JR Newsletter: 17 August 2014 (202)

We have a number of interesting contributions this week.  You will want to read every single one of them.  I guarantee you will not be disappointed!  Perhaps the variety of contributions will encourage a few more contributions for next week?

First, from JRCS President Brad Karoleff:

Nominations for the JRCS Hall of Fame class of 2015 are now OPEN

The membership is encouraged to send nominations for the Hall of Fame at any time. You can nominate candidates for either the veteran (those who contributed before the advent of JRCS) or the modern (those who have been members of JRCS) categories. Please include any pertinent information about the nominee that you feel necessary. Nominees will then be voted on by the HOF committee and the inductees will be announced at the annual meeting at the ANA convention in the summer. We look forward to seeing your nominations!

Please forward your nominations to bkaroleff(at)yahoo.com or to jrnewsletter(at)jrcs.org or to any of the other members of the JRCS board of officers.

Brad Karoleff

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Dave Shirlen wrote:
 
I enjoyed reading the account by the "Easton Collection" owner of the ANA show and JRCS meeting, especially the account of the 11 year old attendee who collects bust halves by Overton.  I had a similar experience at a show last weekend in Statesville, NC.  I observed a boy aged 12 purchase a VF capped bust half dime from a dealer.  The dealer was very gracious with the boy, asked him some questions, and told him to always make sure to ask for the "YD"?  When the puzzled boy asked "what is that," the dealer said that is the "youth discount" and that many dealers will give it.  He sold the coin for a nicely discounted price to the boy.  I then asked the boy why he chose that coin.  He gave a great answer about wanting something old, wanting history, and wanting something with good quality.  He then showed me the coin and started describing its detail attributes.  I asked what else he has collected, and he had a number of bust coins.  And, by the way, he buys the coins using money he earns from summer jobs such as lawn mowing. 

The story made my day.  Since I collect dimes, quarters, and halves, I was able to show him a few interesting coins I had with me.  And I made the boy a deal.  I told him to keep doing what he is doing - that he will love it for life - and in exchange for that promise I gave him a duplicate half dime, in fine, that I had with me.  I could have sold it to a dealer for $50, but giving it to this boy was the best expenditure I've made at a show in a long time.  With that said, I issue this challenge to the readers.  Just once in the next couple of years, if you see a kid at a show, take the same opportunity.  You will leave the show happy.  The hobby will be much better for it.  And it will be something infinitely better to discuss, and infinitely more healthy for a hobby that has morphed from collecting coins to collecting pieces of plastic that describe coins, than something about how "on the 37th attempt [insert grading service name here] upgraded a coin from an AU55 to an AU58 (and its really neither) and isn't that grand...."

Dave Shirlen

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David Sunshine wrote to share a link to a COIN WORLD article on the recently completed W. David Perkins sealed bid auction for half dimes.  The article highlights the unique 1800 LM-2 half dime with obverse cud and its sale price of more than $19,600.  The link to the article is here:  http://www.coinworld.com/insights/1800-draped-bust-half-dime-with-full-obverse-cud.html

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Winston Zack wrote:

Hi all,

I am finishing up an analysis on Cuds on early U.S. silver Bust coinage, and I would like to add some more relevant background information...if possible.

I am looking for information and/or references which talk about the dies used at the U.S. Mint from 1793-1840 (or thereabouts). More specifically, and if possible, I am looking for information related to die hardness and frequency of die breakage.

Feel free to contact me at my email: stoneman101(at)gmail.com

Thanks in advance,

Winston Zack

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Garrett Ziss contributed the following, based on his experience at the ANA show:

I am a new Capped Bust half dollar collector and was happy to be able to attend the ANA convention last week in Chicago.  I was a bit nervous about attending my first JRCS meeting, but found out right away that there was no reason to be nervous because everyone was very friendly and helpful.  Something that might be useful for new collectors to know, is that even if you do not qualify to belong to the Bust Half Nut Club, you are welcome to attend their afternoon meeting at the convention. The same goes for the Bust Quarter Collector Society Meeting, so if you go to the ANA convention, you can actually attend 3 meetings on Bust coinage.  I thought that all 3 meetings were very educational (even though I do not collect Bust quarters).

My Bust coinage education did not only happen at the JRCS-related meetings in Chicago.  It also happened on the bourse floor. There were several Bust coin dealers who were selling coins on the bourse floor.  Every time I walked past one of their tables, there was at least one (and usually more) JRCS member either helping the dealer, buying coins, or just hanging out and chatting.  Just listening to the conversations was educational and it also showed that JRCS members are collectors AND friends.  

I would like to thank all of the JRCS members who shared their time, information and resources with me at the convention. I learned so much from attending the convention and talking with other JRCS members, so I would encourage other new collectors to attend a future convention as well. 

Garrett Ziss