1979 Lincoln Memorial Cent What's Happenning

Homer, I'm going to speak on behalf of the newbies. There are a lot of us on this forum who are very new to coin collecting. Luckily, I read a lot on these boards before I started posting, so I figured out pretty quickly who the true "experts" are. I'm by no means saying they are infallible, but for the most part, Chuck and Bill know what something is (or isn't) the second they look at it. If they respond to a thread with certainty on a particlar coin, they are probably dead on in their assessment.

The problem is that a lot of the people posting these coins are newbies who don't already know who's who on this board. People like Chuck and Bill don't feel it necessary to brag about their credentials in every thread, so the newbies have no clue that their opinions are the ones which should be held with the highest regard. The newbies normally think they've found a great coin which is going to be worth a lot of money. More often than not, they don't have anything of real value. When Chuck or Bill indicate that a coin isn't anything special, then you pop into the thread and override their opinions, citing all of your years of experience, you give those newbies false hope. You brag on yourself so much that they probably believe you are the true expert on the subject. On several occasions I've seen you post that people should send their coins in for grading, even though Chuck, Bill, and others have already stated they aren't worth anything. If the owners of those coins actually took your advice and sent the coins in, it would be a waste of their money.

It's great to state your opinion here just like everybody else, but you tend to be very aggressive and adamant about being right and, in most of the posts I've seen, your opinion has not been the correct one. I have to agree that it's "sad" that you needed to waste the time of a third expert before you would believe something that two other experts already told you was nothing but a damaged coin.

I think that you are presumptuous in your opinion of me because you are taking sides and should be neutral and that you don't really know me. Besides, kissing up will get you no where anyway. From what I a gather from these experts is the shrugging off any coin with errors deemed important to the inquirer. This is done in my opinion with arrogance on their behalf and that they know it all attitude. The nuances of Error coins Don't concern them however important it is to the inquirer shrugged off and label as something else. There was another subject being discuss about another topic unrelated to this one. The Gentleman discuss at lengths to get his point across was rebuffed by the experts. But with great perseverance and certainly a lot more diplomatic than me made his points elegantly and more believable than the pros. I Gave them the benefit of the doubt that they got Ken's opinion and apologized. But I don't need you to jump me. Dig it.

The point of this forum is for people to learn about what they have. If they hve something that's common and worthless I tell them so. There's no sense telling them they have something of great importance and value if what they have is damaged, altered junk.

Homer...last time I bother - you obviously don't know much of anything about this subject, yet you prance around here like you're some sort of expert trying to ruffle the feathers of others. Whatever self education you have in this subject (along with your self righteous attitude) needs to be tossed - you need to start over. I come here to answer questions as realistically as possible without having to argue stupid, obvious points with the likes of you. Your education in the minting process is way off, and you're digging deep to come up with unnamed sources you constantly claim to know or be in contact with who have taught you what you know. You make up more of your story than you can prove, and you do the same in your explanations to new people to the hobby, and that goes VERY unappreciated by those who really are here to give correct, unbiased information to those who ask for it.

Where is all this expertise of yours? Enquiring minds want to know...How many times have you taught at the ANA Summer Seminar? For that matter, how namy times have you attended the seminar? How many times has James Wiles asked you to co-teach a class with him? How many publishers have come to you wanting to publish your work? How many publishers know you by first name? How many book authors know you by first name? How many articles have been written ABOUT you in magazines? How many national clubs do you speak for? How many times have you been on the phone with J.T. Stanton AND Bill Fivaz in the same day and both had more than coins to discuss with you? How many times have you been to dinner with Ken Bressett? Likely your answer to ALL these questions is zero. My answers...5, 3, 1, 2, 3, 11, 2, 2, 2, and 2. I'm not tooting my own horn here, I don't need to...the point is to know who the heck you're trying to fool with your comments. Know who you're arguing against before spewing incorrect information around just for the purpose of drowning out the correct advice of people who DO know what they're talking about.

I'm a member of the Numismatic Literary Guild, I am the author of a number of articles you have probably skipped over, the author of half a dozen coin websites, and am the only - ONLY - person in history to have authored coin books, edited other coin books, had art credits in other coin books, and photo credits in other coin books. That's right, the ONLY one ever. All told, my name and work has been published in the coin industry over 100 times, and at least half a dozen times by Whitman Publishing in the Red Book or in the Red Book series. So, now...I'm here to say that your blather does not impress or fool me.

Basically, NOBODY here needs to hear you gloat about your expertise, especially when your answers are ALWAYS the wrong ones and you cannot back up a single word of your said expertise.

Sorry to all the other folks, I got to a point where I couldn't hold my tongue with this person any longer. He has been of NO value to anyone here, and has started more arguments than he has answered questions correctly. Very seldom do I get bent out of shape; that will not happen again with this person, as he is now officially on my ignore list. Congrats to Homer, apologies to the rest.

Nice...my list includes almost all the same people, save Howard Spindel and Fred Borgman...don't know them. Add to mine Jeff Oxman, Don Kagin, Michael Fey, James Wiles, and David Lange...all of whom know me and my work, and would vouch for me in an instant.

Howard is a Shield nickel expert, Fred B is a longtime Krause publications editor, writer, etc. etc.

I know Jeff Oxman, sorta but I am not sure if he remembers our days back on a coin collectors website that went through a hostile takeover-) he's a great asset to our hobby.

Don Kagin knows who I am, I have had occasional contact with Michael Fey in the past. Not often and not in a long while.

James Wiles and I share pictures, comments and emails.

I have never had any contact with David Lange.

So, it seems that like minded people get to know most of the other like minded people:-) when you are immersed in numismatics.

Chuck and Bill, I'm glad that you have both posted your qualifications and experience. Since neither of you ever "toot your own horns", it's about time that our members finally understand why you are both considered experts in this field.

Thank you for taking the time to explain this to our members. While I certainly understand a member asking the reasons for your opinions, I hope this will deter our members from defying your opinions outright.

We are very lucky to have you both here on CCF and I am proud to know both of you.

That's certainly okay with me, No biggie, because you are just a know it all type of person. You may have all the credendials and the backup of your cronies, but lack tac. You need to build your rep because it's your bread and butter. I indulged in coins all my life and love it. Self taught, Grant you I made many mistakes unlike you who is perfect. I Still know more than you no matter how much you profess. Actually, I work in fields you would not dare to do and I'm good at it too My intention was not to cause a ruckus here but it happened and there's noting can change it. Abrasive I may be is my nature and one of my faults. However there will be plenty of people coming down the pipe to pick at you because of your know it all attitude, and already have. Don't forget that you are standing on the shoulders of who you learned your trade from so don't think your better. That's what your saying Here. Just you and your cronies feel this way, no one else. I don't need to hear from you again, So end this thread.

This conversation is over.