The Thrills of Rare Coin Collecting

“In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation.” Alan Greenspan, 1966. One of the things every investor quickly discovers is that there are no sure deals or “can’t lose” investments in this wild and wooly world. There is always risk in the marketplace. Always. The key to success is to weigh the pros and cons of every investment, and determine the prospects of success.

For those who are beginners to the world of coin collecting, if you’ve already amassed a decent collection of coins, the first thing that would probably enter your mind would be, “are any of my coins rare or valuable?” This may be a tough question to answer, as an old coin may not always be a truly “rare” one. For example, you may have an old wheat penny in your repository, but what you don’t know is that there may be thousands of these wheat pennies that were circulated before. However, it would also be possible that a coin in your collection may be a truly rare one, although you’re not aware of it. Because of this possibility, it would be best if you delve some time learning about the tools required in identifying rare coins, as well as in embarking on rare coin collecting.

In the art of rare coin collecting, there are two major categories or classes for defining rare coins: Mintage Rarities and Grade Rarities. A Mintage rarity coin is a coin that is rare because it has a low mintage relative to market demand for the type. A Grade rarity coin on the other hand, is an otherwise common coin that is only rare because it falls in certain grades, like the current date U.S. Cents graded MS-70. In properly finding out if you got a rare coin in your collection, it would be best to check out The Official Red Book , which is considered the Bible for US coin collectors. This important book lists and indexes every kind of coin that was minted in the US, and also includes information on when each penny was made, how rare they are now, and what their current values are. Each coin in the book is represented in clear photographs, to properly inform collectors of their size and exact appearance. The Official Red Book comes out with a new and updated edition each year as well. A good source of education regarding rare coins would be the Internet. The Worldwide Web has a number of coin-identification Web sites, which may be very useful to novice coin collectors. Apart from consulting The Official Red Book and scanning the Internet, you could also bring your coin collection to a reputable dealer. These reputable and professional dealers ensure that they properly asses and identify your coin collections, and provide you with vital pointers for identifying rare coins.

Rare coin collecting can be a great adventure. You can search for rare coins that offer good value on the Web, or in coin auctions, or you may also drop by a flea market. Flea markets, according to numismatic experts, are places where people go to buy different sorts of items at truly affordable prices. For budding coin collectors, this market can be a rare coin “paradise”, since you may be able to spot rare coins that are sold at rock-bottom, or very reasonable prices. According to veteran rare coin collectors, the most valuable and truly celebrated rare pennies are those that have minting errors, and have values ranging from a few dollars, and are still in circulation today. In addition, there are a number of rare coin dealer Web sites that provide collectors with a listing of modern rare coins, and show their prices as well. The art of searching for rare coins is truly an exciting and interesting one, especially when it leads you to a rare “find”.

Three Legged Buffalo Nickel & How To Detect Altered & Counterfeit Coins”

The 1937 D Three Legged Buffalo Part1
The Three Legged Buffalo Nickel is one of the famous and one of the most sort after error coins in the collecting world. I remember back when I was just starting out collecting coins with my dad. I could not have been more than 7 or 8 years old. My dad would say ” We got to get that three legged buffalo”. In my mind I was thinking a “Three Legged Buffalo??? Not wanting to disturb my dad, I did not ask him questions just yet. My mind was trying to figure out what a “Three Legged Buffalo” looks like. Was it another kind of Buffalo, could it be a different breed???? Or since it was also called a Indian head nickel, was it some symbol of a great god, maybe it symbolized a great warrior that was wounded in Little Big Horn battle. But what ever it was my dad just had to have one. The imagination on a young child could really make people dizzy. Eventually i asked my dad, and my answer was finally put to an end. We where down at the local coin dealer on West 45Th street in Manhattan. I remember the owners name, it was Joey, but we called him Jo-Jo for short. Dad asked Jo-Jo “do you have a three leggier”. Jo Jo answer “not yet”. My dad would have this disappointed look on his face. “make sure you let me know when you get one.” Jo Jo would say “how about a 1942/1 Mercury Dime “No, i want the three leggier.” Sounded like we were on the the big hunt in the forest looking for the trophy for the living room wall. My dad finally found a raw one, since they did not grade coins back in those days coins were purchase raw. “This one is not real” my dad said, the first one we looked at. “The buffalo is to big and the leg, not right.”. It sure looked good to me, partial leg missing, “dad are you sure?” “Trust me son i can tell”. My dad favorite phase was “trust me son”, so I did. This leads us into what I will try to explain to you about a “Three Legged Buffalo Nickel”.How to tell a genuine form a Counterfeit one.
Genuine Three Leggier 1) The entire Buffalo on the reverse of the coin is smaller then any altered one. Can be seen by the naked eye. 2) The hind legs on the genuine 3 legged are narrow and not totally rounded. Looks bumpy 3) The 3 leggier has several bumps between the front and back legs. 4) The beard tips on the 3 leggier are blunt and about even 5) On the genuine, the hoof between the missing leg is weak 6) Genuine 3 leggier, the P of PLURIBUS and the U of UNUM do not touch the upper portion of the buffalo. This concludes part one of “How To Detect Counterfeit & Altered Coins”
A short story on my stores name. Several years ago my dad died, one the worst days in my life. I took over our collection. I feel like my dad was still there next to me when i am around coins looking to sell or buy. I can still hear him said “I want a Three leggier”, like it was yesterday. We all called my dad “Pop”. So”Pop Pino Coins! is My M.O.

