Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="GDJMSP, post: 1409723, member: 112"]How do they know ? Because they do the research to find out how many are known. As already said, they go through all of the sales records and auction catalogs. And there are auction catalogs going back for a long time. But, it is important to realize that "known" should be read to mean - how many we know of. Meaning, there may be others, but they are unknown to us. Comments like "6 known" or whatever come from specialty books. Books on a specific series of coins or type of coins that were written by someone who did extensive research on those specific coins. Someone who read and studied all previously written books on the subject, someone who did their own primary research. Meaning they went back to the original records, correspondence, auction catalogs, newspaper ads, etc etc. Basically everything that could be found on the subject. But as time passes, new information sometimes comes to light, previously unknown examples of coins surface. And the "known" census changes. There are even examples of coins where only 3 or 4 examples were known, but Coin Talk members, through their own knowledge and ownership of the coins, increased that "known" number to 6. It happens. There was even a time when a previously unknown coin, not found in any mint records, not found in any auction records, not found in any specialty books - a completely unknown coin - was found and purchased by me. And then I found a second one, also purchased by me. And then a good friend of mine found yet a 3rd, purchased by him. All in the space of about 2 years. And all listed for the first time ever right here on Coin Talk. We also have another CT member who has been the discoverer of about 6, maybe more by now, completely new Morgan VAMS. Like I said, it happens.[/QUOTE]

Create my FREE Account!

Log in or Sign up

Reply to Thread

Useful Searches