!!Poll!! You choose the story winner!

dak · May 21, 2007

Ok as promised here are the stories submitted for this portion of the contest. Now I need your help! Read them and vote for your favorite!! The story with the most votes walks away with a whopping 25 points towards the 100 points needed to win the gold coin offered in "The Golden Coin Hunt" thread!

I decided, that while there were 5 entries, I couldn't make my mind up about 1 to eliminate! So I have awarded all 5 of the entrants with 10 bonus points as I know the work they put into these essays was exasperating to say the least! So now you all need to help me decide amongst the 5 essays, who should be awarded the 25 bonus threads and be crowned winner of this phase of the contest!!

The contestants with qualifying entries are:

Twiggs

Hamman88

Daggarjon

Mikenoodle

DJCoins

In no particular order the entries are presented below!

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dak · May 21, 2007

Entry from Mikenoodle

mikenoodle said:

My Story About Money

As would often be the case throughout the story of our country, the process of how we manufacture our money has been one worth study. Through that study, not only does one learn that some of the people the government has employed were less than honest, but some went as far as to use the place of trust that they earned as money makers to make money for themselves.

Frequently, the efforts of these money makers, were accepted by the collectors around the country. Rarely, the results produced an effect far more potent. For some, the products that were made would become just another part of sets. For others, the products themselves would be so rare, so sought after, that a whole world of collectors would stop when one of these came to market. Our story focuses on one of those rare cases, the Walton example of the 1913 V-back 5-cent.

On March 9, 1962 a sudden car crash sent shockwaves throughout our whole hobby. You could ask, “How can you say that?” and one need only tell the story of Sam Walton and the famous 1913 V-backed 5-cents. We are told that Walton was on the road between shows when the car suddenly crashed and he passed away. Among the personal affects found was a 1913 V-backed 5-cents. Most thought the example to be a copy and the “real McCoy” to be elsewhere presumably locked away.

The Waltons were sure that the holder that they owned had the real 1913 V-back, but expert after expert told them no. The hobby started to buzz due to the fact that people thought that maybe the real 1913 V-back was unaccounted for. Maybe someone completely unknowledgeable had just happened upon the wreckage… maybe someone stole the real 1913 V-back from Walton’s safe. The world would be unsure for years.

As the years passed, many collectors heard of the tale and were told to be aware that the last 1913 V-back could be anywhere and could even be somewhere amongst the pocket change of average everyday people. A real treasure hunt was on! A huge payday was there to be taken, all you had to do was watch your pocket change.

As the treasure hunt raged on, the Waltons held hope that the truth would one day be known.

For many years people searched, but no luck. No one had found the real 1913. Legends began to crop up. Many thought the real 1913 V-back may have been destroyed at the crash. Some heard tales of someone who knew someone who knew someone who had gotten out Grandma’s jewelry box and seen one, but all smacked of myth. Many of the myths were as common as they were outrageous, but throughout them all, no one could actually produce one.

The four other 1913 V-backs were all held by separate owners, no one owned more than one. The other owners were: Olsen, Norweb, Mc Dermott, and some other fellow whose name escapes me. He had some sort of complete US set of some sort… gold and base metals too, but that’s another story.

At the yearly show for July 23, the ANA elected to showcase the four known 1913 V-backs. There, the ANA wanted to try to draw the long sought-after collectable out of the woodwork, so to speak. They offered thousands of dollars to anyone who could help them locate the unlocated 1913 V-back. Bowers and Merena helped by an offer of at least a $1,000,000 guaranteed sale!

Many thought that the move was smart because recently the most famous example of these 1913 V-backs had sold for over $1,400,000 at a 1996 sale that featured the V-back. At that juncture, the Manley 1804 Dollar had struck the gavel on the largest offer ever of $990,000 to wrest honors from the Reed Hawn 1913 V-back at $962,500. Hard to fathom that these 5 V-backs were the property of one person when they surfaced at the 1920 ANA. The ANA Journal told of Samuel W. Brown at the show when they debuted that day, but they belonged to Col H.R.R. Green and were among the Green estate when he passed away.

