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goldeagleprice · 5 years

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Letters to the Editor (December 18, 2018)

Mint does not distribute coins to local banks

It never ceases to amaze me that even the most seasoned and esteemed numismatists do not understand how United States coinage goes from manufacturing to circulation.

In Harvey Stack’s Viewpoint column (Nov. 18, 2018), he blamed the U.S. Mint for problems with the distribution of the 50 State Quarters program. In his article, Stack wrote that “the distribution of the new designs did not get full nationwide distribution. The Mint sent to most banks nationwide whatever they had available, with some districts getting large quantities of the new issue and other districts getting relatively few, if any.”

The U.S. Mint does not distribute circulating coins to any United States bank except for the Federal Reserve. At the end of every production line is a two-ton bag made of ballistic materials that collect every coin produced on the line. When the bag is full, it is sealed and later transported to a processing center designated by the Federal Reserve.

The U.S. Mint is a manufacturer. When they complete making the product, it is packaged in bulk and the customer, the Federal Reserve, picks up the product. Once the product is delivered to the client, that product’s distribution is no longer in the U.S. Mint’s control.

During the time of the 50 States Quarters program, the U.S. Mint had an agreement with the Federal Reserve to distribute the new coins first in order to get them into circulation. When the new coins were transferred to the various Federal Reserve cash rooms in the 12 districts, the Federal Reserve did circulate the new coins first.

What gets left out of the discussion is the logistics of transferring the coins from the cash rooms to the banks. The Federal Reserve does not deliver. Like many government agencies, the Federal Reserve relies on contractors to carry out that job. The Federal Reserve “sells” the coins to the logistics companies that bag and roll the coins and eventually deliver the coins in armored vehicles to the banks.

In order to save money, these logistics companies keep their own supply of coins. This supply comes from the Federal Reserve cash room operations or excess they are given from the banks. Since the logistics companies were not part of the deal that the U.S. Mint made with the Federal Reserve, a bank that asked for a delivery of quarters may have received quarters from the logistics company’s stock rather than new issues from the Federal Reserve.

Logistics is the coordination of complex operations, and it is the job of these logistics companies to fulfill the inventory needs of the bank in the most efficient manner possible. It was more efficient to supply the banks in less densely populated areas with coins from current stock than transporting large amounts of coins from one of the Federal Reserve cash room operations that may be hundreds of miles away.

The U.S. Mint may do many things that collectors might take exception to, but the distribution of circulating coins is not their responsibility.

Scott Barman Rockville, Md.

Jump out of the stock market and into CC coins

Thought I would run this by you as I am a fan of all CC coins.

Are they generally a good investment as far as rarity goes in comparison to the other mints? I realize there are some dates that are really hard to find in high-end coins. I am sort of new to this and have liquidated all my IRA stock holdings to acquire silver and gold coins.

John Troike Address withheld

Editor’s note: Carson City Mint coins are popular among collectors because of the story of the mint itself. There are common issues and rare issues from this mint. Prices depend on quality and scarcity. Generally speaking, markets have been stable in the last couple of years. You have the time to study these issues and make the decisions to buy or not buy when you are ready.

If you are looking for quick in and out plays, these coins will not do well for you. If you are thinking of 10 or 15 years, then you have a chance to make a profit. The rules of diversification apply to coins as well as other asset classes. Putting all of your retirement money into one thing is not a good idea.

I hope you are approaching this with the idea of being a collector and having some fun with it. This approach usually yields the best results over time.

70-point grading not fully used; why adopt 100?

I have been observing the debate in Numismatic News about the pros and cons of a new 100-point coin grading system. At first I thought the 100-point system would be a good idea – sounded simpler, like the decimal system. But after reading George Kissinger’s letter to the editor in the Nov. 6th NN, I was inclined to agree with him – the coin collecting community does not even make full use of the current 70-point system. He’s right, in my experience.

At the numerous shows I’ve attended over the past 30 years, for raw coins in lower grades, one sees G4 and G6, VG8 or VG10, F12 or F15, and on up to AU50 – just a couple of grade breaks per category. So for the most part, the number grades in between are useless. Even when I tried putting together a Washington quarter set in BU, I mainly saw raw coins in cardboard flips above AU50 confined to AU55 and AU58. No AU51 or AU52, no AU56 or AU57. Even today, most Mint State grades go MS60. MS63, MS65. Above MS65, it’s anybody’s guess at the real quality.

