assume he was one of the first to get their nics
    cut off. My apologies to Truth and PCGS.

    BigMoose and Stewart Blay are right. Kranky turned me on to Scott Traver's "How To Make Money In
    Coins Right Now" - a total turnoff of a book title - where Travers gets honest answers from David Hall
    about this coin. It's a good read.

    TRAVERS: Wasn't there a Proof-69 Indian cent that you certified and the coin grew a spot after it had been
    certified?
    HALL: $50,000! It's in the grading room -- in the grader reference set. And on the holder, we have typed:
    "The $50,000 fingerprint".
  • shylockshylock Posts: 4,288 ✭✭✭
    ttt for the weekend.
  • ttt
    I heard they were making a French version of Medal of Honor. I wonder how many hotkeys it'll have for "surrender."
  • OneCentOneCent Posts: 3,561
    That is an awesome story...one that I thought was fictionalized by the original OP until I read further.

    Thanks for bringing this back around for the new crowd, Shylock!

    image
    imageimage
    Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
    ANA Member R-3147111
  • <<Thanks for bringing this back around for the new crowd, Shylock!>>

    Sorry but you will have to thank ddink for bringing up this old thread....
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
  • shylockshylock Posts: 4,288 ✭✭✭
    One last ttt for forum newbies.
  • I wish someone had a photo!
  • gonzergonzer Posts: 2,986 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for linking the grading video. image A very cool learning tool.
  • GoldenEyeNumismaticsGoldenEyeNumismatics Posts: 13,187 ✭✭✭
    Fantastic story!
  • LeeBoneLeeBone Posts: 4,294 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Photoimage

    Anyone?

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