Many feel that these rare 1913 V-backs were made under secrecy and are therefore not legal. What makes me pause would be the fact that a 1933 double eagle was made BY the US government, but yet not legal to own. These 5 V-backs ARE legal to own when they are clearly NOT made by the US government.

These V-backs were not made by the US Government, but yet are legal to own. When compared to the St. Gauden’s double eagles of 1933, no agent of our goverment plans to enter an ANA show to re-capture them for the US. But why? Would one say that because they were NOT made by the US Government, they are now legal to own? And the case as such, are they then NOT V-back 5-cents?

My thoughts are that these 1913 V-back 5-cents were made from US Government stock, on US Government presses, and probably made on the floor of the US Government shop where all the rest of the money for our country was made. How can they not be a US Government product? These same thoughts also say that the reasons for them to make such a product was for none other than to make money.

That as the reason, have we rewarded them over the years for the “extra” work done that day? Has a dangerous example been set for the future? Do we need only to prove that the US Government was not the maker of our small product run to legally own them? Have we now made a loophole for future people of less than honorable means to manufacture rare US Government products?

For many years as our country has grown, so too have the processes and every day works of our government. To be sure, a more secure process was necessary for the manufacture of our money. No longer can we accept employees that have enough autonomy and means to create havoc as many have before. We need to have a much more secure process for manufacture of our country’s money and money products.
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dak · May 21, 2007

Entry from Daggarjon

Daggarjon said:

ok folks... here goes ... 1071 words, and not a SINGLE letter 'I'

Tis the story of my Numismatic hobby:

The start of my unadulterated love of the hobby of money began at a young age for me. The start was around the era my paper route started, at the age of 13 or 14. There was, of course, the absence of large amounts of money to be spent on the hobby for me then. As a result, the 1 cent copper took my fancy. A local store was a beloved hangout for me. Candy, Gum, Soda, Lemonade even a newspaper or 2 would cross my palms from that store. The owner would talk coppers to me, as well as other larger small change components. These would conclude at or around the quarter level, as most upper level currency was beyond my monetary reach. The amazement felt at each unforeseen and completely unexpected copper that crossed from the owner to me could be wondrous to be sure. The 1 cent coppers shared would range from the 1909 wheat cent through the 1959 date that ended the wheat cent, and could also allow for the more modern Abe cent up to the current date back then. Once, the mother of the owner, who was very old, offered to me a book of 1 cent wheat coppers. The dates would range from 1909 up to 1959, and also had slots for other years as they came to pass, or as other 1 cent coppers were found that had value. She only asked for one dollar from me for the book. We traded, from me one dollar, and from her the blue book that held my new 1 cent coppers. Over spans of weeks and months Ancestral coppers from the era just before the wheat cent, and that means those used from 1859-1909, were also traded. The beauty of those ancestral coppers would amaze me to the present era. As long