Only in the grading of raw Morgan and Peace type silver dollars does it seem there’s much regular use of grades like MS61, MS62, and all the way to MS68 or perhaps MS70. The pressure for a 100-point system seems to be on the high-end Mint State third-party graded coins. On a 100-point system, they can have more grade breaks in MS, and the pricing can go up with every single point. So why not just let them have 40 grades between MS60 and MS100, and there’s your 100-point system?

David Smith Somerville, Tenn.

Prices of slabbed tokens make no sense

When McDonald’s had their 50th Anniversary Big Mac token release earlier this year, I drove around to five or six McD’s locations to get all five. So my cost is $25 plus gas. (I ate one Big Mac with each purchase!) People have until, I think it is, the end of the year to redeem the token for a free Big Mac. I’m thinking of keeping mine as a souvenir or a collectible.

I just looked on eBay, and my mind is boggled. Had I gotten the five still-in-the-cellophane tokens graded at what cost I don’t know, they are going for $75 and up. This is crazy. I just don’t understand why getting these tokens graded makes them worth so much more. As if people are going to counterfeit the tokens for a $5 Big Mac. I’d rather have them in the original packaging along with the tiny card inside. I’ve watched Antiques Roadshow enough to know packaging is almost everything, or really makes a significant difference in pricing.

This is just crazy. You have to get McDonald’s tokens graded, pay for that grading, for people to see value in them. Maybe there’s some truth in what other readers say in that today people buy the holder and not the coin.

OK, so other people don’t think the same way I do, but I really think this is crazy.

Please ask your readers for comments. Could be they’d rather collect real coins anyway and not commercial McDonald’s tokens.

Name withheld

Address letters to Editor, Numismatic News, 5225 Joerns Drive, Suite 2, Stevens Point, WI 54481. All letters must be signed and include a return address. Numismatic News reserves the right to edit all letters. E-mail should be sent to [email protected]. Include your city and state in your email.

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The post Letters to the Editor (December 18, 2018) appeared first on Numismatic News.

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falicon · 7 years

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A right and a wrong way...

Yesterday I tweeted the following:

I strongly believe there is a right & a wrong way to become/be successful. Our president-elect could be the poster boy for the wrong way.

— Kevin Marshall (@falicon) January 19, 2017

Today, that statement changes from "President-elect" to "President"...and though I'm still disappointed in the American public for having voted us into this mess, I'm not ready to completely panic.

Before I go on, I should also make it clear that my disappointment is not about republican vs. democrat or liberal vs. conservative. My reality is that I've got views on both sides depending on the issue in question and if push-comes-to-shove I officially identify myself as 'independent with libertarian tendencies' (which gives almost everyone a reason to disagree with my opinions).

No - my disappointment is about the fact that Trump is a bully who appears to care about his reputation above all else (and yes that means above our country & YOUR well being), and he appears to surround himself with only those that meticulously cater to that insecurity. It's the Steve Jobs reality distortion field without any of the great products or results!

Still, we have what we have and we are where we are. So here are some thoughts on where we go from here.

1. I have to believe that not *all* of his policy ideas will be horrible. In fact, I think *some* might even be OK (at least in the short term - who knows about the long term).

However, the honest truth is that I think it's going to be hard for him to execute on almost everything.

Partially because I don't think he has the true passion to fight for any specifics or details on any issues...but also largely because the coin has now flipped and I believe the Democrats are going to do everything they can to run out the clock on everything they possibly can.

This is incredibly dangerous because both parties have used the checks-and-balances system to undermine each other more than to do "what's right for the country and it's citizens"...and if Trump finds it difficult to get his agenda items pushed through, there's going to be a more-than-reasonable chance Trump will use this reality to eliminate at least some of the checks-and-balances (and ultimately grow his power).

2. We all have to stand up for the press (and each other).

A large part of this is going to come down simply ignoring the hype, the rants, and mis-directions. Just because it's online doesn't mean it's true. Just because it's not what you want it to be, doesn't mean it's fake news. Facts actually do exist, and they actually do matter.

