I took up the task of putting together a Mint State set of the 1878 7 TF B1's. This is NOT an easy under taking, I have been doing so for about 6-7 Months and I do my searching in a few venues, in local shops, some small local BI-Weekly shows and some on line major company auctions.
I have been doing well, IMO, for the time spent doing the research, ALWAYS do the research and then look for another source to double check the information you believe to be true.
While I am cherry picking at shows, in the local shops and on line, which I find the on line auctions to be the most rewarding, being it is ALL done based on the information you have and when things turn out as you "thought" it is an accomplishing feeling being you do not have the luxury to have the coin slab in hand, like at a shop or show.
I look on line at slabbed coins which are not attributed PCGS, NGC and the labels usually state 1878 7 TF Reverse of 78, Mint state 62 or better, well I am happy to say I almost have a complete set, except the elusive 85, go Brian...
and the 86
..
I am always looking to up grade also so I am looking for the 84-A because I only found it in AU-55 and AU-58, not Mint State, so, while I am searching for these coins, usually a couple of times a week at shops, twice a month at the show and a few times a week on line at the weekly auctions, I came upon this coin PCGS 1878 7 TF Reverse of 78 MS-64 coin at the on line site, I see this reverse I have not seen before, at least if I did I do not remember and I am picking apart the coin every inch , I do NOT recognize the reverse and I am going crazy ( a good crazy
) to compare this coins PUP'S and die markers to the beautiful posted pictures in the 28 days of Morgans among other places for a visual guide to my knowledge base, which I am proud to belong to a group of people who accomplish amazing things like that idea, absolutely fabulous key board away visual
Morgan dollar library aid, I always liked pictures to assist me in memory retention of knowledge. Well I could not or I really should say, DID not think out side the B 1 Reverse "box",meaning the Vams 70-86, this coin was from the on line auction site and the day arrived a few days ago and I decided the coin was either a die state to a known B1 I have not been familiar with, Which I really was leaning towards because of a few things, one being there was not even a single die crack or break on the coin, or it was a new B1 I did not know of and I was again, not very comfortable with also, because when I go on line to "hunt" I expect to have some strong competition, especially thinking this is a possible new reverse also I figure I am some where around the middle of the food chain as far as being a Vammer,I figured if I saw the coin, every one who was looking also saw the coin and once these things get rolling, look out. I know every time I go on line, I treat the event like the scent of blood is in the water, and if the "sharks" are around, I have found they have deep pockets and will eat you alive to obtain what they want, I simply can not play that game.
I placed my bid and with in minutes I was out bid, so I did the waiting game, till the last few minutes and placed a affordable bid I could live with, The auction ended and for 25 minutes the coin was listed as "PENDING", this meant people placed crazy bids and the site needed time to sort out just who was the new owner of the "mystery" coin, well later I found out I HAD WON THE COIN, I was very happy, although I did not know what I had won, I was thrilled. I now await the coin to arrive so I can actually have it in my hand.
In the days that followed I was more eager to re think and re check all the information I had and I thought I would do some THINKING out side the B1 box and checked into the new guides I received today, the 2010 supplement guide from LVA and the 7 TF attribution Guide both signed by the author, Which I was thrilled to have, to add to my information arsenal, so I used the 7 TF Guide and checked out plenty more B1 Reverse 7 TF Morgans and after hours of being deeply into newer information I came across a 7 TF Reverse coin, listed as a 7/0 B1 Reverse, there was no sign of any feathers over the existing feathers and especially on the PCGS label, hence the term 7/0, nothing about the 7 over anything, on the PCGS label.
I checked every PUP and was convinced the coin I had won was indeed a 1878 7TF Reverse of 78
Morgan dollar, only this coin I attributed as a
VAM 30, PCGS MS-64 coin.
Moral of this story, among other things, when you think you know or have a feeling about the attribution of a coin, you do NOT have in your hand, it comes down to one simple basic principle, knowledge, if I had the information I needed to be sure about the coin I was bidding on it would of meant I would of had the knowledge to be sure about what exactly I was doing, I was not because I for some reason, did NOT allow my self to think out side the box, KNOWLEDGE is the key to many things in life, and when you play in this game, you are better off having the knowledge to do, as you set out to do, get the coin you thought you were going to receive. I am not upset about winning the coin, in the double tail feathers design, I needed this example............... "Learn that poem"!!!LOL.
Posted 02/23/2011 06:19 am