as a clean and elementary framework of the statuesque woman could be found bounded by the curb of the copper, the copper was added to my trove of treasures. To say that the border of the form must be found must be understood. Under a golden rod from the sun held bound by my lamp, any trace of a form would be all that was needed for me. From then to now, no less than 250 to 300 of those coppers rest bound by my treasure room. From some of those early days to now, a dream was always present: To own for myself a copper that showed an eagle that flew. Those days where a boy of my age would pass out papers to some 300 or so patrons, were not blessed by the ‘www’ web craze such as so today. For me to locate a copper that had the eagle that flew was sadly an event that was unsuccessful. Such a copper was not to be found by me for an absolutely long passage of years. For facts to be square, one 1857 copper that showed the eagle that flew was not be my custody throughout the next 17 or so years when the year 2004 changed my luck. The ‘www’ web craze allowed me to locate one copper that had the eagle that flew! My new copper had a drawback, however. To share sad news as such can be tough. My new copper had damaged caused by exposure to the elements. The grade: About-Good! My beauty had holes beneath the surface, was off colored and just badly corroded. The lack of care from me on my About-Good copper can be easy to understand. The copper, to me, was seen as though no corroded parts were present, where no exposure to the elements caused other problems. To me, my copper was the #1 top graded copper from the 1856-1859 range. From back then to the present, my treasures have grown to new levels each year. What started as a group wheats and ancestral cents, followed by the Eagle that flew, my eye was then caught by commemoratory dollars and half, by 5 cent, 10 cent and 25 cent legal tenders. Over the years, all sorts of aspects of the hobby caught my eye. For a few years, my love of the hobby was abated by college and lack of funds. Afterwards, the months and years that passed where my hobby had been put on hold, my hobby started anew. Gold was one part of the hobby that was stayed away from. Gold was around $350 an ounce and was deemed by me to be too costly. Then Came the year 2007 and the release of the Gold Buffalo. At just shy of pure gold, and a copy of the most beloved form of the famous 5 cent round. My only gold asset would have to be the new Buffalo. The cost now, was $800. What was once deemed too costly at $350, was now purchased at $800. To buy low, and then sell at huge surplus of funds was a way to fund my new purchases. All one needed was to study the trends, and make a lucky guess as to what could sell out and be demanded on the secondary market. My treasure hoard has grown beyond my resourcefulness to tuck away under my bed or closet. But to forge ahead and not look back was the order of the day. The hope of future gold beckons. As one smart young lady rumored, once the gold bug gets you, you cannot look back. The bug has gotten me, and grows by the hour. The urge to complete a set has never been a momentous thought for me. But the yearn for more keeps me watchful for the next treasure. Whatever crosses my path next, made of metal or flax and paper, the forms on the obverse and reverse are heavy on my judgment. The Buffalo Gold, the 1899 notes have real cool snapshots, non proof 50 cent from the 1948 to 1963 range, graded of course, early coppers, large cents and a whole lot more. My next prayer – for gold to drop back to $350 an ounce – That would be good for my gold hoard.

