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If you could turn back the clock 30 years…
RWB
Posts: 8,082 ✭
…what event or invention affecting coin collecting would you want NOT to have happened?
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Gary
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 700
<< <i>Gradeflation! >>
That's a good one. The most blatant examples are buffalo nickels and walking halves. Those two series have slipped an entire grade.
https://acoinshop.com/ —-> https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
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.
<< <i>I'd select the internet. >>
??? Please explain.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
It has also exposed millions to attacks on personal financial and individual security. Businesses quietly collect data on everyone who touches the internet and sell it to the highest bidder. Organized (and disorganized) crime feeds on this. As business and government trust important parts of their operations to the internet, nefarious hackers steal as much as they can from whomever they can. The internet’s anonymity makes every user a potential victim and every criminal, fanatic, warped and destructive mind has the means to meet like-minded. For all the good it can do, the internet allows the most perverse ideologue, to bring his evil to millions.
Socially, the internet has already profoundly disrupted face-to-face human contact. As these boards so often testify, without inflection, pitch and body language, the written word is easily misinterpreted. Further, the instant gratification for information the internet provides, helps disconnect people from logical and creative thought.
In a perverse way, it is not nuclear weapons that will destroy civilization and democracy, it is the internet in one version or another. Long ago there was a Sci Fi movie called “Forbidden Planet.” The advanced civilization had destroyed itself in one night – every last individual, gone – when they discovered how to turn thoughts into reality.
I mention mostly negatives, because they are the source of the threats. How humanity deals with them will determine if there is a future civilization.
(((Bzbbbzzzzz --- “We now return control of your television,” bfzfzffzzzzzzttt. Ding.)))
Pleasant dreams.
The defined sets are ok because they help provide structure and focus to a collection...but the price increases caused by competition for the top sets sux.
<< <i>The day I spent my mercury dime collection on fireworks.
Your collection went up in smoke. Literally
<< <i>Further, the instant gratification for information the internet provides, helps disconnect people from logical and creative thought. >>
Hmmmm. When printing was invented, people were concerned that memories would fail since one could rely on the printed word instead.
Id spend a lot more time with my Dad.
Ed. S.
(EJS)
<< <i>The internet has opened a new mode of two way communication between people. Its potential is to allow nearly instant access to large quantities of information, resources, specialists and previously difficult to find information.
It has also exposed millions to attacks on personal financial and individual security. Businesses quietly collect data on everyone who touches the internet and sell it to the highest bidder. Organized (and disorganized) crime feeds on this. As business and government trust important parts of their operations to the internet, nefarious hackers steal as much as they can from whomever they can. The internet’s anonymity makes every user a potential victim and every criminal, fanatic, warped and destructive mind has the means to meet like-minded. For all the good it can do, the internet allows the most perverse ideologue, to bring his evil to millions.
<snip> >>
Wow...I'm dumbstruck. Why don't you throw computers into the evil mix?
The Internet has done incredible things in a million ways to improve our lives. It may go down as one of humankind's greatest creations. To wish it never happened is a very sad perspective.
Lance.
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I just saw this movie the other night! (not for the first time though)
I really never gave any thought to equating the Krell machine to the Internet, however I can see some of the same pitfalls and possible consequences.
Although I do agree that there have been many negatives brought about by the Internet, there are an equal amount of pluses.
How the positives will out weigh the negatives is really up to us…however human beings seem to be the most self-destructive species on the planet, and even though I’m not a betting man…
QN
Go to Early United States Coins - to order the New "Early United States Half Dollar Vol. 1 / 1794-1807" book or the 1st new Bust Quarter book!
<< <i>The day I spent my mercury dime collection on fireworks.
Spent mine on a moped. Got stolen at the mall, so I'd say we came out about the same.
<< <i>I'd select the internet. >>
The defined sets are ok because they help provide structure and focus to a collection...but the price increases caused by competition for the top sets sux>>
I have done some research on past prices. In regards to U.S. coins minted before 1917, the premiums for coins that are PCGS certified 66 or higher were greater during the late 1980s and early 1990s than they have been at any time since, in many (perhaps almost all) cases. Even for coins minted from 1917 to 1934, enormous premiums (as ratios to corresponding prices for lower grade coins) were paid for 66+ grade coins before registry sets became significant factors in the marketplace. Also, at auctions conducted from 1890 to 1915, collectors very strongly demanded coins that, in the current era, would be (or already have been) graded from 66 to 69 by the PCGS.
