This week's letters to the editor

Packaging does make a difference to buyers
Recently a writer asked if the Mint packaging should be kept once the coins have been sent out for certification/slabbing or thrown away. Our distinguished editor stated “There is no commercial reason to save the original Mint packaging.”
The editor’s reply is not quite correct due to the general phrasing of the original question. If the question is: should packaging from proof sets, mints sets, ATB sets, etc., be kept, then the editor is correct, there is no commercial value to the packaging. However, if the packaging is from silver Eagles, gold Buffalo’s, special Mint products (like the two-coin silver Eagle set, five-coin silver Eagle set, etc.) or modern commemorative coins, then the editor is wrong.
I am going to use modern commemorative coins for my example of when a box or Certificate of Authenticity can be sold for a profit on eBay. Many modern commemorative collectors want to have the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and the original box for their collections. Since they buy many of their coins already slabbed on eBay they don’t have them initially and will pay to get them.
A more unscrupulous reason is that sellers also want them to repackage and misrepresent coins that have already graded less than MS/PF 70 in hopes of getting a higher price than if the coin was sold slabbed. In these cases, sellers will list them in the eBay description as “being from their personal collection” or “bought from an elderly gentleman’s estate” in hopes the buyer will think he/she is getting a virgin, untouched, never seen before coin that will possibly grade MS/PF 70 (and many buyers will pay more ).
If you want to sell them on eBay list them as one big lot in the Modern Commemorative Category, give a brief description of the quantity you have to sell (boxes and COA’s) and list examples of the types of coins they represent you (Example: I have 98 boxes and 67 COA’s that include (2) 2009 MS Braille boxes and COA’s, 1988 Olympiad Proof Dollar, 1991 USO Proof Dollar, etc., etc.) You don’t have to list them all, but enough to give a buyer an idea of what you are selling and how many are duplicates.
You will get bids!
David A. Martens
Rockledge, Fla.
Original box increases value of coins
For almost all items auctioned, the original box, container, etc. is important and increases the value of the item. At car shows, cars with original equipment sell for more than those with after market parts.
For coins, only the slab MS grade is important. Most proof slabs are MS-69 or MS-70. (I have a problem seeing the difference.) If it is not in its original box (after market altered, slabed and no original container) why should I pay more? All items (excluding coins) in their original container are more valuable. Why is something that someone says is a certain grade better than the original?
Earl Scharf
Golden Eagle, Ill.
Cool judgment reigned in Cuban Missile Crisis
Regarding Bernie Tobik’s complaint in the July 23 issue that he could not remember a single accomplishment of President Kennedy. At 66, I sympathize with Mr. Tobik on the issue of failing memory. May I suggest that he look up the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world tottered on the edge of thermonuclear war and only President Kennedy’s cool judgment pulled us back from the brink. His example to the presidents who followed him in office is a significant corollary legacy.
Alden Carter
Marshfield, Wis.
Coin Kennedy silver business strike, proof
The Kennedy half began with a 90 percent silver business strike. I think the Mint should produce an uncirculated 2014 90 percent silver coin in both business strike “P,” “D” and “S” proof with the same design, and a commemorative with something new on the reverse, perhaps a “W” mint with the eternal flame at his grave site for a reverse. Maybe also an “S” mint reverse proof in a set or whatever.
I have always liked this coin and would start saving money to buy a number of them. Also clads should continue in 2014, even if it is the last year for it.
Kenneth Yovanovits
Address withheld
NN should test ‘unsearched’ bags, rolls
I have a suggestion for a new column for NN. Bear with me.
For many years I subscribed to a weekly stamp magazine, back when I was a serious collector. That magazine had a column they entitled “E. Rawolik,” which, if you know anything about stamp collecting, is “kiloware” spelled backwards. Kiloware is a word meaning bulk unsorted, unsearched (stamps). The author was known as E. Rawolik (I, II, III, IV, and V), as time passed.
There were always many sellers of bulk postage stamps, say, 1 ounce, 4 ounces, 8, ounces, etc. of “on paper” and “off paper” stamps from various world locales. The ads would tout what you “might” expect from the purchase, usually stated in “catalog value.” You often paid, say $10, for a 4-ounce mixture of “Netherlands” on paper that the ad touted as containing “at least $150 catalog value” (using Scotts Standard Postage Stamp Catalog). “E. Rawalik” would anonymously purchase a shipment of the product from the ads in the magazine and analyze the stamps for (1) total catalog value and (2) the condition of the stamps.
I would like to suggest that NN do the same for those who advertise “unsearched” rolls and/or bags of pennies, etc., in NN. You might also expand the column to include ads that tout that the coins are “uncirculated,” since so many of these sell sliders. It would be very interesting to see what you actually get in the way of “wheaties” by date and condition. You would be doing a great service for your readers, and I believe you would get a great response from them as well as many “thank yous.”
You could call this anonymous reviewer “D.E. Chraesnu,” which would be “unsearched” spelled backwards. As a further suggestion, you could outsource this effort to any of your readers, who I’m sure would be more than glad to do the review for free if NN paid for the purchase.
Dan Sowards
Austin, Texas
Bankers, too, morally obligated to help fellow man
I read the “Viewpoint” by Robert Brommer in the Sept. 3 issue and I disagree with one statement he made: “Banks and bankers are not obligated either morally or ethically to tell the family any more than the current sum face value of that which was presented to them.”
First, everyone is morally obligated to help their fellow man. We are taught this from when we are little on up. I do not remember an exemption for bankers. Second, if your banker is just looking out for himself and does not care about your interest or your investments, you are dealing with the wrong bank. Take your money out of that bank and run.
I think everyone who reads your publication wants to deal with coin dealers and bankers who have morals and anyone who has no morals ,as far as I am concerned, should be behind bars.
Jim Coulthard
Box Elder, S.D.