My thanks go out to dak for the challenge presented to me. Who would have thought a short story could be composed and not use one of the most foremost letters our language. An old teacher would be proud.

Good Luck To All
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dak · May 21, 2007

Entry from Twiggs

Twiggs said:

Here's my essay. 1060 word and NO 'I's...boy that was brutal. Tried hard for it to make sense using stand-in words..lol
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Parent Trap

We, as parents, are trapped, we are forced to become actors and actresses. We make up creatures that we thrust upon our sons and daughters for events as they grow from a baby to a young adult. Just a thought, but maybe parents should all get together and be on the same page when such matters come to the forefront. For example, does the Easter Bunny leave baskets on your doorstep, or near the couch? Does Santa and the elves wrap the presents, or leave them open for all eyes to see? Are there really elves that do the housework when everyone sleeps? Parents and households vary when these events happen and that’s ok. As our small ones grow, they start to speak to other small ones about such matters, and whether on the bus or at the playground, these tales are brought back to us, the parents
My son has come home only to seek me out and ask me about these unusual characters he knows as the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and so on. The one gabbed about the most would have to be the Tooth Lady.
Do you remember when the sun rose you would hunt for those sparkly quarters? These days, our wee ones expect more. The puffy headrests have now become ATM's and we are most assuredly to blame.
My son would come home from school only to vent about classmates who had located ten dollars under these puffy headrests. Holy root canal! Do the math yourselves! Each wee one should loose 20 teeth over the course of a few years. That’s a lot of money! And just what does the Tooth Lady do after she gets all those teeth collected? Have you thought about that one? One of my co-workers told her small ones the Tooth Lady uses the teeth to construct a tooth castle. For me, the tale was funny. For my son, each of these tales have led to many, many gab fests - and one very worn out mom.
The loss of teeth now grows old. Have you ever thought and wondered to yourself how those small teeth seem to always fall out by twos’?
A couple of months ago my son lost one at breakfast and before he went to bed, he had lost another. He then tucked those small teeth under the head puffy and then fell fast asleep. To dream of money and toys, no doubt! Exhausted from a very long day, my weary head longed for some rest and completely forgotten, was the need to become an actress and play the part of the Tooth Lady. Awakened, my son stood before me. Groggy, and a tad angry, he blurted out, "The Tooth Lady forgot to come and take my teeth and leave me my money,"
Oh no! Was my only thought, my heart sank. Have to make up a good cover story and now! “Well you see son, the Tooth Lady can get overworked and when she’s exhausted, she just can't make her way to every house Try once more,” My son turned and walked out of my room, leery but totally suckered by my story.
The rest of that day was crazy. Darkness soon fell and completely exhausted…can you see where we are headed?
My son hadn’t talked about the Tooth Lady that eve. He went to bed, and as for me, yep, sound asleep on the couch. The next day, the teeth were the same spot my son had put them.
Now he was really angry. He checked under the puffy, and as for me, just happened to turn 4 shades of red. “Need to get some money under there and just tell the boy he had overlooked the cash spot” No such luck. He carefully tore the whole bed apart, then, upset he sat down to pout. “Son, we’ll worry about the money later. The Tooth Lady wouldn’t cheat you. Now please get ready for school or you’ll be late”
Ashamed of myself, the bathroom was my only retreat. The parent trap had caught me once and for all. Just then, my son slammed the tooth bag down on the counter near me.
“There’s no such person as the Tooth Lady. Are you gonna hand me the money or what?” Now, no doubt the whole event was made worse by my loud laugh after that statement.
“Don’t speak to me that way. Get ready for school and you’ll get your money”
Now what, my wallets empty, never made the bank and must hurry. Just then, a thought entered my head. My closet, at the back of the top shelf, a small box held the answer to my problem.
“Please be there, please, please be there” Yes, they were! Just then my son walked up to me. “Where’s the money?” he softly spoke.
“Close your eyes and open your hand”
“OK”
“Now open them”
He glared down, then at me, then down. “What are these?”
“Those are two old Kennedy half-dollars”
“Cool, can buy some cars”
“No, they are for you to save, not to spend on cars. When you get older they could be worth a lot of money”
He glanced down once more. He wasn’t happy, wasn’t hard to tell that.
“Can’t buy any toys, how about a game?” he muttered
“Nope, sorry. Now put them away”
The whole day went by slowly. Only thoughts were of how screwed up the whole Tooth Lady, puffy game had become. Was much better when we used the glass of water rouse. Just a clear glass of water and the tooth. When the boy sleeps, remove the tooth, put money, some food colour and of course sparkles for Tooth Lady dust that ends up there because she had to doggy-paddle down to get the tooth. Perfect and much better than the great tooth hunt.
Suddenly the front door opened and there was my son. He was happy and told me how he told all the class about the wonderful treasure the Tooth Lady had left. They were all jealous and wanted Kennedy half-dollars too. My son told them she hadn’t any more and that he had the only ones. He then gave me a huge hug.
The Tooth Lady job may be crappy but the pay more than makes up for the headaches.
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dak · May 21, 2007

Entry from DJCoins ..... Unfortunately this contestant has dropped out of the story contest for personal reasons,
Please do not vote for this entry further as the owner has withdrawn it from the contest. if you wish to read DJCoins essay, head over to the main contest page, and you will find it there...

dak · May 21, 2007

Entry from Hamman88

hamman88 said:

Here is mine, I worked on it the whole day!!! I was below the max "I" useage Dak, I hope I could use "coinage" Well here it is...

