bobh

This isn't a series that I actively collect, although I do have a few lower-grade Buffalo nickels. But I liked the looks of this one: There is some very noticeable die polish around "FIVE CENTS" on the reverse.

Is that yours?

Great info, Vfox -- thanks a lot! Wasn't there something about the eagle's eye that is different on the genuine vs. the usual counterfeits? I remember reading about it on one of the other coin newsgroups (rec.collecting.coins, probably) but have no idea where that information came from, and I can't remember the details.

Today I received the Bitkin reference books from Antiqvarius, both volumes as new in excellent condition! We do have a feedback forum here, so I went there and added my positive feedback for Antiqvarius. Would be nice if others who have bought from him also leave feedback; I started the thread for him, so you can just add to it. Here is the link to the feedback forum: Feedback Forum (http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php?showforum=53)

And this one -- only VF grade (IMHO), but I didn't have one yet and got it for less than VG money: Indian Cent, 1908-S: Some people might call this XF-40, but I don't think it would grade quite that high. It's pretty tough building an unslabbed set of these in XF or better (... especially when you live in Switzerland)! I'm still lacking most of the key dates, and there are some coins that don't make the grade. Slowly but surely, I'm getting there.

I'll have to bide my time now until we get to 1710, I'm afraid!

Almost forgot about this one: Russia, 1790-EM, five kopeks (пятак): Lots of detail. But surfaces look like they might have been treated with lacquer, or some such thing, long ago in the past (maybe it wasn't such a bad idea?)

Good catch, I hadn't noticed the die crack; I did see the doubling on the top of the "7" right after posting these. Forgot to mention that there seems to be some die clashes on the dime, too!

Picked up all of these during the past week or so: Peru, 1 Libra: Barber dime, 1911-D, in AU (getting harder and harder to find these nowadays in XF or better, IMHO): Next, there is a Swiss eBay seller I have dealt with a lot in the past. Although pricing of his coins is sometimes over the top, once in a while there will be a bargain, and I have never been disappointed in the coins once having received them. He had both of these Indian cents (both 1873, close and open 3 varieties) for sale at EF-40 money each -- and they turned out to be very pleasing, problem-free XF-40's (IMHO) Here they are: 1873, close 3: 1873, open 3: When I received the coins, the label on the holder for the open 3 said "double die, outside legend". Naturally, he didn't try to pass it off as the doubled liberty (which it isn't), but I looked for machine doubling on the legend and could only make out a tiny bit of doubling on the "M" in AMERICA. Does anyone see any doubling there, or anywhere else?

Very nice, Mark! I was browsing your collection and noticed that we have two very similar coins: the 1882-S with crescent toning on the reverse. Here's mine: Morgan dollar, 1882-S with crescent toning on reverse Wonder if they were from the same canvas bag? And what the chances are of two coins having such similar toning?

I just ordered the Bitkin catalog from your store myself. I've had a ripped-off CD copy now for a couple of years ... very ashamed of myself! Looking forward to receiving the real thing!

Russian denga, 1731:

Bumping this one to the top ... I looked around the Heritage archives for some slabbed Peace 1921's just for comparison's sake; there's mostly MS-64 and above over there, but a few in lower grades as well. I'd really like to know what others think of this one. It has very nice (to me) even toning, never been cleaned, and only a few marks here and there. Do I hear MS at all on this one? 63? 64? ... ??? As always, thanks for looking!

Picked this one up at a local dealer's shop for a little over melt value: Russia, gold 1979 Chervonets (10 roubles)

Here's another silver dollar which arrived last week ... discussed in the "Do you see what I see" thread: Morgan dollar, 1900-O (VAM 35) Would have been nice if it had turned out to be VAM 29A, especially in this condition!

This type has eluded me for a long time. Never saw one that I really liked until now. It's far from being perfect, but it has lots of mint luster and a fairly good strike (good strike is not very common for this type, you know): 1921 Peace dollar (one-year type) Picked up on eBay for €91 (€101 including shipping). I would estimate the grade of this coin to be at least MS-63, perhaps MS-64 ... any other opinions on grade?

Did you check at Alex Basok's website? http://www.rustypennies.com Also, Dmitry Markov usually has some books for sale: http://www.russian-coins.net. Don't know about Bitkin, though. Bob Reis has a web site where I once bought RW Julian's reference: http://www.anythinganywhere.com/ Maybe you could also drop a note to Jim Elmen -- he sells back catalogs of his auctions, and I wouldn't be surprised if he could tell you where one can purchase other books such as Bitkin?

Oops ... I totally forgot to add feedback for the great slabbed VAM Morgan dollar you sent to Switzerland sometime last fall! Sorry about that ... A great transaction it was ... I'm a happy camper!

Both this coin and the 1884-CC I recently bought are the normal VAM 1 variety, AFAICT.

Thanks, Scottishmoney! It has a fair share of marks on the cheek, so it probably wouldn't grade higher than MS-63 (IMHO). However, the fields are very nice, and it has a lot of luster (the pictures don't do it justice!)

Thanks, Mark -- I haven't checked yet, but I do have the VAM book. Don't know if I will have time before leaving on vacation, though.

Picked this one up recently on eBay for less than $170 including shipping: USA Morgan Dollar, 1883-CC in original GSA holder I thought it was so nice that it arrived yesterday, on July 4th! Living in a foreign country makes one a bit sentimental about such things, I suppose...

At those prices, they look pretty good! (I wish...)

I finally had time to look at the coins older than Nicholas II in this sale. All I can say is ... ... Take a look at the run of roubles from around 1800 up through Alexander III -- there aren't too many missing items! And all are XF or better, many proofs or prooflike coins among them. However, I DO NOT appreciate the auction house selling 8 poltinas as a LOT, and among them are very nice 1902 and 1909 examples! I'm upset because you hardly ever see those years offered anywhere, much less in XF/AU condition, and I really don't need any of the other years in that lot.

Thanks for this information, WCO! Strange pricing, though ... who would pay CHF 1,000 for that (un?)circulated Romanov rouble?? And a Gangut rouble for only CHF 1,500 ??