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Beware of sellers of fake key date US coins on eBay
I noticed that two eBay sellers, one in Greece (2014mitsotakis) the other in Cyprus (stefromcy) are selling - or have sold, very suspicious looking key date US (and apparently world as well) coins that look highly suspicious. Probably the same seller, or conspirators. Check out the sellers list of 2014mistotakis.… -
Re: Half Cent Attribution - My Offer to Help
@jesbbroken Very nice example of advanced die crumbling on that reverse. As I’m sure you know, people try to collect coins with reverses showing the progression of this particular deterioration. As you say, who cares if there is some damage to your coin as long as you can focus on the important elements of the coin? Here’s… -
Re: Do Collectors Look to "Create" Rarity to Increase the Challenge (and Fun) of Collecting
As a died-in-the-wool collector of die marriages and die states of draped bust half dollars, among other things, I have no desire to "create" rarity. My focus at present is to restore lost knowledge (the emission sequence of early half dollars) and to enjoy the peculiarities of early mint technology. I find it fascinating… -
Re: Need tips when viewing shiny coins
Ditch the microscope is the best piece of advice I can give you, that will have you chasing your tail and seeing things. If you cannot see it with a 5X loop you don't need to. The mint is a high-speed manufacturing facility, coins minted for circulation are not and do not need to be perfect. As such the dies are used… -
Re: FUN Purchase, US Mint NA-6 Medal, from JK
<< <i>A very nice looking Navy medal, perhaps all the more interesting in the collection of an old retired Army Colonel. What can you tell us about the medal, its designer, and Captain Blakely? >> this bronze medal is from the original dies and was struck at the Philadelphia mint from Julian's "Medals of the United States… -
$1 1798 reverse wear pattern
So when I saw this $1 1798 I wondered how did that vertical wear happen on the reverse. . . . . Another search of the variety ($1 1798 4 Lines Knob 9 - B-5 BB-93) revealed the answer. It is a big die crack from top to bottom. I suspect the height is uneven and perhaps from side to side as the striking is a little uneven on… -
Re: 2015 Homestead Extra Chimney, Die Chip.
It's a minor die chip and minor die chips are relatively common on quarters. Giving it a catchy name, doesn't make it any rarer. All it does is fool newer collectors into thinking it's something special, which it isn't. In God we Rust minor filled dies, spitting eagle minor die clashes, snow on the roof minor die chips;… -
Re: Gallery Mint Museum by Ron Landis and Joe Rust
That is a great story @WDP! It's pretty incredible that Ron noticed the feathers were punched in "one by one" and did the same on his own dies. Great research both in examining the original piece and seeing how it would be today. Here's my 1796 dollar with cud. After seeing all the coins with circular die cracks around the… -
Re: $5 1843 Dahlonega - Only known SPECIMEN or PROOF from the Dahlonega Mint
<< <i>id like someone to offer an opinion of why a proof coin would have no contact marks >> Here's the general methodology: Proof coins were struck from specially prepared, ultra-polished dies, special planchets, and struck one at a time, under increased pressure -- in order to ensure a razor-sharp strike. The Proofs… -
Re: If Kennedy wasn't assassinated who would.......
I think there is a good chance Kennedy would still be on the half dollar today regardless. If he had survived, he would be about 89 today - the demographics are against him so he probably would have died anyway by now. Since he was a very popular President, he could easily have still been in line to be on the half if he…
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