Not many people have ever had the chance to hold a Roman coin. Even fewer people know the story of such a neat lump of metal and how these coins were made. Even though Roman coins may seem crude, the assembly of the coins was a complex and elaborate ordeal.
The roots of the need for coins began, unusually, from cows. Before the exchange of coins, cattle often completed trade, your wealth was even measured by the number of cows you had. But the growth of the known world and the economy, made trade of cows hard, thus coins were born. Roman coinage started at 400 B.C. upon the advent of coinage, aes rude. These cast "coins" were hardly coins at all, much less lumps of bronze. About 200 years after aes rude, aes signatum emerged. Aes signatum was the antonym of last to carry a photo, but these, agnate the last, were crude and not really coins. When 289 B.C. came around, real coins started to be produced. Aes grave was the antonym of last to be round and to have a set value. Aes rude and singnatum's value was set on the gross of lone coins. These would stay popular for only about 9 years before Rome would adopt the money of the Greeks, the drachm. The drachm allowed the Romans to trade throughout much of the world, as the drachm was broadly acknowledged. Once more when 211 B.C. came around Roman coins would change, to the coinage that would become one of the Roman state, the antonym of last denarius was struck. The au denarius would stay the standard of Rome for the whole of the Roman state.
Before 23 B.C., the value of a denarius and other fellow values had not a set value. Because the value of coins (au and ag) was based on the value of the valuable metal, the coins value could change. Bronze coins, on the other hand, were not based on metal value; the value was much more than that of the metal.
Around 23 B.C. Augustus set the values on stone. The largest valued coin, the Au aureus, was the same as 25 of the base value above. A 1/4 value, 1/8 value, and 1/64 value made up the other values (there are other odd ones). All of these were made of bronze. The 1/64 value, the quadran, was such a small value that the emperor would rarely appear upon the quadran.
Before a coin could be made, a coin needs an approval. The emperor or the senate made a coin when deemed necessary. The emperor would often even approve the art on the coin. Seldom, towns would be allowed to make coins, but naturally only ones of lower value.
Once a coin has been deemed necessary, metal for the coins must be gotten. Most metal would have been dug up, but also surface layers of metals were used. The Romans got Au and Ag from Gaul, the Neareast and lots of other places that have a dangerous letter. Cu was found around Cyprus. Cu and Sn were used to make a bronze alloy. As well to raw metal, other country's coin reserves used for barter with other places would more often than rarely be melted down for Roman coin metal.
For a long age, coinage of Au and Ag was nearly pure, 95% valuable metal and up. The 5% of other metals were lead, used to make the stamp less hard, and Cu, used to make coins less wearable. The base metal content created a small amount of money that helped the expenses along. When there was an age of monetary problems a phenomenon called debasement would occur. The content of Au and Ag could be reduced, only 80% valuable metal was common. By late the late Roman era, many coins were only plated Au, the valuable metal value became almost zero. Roman fake coin makers made plated Au coins, these had a core of copper. Later the government started the same process to Roman coinage.
The process that Roman coin shops used stayed all the way to the 17th century. The use of slaves to make coins stayed all the way to antebellum U.S.A.. The antonym of last step was to smelt the ore and make pure to the proper degree. The metal was then cast as a blank of the correct gross for that value. For lesser-valued bronze coin where gross was not exact, the blanks would be cast several at once or cut from a rod or sheet of metal. The actual process involved two punches made of hardened bronze. The upper punch was a rod, had the reverse design, and the lower punch, had the obverse, and was set on a metal bock. The prepared blank was then often heated to make the blank softer and then placed on the lower punch and struck. Several people helped when a coin was made, one to place the coin, one to punch the coin, one to hold the punch, and one to take the coin off the punch. Modern scholars have shown that smaller shops could of had one person handle the process.
The art placed on Roman coins, often approved by the emperor, was broad. But most often a photo of the ruler was on the obverse and a god or horses engaged the reverse. Coins could also show the last ruler. Often a coin could show an emperor and the new spouse. The Romans would also commonly use coins for propaganda.
And at the end, the process and development of Roman coinage, antonym of end at the aes rude around the 5th century B.C. to the currency reform around the 5th century A.D., made coins that had advanced roots and procedures, not too far from today's. They made tons of coins, scammed the people, celebrated rulers and spouses, and brought money to the heart of the Roman world, all through such a small stamped lump of metal.
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dak · May 21, 2007

So the poll is now open and will close in 3 days (at approximately 10:20 PM Alaska Time!) at which time the winner will be awarded the 25 bonus points! Thanks again to these 5 individuals, an awesome job by all!