Among pre-1934 U.S. coins, since the registry set phenomenon began, coins that are physically rare have risen in value more so than condition rarities. Consider prices of Barber coins in the past. Especially consider increases in the values of early gold coins and later key date gold coins, Starred Reverse Cents, Carson City coins (other than Morgan Dollars) like 1870-CC Double Eagles, and, of course, Great Rarities, including 1856-O Double Eagles, 1870-S dollars, 1894-S Dimes and 1913 Liberty Nickels.
Article on the Olsen-Hawn 1913 Liberty Nickel
Auction Record for an 1894-S dime -- Oct. 2007
Is The 1856-O Double Eagle a Great Rarity?
Discussion of 1870-S Dollars here
<< <i>…what event or invention affecting coin collecting would you want NOT to have happened? >>
The ability to produce counterfeits that can even fool experts.
30 Years is not far enough back to be able to get the old stuff in really good condition so I can't see coins playing much of a role then.
<< <i><< The internet has opened a new mode of two way communication between people. Its potential is to allow nearly instant access to large quantities of information, resources, specialists and previously difficult to find information.
It has also exposed millions to attacks on personal financial and individual security. Businesses quietly collect data on everyone who touches the internet and sell it to the highest bidder. Organized (and disorganized) crime feeds on this. As business and government trust important parts of their operations to the internet, nefarious hackers steal as much as they can from whomever they can. The internet’s anonymity makes every user a potential victim and every criminal, fanatic, warped and destructive mind has the means to meet like-minded. For all the good it can do, the internet allows the most perverse ideologue, to bring his evil to millions.
<snip> >>
Wow...I'm dumbstruck. Why don't you throw computers into the evil mix?
The Internet has done incredible things in a million ways to improve our lives. It may go down as one of humankind's greatest creations. To wish it never happened is a very sad perspective.
Lance. . >>
I agree with Lance 110%
However, consider:
30 yr ago, it was almost unheard of for an individual to have a crook access your bank accounts. The few instances commonly involved insiders, direct theft from you. Small scale, limited impact, individual loss but mostly the bank’s problem to deal with.
Now. Accessing a bank account is comparatively easy despite all the passwords, key words and pseudo-security. Total customer losses are thousands of times what they were (according to the ABA).
30 yr ago, identity theft was limited in part because theft had to occur in an individual basis, and aggregations of personal information were very limited – mostly to government such as IRS. Again, small scale, limited impact, individual loss but not a broad threat to personal privacy.
Now. Identity theft is the number one crime against individuals. Theft and distribution of stolen IDs can occur by the millions and transmitted around the world in a few seconds. Criminals face limited personal exposure to law enforcement. Companies exist solely to harvest your personal information from the internet.
30 yr ago, criminal and national security threat association had to be in person, by mail or via telephone. All required individual contact and were traceable.
Now. Criminals can cooperate internationally. Terrorists of all types can easily share information, schedules, plans and destructive products. The chances of interception are small due to the huge volume of background “internet noise,” and very high cost of sorting through messages.
The internet is absolutely wonderful, miraculous, the best of everything, it is indispensable, we can't live without it. The greatest invention of modern times.
On the other hand, it poses the greatest threat to our lives other than a loaded gun pointed directly at us. Much like the atomic bomb, which was a great thing in 1945, saving maybe a million lives, but has degenerated into today's threat to millions more.
Ask anyone who has been ripped off of their bank account, their identity through use of the internet; they will tell a different story than all smiles and fluff. Wait til a major terrorist attack occurs, precipitated by the ease of the internet, we will all be singing a different tune.
For all of it's ease, perceived dependability and reliability, it remains our greatest threat as well. That's all I've got to say about that.
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
<< <i>The Hunts Brothers and their pursuit of cornering the silver market and all of its negatives that it left on people and coins. >>
From the perspective of the numismatist and in all seriousness, I'd agree this lone act disrupted 90% of collectors' beloved coins. The only good thing is the "great stuff" that came to market, as a result.
https://acoinshop.com/ —-> https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5