Let's all use some common sense to realize that there's almost always more to every story than we, the general public, really know about. We should take both sides with a grain of salt, and maybe try to research the facts on our own a bit for those things we *really* care about.

Back room deals, kickbacks, and other shady tactics make a lot of sense in the real estate and development, gambling, and probably even the beauty pageant businesses. Heck they probably even make some sense for many political positions, but not for the most public political (and scrutinized) position in the world. Not for the President of the United States.

And while I'm on the subject, it's clear that the thing Trump wants most (even above actual success) is our attention and admiration. Knowing this is our bit of leverage, and we should use it wisely.

We can't allow ourselves to be distracted by the shiny object that is his latest rant or Tweetstorm. We need to stay focused on the big picture stuff and we have to hold (all of) government accountable for their decisions and actions.

Laws and policies can be changed as our nation moves on and leadership changes, but only if we continue to protect our right to openly report, research, and debate ALL topics. For the free press to be able to do it's work. Don't turn a blind eye and let these rights and freedoms slowly be bullied out of us.

3. Love or hate him, appreciate or detest the way he's done it, you have to admit he's been successful.

I believe one of the secrets to Trump's success has been that he (wisely) hedges his big bets. He sets up holding companies that can simply be killed off (usually through bankruptcy) without really effecting his other holdings. It's frustrating for all the people connected to the ones that fail, but from a big picture view (and the win-at-any cost view of success) it's smart business.

However, this isn't one of those projects he can hedge. He can't allow this one to fail.

I don't know how he'll handle that pressure (I think he'll hate it), what he'll actually accomplish (I suspect very little), or what kind of legacy he will build for himself throughout all of this (who knows)...but I do know one way or another it will be historic, and that we are ALL in it now.

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fangirlmomentsandmytwocents · 7 years

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WRECKED by JB Salsbury Release Blitz Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: WRECKED

Author: JB Salsbury

On Sale: July 18, 2017

Publisher: Forever

Trade Paperback: $13.99 USD

eBook: $3.99 USD

Audio: $24.98 USD

Add to Goodreads

When you can't trust yourself, how can you ask anyone else to?

It's been months since Aden Colt left the Army, and still the memories haunt him. When he moved into a tiny boat off the California coast, he thought he'd found the perfect place to escape life. Then Sawyer shows up and turns his simple life upside down. Beautiful and sophisticated, she seems out of place in this laid-back beach town. Something is pushing her to experience everything she can—including Aden. But as much as he wants her, starting a relationship with Sawyer puts them both at risk. For Aden, the past doesn't stay there; it shows up unexpectedly, uncontrollably, and doesn't care whose life it wrecks.

EXCERPT

Oh no, fuck no!

I thought he was kidding. I should’ve known better. Aden’s intentions with me since I stupidly boarded this boat have been my torment for his enjoyment. He loved watching me squirm over the bait tank and when I proved I wouldn’t shy away from a challenge, he pulled out the big guns. From his flirty smiles to his teasing touches, he’s discovered my weaknesses and is exploiting them for his own entertainment.

Now this? Raw fish probably still warm from fighting for its life.

And now I’m God knows how many feet above water sitting on a two-seater bench held up by rusty ladders and staring down a piece of glistening pink meat.

“You have to eat it, it’s a rite of passage.” He offers the meat to my lips and I quickly turn my face away.

“I’m really not hungry.” As if the idea isn’t enough to turn my stomach, watching him clean the fish before sectioning off enough for lunch wasn’t much of an appetite builder.

“Of course you are.” He brings the piece to his own mouth and takes a bite, closing his eyes with a moan as he chews.

I feel a rush of bile hit my throat, or maybe it’s beer, either way it’s warm and it burns. “That’s disgusting.”

“You’re telling me you don’t like sushi?”

My eyes widen. Sawyer would say she’s never had sushi. But Celia’s a different story. She ate a live cricket in the eighth grade on a dare. She didn’t even flinch. “I like sushi, just not directly from the…um…source.”

“Doesn’t get fresher than this.” He takes another bite and I can’t deny that his response to eating it does give it some appeal.

“I think I need soy sauce or that green stuff.” What’s it called?

“Just try it.”

“I really don’t want to.”

“Oh come on.” He smiles in that cute crooked way that makes my heart dip and dive. “Live a little.”