Pop Pino Coins! 1942/1 Mercury Dime

Tips and Tricks In Choosing Valuable Dolls

If you’re new to collecting, or looking to add more valuable pieces to an existing collection, there are a few tricks and tips that can help you find dolls that are more valuable.
The very first tip is to collect whatever american doll you love the most. That’s the one you’re going to feel the most passion about. There is nothing like the euphoria experienced when you realize you just added a rare doll to your collection.
If you’re interested in collecting Our Generation Dolls, for example, read up on what is available out there in the line. As in all areas of collectables, there are both websites and printed publications (books like collectors’ guides, hobby magazines and doll magazines) that can give you an accurate listing of what dolls, clothing and accessories are available. Once you have figured out to look for, an official price guide can give you a ballpark idea of what each item is worth.
Your next move is to visit a doll show so that you can see examples of the line. Just looking at a picture in a book can take only take you so far. You need to be able to view the item in person to see some of the finer details you can easily miss in a two-dimensional photo. Some of the dealers you find there will undoubtedly be able to offer you expert advice to help you know what to look for or what you’re looking at when you find it.
Try to buy dolls that come in their original packages. A doll or accessory which has never been removed from it’s package often command a higher price as a collectable. The value maybe great if the original packaging is still in mint condition and lacking wear. When purchasing one of the Our Generation Dolls that is not boxed, take a good look to see what condition the doll is in (does it look like it’s been handled roughly, or like it needs a good cleaning off). Prior to purchasing a doll, ensure you know what accessories are supposed to come with it so you don’t find out later something important is missing.
In addition the ability to find out what a specific Generation Doll is worth is another selling point towards visiting a show.
To summarize, focus on the dolls you’re most passionate about, educate yourself about your chosen line of dolls, and always check price guides to provide an initial estimate of the doll’s price.(s) After you have decided which doll line you would like to begin collecting, you should visit a doll show so you can view examples, speak with the vendors who can provide handy expertise, and look for limited items that can’t be found in stores.
Your best bet for getting an item that has the most worth is to buy a doll that still has its packaging, but if not that, then you want one that has no signs of wear and tear on it.

Rene Lalique

A Family Tradition of Genius:  Rene, Marc, and Marie-Claude LaLique

In 1876, when Rene LaLique was apprenticed to the Parisian jeweler, Louis Aucoq, few would guess that he would become the most important figure in Art Noveau and Art Deco movements in the early twentieth century.  Even later in 1883, when he was freelancing for several leading jewelry producers  in Paris and designing jewelry for the rich and famous throughout Europe and America, it would have been unlikely anyone could have foreseen his future. 

It was only when he received a commission to produce perfume labels, and also bottles, that Rene turned to working with glass. Since that point, the Lalique family has been producing wonderful Art Nouveau and Art Deco and other art glass objects for our fascination and enjoyment for over one hundred and twenty five years.
 Working in the lead glass medium that lends itself so well to blow moulding and  pressed pattern glass techniques, Lalique Glass has been one of the most important influences in the art glass world.

Born in 1860 in Ay, Marne, France, Rene Lalique was apprenticed to a jeweler at the age of 16.  Leaving that to go to art school in England from 1878 to 1880, he returned and was employed variously by several major jewelry houses in Paris until 1886, when he opened his own shop. He produced jewelry for many rich and famous patrons including the actress Sarah Bernhardt. 

