I've decided that an occasional bodybag is a GOOD thing.

Russ · May 31, 2003 1:46AM

Recently, I was watching a baseball documentary on PBS. During the course of the show, they had quite a few interviews with former greats in the game. One of them, and my CRS is preventing me from remembering which, said that his manager was always irritated with him because he never tried to get a base hit; always swung for the fence.

This reminded me of my softball playing days. Every year I played, I had the most strikeouts of any player on the team. But, I also had the most homeruns and the most triples. I always swung for the fence, every time I got up to bat. Of course, I sponsored the team, so my manager could be irritated, but there wasn't anything he could do about it.

What does all that have to do with submitting coins, you ask?

Well, for the first couple dozen submissions, I never had a single bodybag because I was submitting easy base hits in my series. In other words, playing it safe. I now have several strikeouts (bodybags) and while they are, of course, irritating, I'm glad I got them. It means I've taken some risks.

If you never get a bodybag, it could mean you've never pushed the envelope. I mean, how much risk is there in submitting garden variety, everyday boring coins? What thrill is there in submitting average material and getting average grades? That's boring.

I've now had bodybags for Morgans, Jeffersons, Two Cent Pieces, I've even had one Morgan bodybagged by two different services. I pretty much expected that one, but hey I'm stubborn.

But, I've also had some nice triples and even a homerun. To my way of thinking, this keeps the game (hobby) exciting.

When I was in the Army, we used to say "no balls, no blue chips". If you submit regularly, and have never had a coin bodybagged, is it because you're a numismatic genius, just lucky, or because you have no balls?

Russ, NCNE

LucyBop · May 31, 2003 1:50AM

you even got bagged on the proof 62 frankie, which of course, was holdered later....

MadMarty · May 31, 2003 1:53AM

Russ, I know about the bodybag thing real well! I'm still waiting for my home run, maybe this submission. But what's worse then a bodybag has got to be the AU58!

NumisEd · May 31, 2003 2:06AM

Well, well, well, look who we have here: Russ, Lucy AND MadMarty. The conspiracy theory continues to develop. The 3 of you (or is it 2 or 1) know exactly what I am talking about. We all know what's going to happen next. Don't we? Bwahahahah.

TheNumish · May 31, 2003 2:10AM

Russ,

I really think that you had a grand slam on the 64 Half. It was much better than a boring home run!!!!!!

I've paid some crazy prices for coins and sometimes I was the Louisville Slugger and sometimes I was the ball. Sometimes I was the windshield, sometimes I was the bug. Sometimes I was the MS-70 and sometimes I was the bodybag.

Swing hard, swing true and every once in a while you'll get one over the fence and break a neighbors window.

topstuf · May 31, 2003 2:12AM

While there is a great deal of merit in that philosophy, I still think ALL coins should get into a slab if submitted. The slab should describe the coin and whatever is wrong with it very accurately. It helps to see exactly WHAT has happened. Educational and practical as even problem coins have an appeal to some and just KNOWING that the whizzed, scrubbed, toned metal disk was ONCE a REAL coin adds to the value of the piece.

Down with bodybags.

LucyBop · May 31, 2003 2:17AM

whats going to happen next numised?

TheNumish · May 31, 2003 2:18AM

You're going to have a tea party.

LucyBop · May 31, 2003 2:19AM

tea my butt!!!! If I hook up with those 2 cats were drinking Margaritas!!!!!

MadMarty · May 31, 2003 2:21AM

I see Russ's stalker has returned. Russ, I thought you had a restraining order!

NumisEd · May 31, 2003 2:25AM

were drinking Margaritas!

Hey! I want a Margarita too! Why don't you ever offer me a Margarita?!

NumisEd · May 31, 2003 2:34AM

To summarize Rusty's story for everyone, he played softball but then joined the army to play no-ball, blue-ball, or something like that. Fascinating!

Conder101 · May 31, 2003 4:25AM

<< <i>tea my butt!!!! If I hook up with those 2 cats were drinking Margaritas!!!!! >>

That's why I'll never be in Lucy's league, I'd rather have the tea. Some Lapsang Souchong would be good right about now.

NumisEd · May 31, 2003 4:51AM

Lapsang Souchong

Hey, watch your language mister! I am going to forward your post to Carol! This forum does not tolerate profanity.

rainbowroosie · May 31, 2003 6:10AM

I get bodybags all the time. If I think the coin has an 80% chance of slabbing and is wild, I'll toss the dice. Yes, it does make the hobby exciting. Yes, there is a great rush when a "questionable" monster finds a plastic house.....Of course, I use the $15 service!!!!

Russ · May 31, 2003 8:14AM

BTW, I got a submission of 8 toners back from NGC today. One bodybag.

Russ, NCNE

rainbowroosie · May 31, 2003 8:17AM

Russ,
any homeruns?

paigowjohnny · May 31, 2003 8:22AM

<< <i>But what's worse then a bodybag has got to be the AU58! >>

That's a true toss up !!

Russ · May 31, 2003 8:23AM

rainbowroosie,

Nah, no homeruns. But some are pretty wild - like the neon purple Lincoln you nailed the grade on.

Russ, NCNE

ANACONDA · May 31, 2003 8:25AM

Coins that get body bagged are also a sign that that particular service is trying to do their job.

I've heard that one of the rarest things is an ACG bodybag....like R6 or R7.

adrian

presleyh · May 31, 2003 8:33AM

Hold up, Russ having no balls isn't nessesarily a bad thing is it Lucy?

rainbowroosie · May 31, 2003 8:37AM

ANACONDA,
Have you seen an ACG body bag?? I really don't know what one looks like?? If you have one, could you run it on your site? Might go for decent money to someone who appreciates "true rarity."

LucyBop · May 31, 2003 8:50AM

hmmmm...

Higashiyama · May 31, 2003 10:25AM

I can't say the bodybags I have received are a sign of risk-taking or sophistication -- nonetheless, I've learned alot from them -- including some very simple lessons like -- spend a few minutes looking for small traces of PVC before wasting the submission fee!

ksteelheader · May 31, 2003 10:29AM

I've had about 6 bodybags by now. They teach you important things......Ken

Russ · May 31, 2003 11:51AM

Excellent point about learning from the process.

One of my bodybags was a Two Cent piece that got tagged for environmental damage, aka corrosion. The corrosion is very light on the coin, and difficult to detect at first blush. But, it is there. Now, I have a much better idea of what to look for on old copper.

Russ, NCNE

I've decided that an occasional bodybag is a GOOD thing.

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