Daggarjon · May 21, 2007

Wow!!! i made it to the finals grabbed me 10 bonus points. The stories are all really great, and while some used the word I (a whole bunch of times) there are a couple that didnt use ANY... when writing mine, all i can says is GOD was it hard not to use I!!!!!

Good luck to alll the entrants!!!

oh and .. PLEASE VOTE FOR ME

hamman88 · May 21, 2007

I would just like to say that I am a YN, and if I win this contest, the gold coin would become the focal point of my entire collection. I have never owned a gold coin nor afford one, I would love to win it.

thebeav · May 21, 2007

Dak,
I see why you posted these for all to help you decide. Boy, they're good stories. I've read them and still don't know which one to vote for. Nice job folks.

Paul

DJCoinz · May 21, 2007

hamman88 said:

I would just like to say that I am a YN, and if I win this contest, the gold coin would become the focal point of my entire collection. I have never owned a gold coin nor afford one, I would love to win it.
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The same goes for me. Thanks once again for a great contest Dak!

Twiggs · May 21, 2007

hey!...sucking-up isn't allowed

LMAO

good luck everyone

DJCoinz · May 21, 2007

Just telling the truth!
Good luck all.

FeatherBack · May 21, 2007

Great essays!

Phoenix21 · May 21, 2007

Twiggs said:

hey!...sucking-up isn't allowed

LMAO

good luck everyone
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What about bribing? Woul you like this guy dak? Just do me a little favor. JOKING! Wish I owned something like this, lol. Just a joke. A gorgeous nickel I would say.

Phoenix

Twiggs · May 21, 2007

LMAO....no fair..FOUL!

DJCoinz · May 21, 2007

:mouth::mouth: Very funny pheonix! :rolling: :mouth:

Phoenix21 · May 21, 2007

Twiggs said:

LMAO....no fair..FOUL!
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Lol, I think it's fair. All's fair in love and contests. lol, j/k

DJCoins said:

Very funny pheonix!
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Who said I was joking? Lol, oh wait, me. Lol.

Phoenix

dak · May 21, 2007

All right folks the polls are still open, if you havn't yet voted take a minute to read through the essays and stories presented! We had some great entries and I need your help to choose a winner!! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Daggarjon · May 21, 2007

dak said:

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
Click to expand...

Mine is broken... i could only vote once.. so why are you telling me to vote vote vote = 3 votes... humph!!!!!!

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!!Poll!! You choose the story winner!

Who Wrote the Best Story or Essay??

Mikenoodle

Twiggs

DJCoins

Daggarjon

Hamman88

dak The Nickel Nut

Guest User Guest

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

Daggarjon Supporter**

hamman88 Spare some change, sir?

thebeav Lifer

DJCoinz Majored in Morganology

Twiggs Coin Collector

DJCoinz Majored in Morganology

FeatherBack New Member

Phoenix21 Well-Known Member

Twiggs Coin Collector

DJCoinz Majored in Morganology

Phoenix21 Well-Known Member

dak The Nickel Nut

Daggarjon Supporter**

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!!Poll!! You choose the story winner!

Who Wrote the Best Story or Essay??

Mikenoodle

Twiggs

DJCoins

Daggarjon

Hamman88

dak The Nickel Nut

Guest User Guest

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

dak The Nickel Nut

Daggarjon Supporter**

hamman88 Spare some change, sir?

thebeav Lifer

DJCoinz Majored in Morganology

Twiggs Coin Collector

DJCoinz Majored in Morganology

FeatherBack New Member

Phoenix21 Well-Known Member

Twiggs Coin Collector

DJCoinz Majored in Morganology

Phoenix21 Well-Known Member

dak The Nickel Nut

Daggarjon Supporter**

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