Over the next few years he won several major awards and prizes for his designs in important European exhibitions. 
In the early 1900s he was designing perfume bottles for several of the most important French perfume firms, and was moving away from the design and production of jewelry in favor of more and more designs in lead glass and crystal.  He produced many items from his new workshops, employing up to 500 craftsmen. 

Rene made many incredibly beautiful limited production items such as vases, boxes, bowls and plates, sculptures and hood ornaments, ornaments and a huge array of common every day objects in Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles through the 1920s and 1930s.  In 1939 his factory was impounded by the invading German forces, and it did not resume production until after his death at the end of the war in 1945.  He is buried in Paris.

In 1948, His son Marc reopened the shop and began producing glass once more.  Using both his fathers moulds and his own designs he began to complete the changeover in the product to full lead crystal.
 While heavily influenced by his fathers stylistic sense, Marc also produced many items of superlative beauty.
 
 The Lalique Glass factory continued for many years producing both art glass objects and commercial items such as perfume bottles.  In the 1950s, Marcs daughter Marie-Claude joined him in the operations and design of new glass, and partnered with him until his death in 1977.
  Since that time, she has carried on the family business and Lalique remains a vital art glass centre in the French art community.

Lalique Glass has appeared in many unique and interesting applications through the family creative past.

 It has graced no less than 29 automobiles as hood ornaments and it has been made into walls and columns in the luxury dining room of the ocean liner Normandie. 

 Lalique Glass has become an integral part of the glass church on the channel island of Jersey, as an altar piece and baptismal Font. 

Renes work is in museums all over the world from England to Tokyo, from New York to Australia.
 Thousands of individuals are able to own a vase, or a bowl, or even a sculpture designed by one of the LaLiques.  The beautiful work from the Lalique family has graced the world and this is evident in every major art centre worldwide, and will be appreciated with those who love such things forever.

The Zippo Constantine – A Custom Made Gem

The Zippo Constantine is one of the hundreds of beautiful custom designed lighters made by the Zippo Manufacturing Company in its 77 year history. The Zippo Company has made custom lighter cases representing thousands of different subjects over the years. Some of the subjects have been Hollywood celebrities, sports, animals, musicians, bands, military heroes, military insignia, good luck signs, funny sayings and promotional lighters for individual companies. All these cases and many, many more have graced the more than 400,000,000 Zippo lighters sold since 1933.
The Zippo Constantine lighter got its name because the lighter case is made in the style of the Byzantine art from the era of the Emperor Constantine. The case is available in four different types of metal: brass, silver, copper and gold leaf. It is covered with an intricate design that mimics the detailed carved filigree combined with the religious themes common to Byzantine art.
The Zippo Constantine case is a replication of the medallion of Saint Benedict. Saint Benedict was the founder of the Benedictine order of monks. He created the Rule of Benedict which was a treatise on not only the right way to live as a monk spiritually but also the right way to live within a religious community and how religious communities should live with the outside secular community. These monks were known for their simple, pious way of life. Their example of simple devotion, hard work in the fields and the practice of sharing the virtues of education in the arts and sciences won them many converts. Long before the Reformation led by Martin Luther, the Benedictines lived in self-governing communities and acknowledged only one monastic leader, the Pope.
There is an interesting aspect of the Saint Benedict medallion and, therefore, the Zippo Constantine. Although it is beautifully elegant, especially when it is rendered in gold or copper, its message is very simple.
One side of the lighter case shows a picture of St. Benedict with a shepherd’s crook. This picture represent him as a simple shepherd caring for his flock. It emphasizes his belief and devotion to an uncomplicated and non-material way of life. The other side of the Zippo Constantine lighter has a elaborately engraved cross. The cross is has a circle around it. Letters in a script style that evokes Byzantine art cover the circle and the cross. The letters represent the initial letters of Latin words. The words for the four Latin phrases identify the cross and present Benedictine philosophy in a clear and succinct way.
The four phrases are:
•Crux Sancti Patris Benedict – Cross of Holy Father Benedict.
•Crux Santa Sit Mihi Lux – May the Holy Cross be my light.
•Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux – Let not the Dragon be my guide
•Vade Retro, Satana. Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana; Sunt Mala Quae Libas; Ipse Venena Bibas – Begone, Satan and suggest not to me thy vain things; the Cup thou offer me is evil; drink thou thy poison.
The medallion and lighter case make the simple injunction that all people should follow the precepts of the Christian Church and not be seduced by the wiles and attractive vanities of the Devil. The Zippo Constantine is not only a high quality gemlike lighter but a simple life guidepost in elegant filigree gold.