I chew the inside of my mouth debating the cost/benefit of taking a bite of this fresh-out-of-the-ocean fish. On one hand, I’ll impress Aden. That in and of itself is worth the ick factor. But what if I throw up all over his boat? Is the chance of impressing him worth totally humiliating myself? I groan when I realize what I’m doing, exactly what I swore I wouldn’t do. I’m making an internal pros and cons list. I close my eyes and steel my resolve and my spine. Don’t think, just decide. I pop open my eyes followed by my mouth.

“Yeah?” He stares at my parted lips.

I nod, hoping he’ll hurry before I change my mind.

Lifting the rose-colored flesh forward, he places it between my teeth. It’s a small bite so I close my lips around his fingers expecting him to pull away…but he doesn’t. For a moment I’m suspended in his gaze, totally stuck while his hot fingers rest between my lips. This should be grossing me out; after all, I watched him gut this fish with his bare hands and to wash off all the blood he merely dipped them into the ocean. But all the thoughts of raw fish and a stranger’s finger do nothing to stave off the warmth blooming in my belly. My tongue pulls the meat deeper into my mouth, brushing against the rough pad of his forefinger. He bites his lip but finally drops his hand.

He watches intently while I chew and swallow.

“How was it?” His voice is low and gruff.

Lost in the heated moment, I barely tasted it. “Good.”

His hand cups the back of my head and he pulls me toward him, stopping just short of our lips touching. “I can’t fucking take this anymore.” His breath is sawing in and out, bursting against my mouth with impatience. “Let me.” It’s a demand, not a question.

A kiss. I don’t need to channel Celia or flip a coin…I know what I want.

I lick my lips and close the slight distance between us.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling author JB Salsbury spends her days lost in a world of budding romance and impossible obstacles. Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. Since 2013 she has published six bestselling novels in The Fighting Series and won a RONE Award. JB Salsbury lives with her husband and two kids in Phoenix, Arizona

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Review

Wrecked by J.B. Salsbury This is a story about a romance between two people with issues. He's a veteran of war with PTSD. She has a bit of a social disorder and OCD. He's sort of hiding out from life and managing some property for his uncle. She's agreed to fill in as her wild and fun-loving identical twin sister who's dying of a terminal illness. Meeting in this unexpected way is a respite from life for them both. They have the possibility of love but many problems that must be addressed in order for it to work. If you like damaged characters searching for their HEA, you should check Wrecked out for yourself.

***copy given in exchange for an honest review*** FGMAMTC

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

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#romance #review #release blitz #J. B. Salsbury

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fangirlmomentsandmytwocents · 7 years

Text

WRECKED by JB Salsbury Release Blitz Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: WRECKED

Author: JB Salsbury

On Sale: July 18, 2017

Publisher: Forever

Trade Paperback: $13.99 USD

eBook: $3.99 USD

Audio: $24.98 USD

Add to Goodreads

When you can't trust yourself, how can you ask anyone else to?

EXCERPT

Oh no, fuck no!

Now this? Raw fish probably still warm from fighting for its life.

And now I’m God knows how many feet above water sitting on a two-seater bench held up by rusty ladders and staring down a piece of glistening pink meat.

“You have to eat it, it’s a rite of passage.” He offers the meat to my lips and I quickly turn my face away.

“I’m really not hungry.” As if the idea isn’t enough to turn my stomach, watching him clean the fish before sectioning off enough for lunch wasn’t much of an appetite builder.

“Of course you are.” He brings the piece to his own mouth and takes a bite, closing his eyes with a moan as he chews.

I feel a rush of bile hit my throat, or maybe it’s beer, either way it’s warm and it burns. “That’s disgusting.”

“You’re telling me you don’t like sushi?”

“Doesn’t get fresher than this.” He takes another bite and I can’t deny that his response to eating it does give it some appeal.

“I think I need soy sauce or that green stuff.” What’s it called?

“Just try it.”

“I really don’t want to.”

“Oh come on.” He smiles in that cute crooked way that makes my heart dip and dive. “Live a little.”

“Yeah?” He stares at my parted lips.

I nod, hoping he’ll hurry before I change my mind.

He watches intently while I chew and swallow.

“How was it?” His voice is low and gruff.