My name is Phil. I am a new member of CONECA. Bona fide, as I saw my name in the latest CONECA quarterly Journal. You made me smile. Now I am bragging to all my friends that my name has been published in one of the most renowned numismatic Journals. I am a retired Florida dentist that has been collecting coins since childhood. Before I retired I had memberships with NGC, PCGS and yes CONECA. I still have the minor variety Lincoln cent CONECA sent me for becoming a member. I thought that was cool. I poured over your quarterly journals, which lead me to start buying US Proof Sets from the 50's to 70, looking for those Ultra Cameo coins. I had more failures than successes but I enjoyed every minute of it. Before I retired I was actively submitting coins to be grade certified to both NGC and PCGS. Although I was a member of CONECA I did not actively engage because, I lacked the self confidence to do so. I still do not posses a firm knowledge of the minting process, which the latest journal, so rightly pointed out, as critical to have. I am uncomfortable being on this forum now.
The process of retiring and a cat 4 hurricane has put my hobby on hold for several years. I am reorganizing everything and have come across what I consider my biggest folly in collecting. A box of 100 2011-W UC Burnished Ag AE. I bought them directly from the US mint at the high price. My thinking was Ag was so High there would be a low run. I knew they hadn't made the coin for a couple of years, I just didn't think it would come into play. Then they did a second release at a lower price. Plus I looked at all 100 coins and didn't think I would even get a of MS68 on all but 4.
I never considered errors or varieties. I am not aware of any for that year. This is probably more of a working die going bad than a master die issue which means I will be waisting your time. Out of the 100 over 30 have a spot that is not burnished and is visible to the naked eye on the rev. in the same spot, just off the eagle's beak. The spot is shinny and proof like. I can track this spot beginning in same place on another 3 to 5 coins under magnification. Which is what makes me think it is a working die wearing out. The spot increases in size. Under magnification I can also see a scratch or possibly a die crack, from the west wing to upper west star. Although it doesn't look like your typical die cracks you see on older coins. Whatever it is it is in the same place on all those coins. The rest of the coins, I am not sure about. The spot is gone but the scratch or die crack is still there and they look like they were put under more pressure because the ribbon looks smashed, different. At least one coin on the observed, lady liberty has seven fingers on her outstretched hand. Some kind of error, double striking, I just don't know.
I know without pictures what I just described is not worth much. I have a scope with a camera but it's older. I am going to get a new camera, regardless. I will need it for other things. I just don't know where to go with this. I sorry for not being concise. Any feedback you give me will be much appreciated and if you don't think its worth looking at you won't hurt my feelings. I am in no hurry, I know you guys do a lot and it is much appreciated from an amateur as myself.
Thanks Again,
iHg
Philip Marshall
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